I still remember getting my first job. My high school girlfriend set me up with the owner of a restaurant so I could wash dishes.
Dear Students,
I still remember getting my first job. My high school girlfriend set me up with the owner of a restaurant so I could wash dishes. My second job shelving books in a college library was also by way of thanks to an introduction -- my father knew the head librarian. The first job I had to find myself was a real challenge. I wanted some sort of research internship in college and of course had no experience. Fortunately, one of the advisors in my department sat with me repeatedly, coached me through my lack of confidence (yes, a small town kid really could approach a faculty member), and introduced me to the various faculty and what kinds of things they do (I didn't know the difference between a plasma physicist and a particle physicist). He also coached me through the inevitable disappointments (the astronomer didn't have anything for me), and on how to have an informational interview in which I had to learn to research the faculty's work and ask a few questions so the faculty would know I was interested.
A job I'll mention to you is being an undergraduate TA in one of the courses in the College.
Many departments invite applications for undergraduates to assist with lecture or lab courses. The benefits to you are many. You learn the material better than you could imagine (it'll be the second time really delving in, and any faculty will tell you that you learn best by teaching). You'll get to work closely with the faculty instructors in the college who are undertaking interesting experiments in their teaching. You will have a great addition to your resume that communicates to all that your department trusts your knowledge and skills so much that it invited you in to the instructional team. You will be contributing to the academic community of this College by mentoring those younger than yourself, providing advice to our faculty, and creating a culture of service. For me, that experience was so powerful it helped shape my career, but even if teaching doesn't end up being your thing I bet mentoring and training will be part of pretty much any job you will undertake some day.
If you are interested, speak to Jenny Smith, who runs the Peer Leadership Academy training for UGTAs at the beginning of each semester, or Dr. Ruth Franks, who runs an undergrad TA mentoring course for those serving as TAs and and can connect you with many of our faculty who employ UGTAs. Or talk to the faculty who have employed UGTAs in their classes. This could be one of the more enjoyable things you do next semester.
On another job note, this week is the Open House for the Freshman Research Initiative; it will be Wednesday November 2, 1-4pm in the Texas Union Building, Quadrangle Room 3.304. This is a great informational opportunity for all, not just those who are participating in the program. Undergraduates are playing key roles in research all across our college, and have contributed to nearly 100 journal publications. We'll be inviting members of the Austin business community as well, because we want them to see what a difference undergraduate research makes in the training and skills of our students. Dean Laude will speak, as will Dr. Sarah Simmons, director of the FRI program. Tours of labs will follow.
I invite you all to see what undergraduate research is all about, why people do it, and tour some of the labs with the upper-class students who have been involved over the first few years of their time in college. Even though FRI has already started, you can use this as an opportunity to start thinking about opportunities you would like to explore. Learn about various areas of research in the college. Then you can start asking your college advisors during advising and registration. Or you can approach the instructors in your classes who they might advise for good leads. Or you can make an appointment with the advisors in your departments.
Have a great week, and happy Halloween.
Dr. Sacha Kopp
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