Sarah Djuricic '15

Senior Project Manager, Kaiser Permanente

Major: Finance 

"I had a slightly non-traditional college experience, living off-campus and working two or three jobs at a time to fund my own education. In addition to working on campus, I worked off-campus in a variety of industries, to “dip my toes” in the working world and see what a career in different fields might be like. I also changed my major twice as an undergrad (once before my sophomore year; once before my junior year). Those were both very stressful times filled with a lot of fear and uncertainty – but the Career Center offered countless resources to help me navigate the transitions, knowing that I had options and would be okay. When it came to my job search, the Career Center staff was always available to answer questions or offer advice so that I could walk into any situation with confidence. My time at UP taught me that so many people are willing to help you, if you’re only willing to ask.

My first job after college was with Fisher Investments on the Portfolio Accounting team. As a Finance major, this role was a great fit and taught me a lot about the basics of being a working professional (being accountable for my work, meeting deadlines, working with others and virtual communication). However, starting my junior year at UP, my goal had been to work at Kaiser Permanente. Traditionally it has been a hard place to “get your foot in the door”, and as a recent grad I wondered how I could ever find a way in. Despite feeling intimidated, I kept in contact with the Kaiser employees I met during a series of informational interviews, and at the most unexpected time, one of those contacts reached out and referred me to what ended up being my first job with Kaiser! All of that to say: don’t give up on what you want. Talk to everyone you can, and then maintain those relationships. You never know what could come of them!

I now work as a Senior Project Manager focused on budget management and labor planning at Kaiser Permanente. I spend most of my day working with spreadsheets, and while that may not seem meaningful on the surface, the projects I’m working on, such as creating a mobile app or maintaining tools that allow members to refill prescriptions and schedule appointments online, can have a significant impact on people’s lives and healthcare experiences. I truly believe in the Kaiser Permanente mission, and I see the incredible amount of good this company does in the world. When I think of it that way, my spreadsheets seem much more meaningful.

My advice: always have a goal you’re working toward, but understand that things may change (including your goal). Do an informational interview even if you aren’t sure you want to work for a certain company – a conversation never hurt anyone, and if nothing else, it’s useful to confirm that you truly don’t want to work there. Ultimately, you never know what life has in store, and if you had asked me five years ago if I thought would end up where I am now, I would have said “no way.” Every single experience has value if you’re just able to shift your perspective and see it. What feels like your greatest obstacle today may become your greatest blessing tomorrow if you can keep an open mind."