Washington State University

Bio Science Aid

May 2018 • Pullman, WA

What I liked

I like the diversity of projects that I am able to work on and learning all of the new techniques.

What I wish was different

Advice

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Field Assistant

May - August 2019 • Marblemount, WA

What I liked

Working outside every day, we would backpack to locations throughout North Cascades national park where we would collect lichen samples for use in a research project.

What I wish was different

Not much!

Advice

Make sure to have personal goals for the summer job/research experience set before you even start.

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biomechanical researcher

July 2015 • Pullman, WA

What I liked

I like being at the top of the ladder now behind the PI for research in my lab. Coordinating research being done by younger generations is always a joy.

What I wish was different

I don't think I would like much about my position to change. However, it is hard to move on from such a wonderful experience

Advice

Get to know the professors in your major as soon as possible. Ask for research positions, and if at all possible, stay in Pullman for the summer! It will be easier to get into a lab.

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Lab Tech

May - August 2019 • Pullman, WA

What I liked

What I wish was different

Advice

Ideal for those considering graduate school

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administrative manager's assistant for WSU Human Development Department

March - August 2019 • Pullman, WA

What I liked

I loved gaining knowledge of administrative work and learning about grants and budgets and writing official contracts. I enjoyed being a liaison for the administrative manager and for the department because it felt important and I was able to help ease the workload of my superior.

What I wish was different

I wish I had that job only instead of also being a waitress because I could have been even more available and focused.

Advice

Be very communicative with your superior and always ask questions when you don't know how to do something. Also, you can probably do a lot of things you don't realize with a tiny bit of training so let yourself learn.

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Membership Attendant

May 2019 • Pullman, WA

What I liked

I like that school is a priority and we are able to have a choice in our schedule

What I wish was different

Advice

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Tech Assistant

March 2018 • Pullman, WA

What I liked

Getting useful research experience in a small lab where I get a lot of one-on-one assistance. I am able to analyze my results and make decisions myself (within reason), and I get to apply what I learn in classes directly.

What I wish was different

That I had been trained more thoroughly before being left unsupervised, and that I had more variety in tasks.

Advice

Be prepared to not make any progress for months on end, because that's how science goes sometimes. Also, always pay attention to what you're doing.

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Clerical Assistant

January 2019 • Pullman, WA

What I liked

The work environment My coworkers My boss

What I wish was different

Nothing

Advice

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IT Technician

January 2019 • Pullman, WA

What I liked

At this job I was and am able to practice and acquire valuable skills. I have great coworkers and clients, and was able to feel at the end of summer that I had spent my time doing something worthwhile.

What I wish was different

There was a bit of drudgery involved with the specific projects we were involved in, but not so much as to make them unbearable or frustrating.

Advice

Find a job that will teach you useful skills! Unless you've NEVER had a job before, there's not much reason to take one of those, "just-to-pay-the-bills" jobs. Find something different, something that will be an experience! As long as you're not picky, you'll find something.

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Tech Assistant I

May 2019 • Pullman, WA

What I liked

Excellent opportunity to build lab skills and network across departments. I am typically in the School of Molecular Biosciences so the chance to work in Plant Pathology was deeply informative.

What I wish was different

I was only given 20 hours a week at minimum wage and had to supplement with a second job to cover rent. I wish I could have been full time and more deeply focus on the work instead of splitting time between jobs.

Advice

Collaborate with as many labs as possible if you're interested in research to find out what you like and dislike.

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Research Intern

June - August 2019 • Mount Vernon, WA

What I liked

I learned that I loved doing science! I spent a lot of time doing both fieldwork and lab work, and got a taste for interpreting data.

What I wish was different

Their lab was just starting up, and it was an agricultural research lab so every project lasts several years. Therefore, my work couldn’t come to any kind of conclusion

Advice

Always send cold emails! Also, your job doesn’t have to be directly related to what you want to do in order for it to be valuable. Just think about what kind of skills you want to learn and find any job that matches.

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Fiscal Analyst

September 2017 • Pullman, WA

What I liked

Ability to move up quickly.

What I wish was different

More/better training, management needs some work.

Advice

Research the department you are going into. A lot of openings usually means there is some issues that will arise.

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Wildlife Biologist Intern

May - August 2019 • Rockport, WA

What I liked

The experience was very informative about the professional world and shed a lot of personal insight about the concept of having a career.

What I wish was different

The only thing I wish that had been different is that I knew more about my field during the duration of my internship. I feel as though this would've inspired me to perform a more thorough job.

Advice

The only piece of advice I would share about this experience, or all internships for that matter, is to make the most of it. I know it is cliche and simple, but (to add to the pattern) cliches exist for a reason!

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Senator

April - December 2017 • Pullman, WA

What I liked

I loved the education I learned in regards to the inner workings of student government. I love traveling and developing close bonds with fellow student government members. I loved the professional experience that I gained. In addition to being a senator, I was also the Student Involvement Chair where I facilitated weekly meetings, created multiple personally designed and led in-person and online events to enhance student engagement.

What I wish was different

Not much. It was a fantastic experience.

Advice

Be prepared to plan for and devote extra time and responsibilities to your studies.

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Preschool Teacher

November 2015 • Pullman, WA

What I liked

I have worked at WSU for almost four years now and have loved being able to work with so many different age ranges of children and families from all over the world. That is what I have loved most working at a University is the fact that I get to work with a wide range of cultures and backgrounds.

What I wish was different

I have so much flexibility with the job I have now, that I was also able to get married this summer, and go on a trip to Ireland. I wouldn't change a thing right now.

Advice

Yes, it's going to be hard to work full time and go to school even part time and be able to have a social life outside of all of that. I tell myself everyday that it is worth it, that I AM WORTH IT. Where I'm at at WSU is a dead end to me, which is why I'm going back to school. I will keep gaining experience through the mentors I have and the ability to be able to mentor others as well, and will continue to do so when I enter into a new job after school.

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Temp Dorm Custodian

May - June 2019 • Pullman, WA

What I liked

I liked that the end of the day was at 3:30 so we were able to have the rest of our day to ourselves. The staff was really nice and we were able to move to different dorms so it did not get boring.

What I wish was different

In the middle, I was moved to work at the university apartments. I did it, but it sucked because I had just gotten to know my coworkers.

Advice

The work can sometimes be gross but it was a good experience and I was able to continue working for my supervisor at a different dorm throughout the school year.

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Telephone Interviewer

May 2019 • Pullman, WA

What I liked

I like being able to pick my own schedule, and I like my supervisors and my coworkers!

What I wish was different

Work is not consistently offered - some weeks don’t have many hours available.

Advice

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Building Manager

May 2019 • Pullman, WA

What I liked

This job was very flexible with my schedule. I was taking summer classes in addition to working full time and they were lenient and understood that being a student is of utmost importance.