University of Georgia

undergraduates

May 2023 • Athens, GA

What I liked

I enjoy learning about proper lab techniques and being a part of fascinating research in a field that interests me.

What I wish was different

I wish I found this opportunity sooner in my college career as I would've loved to be a part of the projects for a longer period of time.

Advice

I would recommend that students look into research opportunities during their sophomore or junior year.

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Student Worker

May - August 2023 • Athens, GA

What I liked

They are extremely accommodating of class schedule, other commitments, and a work life balance for their student workers. At my location in the veterinary college, the community was small and tightly knit. Everyone was looking out for one another and truly invested in each others personal lives.

What I wish was different

Due to the nature of the work we were doing, there was a lot of busy work and down time that felt tedious or unimportant. Student workers are typically there to make the lives of the main faculty easier and sometimes there is nothing to do or only large amounts of tedious boring work. That comes with the job.

Advice

It is a great way to get experience with your school and a field of your choice. Applying on the Universities website can be difficult, so I recommend reaching out to the manager or head faculty member through email seperately.

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Undergraduate Research Assistant

August 2022 • Athens, GA

What I liked

I liked that it was easy for me to find and allowed me to gain research experience

What I wish was different

I wish I had chosen a different lab

Advice

I would share to start looking for research positions early and to get a head start

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Information Desk Associate

May - October 2022 • Athens, GA

What I liked

I liked the nature of the job and the interpersonal skills it equipped me with.

What I wish was different

I wish I had done better as an employee with regards to communication to my higher ups.

Advice

Communication is key in this line of work

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Lifeguard

May - August 2022 • Athens, GA

What I liked

I loved the staff I got to work with this past summer, it was my favorite summer of college by far! I made some awesome friends and connections. It was also great that it was on campus which made it easy for me to walk to work!

What I wish was different

I wish the pool had been open until September, I feel like students would have come out and that would be super fun.

Advice

This summer job is SO WORTH IT. The whole thing is super relaxed, so my best piece of advice is to apply!!! It was the best decision I ever made.

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Education Researcher

May - July 2022 • Athens, GA

What I liked

What I wish was different

I wish I had been researching a different subject matter

Advice

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Student Worker

August 2021 • Athens, GA

What I liked

The work environment is very lenient, as long as you get your work done. Also, the creative designs I get to implement into the department of microbiology.

What I wish was different

Nothing, everything is going well so far.

Advice

Remember to be on time and work efficiently.

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Undergraduate Research Assistant

June 2019 • Athens, GA

What I liked

It is a wonderful opportunity to gain experience in my field. I have learned so many things that you cannot learn in a classroom and will be incredibly beneficial moving forward in my education and career.

What I wish was different

I worked for credit hours, however, it would have been nice to be paid. The job itself requires a lot of hours and that can be difficult if a student is busy with classes and work.

Advice

Be sure to work in an area or lab that you really enjoy. My first lab wasn't in my field and it made it difficult to contribute more than just base skills. My second lab is a chemistry lab and it is much easier to get involved in the projects.

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Research Intern

May - July 2021 • Athens, GA

What I liked

One-on-one mentorship, plenty of laboratory equipment/resources, great networking, various fields of interest, and plenty of career advice made the experience very enriching.

What I wish was different

That there were more university-sponsored events that interns could have participated in.

Advice

You get out of this experience what you put into it. Everyone is very friendly and willing to help, remember all the resources and use them to the best of your ability.

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Research Assistant

May - August 2021 • Athens, GA

What I liked

I liked being able to make my own schedule and pursue the research that I’m passionate about.

What I wish was different

I wish the project I was a part of was further advanced in its process so I would have been able to gain more experience.

Advice

Research assistantships are a great way to earn money while gaining relevant experience and making a difference in the real world.

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plant pathologist

June 2021 • Athens, GA

What I liked

everything. working with plants and people

What I wish was different

paid a higher wage.

Advice

to try new things out becuase you might like it.

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Lab assistant

September 2020 • Athens, GA

What I liked

The flexible hours and positive environment/people

What I wish was different

I wish uga would allow me to work more hours during the school year

Advice

Good to get work experience during the summer if you arent taking too many classes

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Data Entry Clerk

October 2018 • Guysville, OH

What I liked

I like my boss, she's very flexible and understanding. She communicates well and keeps me updated on how I'm doing and what else needs to be done.

What I wish was different

I wish I had asked for a raise sooner than I did.

Advice

Make sure to communicate with your boss. Having honest discussions about hours, availability, and wage makes the employment process easier on everyone involved.

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Graduate Research Assistant

June 2021 • Athens, GA

What I liked

Working with graduate students and professors to gain valuable insight and experience.

What I wish was different

I wish there were more meetings.

Advice

Just stick with the program because it'll start out slow and then pick up pace for you to learn and gain experience.

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Customer Service Assistant

May - August 2021 • Athens, GA

What I liked

I loved the independence and the freedom of this job. You didn't have anyone hovering over your shoulder. You showed up and did your job. Also, it allows you to complete other tasks at the desk which was very helpful for me because I was taking Summer classes.

What I wish was different

I wish the hours were more and the pay was higher. I wasn't making as much money as I'd hoped. CSAs play an important role in maintaining the structure and safety of the UGA Housing community, so I think they should be treated as such. I also think they should pay for your parking.

Advice

I would say that it may seem a bit confusing at first but after the first few shifts, you'll feel a lot more comfortable in your abilities and there are so many resources if you need help.

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Undergraduate Research Assistant

August 2019 - July 2021 • Athens, GA

What I liked

Flexible hours, interesting research with Monarch butterflies, and a supportive work environment all contributed to a great experience that fostered camaraderie and learning.

What I wish was different

Nothing

Advice

Whether or not you wish to go into the field of academia, research provides critical experience to bolster your resume/CV and provides critical skills. I would highly suggest looking for a lab, like the Altizer Lab, to work in that studies a topic you find interesting.

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