From Earning Degrees to Paychecks: A Look at Recent UWM Graduates

As spring 2015 graduation quickly approaches, many soon-to-be-graduates are on the hunt for jobs in their chosen fields. Two recent UWM graduates – and one soon-to-be graduate – share their job search experiences and look back on their time spent at UWM.

All three majored in the sciences, and the two who have already graduated found good jobs fast.

Mikhail Dobrinin, like many UWM students, chose this university for the combination of its proximity to his home and the cost of tuition in comparison to other UW universities.

He applied as a freshman with “undecided” checked next to the chosen major box on his application, but half way through his first year, he settled on computer science.

His explanation for his choice was simple, “Wel,l I had to pick something and I liked science, I was into computers and sci-fi stuff too.”

Dobrinin admits that while in school he didn’t realize the real life application of his studies, saying, “I wasn’t initially that excited, it gradually built up. Somewhere along the way I realized wow, this is useful. People do this in the real world.”

Dobrinin graduated UWM in 2012 and started his job at JDA Software two weeks later.

At JDA Software, he works as a computer programmer. Dobrinin described his work in a way a non-computer savvy person would understand, explaining, “We rework the way our software interacts with others, we create the base which allows other software to work and be useful.”

Dobrinin’s advice to current students is, “If you’re going into programming don’t worry about finding a job. It’s an expanding field, so you’ll find one.”

This is supported by evidence from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics which states that the computer programming field will expand by 12 percent between 2010 and 2020.

Many students find it difficult to pick just one major, Melissa Schwartz, another recent grad, graduated with two majors and two minors.

Schwartz began her academic career at UW-Green Bay in 2008 before transferring to UWM in 2009.

Long before she signed up for her first college courses, Schwartz knew she wanted to go to into the sciences.

However, like many students, Schwartz not only changed her major numerous times but added a few as well. She graduated in spring 2014 with degrees in Psychology and Biochemistry and minors in both Chemistry and Biology.

Schwartz began her job search during the winter before her graduation; she recalls what it felt like walking into interviews, saying, “I was terrified. Having just graduated, I felt under qualified, but knowing I had recommendation letters from professors like Dr. Silvaggi and volunteer experience gave me some confidence going in.”

Just after a few weeks of searching, Melissa secured a job at Essential Industries Inc. where she works as a chemist. Her job began two weeks after her graduation.

As a chemist, she creates new formulas for floor laminates. While she mainly works in a lab testing new solutions, she also coordinates with various departments within the company on a daily basis.

Schwartz says participating in labs at UWM and volunteering at hospitals taught her team work and communication skills necessary for cooperation in the workplace, saying, “At my job, our lab has to work with different departments to take things from development to production.”

According the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Wisconsin’s job market prospects have increased moving it from its past rank at 49th to the 21st spot in 2014.

There is an overwhelming pressure to quickly graduate and secure a job, but furthering your education has potential to expand your job prospects for the future.

Lisa Mueller began her undergraduate degree at UW-Milwaukee as an Art History major, but realized her interests were in science. After changing her major to biochemistry, Mueller found a new career in research and is now completing her graduate degree.

Mueller believes her interests in the arts will be beneficial, saying, “I think creativity is needed in science…so I think coming in from some different fields and a lot of different interests will help aid me in my career.”

She is currently a graduate research assistant; she works in a professor’s lab and helps train undergraduates all while completing her degree.

Mueller plans on graduating this spring with hopes of working in a national lab in the future and is currently waiting to hear about a fellowship offer that could lead to job opportunities.

Mueller  encourages students to choose a path that they are passionate about, saying, “Just be fearless about it, I wish I would have had a lot more confidence to go into the sciences way earlier, I probably would have saved a couple semesters worth of tuition money.”