http://nau.edu

Northern Arizona University (NAU)

Greenhouse Technician and Assistant

June 2019 • Flagstaff, AZ

What I liked

I loved being able to work outside, have open flexibility while also taking summer classes, a supportive work environment, and working somewhere that is helping the planet.

What I wish was different

Nothing, it was the best job experience!

Advice

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Camp Counselor

June - July 2019 • Flagstaff, AZ

What I liked

Working with the children and being outside.

What I wish was different

More field trips with the children.

Advice

Patience is key. Working with children you need to develop patience and good listening skills.
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Copy area assistant

May 2019 • Flagstaff, AZ

What I liked

I like the management and team. Was trained well and enjoyed the productivity of the shop

What I wish was different

More pay

Advice

Just pay attention and take your time in this position. Attention to detail is more important than getting things done quickly and wrong.
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Custodial Admin

May 2019 • Flagstaff, AZ

What I liked

All the supervisors in the custodial department are phenomenal at working with my class schedule and understanding that I'm a student first.

What I wish was different

Honestly, nothing!

Advice

There's a lot to learn so you have to be a fast learner and pay really good attention and ask questions.
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Peak Performance Math Coach

May 2018 • Buffalo, MN

What I liked

What I wish was different

Advice

This is the second summer that I served as a math coach, and I truly enjoyed the experience. This position is a great opportunity to help other students be get ready for college, both from a class and mental standpoint. Anyone who enjoys math and helping others should apply for this job.
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OnBase Student Worker

March 2018 • Flagstaff, AZ

What I liked

Love working with people I know and learning new things!

What I wish was different

Advice

Do the trainings and be eager to learn!
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Summer REU Intern

June - August 2019 • Flagstaff, AZ

What I liked

The research that I was doing was very interesting and with leading members of the field. There were also weekly talks about current research that faculty were doing related to astronomy and planetary science. We also went on organized field trips to cool locations such as Meteor Crater, the Discovery Channel Telescope, and more. The location of Flagstaff was also very nice.

What I wish was different

I wish that the interns had a more centralized work space since we were all kind of scattered around. I also wish that our living spaces in the dorms there were closer together as not all of us were directly near each other.

Advice

Learn to budget your meals! The food costs were not covered, only travel and housing. So if you want to keep food costs down, learn to cook basic things.
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Peer Mentor

August 2018 • Flagstaff, AZ

What I liked

I love working with First Year students and doing whatever I can to make sure that they succeed.

What I wish was different

I would like for the class to be more interactive than it is, but the professor will not listen to any of the recommendations that I have. I feel like people would enjoy it more, and that is how most, if not all, sociology classes are.

Advice

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Undergraduate Research Assistant

July 2019 • Flagstaff, AZ

What I liked

I enjoyed the experience in my field. I have a leg up in my classes now.

What I wish was different

N/A

Advice

Make the steps to get on your professor’s good sides to reach opportunities like this.
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Feild Technition

May 2018 • Flagstaff, AZ

What I liked

I got to travel all around the Southwestern United States: Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah to collect ecological data for a large research project at NAU.

What I wish was different

Advice

One of the best opportunities and summers/jobs I have ever had! If you get an opportunity take it, and grow your network.
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Residential Desk Monitor

June - August 2018 • Flagstaff, AZ

What I liked

The flexibility of hours

What I wish was different

Nothing

Advice

Manage your time well and relax
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Water safety Instructor

May 2018 • Flagstaff, AZ

What I liked

I love the people there! My coworkers and bosses are amazing. The pay is pretty good for on campus too .

What I wish was different

The day to day activities can get repetitive.

Advice

If you go for this, go with enough time to get management training!
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Research Assistant

January 2017 • Flagstaff, AZ

What I liked

I like that I get to learn more about nutrition and health while at work.

What I wish was different

Not sitting inside of an office majority of the time.

Advice

Give your all to any job or internship you have because it could turn into something full time.
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Academic Advisor

October 2018 • Flagstaff, AZ

What I liked

My experience so far has been incredible and extremely rewarding. I'm using my experiences at NAU to directly translate into work that I enjoy. I've been learning a lot in my new role, and it has been challenging me in the best ways possible.

What I wish was different

I wish I had used my personal network earlier in my job search. I was really worried about not having a job for a little bit, and while it wasn't a long period after graduation that I didn't have a job, I wish I would've applied to all sorts of places instead of just one regional area that I was interested in moving to.

Advice

Utilize all of your experiences, or as many as you can, while you're in your undergraduate studies. They will contribute just as much, sometimes more, than your education. It's good to do the best you can in school, but also balance time for involvements that are just as important to you.
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Field Assistant

July - August 2017 • Fairbanks, AK

What I liked

It was a life-changing experience. I loved working outside every day.

What I wish was different

I wouldn’t change anything.

Advice

Even if you don’t think you’re qualified for something, you never know what other opportunities could come up just by putting yourself out there. I was a freshman applying for this research gig amongst graduating seniors with way more experience than me. But forming a relationship with the grad students who were interviewing opened up other opportunities for me that allowed me to get some amazing field work experience.
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HR Assistant

September 2018 • Flagstaff, AZ

What I liked

I love working in Human Resources at NAU. The people who work in this office have been incredibly supportive.

What I wish was different

Advice

If the opportunity for a job comes your way, go for it. Even if it isn't in a related field to your college degree, it is a great idea to get a variety of experience in as many areas as possible!
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Program Coordinator

July 2018 • Flagstaff, AZ

What I liked

I love my work, I get to help people and there's a lot of flexibility in the projects that I am able to take on.

What I wish was different

I wish that I had more real-world experiences in college in my field, such as internships and research.

Advice

It's never too early to start getting involved in your career path. While it might be tempting to work full time in retail while you're taking classes, that can take away from other important experiences that may help you get ahead before you graduate. Understandably, a lot of students must work, but if you need a full time job then aim for something related to your field or take on small volunteer positions during the breaks.
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Graphic Designer, Sr.

April 2017 • Flagstaff, AZ

What I liked

I like designing full-time with a team of designers.

What I wish was different

I wish I was able to do more design project managing.

Advice

Since we're an internal agency, we have MANY levels of approvals we have to get–which means MANY rounds of revisions.
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Communications Coordinator

October 2018 • Flagstaff, AZ

What I liked

Everyone is extremely helpful and the employee benefits are fantastic. It is an awesome place to work for, very rewarding, and a beautiful location.

What I wish was different

I wish the on-boarding process had been a bit smoother. I had worked for the university 4 months prior and it meant I did not have to fill out the regular paperwork. Unfortunately we did not realize this until after I had been waiting for the on-boarding email for a week. It was not a bad experience, it was just the one negative in the process.

Advice

Start applying for jobs early, even if you think you aren't 100% qualified. Many employers are looking for a desire to work and a willingness to learn. Passion and enthusiasm go farther than you think, and most employers are willing to work with you to get you where you need to be for them, as long as you have some base knowledge and a willingness to learn. NAU is an excellent community to work for and I HIGHLY recommend it to everyone.
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Administrative Assistant

August 2018 • Flagstaff, AZ

What I liked

What I wish was different

Advice

Although finding a job after graduation can be tough and discouraging, not giving up is the best thing you can do. I had my interview for this position a couple days before moving back home five hours away. I had given up. Luckily though, a week after the interview, I was given the offer and found my way back. Key note: don't give up and be open minded about your opportunities.
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