Human resource leaders from Underwriter’s Laboratories Inc. (UL) visited CRSM on Oct. 26th to share their insights on the multitude of career opportunities offered by the Northbrook-based global science leader and help prepare them for the workforce. In addition to sharing personal career experience, the UL team offered one-on-one mentorship for students.
“We are here to share our experience for what a career can be and how you can get there,” said Kim Brooks Vanderberg, People Experience Manager. “Make sure you always look for opportunities to grow no matter which career you pursue. You may start in one career, but there are always opportunities to grow and evolve along the way.”
Brooks shared her own journey growing up on the South Side of Chicago and graduating from Marquette University in Milwaukee with a degree in electrical engineering and receiving her Master of Arts in organizational change management from DePaul University. Her advice to CRSM students: Check out The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), which provides assistance through mentorship, academic programs, financial assistance, counseling/advising, and other campus support services to those who are first-generation college students, and/or from low-income and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds.
As a STEM mentor, Brooks shared that UL offers career opportunities in a multitude of industries from energy and utilities, healthcare and life sciences industrial products and systems and technology and electronics and including many roles from lab technicians and engineers to research and development, information technology, customer service, human resources, marketing, and product management.
“As you continue to go through high school think about what drives you, what are your passions and how you think you can use your talents to make changes in the world,” said Katrina Jackson, Director, Diversity and Inclusion at UL.
The firm and it’s non-profit organization provides 11 jobs for CRSM students through the CRSM Corporate Work Study Program. UL, which employs 14,500 people across the globe, helps companies to demonstrate safety, enhance sustainability, strengthen security, deliver quality, manage risk and achieve regulatory compliance.