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This week’s Humans of Career Services is our new Associate Director of Career Services,  Career Advisor and Coordinator of Career Development Programming, Chris Hohnholt!

As a Career Advisor, Chris helps students by providing best practices and tailored recommendations for resumes, CVs, and LinkedIn profiles. He advises students on majors and careers, offers opportunities for mock interviews, and insight on the best practices for salary and job negotiations.

As the Coordinator of Career Development Programming, Chris offers life design and career focused outreach to Michigan Tech students through classroom discussions here at the Career Services office, as well as guest presentations for courses, professional society meetings, and student leadership and involvement functions. 

Chris came back to Houghton after three and a half years of working for the Department of the Navy. He wants to be a part of the professional development of the amazing students here; helping to bridge their academic and professional lives.

His favorite memories involve all of the career events that lead up to Fall Career Fair as it was “fast paced and we were able to assist a lot of students,” says Hohnholt.

We are very happy to have Chris on the team as we are excited to see what he does as he helps students with their journey into their professional lives!

Amanda Moya and Karsyn VanLannen met on co-op in 2018 while working at Georgia-Pacific in Green Bay, Wisconsin.  

As they both prepare to graduate from Michigan Technological University in May 2020, they plan to chase their dreams together with full-time positions at Georgia-Pacific (GP) and will continue their truly amazing friendship. 

Amanda, a mechanical engineering major, had this to say about their story,  “We met during my second term with GP and Karsyn’s first. I was an intern in corporate engineering and Karsyn was in mill engineering.”

Karsyn, a chemical engineering major, was working in the paper mill as a process engineer.  

“When we met,” Amanda says, “We hit it off right away. We were enjoying our time with GP doing intern events for engineering interns like conferences and tours.”

When Amanda and Karsyn came back from co-op they decided to set up weekly lunches at Michigan Tech to catch up and see each other. “Since I’m mechanical engineering and Karsyn is chemical engineer, we don’t have any classes together.”

This summer Amanda and Karsyn returned to Georgia-Pacific as interns. Karsyn returned to Green Bay to work in corporate engineering and Amanda worked on paper machines in Port Hudson, Louisiana. They kept in contact over the summer and consulted with each other when they both received full-time job offers from GP.

After graduation, Karsyn will be working as a process engineer in the Green Bay Mill and Amanda will be working as a process engineer in Wauna, OR. “Together we’ll be in the same Engineering Development Program cohort and will continue working together at specialized trainings several times a year. We are very excited to be working for this company and to be able to start our full time careers together!” 

It is clear that the Michigan Tech bond doesn’t end at graduation. We wish Amanda and Karsyn the best in their future, and we know that they’ll be successful in their endeavors.

Story by Scott Sviland

Darian Reed is headed to Phoenix, Arizona on a co-op with Kiewit!

Darian, a civil engineering major at Michigan Tech, worked for Kiewit in Washington, D.C. last summer on a rail job. As his summer position ended, Darian was offered a co-op, thanks to an endorsement and recommendation from his mentor. Darian is looking forward to spending time in Phoenix and learning how to estimate a job first hand.

Darian’s advice to other students is, “You never know who you may know and how they can help you.”

Congratulations, Darian! Soak up some Arizona sun for the rest of us.

Hunter Linzmeier, Electrical Engineering student at Michigan Technological University, is heading to Kohler on a co-op!

Here’s his story:

“Ever since I came to Michigan Tech, I was interested in Kohler. Being a huge company so close to home, I’ve heard nothing but great opportunities that they have to offer. I went to the Fall Career Fair with my resume and cover letter in hand and I connected well with the Kohler recruiters. I had a phone interview a few days following Career Fair. The interview went well and I was offered a co-op position immediately. I was so shocked that I got it! I also got offers from a few other companies, so that made my decision difficult. Ultimately, Kohler opened my eyes to their endless options and ability to open my mind with new experiences. I look forward to working with Kohler to brighten my horizon towards my future.

If I could give other students advice, I would tell them to research the company they’re interested in; Connect with every opportunity because networking is important; Don’t worry or stress; Be confident, be cool, calm and collected; Most importantly, be yourself.

I’m really looking forward to being part of such a great company and being able to learn while on the job. I value that aspect of my education. I will never forget the moment when I received my first offer letter. I finally knew that I achieved everything I was looking for.”

Congratulations Hunter!

“Once I got the telephone interview, it was all on me. I had to rely on my own capabilities to convert this opportunity into an offer,” says Sai Rajeeve Davaragudi after landing a summer internship at Faraday Future in Los Angeles, California.

Sai Rajeeve Devaragudi is a tenacious graduate student at Michigan Technological University studying mechanical engineering-engineering mechanics.

Before attending Michigan Tech, Sia completed a mechanical engineering degree at Manipal Academy of Higher Education, formerly known as Manipal University, in India in 2017.

As an undergrad, Sia gained design, powertrain, and structural engineering experience through a Formula SAE vehicle project and a summer internship at Mahindra Susten.

Sai developed increased career readiness and job search skills at Michigan Tech by attending Career Services’ events and meeting individually with a career advisor. “I worked on my resume a lot. I had several meetings with a career advisor at career services to polish my resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile.”

Sai credits his updated LinkedIn profile for helping him attract recruiters and for finding relevant job postings.

Sai is currently working as an intern at Faraday Future, an American company based in Southern California that focuses on the development of intelligent electric vehicles.  “It was all on me, and I knew I could do it.”

Picture a state-of-the art, outdoor theater situated in the picturesque mountains of Sante Fe, New Mexico, which seats more than 2,000 people.

“The sun sets. The orchestra starts the overture. The show begins,” explains Zep Elkerton, a visual and performing arts students at Michigan Tech, as he vividly remembers his AV apprenticeship at The Sante Fe Opera in 2016.

Zep Elkerton is a third-year student majoring in theater and entertainment technology with a mechanical and electrical emphasis. Zep says, “Interdisciplinary studies between these departments helps me to learn the skills that other universities don’t teach their theater technology students until graduate school.”

Zep has always been curious about audio equipment and the way it works. When he was only eight years old, he wondered about the audio console at his church. He was determined to learn what all of the buttons did and to figure out how to operate it. He continued his study of audio and entertainment equipment throughout high school and college.

As a first-year student at Michigan Tech, Zep met with his professors, Kent Cyr, to discuss internship options. Thanks to Cyr’s council, Zep was hired at the Santa Fe Opera in New Mexico and describes his summer work experience as “magical.” Zep was responsible for moving sets, lighting, sound, and props.

Last summer, Zep worked at the Spoleto Festival USA an apprentice carpenter. He worked on 53 performances over the course of 17 days. After the festival ended, he did freelance work in the Minneapolis area. He worked for the union and built stages for some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Billy Joel, the Backstreet Boys, and Florida Georgia Line.

Zep’s experiences and opportunities have given him industry connections that will last a lifetime. He explains, ” In the entertainment industry, who you know gets you hired more often than what you know.”

Written by Morgan Laajala, Communications Intern, Career Services 

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Left image: Zep (center) and the AV apprentice group enjoying the sunset on opening night at The Santa Fe Opera.

Bottom image: The production team for the world class Santa Fe Opera in 2016.

Here are some links to the local news stories that ran about Medical Careers Week.  It was a great week for Career Education.

Channel 6 (NBC) : http://uppermichiganssource.com/news/local/mtu-students-explore-medical-careers-this-week

Channel 10 (ABC): http://abc10up.com/med-students-speak-with-medical-device-pros/