Student Spotlight
Student Spotlight
Hear from Santa Clara students about how they have used the Career Center's resources and services to navigate their own unique career journey. May these stories motivate you and inspire your own career success! 👊
Graciela Diaz '27
Major: Psychology
Minors: History, Entrepreneurship, and Spanish
What advice would you give to students who may be curious or nervous about using the Career Center?
Even if your resume is in its first draft version or you don't know exactly what you want to do yet, just show up. The Career Center staff met me where I was, and I never felt judged about how unpolished my starting point looked. That one resume review I attended as a first-year student felt small at the time, but it created a ripple effect that led to opportunities changing the direction of my life. It gave me the confidence to apply for on-campus jobs, which led to relationships with supervisors and faculty who believed in me, and that support gave me the courage to pursue career fairs and external internships I never thought were possible for myself. My biggest piece of advice is to take small steps. The most valuable growth often comes from those first small conversations and questions. You never know which single conversation might end up changing the entire direction of your college experience.
Chloe Barton '24
Communication & Psychology Major
“When I was growing up, I wanted to be a licensed psychologist.”
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Internship: Talent Acquisition at Branch Metrics
How she found it: Handshake
Her advice for Broncos: "Be ok asking questions that you think other people may think are uninformed, because curiosity goes a long way and it’s important to be able to show other people that you are curious and have the aptitude to learn."
Ella Blazei '25
Finance Major & Business Analytics Minor
“Find passion within being a Bronco, because the alumni network that is present here is so strong, and it's something that should definitely be utilized.”
Hometown: Marin County, CA
Internship: Rosendin Electric Finance Intern & Cisco Financial Analyst LIFT Program Intern
How she found it: SCU Winter Career Fair & Handshake
Her advice for Broncos: "Utilize the resources that are right in front of you...so many adults and professionals want to help you, so be proactive, and find what you’re passionate about."
Victor Hilt | 4th Year, Finance Major
“My internship was a really great experience for me because it helped me learn how to navigate the corporate world and network effectively”
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Internship: Finance Intern at Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation
How he found it: Handshake
His advice for Broncos: "I set a goal for myself to do a certain number of applications a day and made it a personal daily quota to meet that, which helped me internally build a schedule around the application process."
Maya Rasai | 2nd Year, MIS Major and Entrepreneurship Minor
"I had the mindset that I would work at a big company...but it's good to always start at startups, and you can learn a lot from working at a smaller company"
Hometown: Walnut Creek, CA
Internship: Marketing and Sales Representative for ParkStash
How she found it: Handshake & LinkedIn
Her advice for Broncos: It is never too early to start looking for internships and connections. Get Handshake, set up a LinkedIn profile, and see what type of roles you are interested in
Will Cockrum | 4th Year, Computer Engineering Major
"Nobody is expected to know everything--the people who ask for help are the people who learn the most"
Hometown: Pasadena, CA
Internship: Microsoft
How he found it: Santa Clara SWE Event
His advice for Broncos: If you’re just starting out in your job search, use Handshake, use VMock to work on your resume, and go to the Career Fairs...I went to a bunch of career fairs and I got pretty blunt feedback from recruiters that was really helpful because it taught me what I needed to work on
Ryan Benavente | 4th Year, Neuroscience and Biology Major, Chemistry Minor
"Keep an open mind. You never know what you'll find"
Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaii
Internship: Fellowship at the Miller Center
How he found it: Professional Fraternity ΔΕΜ
His advice for Broncos: Before every interview I try to find what mission and values the company holds, and I try to reflect that in the way that I talk and the way that I carry myself and then I do a mock interview with a friend.
Max Campos | 2nd Year, Finance and Political Science Major
"Growing up, I always wanted to be a corporate attorney"
Hometown: Walnut Creek, CA
Internship: Open Door Legal in San Francisco, CA
How he found it: Handshake and LinkedIn
His advice for Broncos: Getting started is the hardest part of the job-search process -- once you get past that intimidating first step, you gain confidence in applying, interviewing, and navigating the career world.
Liam Abbate '21
Current Position: Town Administrator @ Town of Middlesex, VT
Majors: Political Science, Environmental Studies, French and Francophone Studies
How has the Career Center helped you achieve your career goals?
In college, I used the Career Center's Job Prep Toolkit a lot. In 2026, I attended a career coaching session that included a mock interview helped me be more confident in subsequent job interviews. This included 2 interviews that led me to my current position in municipal government. [The Career Center's] feedback and pointers for interviews contributed to me impressing the hiring committee that interviewed me so much they're still talking about it 3 months later!