Get involved in research earlier rather than later, it is a great learning experience.
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student account manager
April 2021 • Provo, UT
What I liked
Very low key, low pressure environment while I still get valuable work experience.
What I wish was different
I wish I didn't have to work over Zoom.
Advice
Take advantage of on-campus opportunities.
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EFY counselor
May - August 2019 • Provo, UT
What I liked
The people I came in contact with. I loved being able to get to know and learn from different personalities. It was a fun environment!
What I wish was different
Sometimes I wish there was better communication / unity between the leadership team and the counselors.
Advice
Give it your all! Don't leave the summer wishing you had done more. You will get out of it what you put in.
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REU Intern
June - August 2019 • Provo, UT
What I liked
Great environment, resources, and research. My mentor is great, as were the rest of the faculty that I interacted with through the course of the REU.
What I wish was different
As there were some hiccups with getting other resources, such as ID cards, it would have been nice if other portions of campus were a little better educated on who we were and what we would need, since we were only there for 10 weeks.
Advice
Do your best to learn about your research topic beforehand so you can hit the ground running. One good way to do that is to reach out to your mentor as soon as you know which one you will have.
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Undergraduate Lab Assistant
May - December 2019 • Provo, UT
What I liked
I was given a lot of freedom on when I wanted to work and accomplish different tasks. As long as I got my work done on time, I had all the freedom in the world.
What I wish was different
I wish that chemistry was easier and or research would have had an outcome that we could have published during my time in the lab.
Advice
It was a great opportunity to see what I liked and didn't like about research and it really helped me make plans for my future.
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Undergraduate Research Assistant
June 2019 • Honolulu, HI
What I liked
the experience of getting involved in actual field work and seeing the results of conservation practice
What I wish was different
I would have loved to have been able to speak Samoan and interact with the chiefs who allowed us onto their reefs more
Advice
take advantage of research oppoertunities!
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EFY Counselor
May 2019 • Provo, UT
What I liked
I loved being with youth and teaching them about my passions. I was able to travel all over the United States while being paid for it.
What I wish was different
Pay higher
Advice
Absolutely incredible experience that I will never forget. I wish everyone had the opportunity to do this.
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Building Custodian
June - August 2019 • Provo, UT
What I liked
Getting paid, working with coworkers
What I wish was different
Wish there was more opportunity for advancement
Advice
Wake up early
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Moving Crew
June 2019 • Provo, UT
What I liked
I loved the atmosphere. The people are great, and my boss was awesome. Couldn't have asked for a better summer job.
What I wish was different
I wish I would've worked their since January, instead of finding it half way through the year.
Advice
This experience helped me gain skills for the rest of my life. So, if you hate learning, don't apply. Also, if you hate making mistakes, don't apply. The job is about learning new things and learning from your mistakes.
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Teacher
November 2018 • Provo, UT
What I liked
I love being able to teach every day and be with missionaries.
What I wish was different
The hours are a bit tricky.
Advice
If you are considering it, do it.
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Research Archaeologist
April - June 2019 • Casas Grandes, Chihuahua
What I liked
What I liked about my research/crew chief situation. I was able to gain a great deal of experience in the field of archaeology in Northern Mexico. Experience a new culture, and network with other archaeologists in that area.
What I wish was different
I wish I could have been more prepared by doing more research in the area beforehand. I also wish I would have been much more fluent in Spanish before heading to Mexico.
Advice
Always reach out to professors and professors, and genuinely show interest in their research. Also, be sure to show you have the ability to contribute to their research, and you are competent in the field.
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Camp Counselor
May - August 2019 • Provo, UT
What I liked
It was a good opportunity to help youth and be a support for them.
What I wish was different
There was very little free time, which made doing the job all summer long very stressful.
Advice
be prepared to run on little sleep. But overall, have fun!
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Computer technician
August 2018 • Provo, UT
What I liked
Great job! Still love it. I learned a lot about computer functionality and networking.
What I wish was different
Wish I hadn't taken classes too
Advice
Summer work is awesome. Do it and earn some money and DONT do school at the same time
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MTC cafeteria worker
May 2019 • Provo, UT
What I liked
The work environment
What I wish was different
Being able to work better hours. Not having a 2 hour break between shifts.
Advice
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Research assistant
April 2019 • Provo, UT
What I liked
I learned a lot about how to be an engineer and how to do research
What I wish was different
It would have been nice to get paid a little more
Advice
Work as hard as you can.
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Graduate Research Assistant
August 2019 • Provo, UT
What I liked
Research is something I have never worked on before. I've been able to learn a lot about different topics.
What I wish was different
Training on the best practices and resources on how to do effective research.
Advice
If you want a flexible schedule and learn interesting things, research is a great option.
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Aerodynamics Research Assistant
April 2018 • Provo, UT
What I liked
I liked how I can work on my own time. It allowed me to take time off to go on trips and have a summer. I also loved getting to learn what the forefront of the aerodynamics community is like and how I can better join that community. It also makes for a good school job.
What I wish was different
I wish I had more regular hours and more clear goals. Working on your own discretion is hard sometimes, especially for the entire summer because other things like classes, friends or food would take priority over work. Also, having your own direction can be difficult to know what you should do from day to day.
Advice
I suggest taking time to plan. Plan when you work. Plan your goals. Plan your tasks to accomplish you goals. Plan how long those tasks should take. Plan. Then follow that plan.
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Sound Engineering Technician
May - September 2019 • Provo, UT
What I liked
I loved my boss and the job itself. It was very flexible and low stressed but still challenged my abilities so I became more proficient and my job.
What I wish was different
Nothing.
Advice
If you can get a technical skill you will be able to get much better jobs that pays more and is more fun to do.
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Physics Demonstration Lab Assistant
May 2019 • Provo, UT
What I liked
I loved the problem solving, and the freedom to explore multiple creative solutions.
What I wish was different
More project design would have been great, that was my favorite part.
Advice
Make friends at work, and work together on projects, it makes them go faster and help keeps you focused.
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Summer Research Intern
June - August 2019 • Provo, UT
What I liked
I learned a lot from the professors I was working with as mentors, the graduate students in the lab, and other fellow research assistants. I was also exposed to different types of psychology fields and that helped me to get a better sense of which field I'm interested in.
