Career connections
A day in the life: one student’s experience with Huskies@Work
By Hannah Meadows
Senior, Creative Writing
I’m a senior graduating this month, so it was a no-brainer to apply for Huskies@Work, the UW Alumni Association’s new job shadowing program.
I’m an English Major on the creative writing path with career aspirations in copywriting, editorial and creative marketing. I love to tell stories that engage my audience and will hopefully leave an impact on those who see my work. Though I have been sending out applications and focusing on scheduling interviews, I honestly didn’t know what an exact “day in the life” would look like when I’m on the other side.
“With the new Huskies@Work program, the fear of starting out on your own into uncharted territory greatly diminishes—the program puts a human face and casual take on the pressures of building a career in an expanding and bustling city.”
Huskies@Work was a great way to build the bridge between my title as a “new graduate” and the career I am hoping to pursue. It was a highlight of my time at UW and will leave a lasting impression on me.
Through this program I was matched with Misty Shock Rule—a Communications and Media Editor for the UW Alumni Association. She hosted me as we went through meetings, one-on-ones, office tours and the many activities that take place on an official workday in the type of environment and workplace in which I soon see myself.
It was refreshing and exciting to see the engagement of everyone I met at the UWAA—including their commitment to hosting me and their dedication to the UW. I felt neither intimidated nor intrusive on their time. Huskies@Work took the nervousness I’d been feeling toward leaving my familiar life of service industry jobs and university courses, morphing that weary sense into something that felt like home and far less daunting.
I most appreciated the one-on-one talks and informational interviews I had throughout the day. Before I connected with Misty, she was made aware of my passions and plans through the online application. She helped connect me with people that had worked in the type of jobs I’m applying for.
We met with Elise Perachio, Associate Director, E-communications, for UW; Hannelore Suderman, Managing Editor for Columns Magazine; and Terri Hiroshima, Senior Director of Marketing for the UW Alumni Association. They offered insights on how to break into a writing-focused career, personal experience navigating the written fields, and the ins and outs of running a publication, social media presence and marketing team.
Leaving any university is both exhilarating and frightening for new graduates; an entire world of corporate offices, non-profit sectors and other lifelong work-communities lay in waiting. Those types of places are unfamiliar to most undergrads. With the new Huskies@Work program, the fear of starting out on your own into uncharted territory greatly diminishes—the program puts a human face and casual take on the pressures of building a career in an expanding and bustling city.
I hope to see this program continue as a resource for UW students. It was an immense help in shaping my own thoughts on life after graduation, as well as a great tool for making new connections within the UW Alumni Association and beyond.
