Beyond the Bubble: Navigating Professional Life After College
by Hillsdale College Career Services
Navigating the professional world as a recent graduate is a daunting task. Beyond the Bubble interviews have helped thousands of young alumni and current college students gain the skills they need to succeed "beyond the bubble" of undergraduate life. Listen now to get insider resume and interview tips, localized career advice, and "day in the life" stories across a variety of professions. Beyond the Bubble is a production by Hillsdale College Career Services.
Episodes
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Applying Lessons from the Liberal Arts to Life-Long Learning
Karissa Moschel (’20) talks about her time at Hillsdale as a French and History double major, and her current role as a science, English, and math teacher at Hadar Jewish Classical Academy in Austin, Texas.
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From Summer Research as a College Freshman to Working in the Emergency Room
Elizabeth Stovicek ('13) joins Beyond the Bubble to share her experience at Hillsdale as a Biology Major, Spanish Minor and her campus involvement, in addition to what her day looks like as she works in Emergency Medicine and Palliative Care.
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The Importance of Being Well-rounded Job Candidate: Knowing How to Answer Unexpected Interview Questions
Christian Tracy ('99) shares his experience as a student-athlete and as a finance major at Hillsdale College, and how it led to his current job. He discusses the question he always asks when interviewing an applicant: what books are you reading and what are your current hobbies?
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Finding Fulfillment: Rewarding Moments Found Through Education and Serving Others
Sam Clausen ('17) joins Beyond the Bubble to share pivotal moments spent volunteering with the GOAL program during his time at Hillsdale and teaching math and coaching baseball at Atlanta Classical Academy.
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The Value of Internships: Gaining Experience and How One Leads to the Next
Elizabeth Mitchell ('24), a White House Correspondent at The Daily Signal, shares her experience at Hillsdale majoring in Politics and minoring in Journalism. Mitchell discusses the value of internships, and the importance of having an open mind with each one.
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Running Toward a Moving Target: Self-Educating in a Rapidly Changing World
Mark Vandegrift (‘92) discusses the importance of running toward your passion while remaining versatile, a skill he learned through his time at Hillsdale as both an accounting and German major. Mark’s career took him from working in the Big 6 of the accounting world to seminary to holding almost...
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Balancing Priorities: A Humanities Major's Journey into Medicine
Caroline Koperski (‘15) shares how she prepared herself for PA school while studying Economics and Spanish, balancing her love for the humanities with her desire to practice medicine. While at Hillsdale, Caroline volunteered at the local hospital, was on Mock Trial, a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma,...
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Redemptive Entrepreneurship: Restoring Culture Through Business
Daniel Higbie (‘98) discusses how business owners and entrepreneurs can work to impact and grow the cultures they live in, focusing on good work over profit. At Hillsdale College, Daniel pursued a degree in Rhetoric and Persuasive Communication before getting his master’s in international...
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Christians in Social Work: The Need for Faith-Based Counseling
Christa Green (’20) discusses how her passion for psychological counseling and her faith led her to pursue a career in Christian counseling. At Hillsdale College, Christa pursued a psychology degree and worked as a resident assistant, where she was first drawn to counseling as a career option....
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An Unconventional Path: A DOJ Attorney’s Insight Into a Career in Law with 1995 Alumni Nate Stewart
Nate Stewart ('95) shares his journey to Hillsdale, the value of waiting before law school, and the importance of prioritizing family and creative passions. Tune in for insights on balancing career, life, and what truly matters!
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A Career In Art: Caroline Greb on Consistency and Action
Listen to Episode 60 of Beyond the Bubble, where Caroline Greb shares her inspiring journey. Discover how she’s carved out a successful career in art while juggling the responsibilities of being a full-time wife and mother, emphasizing the significance of taking action and maintaining consistency...
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Making Philanthropy Possible
Susan Peterson Principle Gifts Officer at Mayo Clinic Making Philanthropy Possible Susan Peterson is the Principle Gifts Officer at Mayo Clinic. She meets with benefactors and institutional leaders to match Mayo Clinic’s programs with philanthropic efforts. Peterson shares her experience working…
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The Power of Time Management
Adriana Maljanian ('21) Associate Trust Manager at Private Trust Management Group The Power of Time Management Adriana Maljanian (‘21) is an Associate Trust Manager at Private Trust Management Group. She discussed the importance of time management and attention to detail in her role, as well as…
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Making an Impact in the World of Politics
Ben Murrey ('12) Director of Policy at the Common Sense Institute Making an Impact in the World of Politics Ben Murrey (‘12) is the Director of Policy at the Common Sense Institute, a role he recently started. At Hillsdale, Murrey majored in Politics and promised never to work in politics, but...
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Applying Lessons From the Politics Classroom in Public Office
Adam Stockford ('15) Mayor of Hillsdale, Michigan Applying Lessons from the Politics Classroom in Public Office Adam Stockford (‘15) is the current Mayor of Hillsdale. Stockford majored in Politics and reflects fondly on his relationship with the Hillsdale College Politics department. Mayor...
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The Havoc-Filled Life of a Headmaster
Trent Kramer ('13) Headmaster at Ascent Classical Academies The Havoc-Filled Life of a Headmaster Trent Kramer (‘13) is the Headmaster at Ascent Classical Academy. He discusses the diversity of work as a Headmaster, which includes strategic planning, teaching, relationship building, and sometimes...
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How to Become a Presidential Speechwriter
Brittany Baldwin ('12) Founder and Owner, Illuminate Consulting, LLC How to Become a Presidential Speechwriter Brittany Baldwin (‘12) is the former speech writer to President Donald Trump and Senator Ted Cruz. Ms. Baldwin speaks to her experience making a career out of writing, working her way…
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Adapting in the Ever-Changing World of Public Relations
Lauren Carl ('14) Vice President of Digital Operations & Integration at Pinkston Adapting in the Ever-Changing World of Public Relations Lauren Carl (‘14) is Vice President at Pinkston, a strategic communications firm. Her role at Pinkston focuses on operations and working with clients on the...
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How To Make an Impact In Government Relations
Frank Maisano (‘89) Government Relations Senior Principal At Bracewell Law Firm How To Make an Impact In Government Relations Frank Maisano (‘89) began his career on the Hill and has spent the past 20 years as a non-attorney working in the Government Relations section of Bracewell Law Firm. The...
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Writing Speeches for the Vice President
Stephen Ford (‘10) Owner of West Exec Writing Writing Speeches for the Vice President Would you rather serve pizza or write speeches for Mike Pence? Mr. Stephen Ford (‘10) joins Beyond the Bubble to share his experiences navigating life post-grad in Washington D.C. with a Politics degree, where…
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A Career in the CPG Industry
Carley Ross (‘14) National Account Manager at Ferrero A Career in the CPG Industry On this week’s episode of Beyond the Bubble, Carley Ross (‘14) shares about her experiences working in the CPG industry. As a national account manager at Ferrero, she manages value customer accounts like Aldi and…
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From the U.S. Navy to Education
David Stanton (‘98) Headmaster at Oakdale Classical School From the U.S. Navy to Education David Stanton (‘98) shares his experience as the Headmaster at Oakdale Academy and from a career of teaching History and Religion. His career in education is intertwined with a career in the U.S. Navy...
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Insights into a Career in Business Intelligence
Kevin Roberts (‘05) Director of Industry Insights and Analytics at CarGurus Insights into a Career in Business Intelligence As the Director of Industry Insights and Analytics at CarGurus, Kevin Roberts (‘05) analyzes economic and macro trends in the automotive industry to create impactful…
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A Career in Gaming
Candace Corrales (‘16) Lead Program Manager, Apex Legends Esports at Electronic Arts (EA) In this episode of Beyond the Bubble, Candace Corrales (‘16) shares how her passion for video games scored her a career in the gaming industry. She talks about her early experiences in the industry and...
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Applying Math to Defense Technology
Caleb Bowers (‘15) Mission Software Engineer at Andruil Industries Applying Math to Defense Technology As a software engineer at Andruil Industries, Caleb Bowers (‘15) works on coding backend software and creating customized solutions for clients. Join Beyond the Bubble this week as he describes...
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The Philosophy of a Career in Law
Garrett West (‘15) Associate Attorney at Paul Weiss Law Firm The Philosophy of a Career in Law On this week’s episode of Beyond the Bubble, Garrett West (‘15) shares about his experiences working for Paul Weiss within their appellate group. On a daily basis, he works on drafting briefs…
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Coaching Teachers through a Classical Education
As a Classical Education Instructional Coach, Trinity Wright’s (‘17) primary job is to observe teachers and help them improve their ability to teach classical curriculums. She also uses her knowledge of classical education to upgrade curriculum and teach additional classes. Listen now to hear...
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Driving Positive Change through Nonprofit Marketing
As an Account Coordinator at Altus Marketing, Gracyn Hawkins (‘22) serves an integral role in managing events, fundraising, and communications for nonprofits helping youths facing homelessness. Listen now to hear how Gracyn combined her prior experience as a Court Appointed Special Advocate with...
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Combining Criminal Investigation and Education as a Career
On this week’s episode of Beyond the Bubble, Hank Prim (‘17) shares how he blended his interest in teaching with his passion for law enforcement as a Supervisory Special Agent & Training Administrator. In his daily work, he functions like a teacher as well as a police officer through his...
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Soft Skills in Financial Planning
As a Certified Financial Planner, Jimmie Plaskey (‘12) loves the variety that he gets in his daily work. Join Beyond the Bubble this week as Jimmie talks about the ways to break into financial planning, the importance of soft skills like personability, and the excitement of helping other people...
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Pursuing a Career in Law and Politics
Beyond the Bubble is back for the semester! On this week’s episode, join State Representative Andrew Fink (‘06) as he describes his journey from Hillsdale College to the Michigan Legislature. He walks through a day in the life of a legislator, shares how his experiences as a Judge Advocate for…
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From Investment Club to Investment Banking
On this week’s episode of Beyond the Bubble, listen to Ryan Goff (‘21) share about the variety of work he does as an M&A Analyst at a middle market investment bank. He also explains the value he found from participating in extracurriculars like The Collegian, Investment Club, and the ACG Cup as...
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The Fundamentals of Working as a Crude Oil Trader
Ben Thompson (‘09) spends his day hunting down the best barrels of oil and negotiating the price as a Crude Oil Trader at Shell Trading. He explains how companies make money through trading and talks about the basics of the industry, entry options, and how he utilized his finance degree in a…
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Investing in the Skills for a Career in Finance
As a Director at Spell Capital Mezzanine, Stephen Hann (‘08) works to manage investment portfolios, source and underwrite deals, and build relationships across a wide range of industries. He talks about the importance of developing soft skills in the communication and articulation of complex...
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From Learning Chemistry to Changing an Industry: A Career in Solving Problems
Scott Keenan (‘07) innovates on a daily basis as the head of growth strategy for a startup merging real estate with hospitality. Scott shares how his different interests and love for problem solving led him from a chemistry major at Hillsdale to environmental consulting and finally to driving...
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Running into a Career at New Balance
Ally Eads (‘19) took her passion for running and turned it into a career at New Balance. Ally describes how she utilizes the communication skills she learned as a team captain for Hillsdale’s Track and Field team and shares how speaking with alumni helped her pursue her interests as a career.
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Pursuing Truth and Defending Liberty as an Attorney
As a legal counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, Christy Hirsch (‘16) serves on the Church & Ministry Alliance team advising clients on religious freedoms and preparing clients to defend religious liberty lawsuits. She shares how she utilizes the skills and values she learned at Hillsdale in…
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Criminal Investigation, Export Controls, and a Career at the Department of Commerce
As a Criminal Investigator for the U.S. Department of Commerce, Caitlin Watson (‘07) uses the skills she learned at Hillsdale College on a daily basis to prevent export violations. She speaks about what a job in national security looks like, shares tips for pursuing a similar career, and explains...
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A Day in the Life of an Art Director
Lauren Peacock (‘14) shares her experiences working as an Art Director for AHC Hospitality. She explains the importance of finding objective opinions for reviewing creative work as well as learning how to communicate with clients and work as part of a design team.
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From Drafting Papers to Drafting Players: A Career in the NFL
Through her job working with the Hillsdale Football team, Lix Laux (‘19) turned her enthusiasm for football into a career. She shares about the importance of internships and networking to build genuine relationships as she explains her biggest takeaways from working in professional sports.
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Breaking into Reporting
Scott McCallen (‘18) shares how his experiences at the Collegian helped him move from financial analysis at Pepsi to reporting breaking news on Michigan and Minnesota fiscal policy. He explains the importance of writing consistently and pursuing real-world feedback for aspiring journalists.
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Director of Student Activities to Directing Television Marketing
Alexandra Whitford (‘17) explains how her passion for media marketing and nonprofits led her from directing Hillsdale student activities to managing TV “spots” for Direct Donor TV. Listen to hear why she thinks identifying passions and developing relational skills early on is critical to success…
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From Point A to Point Z: The Logistics of Flexibility in Careers
Bob Boyle (‘03) talks about his unique professional experiences that led him across the country, and across careers. Listen as he shares how he went from working as a baseball Umpire to a VP of Logistics. He discusses the impact of flexibility, a work-life balance, and how his History degree…
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From User to Marketer: Selling Products with a Personal Connection
Greg Rybka ('17) shares about how he has gone from studying marketing at Hillsdale to working in sales with prosthetics and how his personal experiences led him to this job.
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Non-Linear Career Trajectory & Project Management
PeggyDee Fleck shares her experiences figuring out the right profession. The 2012 biology graduate works in the administrative side of medicine; however, that wasn't always the plan. She talks about her career path from Hillsdale to administrative work, food service management, and now project...
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The Path to Being a Pastor
Lucas Miller ('01) shares about his path to determining whether ministry was his calling and his subsequent work through seminary and as a pastor.
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The Journalism WORLD
This week, Leah Savas talks about working as a reporter for WORLD News Group. She began her post-graduation career in marketing and then shifted to journalism. She shares about that process and what her day-to-day work looks like.
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Football Player to Chiropractor
Interested in what life is like as a chiropractor and how to get there? Dr. Brian Vear '15 shares about how his experiences as a football player led him to go to chiropractic school and practice.
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Up the Hill to Capitol Hill: Working in DC
When moving to DC, many young people dream of working with an elected official to assist them in serving constituents. Katelyn Pay ('11) was no different when she came to DC after graduating from Hillsdale. She currently serves as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Rep. Cliff Bentz (R-OR) and shares...
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Lifelong Learning, Logistics, and Data
Work isn’t always a clear trajectory. Joshua Cameon (‘17) found this out as he has worked in positions neither he, nor his company, envisioned him in at first. He shares how he has been able to find ways to create value for his company beyond the expected and how his studies in the liberal arts…
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About this show
Navigating the professional world as a recent graduate is a daunting task. Beyond the Bubble interviews have helped thousands of young alumni and current college students gain the skills they need to succeed "beyond the bubble" of undergraduate life. Listen now to get insider resume and interview tips, localized career advice, and "day in the life" stories across a variety of professions. Beyond the Bubble is a production by Hillsdale College Career Services.
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Hillsdale College Career Services