At the start of 2020, KATHRYN QUINTERO and HUNTER HALES shared similar career ambitions. Long interested in humanitarian work, the two then-juniors saw themselves eventually taking jobs at non-governmental organizations or other socially-minded nonprofits. But an experience in Spring 2020 made them realize their paths didn’t have to be so narrow — their CLAS degrees were preparing them for rewarding opportunities they hadn’t previously considered. All it took was a 4,300-mile trip across the pond.

It started in the fall of 2019 when Quintero and Hales first got involved with Beyond120, a CLAS program that promotes experiential learning opportunities in and outside of the classroom. The program emphasizes career preparation by hosting internships, excursions, classes and other initiatives that equip students with the tools and insights to help them succeed in the job market after graduation.

Quintero and Hales signed up for a Beyond120-hosted excursion to Washington D.C., where participants had the opportunity to network with alumni in the city and tour professional offices. The trip was a “hard and fast introduction” to what lay before them after Gainesville, Quintero said. “That first experience was like dunking myself into a cold pool,” she said. “It was go, go, go for four days.”

The experience gave them a valuable taste of the skills and experiences necessary to land the kind of jobs they wanted. When the opportunity arose in the spring to take another excursion with Beyond120 — this time to London — they jumped at the chance to see what international opportunities were possible for UF students. That decision would prove revelatory.

The cornerstone of the trip was a series of site visits to workplaces, including major established companies, exciting startups and public-spirited organizations, where UF alumni would share their experiences at these firms, answer questions and impart advice to the group of about 20 current students. Quintero and Hales expected all of the visits to be informative and helpful but were particularly excited about the select few, such as Amnesty International, that specialized in the sort of humanitarian work they saw in their futures.

These alumni took initiative to branch out, and they’re doing things that they’re passionate about.

— HUNTER HALES ON THE LONDON EXCURSION

But as it turned out, what they heard in their visits to corporate offices resonated with them in ways they hadn’t expected. Listening to fellow Gators — many of whom opened up about their ideals, skills and ambitions — share their experiences at these companies, they discovered that these opportunities had potential they hadn’t previously recognized.

At the information services provider IHS Markit, Hales was struck by how one alumna had focused on tackling environmental and social issues within corporations. “I hadn’t considered these avenues to explore what I’m passionate about in the business world. She put that into perspective,” Hales said. “That was game-changing.”

During the visits to professional services company PriceWaterhouseCoopers and language technology provider TransPerfect, Quintero and Hales were both struck by the enthusiasm the alumni had for their jobs — and their eagerness to impart the lessons they’d learned from their journeys. “Sometimes these companies seem monolithic from the outside,” Quintero said. “But they’re made up of people who have journeys like me — people who have stumbled and fallen and have had high and lows in their careers. And they’re willing to speak with me about it.”

Hearing from a diverse array of alumni helped them recognize that their liberal arts and sciences education was imparting transferrable skills that could apply to a wide variety of opportunities. They came away from the visits convinced that there may be a place for them in the business world after all. “Your coursework doesn’t always translate to the job you’re going to get. These alumni took initiative to branch out, and they’re doing things that they care deeply about,” Hales said.

Alexia Ash, the Associate Director of Country Risk Consulting for IHS Markit, was one alumni host. Her career path ended up much different than she imagined when majoring in mathematics and political science. “When I was in their position, I assumed I should have it all figured out,” Ash said. “The longer I’ve been out of college, the more I realize the most interesting thing is to take opportunities as they come.”

The coronavirus pandemic has made the future more uncertain for everyone — especially those about to enter the job market. But Quintero and Hales learned from their experience that a little bit of uncertainty doesn’t have to be a detriment.

Quintero has realized the plan she once had imagined for herself doesn’t have to limit her options — she can seize opportunities as they arise. “The number one piece of advice that I received, whether in D.C. or London, is that increasingly life is not linear,” she said. “It’s OK to take a breath.”

Beyond120

Whether at small businesses or multinational companies, internships are an excellent recruitment tool for student talent in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. For more information on how your organization can take part, please contact Internship and Experiential Learning Coordinator Brittany Grubbs at internship@advising.ufl.edu.