Career Path of a Staff Biologist at Blackhawk Environmental
Starting at UCLA, the interviewee worked at the campus gym for four years, prioritizing paid work over unpaid internships. After graduation, a year as an au pair in Australia preceded graduate school, where the interviewee juggled multiple jobs including research, childcare, and catering before beginning a career in environmental consulting as a biologist in 2019.
Career Exploration, Overcoming Challenges, Motivational Stories, Work-Life Balance, International Experience
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Sarah Toback
Staff Biologist
Blackhawk Environmental
University of California, Los Angeles- 2015
Macquarie University- Master of Conservation Biology
Environmental & Related Sciences
Climate, Environment, Sustainability & Waste Management
Research and Development (R&D)
Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. Sarah's diverse work experiences, including roles at a university gym, as an au pair, and a biological research assistant, demonstrate the value of gaining practical experience in various fields.
2. Her decision to work paid jobs during undergrad highlights the importance of financial stability while pursuing education, and her experience in Australia showcases adaptability and global perspectives.
3. Her career path from a research assistant to an environmental consultant shows a clear progression in the field of biology, emphasizing the potential for career growth in environmental science.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college? Did you have any internships or jobs before your current role?
When I was an undergrad at UCLA, I got hired at the Wooden Center, which is the gym on campus in the football department. I started working there the day I moved into the dorms freshman year and worked there all four years. I got promoted twice while I was there, and it was the best job. I loved that job.
I didn't do any internships while I was an undergrad because I needed to do something that paid. Most internships are unpaid, so I just worked at the Wooden Center. After graduation, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my life, so I moved to Sydney, Australia on a working holiday visa.
There, I worked as an au pair for a year, which is a live-in nanny. I worked for a family with five kids for six months and then a family with three kids for six months. Then I decided I wanted to go to grad school.
I came back to the States for a couple months and worked as a biological research assistant for a water quality research company in Orange County. Then I went back to Australia for grad school. While I was there, I worked as a live-out nanny, for a catering company, and in a research lab all at the same time.
After grad school, I got a job in environmental consulting as a biologist. That's what I've been doing since the beginning of 2019.