Work U program expands opportunities for students

WORK U PROGRAM OPENS UP NEW JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR FALL 2018

The Work U program will be entering its third year of connecting students with experiences outside the classroom

Ximena Bustillo | News Reporter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Each week, students in the Work U program at Boise State meet on Friday to debrief the 10 hours of on-site work they have completed with their assigned employer. The program, led by assistant directors Megan Boatman and Lonnie Jackson, focuses on getting students work-sector experience and education outside of their classroom and degree tracks.

The Work U program, also known as 493U on Student Center, will be entering its third year in Fall 2018. Applications are now open and close on April 20.

According to Jackson, the program originally started with eight students. Since then, it has gained interest of students and employers, creating over 70 job opportunities available in the Fall 2018 semester.

Boatman explained that this coming year, partners will include St. Luke’s, St. Alphonsus, City of Boise, Ada County, Boise Cascade, Boise State University, Boys and Girls Club and Smart Consulting. Any student in any major can apply to any job opportunity.

“The opportunities are really broad. The program was designed to provide students with non-career track majors experience that also counts as upper division electives,” Boatman said. “For example, I studied public relations and advertising. There is a lot you can do with those, which is great, but they can be restrictive when students don’t make sure they get resume content so they have experience when they graduate.”

Senior general business and human resource management major Amy Taylor is currently working at St. Alphonsus assisting the Talent Acquisition Team.

“I thought it would be a great opportunity for me to gain experience in human resources and get my foot in the door,” Taylor said. “I have never done recruiting, and I was excited to explore this side of HR.”

Taylor works alongside her mentor to screen resumes, set up phone interviews,

rank candidates and send notes to the hiring managers. She also assists with different projects with other colleagues in the department, attends meetings, job shadows clinical positions and volunteers for engagement nights, as well as other events.

“During Work U, you are paired with a mentor where you are assigned projects while helping them with their daily job duties,” Taylor said. “You are not paid during Work U, but it’s a great opportunity to develop a relationship with your mentor, as well as connect with other colleagues in the department.”

Kylee Wren, a junior communication and Spanish double major, has spent her semester at Zoo Boise as a part of the program.

“I don’t know exactly what I want to do, but I would want to work with coordination and at a non-profit,” Wren said. “I picked this job opportunity specifically

because it is a non-profit, and it has been better than I expected.”

Wren has worked with her mentor—the volunteer coordinator at Zoo Boise—on volunteer interviews, attended orientation, talked at the zoo team program nights and made powerpoints to educate visitors and volunteers on conservation funds.

“Everyone treats me with so much respect, asks for my opinion and includes me in staff meetings, which I never expected being a college student,” Wren said.

According to Jackson, Work U centers on project-based work and allows students to make real contributions to the organization they are working for.

“There is no textbook and minimal homework because we want them to represent the program well on-site,” Jackson said.

Sophomore urban studies and community development major Savannah Willits

said this experience has helped her work within her major’s areas and on real-world projects.

“I am currently working with the City of Boise’s Innovation and Performance team on different projects which analyze the income ability, budgeting and future projects of the area and compares it to other major cities near Boise,” Willits said.

Willits has also been able to receive internship credit through her major.

Jackson and Boatman explained the program has been successful in helping students network into longer internships and full-time employment with the companies.

“Currently, with how higher education is operating, it is necessary for students to get the experience,” Jackson said. “Work U prepares you, gets your foot in the door and enhances your experience at Boise State.”