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Host Megan Riksen sits down with Katie Born, Senior Director of Human Resources at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, and Steve Smith, Regional Talent Acquisition Manager at University of Michigan Health-West, to discuss career opportunities students may not expect at their organizations through a variety of career paths beyond traditional roles, as well as how to stand out to employers. The episode delves into valuable ways to gain experience through volunteer programs, job shadowing, and ways to network, especially on LinkedIn! Find out more about these organizations! 👇 Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park  University of Michigan Health-West

Do you love working with numbers? In this episode, hosts Megan and Grace sit down with Matt Boelkins, GVSU Math Professor and Department Chair, to talk about previous students' experiences and all the places their math degrees took them, from Disney to Silicon Valley. Alongside Matt, Parker Kuchulan, a 2024 GVSU graduate and Research and Technology Analyst with Betting Hero, talks about his Statistics undergraduate experience and how he navigated his career. Tune in to learn more about all the industries where you can work with numbers!

Welcome to Season 9 of the Work Like a Laker podcast! To kick off the new season, Grace, Dani, and Megan sit down to share their tips and tricks for getting organized in your career search, school work, and beyond. The episode dives into how to manage your time, stay on top of tasks, reduce stress, and make progress toward your goals. Plus, the hosts put their organizational know-how to the test with a fun game featuring real-life scenarios.

Work is hard, but it shouldn’t be completely draining. The right career will feel energizing and exciting, because the right career will align with your core values — but what are your core values, and how do you know if a job aligns with them? In this episode of Work Like a Laker, hosts Megan Riksen and Dani Lauer dive into the process of identifying your values with special guest Renata Ellis, career coach and founder of The Life Room Connection. This episode covers it all, from common barriers that appear when identifying your values to strategies you can use if you find yourself in a career that doesn’t align with your values, so tune in! Resources: https://www.liferoomconnection.com/#worklikealaker #careeradvice #values #careerexploration #GVSU

Most people associate having a career with sitting at a desk from nine to five, but if that doesn’t sound appealing, a career working outside might be more your style. In this episode of Work Like a Laker, hosts Megan Riksen and Grace Joaquin dive into the realities of going into an outdoor career. From the benefits working outdoors can offer to the specific job titles and industries you should keep an eye out for, this episode will provide you with everything you need to know to avoid a future behind a desk. Later in the episode, Leah Wilson from the GVSU Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute (AWRI) joins the podcast to share more about what it’s really like to work outdoors. Resources:Internship Opportunities at AWRI

So you have— or are about to have— a bachelor’s degree in psychology. What now? Maybe you’ve heard that you need a graduate degree to “do anything,” or that the only possible careers for your degree are therapists and counselors. If those aren’t your plans, don’t worry, because this episode of Work Like a Laker is here to debunk all of those rumors.  From the skills you’ve gained to the jobs you qualify for, hosts Megan Riksen and Dani Lauer dive into the many positives of the psychology degree. Later, the episode is joined by Pine Rest Mental Health Services employees Cody Akers, Psychiatric Technician, and Amy Pierce-Danders, Workforce Development Manager, to discuss even more opportunities. Resources: Psychology Department Job Titles Pine Rest Careers Pine Rest Email: [email protected], Pine Rest hosts Open Interviews every Tuesday virtually or in person from 10AM – 3PM.

It’s time for another Intern Takeover, hosted once again by the GVSU Career Center interns for the 2025-26 year: Shea Hannigan, Sofia Pratt, Denys Zamaraiev, Brody Zondervan, and Callie Zwart! In this special episode of Work Like a Laker, the interns take a closer look at the realities of jobs that are popular on social media. While it may seem like the perfect job in a thirty-second clip online, there are a lot of other factors to consider before you commit to one path. But what are these factors, and how can you know if a job is right for you without actually getting the job? Tune in and get your questions answered as the interns cover everything from understanding the job to understanding yourself. Read the full transcript.Resources:How and Why To Do an Informational Interview episodeHow to Network When You Have No Network episodeInformational Interviews and Job Shadows website #careeradvice #worklikealaker #socialmedia #viraljobs #interntakeover

Welcome to the 100th episode of the Work Like a Laker podcast! To celebrate this occasion, we’ve put together a very special episode for you that takes place in a very special location. That’s right— for the first time ever, this podcast is going on the road! Over the summer, hosts Megan Riksen, Grace Joaquin, and Dani Lauer travelled up north to beautiful Traverse City. With its stunning natural scenery and local restaurants, it’s known as a go-to vacation spot, but what about as a realistic place to live and work? To find out, this episode is joined by four Traverse City residents and employers: Rob Hanel, Director of People and Space at TentCraft; Madison Partak, Recruitment Manager at Cherry Republic; Shannon Owen, Director of Northern Michigan Programs at GVSU; and Abigail Baudry, Michigan’s Creative Coast Program Leader at Traverse Connect. This episode covers it all, from how to network with small businesses that don’t attend career fairs to what Traverse City breakfast spots you just need to check out. To get all your questions answered— along with some questions you didn’t even know you had— tune in to the long-awaited 100th episode! Read the full transcript here.

Passions change. Interests shift. Maybe you were set on a career and now you’re realizing that’s not what you want to do. Maybe you’re interested in a field that seems completely different from your current major. Maybe you’re feeling burned out. Change can be scary, but it can also be worth it. In today’s episode of Work Like a Laker, hosts Megan Riksen and Grace Joaquin are joined by Dave Bengry, Project Coordinator in the IT department at GVSU and former physical therapist, and Drew Tocco, Senior Operations Coordinator at Magic Cabinet and former teacher. Tune in as they unpack the process of pivoting careers and all the possibilities that come with it. Read the full transcript here.#careeradvice #burnout #education #healthcare #worklikealaker #GVSU

To any student interested in applying (or reapplying) to secondary admission programs here at GVSU, we know that the process for being accepted is an intimidating one. How important is a high GPA? How can a candidate stand out in highly competitive programs? What will the interview look like, and how can you prepare? Today, host Megan Riksen is joined by special guests Mike Saldana, Director of Student Services for the College of Health Professions, and Mackenzie Ware, Student Engagement and Academic Resourcing Specialist with the Kirkhof College of Nursing. To get your questions answered and feel as prepared as possible when applying for these types of programs, tune into this episode of Work like a Laker! Read the full transcript here.Secondary Admit Program RequirementsGVSU Career Center#secondaryadmissionprograms #applicationprocess #healthcare #GVSU #worklikealaker #careeradvice

Did you know that people with a professional mentor are promoted five times faster than people without one? It’s not surprising when you consider all the fantastic benefits of having a mentor, from an expanded professional network to personalized guidance on your career goals. But what is a mentor, and how do you get one? In today’s episode of Work Like a Laker, all of your questions will be answered as hosts Megan Riksen and Dani Lauer are joined by special guest and GVSU alum Jermale Eddie, the director of business growth at SpringGR and a business advisor, speaker, and coach. Whether you’ve never considered having a mentor before or have been searching for one for a while, this episode is here to get you started on the path to a successful mentorship!Read the full transcript here.

Today’s episode of Work like a Laker is an extra-special episode, because it has some extra-special hosts. It’s time for the Intern Takeover episode, hosted by the GVSU Career Center interns for the 2025-26 year: Shea Hannigan, Sofia Pratt, Denys Zamaraiev, Brody Zondervan, and Callie Zwart!In this episode, the interns lead the discussion on professionalism in the workplace. Entering a professional workplace with no idea of what to expect is intimidating, but the interns are here to shed some light on those expectations. From dressing appropriately for an interview to building good relationships with your colleagues, the interns will share everything they know— as learned through their firsthand experience working in a professional environment.Read the full transcript.#gvcareers #worklikealaker #professionalism #dressatire #effectivecommunication #timemanagement #interntakeover

How do you succeed in graduate school? Whether you’re currently a graduate student or you’re considering a graduate program for the future, you’ve probably had this question bouncing around in your head. Luckily, today’s episode of Work Like A Laker is here to help. Host Megan Riksen is joined by Erica Hamilton, Vice Provost for Distributed Learning and Dean of The Graduate School at GVSU, and Molly Landa, current GVSU Graduate Student. Together, they’ll discuss the secrets to succeeding in graduate school and how you can make the absolute most of your graduate program experience.Read the full transcript here.Resources:  GVSU - The Graduate School GVSU - Graduate Degree Programs and Certificates #graduateschool #graduateprograms #gradstudent #gvcareers #success #education #worklikealaker

On today’s episode of Work Like a Laker, hosts Megan Riksen and Grace Joaquin take a closer look at how neurodivergence factors into the workforce. Whether you’re a neurodivergent individual preparing to enter the workforce or you’re an employer wanting to create a more inclusive environment, this episode will give you some great information— along with some helpful tips and resources. Later, David Steadman, a GVSU alum, joins the episode to share about his experience in the workforce.Read the full transcript. Resources: MiLife Michigan Rehabilitation Services EARN Job Accommodation Network Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology Disability Advocates of Kent County Center for Disability Inclusion #gvcareers #neurodivergence #careerhelp #resources #worklikealaker

Entering the workforce can feel terrifying, especially when you have no idea what employers are looking for. What will make you stand out in a competitive job market? What do employers want to see on resumes? What are you supposed to do in the interview? In today’s episode of Work Like A Laker, host Megan Riksen is joined by special guests Lisa Zimmerman, Human Resource Manager at John Ball Zoo, and Jared Curley, Director of Talent Management at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, to answer these questions and more from the perspective of the employers themselves.Read the full transcript.#gvcareers #jobsearch #careeradvice #interview #resume #worklikealake #employeradvice