The U Career Success Center has evolved over time to meet the growing needs of University of Utah students. Their strategy includes the motto, “No student left behind,” and their commitment to community partners. Suzie Pilkington is the student manager at the U Career Success Center and talks about the evolution of her career and role at the center.
Pilkington’s initial interest in this job was because she grew up a University of Utah fan. “I’ve always been a big Utes fan. My whole life … all growing up I came to the Utes games and so when I saw a position open at the U—a temporary one—it worked out perfectly for me.”
Pilkington reflects on her start in this center saying, “I started in the office as a temp employee… filling in as the recruiting coordinator but also doing a lot of admin work.” She continues on by saying, “It was kind of to bide my time while I was waiting to hear back from grad schools. I was looking at cultural anthropology programs, but then I ended up really enjoying the office. I really liked the culture here, the atmosphere, and I really liked my boss. I felt like this was a career path that I hadn’t really thought of previously.”
Pilkington held her initial role as recruiting coordinator for about a year and a half, and earned a promotion within the center. She explains her unique position by saying, “My official title is student manager. We have a team of interns in the office that help run the office, and they do a lot of various things, but I manage the greater team.”
Pilkington works with career coaches within the center. She says, “I’m not a career coach, but any student that comes into the office, whether that be an intern or otherwise, I want to make sure they feel welcome, and that they’re also capable of their own career goals.”
Pilkington talks about student career paths, saying, “They can also be successful regardless of their major or what they’re studying. You don’t have to sacrifice your interests and passions to be successful in a career field.” She focused on this by recognizing that the center’s motto, “‘No student left behind,’ means ensuring that every student at the U has the same opportunity to succeed. It’s about helping students realize that their interests and passions don’t have to be sacrificed for a successful career.”
