Tell us about your current roles at Yale.
As a Program Assistant for the MBA for Executives program, I support dozens of faculty by setting up their Canvas sites and making sure all content is easily accessible and consistent between course sites for students. I assist the Admissions team with event planning and logistics. This includes ordering catering, reserving rooms, and scheduling Zooms and calendar invites. I also assist with event planning for the Pozen-Commonwealth fellowship, along with drafting agendas and other logistical components. I prepare and submit expense reports for myself and colleagues. While this role has been relatively the same throughout my years, there are lots of opportunities and workshops for learning. I continue to gain more skills and refine my workflow.
You participated in internships and a temporary assignment before accepting your staff position. What were those experiences like? How does the culture of learning and development at Yale impact you?
My New Haven Promise internships and temporary assignments were invaluable to my professional development and preparation for my current role. Through these opportunities, I gained experience working in professional spaces with a range of colleagues, how to manage my time, and be organized by keeping track of projects and deadlines. I improved my Microsoft Excel and Word skills and communication, including over email. I also made connections at the university, some of which led to recommendations that supported me beginning my current role.
What advice do you have for other job-seekers?
It is incredibly important to make good connections within the university. Having people “in your corner” is a great way to get your foot in the door, as they can advocate for you and speak to your skills and expertise. Take advantage of every opportunity given and consider how you can use it for your professional development. It is also important that your resume is presentable, error-free, and captures key experiences you had in prior roles. If you are chosen to interview, be sure to highlight how your past experiences can help you succeed in the role you are seeking. Research the organization or department beforehand and mention this research in your interview. This shows that you are invested and interested in the role. Having customer service experience is highly beneficial. Your “customers” will likely be different than they were in the past, but your experience will help you learn how to communicate effectively with others and ensure their needs are met.
What is next for you?
I would like to continue developing my Word and Excel skills, especially Excel, since I use it extensively in my role. I’d also like to see if there are any workshops for expanding my Canvas skills. Perhaps there are additional capabilities that might benefit the students in my program or faculty. I would like to attend workshops to further my professional development and learn how to be a more effective communicator. I signed up for a few Employee Resource Groups, and I am interested in attending their events. Within the next couple of years, I would like to continue to grow in my career at Yale, and I think attending workshops can help me prepare. I am also interested in Yale’s Homebuyer program, so I plan on attending a seminar in the near future.