The journey from student to professional can be daunting, especially when your goals are to make a difference in the world. CU Boulder alumni Hannah Clayton and Callie Habegger both have intentions to better society with their professional work. The question was where and how to start accomplishing their goals.
To find the support for putting those plans into action, Hannah and Callie both used Career Services, a department in the Division of Student Affairs, during their time at CU. Their stories highlight the pivotal role that Career Services can play in helping and empowering students to shape their paths after graduation in order to foster positive change.
Crafting a compelling narrative
Hannah Clayton’s (StratComm’23) exploration of marketing and advertising began with the support of Tzigane Martin, a dedicated career advisor that works with students from the College of Media, Communication and Information and the College of Music.
“In my experience with Tzigane, it felt very personalized,” said Hannah. “Every time I would go, she would remember what we talked about, ask for updates on applications, and because I built that relationship with her, she would find me at career fairs and say, ‘There’s this company here that has a job that’s totally up your alley."
Recognizing the challenge of navigating the vast array of career options, Hannah also worked with Career Services to build her professional portfolio to articulate her personal story and what her career goals are.
“Without Career Services, I wouldn’t have been able to express myself in a way that I feel like a lot of resumes can hold you back from,” said Hannah. “You can’t go in with this idea of, ‘Well, if I have a solid resume, then everything’s going to be good. There are so many different factors, whether that’s writing a creative cover letter or making portfolio that has a cohesive message.”
Skill building through Career Services and Tzigane’s support helped Hannah secure an internship with Amelie Company, an advertising agency in Denver. In that position, she worked on positive impact campaigns such as “Lift the Label,” which sheds light on substance-use disorders and the power of advertising in influencing public perceptions.
It was that kind of work that Hannah was most drawn to. That, and providing opportunities to underrepresented groups. The recognition both she and Tzigane shared for the value of diversity in the workforce further fueled Hannah’s passion for creating positive change.
“In the end, that’s why I love working with Tzigane,” said Hannah. “She has a good grasp on how important it is to diversify the workforce and how to use it as a strength in order to create the job and opportunities that you want.”
After graduating in December 2023, Hannah started looking for new opportunities. She expressed that while the job market is overwhelming, she believes that with consistent work with Career Services, she will land the full-time position she is looking for.
Navigating the unknown and finding purpose
Callie Habegger’s (EBIO’23) journey started with some uncertainty. Callie came to CU Boulder with an undeclared major and went to Career Services her freshman year to help determine what she wanted to study. With her love of animals and conservation, she eventually chose ecology and evolutionary biology as her major.
Callie returned to Career Services in her senior year when the prospect of applying to jobs neared. She connected with Career Services advisor Schuyler Simonton, whose approach involved thoughtful conversations that prompted Callie to reflect on the “why” behind her academic and career choices.
“When I first met Schuyler, I told him everything that was on my mind and how all the pressures on me to find a job after graduation made it feel impossible to even start looking,” said Callie. “Schuyler had me slow down, start from the beginning and narrow down my thinking. He helped me see that there is no ‘right’ way to get a job and that I’m on my own journey.”
Through networking, Callie found a job opening at Sundance Consulting, Inc., a Native American- and Woman-Owned environmental consulting firm based in Idaho. During the application and interview process, she used Career Services resources such as the VMock AI resume editor to improve her resume and formulate questions for upcoming interviews.
“When I was networking and interviewing with the people at Sundance, Schuyler supported me through the whole process and encouraged me to be persistent,” said Callie. “It was comforting to have a reliable form of support from someone in Career Services. I felt less alone in the unpredictable world of post grad.”
Callie’s time, energy and work proved successful. She secured that position and is now a scientist and administrator for Sundance Consulting, attributing some of that success to the support from Career Services and Schuyler.
One size does not fit all
Hannah and Callie’s experiences demonstrate that Career Services can be a catalyst for success in a competitive job market. And the term “catalyst” is key. Career Services can provide innovative tools, personalized guidance and ongoing support, but it is the individual student’s dedication and how they capitalize on Career Services’ resources that drive their success.
That is why the relationships that career advisors make with students are crucial. When a student hears that someone understands their obstacles and encourages their passions, it can make a difference in their job search. Advisors like Tzigane and Schuyler recognize that each student’s journey into the professional landscape is different, just as Hannah and Callie’s journeys differ. They are experts in identifying how to best support the individual student and prepare them for meaningful and fulfilling careers.
Students can work with Career Services to explore majors, search for jobs and internships, get help with their resumes and cover letters, and more. For more information about Career Services at CU Boulder, visit the Career Services website.