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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

When it comes to the healthcare field, gaining experience is as necessary as it is daunting. Today, host Megan Riksen is joined by Meghan Veltri and Stephanie Dombrowski-Jensen, Assistant Directors and Career Advisors for the Healthcare Career Community– and they know that you have questions. How do you gain experience? Where do you gain experience? What do you do if an experience makes you reconsider your career path? And why, exactly, is gaining experience so important? Tune in to this episode of Work Like a Laker as we unpack these questions and share the insights you need. Read the full transcript.Resources: Healthcare Career Community How to Gain Healthcare Experience event Some Job Shadowing Resources    #gvcareers #healthcare #gainingexperience #careercommunities #worklikealaker

Your future career is filled with endless possibilities… and also endless unknowns. On today’s episode, hosts Megan Riksen and Grace Joaquin tackle those unknowns with the career exploration tools O*NET and CareerOneStop– free websites that offer career assessments, salary information, job outlook data, and so much more. Whether you want to learn more about your dream career or are exploring your options, these tools will feel like a lifesaver. Later, Work Like A Laker is joined by Laurie Evans, Talent Acquisition and Onboarding Coordinator at HealthWest, to dive into the employer’s perspective of O*NET and how students can take full advantage of it during the hiring process. Read the full transcript here. Resources: O*NET  CareerOneStop HealthWest Hiring Site Laurie Evan’s contact information: [email protected] #gvcareers #careerexploration #onlinetools #hiringhelp #worklikealaker

While we love to give our best advice on how to successfully earn the position of your dreams, there’s a stage of the job search process that is rarely discussed but just as important to address: recovering from job rejection. During this episode of the Work Like a Laker Podcast, hosts Megan Riksen and Dani Lauer will take you through their top five tips on how to bounce back from rejection as an even stronger candidate than before to secure success in your next search! Read the full transcript here. #jobrejection #careeradvice #howtohandlerejection #gvcareers #careergrowth #newopportunities

As busy college students with an academic workload and little time to spare, it can be difficult to figure out how to juggle school and career planning all at once - but what if you also add athletics into the mix? Now THAT’s a whole new ball game.  On today’s Work Like a Laker Podcast episode, Megan Riksen, Grace Joaquin, and GVSU softball alum Hannah Beatus are hitting all of the bases on making the transition from student-athlete to new professional. From discussing how to balance school, sports, and career planning to pitching advice on turning athletic experiences into marketable workplace skills, this is one episode you won’t want to miss if you want to up your professional game! Read the full transcript here. #gvcareers #studentathletes #careerplanning #timemanagement #worklikealaker #postgradadvice

In 2025, it’s safe to say most of us use artificial intelligence everyday: to get directions in traffic, to find new streaming recommendations, to unlock our phones… the list could go on and on. But how can we use this tool as job seekers? On today’s Work Like a Laker Podcast episode, Megan Riksen and Grace Joaquin outline how you can use AI intentionally, responsibly, and successfully to support you through the job search process. From tips on generating personalized interview responses to effectively using AI for resume reviews, this episode will provide you with the perfect algorithm for elevating your career discovery game. Read the full transcript here. Resources: Resume AI NotebookLM #gvcareers #jobsearch #aiintheworkplace #careerresources #howtouseai

It’s a VERY common misconception that your career path has to align with your major - while this may be the case for some fields, like nursing or engineering, a majority of post-graduate opportunities are available to job seekers with various degrees. Still, how do you know which path to choose? How do you know which jobs you qualify for? What if you want to explore different options or hone a certain skill set before committing to a profession? All of these questions and more will be answered in today’s Work Like a Laker podcast episode, hosted by Megan Riksen, Grace Joaquin, and special guest Julie Quick, Campus Talent Acquisition Manager at Cintas. Read the full transcript here. #gvcareers #careerexploration #leadershipskills #graduateopportunities #jobsearch #careeradvice

This special-edition episode of the Work Like a Laker podcast is hosted by the “Sensational Six” members of the 2024-25 GVSU Career Center Intern Cohort: Sheridan Maske, Katie Chitwood, Le Nguyen, Gracie Roginski, Shelby Huerta, and Lauryn Babb. This takeover episode is all about the GVSU Career & Internship Fair! For those who haven’t attended one of these amazing events in the past, the Career Fair can seem pretty intimidating. You might have an idea of what the fair could look like, but what REALLY happens? Don’t worry: the intern cohort has your back. Listen now to get the interns’ top ten tips for surviving your first Career Fair so that by the time you arrive, you’re already networking like a seasoned professional. Read the full transcript here.#gvcareers #careerfair #networkingtips #jobopportunities #careeradvice #survivalguide

If you’re applying to a new job or graduate school program, it’s a safe bet that “leadership skills” will appear high on the list of applicant qualifications. But we have to ask: what is a leader, and what skills define one? Why is it one of the most-asked-for skillsets from supervisors? And perhaps the most burning question: what does a candidate include on a resume to show they’re a leader? If you’ve also been scratching your head while trying to answer these questions, you’ve found the right podcast! In today’s episode of Work Like A Laker, host Megan Riksen sits down with Megan Rydecki, the Director of the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies, to unravel the mystery surrounding leadership once and for all. Read the full transcript here. Resources: Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies Cook Leadership Academy #gvsu #gvcareers #applicationadvice #leadershipskills #jobsearch #whatdoemployerslookfor #whatisaleader