Katy Caulder, M.S.

How did you pick your career? Did you know all along?

In a way, my career found me. In high school, when we're all being told that you have to know what you want to do from age 15, I never had one thing that really pulled at me. I loved chorus, drama, and English, but generally those only lead you to a teaching job, which I definitely didn't want to do. Throughout all this, something I enjoyed doing was watching sports. I always loved sports, even though I never actually played. After researching different college majors and what jobs you could get with them, I settled on Sport Management. I thought it was a great and really varied path that would let me do any number of things related to sports. In my Junior year of undergrad, I had to do experiential learning, and started tutoring student-athletes at my school. That was where I discovered Athletic Academic Advising, and how important it was to college athletics. So I decided to pursue that as a career, and after graduating got an internship as an Assistant Academic Coordinator at the University of South Florida. I fell in love. I absolutely love helping students get though the challenges college poses students, especially after I had to essentially act as my own Academic Advisor as an undergrad. It's now my passion, and I hope to always be able to work to help students.

In layperson terms, what do you actually do at work?

At my current job, I work to support students and connect them with the resources that can help them be successful in school. Generally, I spend my time talking to professors on students' behalves, ironing out difficult situations, recommending students get tutoring, helping students reach out to various student support services, and help them plan their educational progress through college.

When did you get your first Big Break? How did you get it? How did it go?

My first big break was getting my first professional internship. I had applied to just about every job and internship I thought I might be qualified for, and finally, after several months of applying and waiting, I was hired by the Athletic Department at the University of South Florida. I felt extremely lucky, as I was the youngest intern hired, and I was hired without an in-person interview. I absolutely loved my job, and it really solidified my decision and desire to work in athletic academic advisement. I was given a great deal of responsibility, and I ended the internship with new friends and a renewed sense of self-worth, not to mention extremely valuable experience that is the highlight of my resume.

When you were a student, did you do anything outside of school to build skills or get knowledge that has helped your career?

As an undergraduate student, I did my best to work in jobs and internships that would give me some kind of competitive edge when it came to applying to major-related jobs in the future. I worked as a receptionist/assistant in a doctors office for a year, which gave me the opportunity to be responsible for a great deal of work as well as handle pertinent and confidential information, which is something I do every day in my job now. I interned at a sport equipment production company where I had a chance to work on product catalogs, market research, order fulfillment and shipping, which gave me a taste of several different aspects of the business, and shows my versatility. For two years, I tutored student-athletes, which gave me the push into the field I am currently in, and gave me much needed experience in that field. I also interned as an operations assistant for a college athletic department where I shouldered a great deal of responsibility in managing events and had the opportunity to dabble in announcing, concessions management, sport photography, and graphic design. All of my experiences centered around my chosen career field, and each look great on a resume as they show me as versatile, responsible, trustworthy, and adaptable. They all gave me a chance to work doing different things and test what I liked and what I didn't. All in all, they were great learning experiences to supplement my formal education.

How did you start building your network?

I started building my network through my first part-time jobs, then through people I went to school with, and professors, and now colleagues. When they say "It's not what you know, it's who you know", they aren't lying. It's very important to take any chance for introductions you can, and go to as many professional development opportunities you can.

What is the one piece of career advice you wish someone gave you when you were younger?

I wish someone had told me sooner just how many career field and professions there are. The world is big and vast, and there are so many different careers you can do that you may have never thought existed. That is how my field is, people don't ever thing about how student-athletes make it through college to become the next MLB All Star or the best Defensive Lineman for the Saints, but that is exactly what my profession is meant to do. Also, I wish someone told me I didn't have to go to college. I know it seems counter-intuitive, but college is not necessary for everyone. It is becoming harder and harder to get a degree that translates into a real-life job. People look down on those with no college degree, but those people are the ones in trades that earn them more money in a year than a graduate with a Bachelor's degree. There is no shame in working in a vocation, being a tradesman, or working in service, because without those jobs, our entire would would cease to function.

What is it like when your job gets tough?

Generally, my job is always a little tough. I have a great deal of responsibility to a large population of students. If I make a mistake, someone might not get to graduate on time, which means more work, more money, and more headaches for them and for me. I'm very organized, and I always ask for help when I need it, which helps me stay on top of my responsibilities. Honestly, the hardest part about my job is when I don't get along with a boss or coworker. Luckily, I've found a great place where there is a real community, so I don't have to worry about that.

Did anyone ever oppose your career plans when you were young or push you in a direction you did not want to go?

No one really opposed my career plans, but I did have a lot of naysayers and people telling me I wasn't good enough, or wouldn't make it in the jobs I wanted. It can be hard to stick to your passions when people are constantly telling you that you're dreaming and those dreams will never come true, but for me it just added more fuel to the fire. I have a determination that doesn't allow me to feed into the doubters, instead I am to prove them wrong, and so far, I have.

What is the biggest challenge you had to overcome to get to where you are now professionally? How did you overcome it?

My biggest challenge was just getting employed. After my first professional position ended, it took me almost a full year to get hired in another position in my field. It can be very hard to go so long hearing nothing but "We were very impressed with your credentials, but..." and "We wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors". When you enter the job market, it's hit or miss with employers. Everyone is looking for something different for a candidate, and as confident as I was in myself, it was still difficult to deal with constant rejection. I had to remind myself all the time that I was good enough, that I had experience, and that I deserved a good position. I refused to settle for second best, and eventually, I got a great job. I can't say my new job was worth the wait, but I am extremely happy with the job I have now.

What is the most useful piece of career advice you got as a student, and who gave it to you?

The most useful advice I ever received was to "Keep Grinding". I think it was a coach or a visitor to one of my classes who said it, but essentially they meant that if you want something, you have to go out there and get it. You might deal with rejection or you might not get the job you wanted, but you have to keep working hard until you do. You can't wallow in self-pity and you can't wait for it to come to you, you have to go out there and make it happen. If you can't get the job you want, get another one at the same company and impress your bosses until they hire you in your preferred position. Are your grades not what you want, then hit the books and study until you know more than the professor. Follow your passions, and don't take no for an answer.