October 30, 2025
Tell us about yourself.
I was born and raised in New Haven. I am a New Haven Promise Scholar and majored in Economics at UCONN, receiving my bachelor’s degree in May of 2023.
Tell us about your job search experience.
I interned at Yale University in the summer of 2023 through New Haven Promise as an HR rotational intern. Each week, I was assigned to a different department at Yale, including IT, the School of Medicine, and Employee Engagement and Workplace Culture. Through this experience, I learned about the New Haven Hiring Initiative and its partnership with New Haven Works.
Both the New Haven Hiring Initiative and New Haven Works had a positive impact on my job search journey at Yale. New Haven Works was helpful in preparing me for the interview process. I was assigned a job coach who offered to do practice sessions and review interview questions. I was shy at first, so her guidance helped me to come out of my shell. The New Haven Hiring Initiative frequently sent me temporary assignments they thought I would be interested in so that I could make a smooth transition to a new opportunity after my New Haven Promise internship ended.
After two months of applying for the temporary roles, I had many interviews. One of them led me to a temporary part-time role in the Faculty of Arts & Sciences (FAS) at Humanities Quadrangle in October of 2023, which is where I work now. At first, it felt like I did not know anything while I was in my part-time role, but then I started to learn how to plan events, reserve hotels, make travel arrangements, and more about finance at Yale. I often used LinkedIn Learning and Workday training to expand my knowledge. I was able to apply the skills I learned as a temp in FAS to my current role.
Tell us about your current roles at Yale.
I am currently a Floater, Senior Administrative Assistant in the Faculty of Arts & Sciences department. I started in my role in October 2024 and just made the one-year mark earlier this month. In my role, I assist faculty, staff, and graduate students in the Humanities and support several units. I usually am assigned to two or three departments a week. Sometimes, I’ll research online to find information about them, including the names of staff. Knowing names beforehand helps me to be kind and courteous so that I can provide excellent customer service.
I work on reimbursements, expense reports, and processing payments on Workday. I still use LinkedIn Learning to watch videos on different policies or Workday as a guide to follow along when processing payments I don’t see often.
You participated in one Yale’s pathway programs. What was the experience like? How does the culture of learning and development at Yale impact you?
I participated in the Bridge to Employment pathway program with the New Haven Hiring Initiative when I was a temporary employee in 2024. When my temporary assignment ended, my New Haven Works job coach recommended me for the Bridge to Employment program.
The program was a great opportunity. I was learning new things each week, from technical skills on Microsoft Office Suite to understanding what exceptional customer service is. I remember the session about customer service where a speaker came in to talk to us. It made me think about how customer service could apply to my future jobs. I was grateful for the Bridge to Employment program, not only because I did not have to experience a gap in my employment but also for the skills I learned that I still use in my role today.
What advice do you have for other job seekers, and what are your next steps?
My advice for other job seekers with administrative support goals is to be open to learning and networking. If it weren’t for attending the New Haven Promise Career Fair, I wouldn’t have been connected to the New Haven Hiring Initiative or New Haven Works. You never know where putting yourself out there can take you.
Register with New Haven Works if you have the opportunity. My job coach at New Haven Works taught me that communication and following up is important. I noticed that when I communicated and followed up on emails quickly, people got back to me and kept me in mind for roles. This helped when I was looking for a job and led me to the Bridge to Employment program.
My next steps are to continue growing in my role. I am looking forward to making it to my second year and learning more. I am thinking about getting my master’s degree soon, but I am still deciding what to study.