Redbird graduates recently sat down to discuss how they felt on-campus employment prepared them for their careers. James Hartsock ’18, Jordan Zorn-Neuber ’16, and Ave Rio ’17 found that working on campus while attending classes gave them experience and responsibility that would catapult them forward in their current fields, and built some long-lasting relationships too.
“When you are in college, you are sort of on your own to determine what responsibility, punctuality, and being an adult looks like,” says Hartsock, who was an international business major at Illinois State. “I quickly learned what it meant to be part of a team during my time with both Linkins and Watterson dining teams, and applied that also during my stint at the College of Business computer lab.” Hartsock stressed the importance of teamwork, interdependence, and, of course, waking up on time. He leaned on this experience during the interview process, but more importantly as life lessons and self-reflection and improvement toward the professional he has become through his career in project management. Some of his key advice for success on campus that can lead to later career success? “Get good sleep and stay hydrated if you are going to have a morning job, don’t be afraid to express your thoughts or offer solutions in a professional manner, and try to find something to learn out of every experience. If you do this, you will find yourself in situations that are increasingly more satisfying,” he said. Hartsock also balanced a full course load and found time to spend with his fiancé, Jordan Hass ’18.
Rio, a journalism major at Illinois State and former editor of The Vidette echoes this sentiment. “Being the editor-in-chief of the campus newspaper allowed me to demonstrate real work experience during my first job interviews,” she said. In 2016, she won an award for her in-depth reporting on the budget impasse with then-Governor Bruce Rauner. She said that story and other reporting at The Vidette allowed her to build a solid portfolio as she entered the job market for the first time. The work on campus was more than earning a few dollars between classes—it added to her degree and academic work in a meaningful and fruitful way. “In job interviews, being able to answer questions about covering events and being a leader was invaluable to progressing my career,” she said. Rio added that her experience at The Vidette set her up nicely for success in the real world. “I cannot imagine my experience in college and beyond without The Vidette, as I also met my future spouse there too,” she said.
Zorn-Neuber, an English major and now a product owner in Agile project management, shared that “having that job (student analyst in the technology support center) was the biggest predictor for my life after school. I was not exactly involved in (registered student organizations) or other social groups, so this was such a factor in my success as well as a way to understand working with different populations (students and retirees). It really set the foundation for going places that I did not think I could go. I had thought that my options were in English ed and publishing, but this really opened doors for me and showed ways that my degree could be used elsewhere.” Zorn-Neuber also met her spouse, Trevor Neuber ’15, on campus.
Beyond their own learning and working, the trio was quick to give shoutouts to leaders on campus that made the experience even more rewarding. Tyler Piper (currently interim director of IT service management), John Plevka (then general manager of The Vidette and current instructor in the School of Communication), and several shift leaders in EMDH (Event Management, Dining, and Hospitality) were mentioned by name as patient, thoughtful, and instructional supervisors and inspirational leaders.
There is no guarantee to meet your “forever partner” at Illinois State as our interviewees did, whether working or not. What you will find though are meaningful experiences and a way to practically apply what you are learning to a job or career. An opportunity to explore some of the on-campus employers and positions is coming up in the next few months as “You Can Work at ISU,” a student-employment event, is scheduled to introduce students to employment and jobs that might lead to the same outcomes as Hartsock, Rio, and Zorn-Neuber are currently enjoying.
Jobs on campus are just a click away at Jobs.IllinoisState.edu. Internships and off-campus employment are located at Hire-A-Redbird, and getting involved in an organization where you can also build up your business skills can be found at RedbirdLife.IllinoisState.edu.