Bottom Line

In April 2020, we were pleased to welcome John Higginson to the Chicago Regional Advisory Board. Prior to Groupon, John served as the CTO for Enova, FTD Companies, Wheels, and Applied Systems. Flowers, cars, insurance, money, and now experiences — proof that technology powers every facet of our lives.

John earned his B.A. from one of Bottom Line’s target colleges, Northern Illinois University, and M.S. in IT and Privacy Law, with honors from The John Marshall Law School and is a frequent writer and speaker on technology, leadership. A champion of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, he spends time working with organizations to help women and underrepresented minorities enter and advance in technology careers.

We recently asked John to share about why John joined Bottom Line’s Chicago Regional Advisory Board and his passion for our mission:

Why were you motivated to join Bottom Line’s Regional Board? 

I’m the first person in my family to graduate from college so the mission of Bottom Line and the stories of the students really resonate with me.

How would you describe our mission? Why is it important to you?

Bottom Line provides the support system that students might otherwise get from their families. Being the first in your family to attend college is difficult. No one else knows what the experience, challenges are like — especially parents. It’s expensive which in many families puts tremendous stress on finances. And sometimes parents or grandparents — because they themselves didn’t attend college — undervalue it. The counselors at Bottom Line help students navigate everything from decisions about majors, to financial assistance, to encouragement.

Beyond that, the mission is important to me because the single best investment we can make as a society is education More education is directly linked to higher wages, homeownership. And as a technology leader I’m acutely aware that we don’t have nearly enough people to fill the jobs we have in our industry. We can’t “invent the future” if we can’t get enough people in the laboratory.

Why do you think Bottom Line is now more important during the pandemic? 

COVID-19 and the quarantines in place to mitigate its spread put enormous strain on people. Having your normal social life disrupted is a part of that. Many people are staying home which often means they are caring for younger siblings. And remote learning is just different. The quick question you would normally ask your professor, the easy interaction with fellow students, study groups are made much more difficult. Having that trusted advisor from Bottom Line to help with everything from coursework help to just talking through the stress of quarantine is vital to helping these students stay in school and graduate.

by A. W. Fleck

“Tassels left, Seniors!”

Okay, so maybe I’m getting a little ahead of myself. But you’ve spent the last four to six years working towards a significant accomplishment – graduating from college! And while you should be celebrating this milestone with stage walks and parties, thanks to Ms. Rona, not only has your commencement been canceled, but you’re set to enter a job market that has fundamentally Changed.

No, that capital “C” was not a mistake. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: “A general slowdown in economic activity, a downturn in the business cycle, a reduction in the amount of goods and services produced and sold—these are all characteristics of a recession.” (https://www.bls.gov/spotlight/2012/recession/)

From December 2007 to June 2009, the U.S.’s last recorded recession, unemployment peaked at 10 percent. As of April, we had already reached a rate just shy of 15 percent. And if Goldman Sachs’ predictions are correct, we could see rates as high as 29-35 percent before this is all over. For context, U.S. unemployment peaked at 23 percent during the Great Depression of the 1930s. With this information in mind, I’d like to encourage you to think outside the box and reset expectations around your first, career-mobilizing job.

There’s a common misconception that the first destination out of college should be a Dream Job. But what puts a job up on that lofty pedestal? Is it the position title? Is it the company? Is it the salary? How can you take a solid step forward without sacrificing everything you’ve worked so hard to achieve? Here are three tips to help you adjust your job search for the current hiring landscape:

All Industries Are Created Equal

You may have had a particular goal in mind throughout your senior year, your Dream Job. You worked hard, passed your classes, secured that diploma—and now the market is in crisis. By putting in the work on the Next Best Thing, you can still take a quality step towards your Dream Job. Companies in the finance, health, and education sectors are among the industries least affected – and many are still actively hiring. Whatever role you had hoped to secure, modify your search to include a similar role in an industry you haven’t considered. Now is the perfect time to color outside the lines you’ve drawn for yourself, build up your skills, and discover the new, ‘professional’ you!

All Jobs Lead to Home

Young millennials and generation Zers want more from their career. They crave purpose and work they’re passionate about. So while the job hunt used to be more: “I’m not picky about where I work, so long as I am a tax accountant,” or “I’m not picky about the role, so long as I get a job with Prudential,” there’s a new strategy in town. Fit Factors.

Fit factors are the need/want-to-haves in your future workplace. By exploring your fit factors, you approach your job search with a company-first mindset. Some common things to consider are company size, the mission & values that drive the work, company culture, benefits, dedication to inclusive hiring, and more. If Citibank is at the top of your list, it’s not because you’ve seen their bikes all over town. It’s because, as a first-generation college graduate, their multiple pipeline programs for students with underrepresented identities resonate with you. This method allows you to focus on the specifics of what you’re looking for, ensuring each rung on the ladder of your career is just as rewarding as the last.

Not All Quarantines yield the same results

Recently I attended a virtual panel put on by Streetwise Partners on navigating the current hiring landscape. Knowing the average job search timeline was likely to shift in response to the pandemic, I thought it would be interesting to hear from H.R. professionals who could speak to best practices for current job seekers. One of the most important pieces of information that came out of the event was the likelihood that the question “What did you do during the pandemic?” would be a new addition to interviews.

Immediately my thoughts jumped to those who haven’t been able to move forward, business-as-usual. It can feel like there’s a lot of pressure to trek forward in the same ways we were two short months ago, despite an unprecedented new normal. How do you balance professional growth and momentum with being kind to yourself and making room to be less than okay? And is this something recruiters will take into account when hiring?

One of the panelists described crisis as the intersection between danger and opportunity. So, if the pandemic is the danger, the steps you take in the next 6-12 months are your opportunity. Searching for full-time employment is a natural thought, but if it feels like too much, what else can you do to level up your skills? This could be as simple as taking a free online class or as complex as cultivating a new mentor. Whether you use this time to organize your life or work your way through a stack of nonfiction reads, you have the power to come out of this with new doors open to you.

In short: Congratulations, seniors! Remember, hard work and humility go a long way. Whether it’s improving your soft skills or working a non-dream job until the landscape improves, this is still your time. We here at Bottom Line salute your accomplishment and welcome you to this next, exciting chapter of your lives.

The past few weeks have seen an enormous number of changes in every aspect of our lives. Physical distancing and remote schooling, while necessary measures for community safety, have elevated the lack of resources our students face, created new challenges for our recently graduated alumni, and changed how our team works.

We’ve created an opportunity to lift our students’, team’s, and alumni’s voices to share how their lives and work are being impacted. Hear directly from members of Bottom Line here.

Sophomore at the University of Illinois at Chicago

We recently asked one of our Success students, Steven, to talk about his experience so far in Bottom Line and at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Here’s what he shared:

What are you studying in college, and how long have you been in Bottom Line?
I’m a psychology and economics double major with a finance minor. I have been with Bottom Line for almost three years.

How would you describe your relationship with your Bottom Line Advisor, and how has it helped you be successful?
My Bottom Line Success Advisor, TaShea’, and I have a great relationship. I feel very comfortable around her, and she understands me well. She knows which topics to touch on during our meetings, which allows us to have smooth, efficient, and enriching conversations. For example, she knows not to ask too much about my classes because she knows I tend not to have any trouble academically. Instead, she focuses on my personal and professional growth, two areas that I really want to focus on.

Additionally, I have also been working on a transfer application, and TaShea’ has done a lot to mitigate the stress. For example, she’s always happy to read over my application essays and give me amazing feedback. She has also reached out to co-workers and her manager to read over my essays to ensure that she is giving useful, objective feedback.

Why is graduating from college important to you?
My parents did not have the opportunity to have a quality education. In fact, my mother has not even gone to high school. They came to this country from China to ensure that their children will have a better future, and they have instilled the values of hard work and dedication in me. Graduating from college is a necessary step for me to fulfill both my own and my parents’ visions of being successful. I also have a natural love of learning. I think attending and graduating from college will open many doors for me to learn and grow in the areas that I want to do so.

Would you recommend Bottom Line to a friend or family member? Why?
Yes, I would recommend Bottom Line to a friend because Bottom Line has great resources that fill the lack of guidance that usually exists in the lives of first-generation students. Those students usually have no idea what to do when it comes to applying to college, applying for loans, filling out FAFSA, and many other important aspects of college. I personally think that the educational system does not prepare prospective college students to handle all of the major financial decisions that come with applying to and attending college. Bottom Line Advisors know exactly what to do to help those students make informed decisions, which will ultimately help students be more financially well-off in the future.

“It’s not just an advisor-student relationship; it’s a relationship where you can really open up about your experience.”

These were the sentiments of Marilyn, a student in Bottom Line’s Success program.

Marilyn was thriving academically last semester. Her desire to help and protect those around her and her interest in an action-oriented career came together in her study of criminal justice and her dream of becoming a detective after graduation. Her college environment, however, left her feeling isolated and concerned about her finances. A studious and motivated student, Marilyn struggled with finding like-minded friends at her college, which had a prevalent party scene dominated by Greek Life, which was cost-prohibitive for her. The social isolation was exacerbated by financial worries. Due to limited and unreliable transportation, finding part-time work to supplement her financial aid was difficult.

Marilyn was at a crossroads. While she was eager to continue her education, she knew the college she was attending wasn’t the right fit for her. Despite feeling socially isolated on campus, she knew that she didn’t have to face these challenges alone. Marilyn met with her Bottom Line advisor regularly, and together they discussed different ways she could overcome the challenges she was facing.

After much deliberation, Marilyn chose to transfer to Harold Washington College. Marilyn worked closely with her Bottom Line advisor to create a project-management timeline of everything she needed to complete to ensure the transfer went smoothly. Marilyn felt confident knowing that she could schedule regular meetings with her advisor through every step of the transfer process, from ensuring that she had the financial aid to transfer to Harold Washington College, to ensuring the classes she registered for would count toward her criminal justice major. Together, they worked tirelessly to ensure Marilyn stayed on track to achieve her educational and future career goals.

Today, Marilyn is thriving academically, emotionally, and socially. At Harold Washington College, Marilyn has found a diverse group of supportive friends that make her feel a part of her college community. Not only is it a more affordable college choice, its location in the Chicago Loop has also made finding part-time work far more accessible for her. Marilyn is inspired by her professors and classes that provide the mental rigor she craves. Rejuvenated by her new educational environment, she is excited to continue exploring the criminal justice field.

Marilyn partnered with Bottom Line to ensure she had the practical and emotional support she needed to transfer to a college that would be the best fit for her to be successful. After completing her Associate’s Degree, Bottom Line will continue to work with Marilyn in her pursuit of a career in law enforcement by supporting her through her Bachelor’s Degree and helping her select a university for her Master’s Degree.

Worcester State University, Class of 2017

Andrew came to Bottom Line as a high school junior and stayed with us through college.

“The Access program was really helpful in keeping me on track with the application process. I appreciated that my advisor guided me and didn’t tell me what to do.”

As a Success student with Bottom Line, Andrew appreciated the opportunities we provided him for career exploration. “My advisors pushed me and recommended that I attend various events that Bottom Line hosted. Attending the different events helped me figure out what I might be interested in and where I might see myself in the future.”

After graduating from Worcester State with a degree in Business Administration and Economics, Andrew joined State Street Global Advisors. He found the opportunity at Bottom Line Go Far Forum. He connected with a representative at the career fair portion of the eventand got an internship. That internship turned into a full-time position.

At State Street, Andrew learned about what it means to be a professional and how to lead and manage projects. He learned how to work cross-functionally to come up with solutions to improve processes and systems.

Ultimately, though, State Street restructured, and his position was impacted. This allowed him to evaluate what he learned about his role at State Street and how it aligned with his career goals and aspirations.

Andrew is now working at CVS Health as a Senior Strategy Consultant in Product Development and loves it. His team is working on a new product to improve the patient experience. His team has taken the new product from just a very manual process to building out the right operational infrastructure to support the growth of the service, and it has been thrilling. It’s been exhilarating to see the product grow and evolve, and also to see CVS Health is positioning itself in the future of healthcare.

“I’m still figuring out what I want to do when I grow up, but this experience has shown me I want to stay in the realm of product development and entrepreneurship. I am essentially learning how to grow a business and maybe one day I might start my own business.”

Andrew is considering the possibility of going back to grad school at some point in the future.

“Pursuing a college education has really prepared me to enter the workforce and give me a better understanding of what I want to do in life.  A college education allowed me to take part in experiential learning opportunities, such as studying abroad and internships. It’s given me a choice.”

College of the Holy Cross, Class of 2018

Victoria came to Bottom Line in high school after hearing her peers talking about the program. She had come to the United States from El Salvador when she was eight, and her family wasn’t familiar with the college process in the US.

“The Access program was really helpful in making an informed decision about which college to go to. My advisor helped me explore what kind of job and school is the right fit for me.”

After going to College of the Holy Cross, Victoria stayed on as a Success student. “The first year is so overwhelming. It was so helpful to have an advisor to rely on when things got difficult. College life didn’t necessarily come easily to me. As a first-generation college student, there are many obstacles that I encountered. My counselor helped me to stay positive and overcome every single challenge. ”

Having an advisor come to campus made a big difference to Victoria. It helped make her feel included and let me know what someone was there to support her. “It’s a really lonely process when no one has done it before you. Academics were initially challenging my first semester but my counselor helped me figure out a plan for success. Bottom Line provided me with the encouragement and support I needed to graduate with honors. I will always be grateful for the support, guidance, and encouragement I received since I first joined the program.”

Since graduating college, Victoria has joined State Street as part of a professional development program. She’s been there for 1.5 years doing 6 months rotations within Global Markets, holding three positions so far. Bottom Line helped connect Victoria with the rotational program, and helped her apply.

This program has been great for Victoria, giving her a chance to explore the different kinds of roles at State Street, and teaching her about professionalism. As she’s coming up to the end of the program, she has recently accepted a full-time role with Global Credit Finance.“I don’t know what my ultimate career goal is, but I know I want to continue working with global markets.”

Victoria believes that being a part of this program right out of college has helped jumpstart her career. “How many people can say they’ve had three very different roles in their first 1.5 years without raising the alarm to potential employers?”

While she may not know what her ultimate goal is yet, she knows that her degree is essential to getting her there. “I get to choose what I like and what I don’t like in a job. Without higher education, you usually don’t get to have that kind of flexibility. I look at the work my family does vs. what I do. and it is so different. I have options.”

Baruch College, Class of 2020

Shaffiou is a senior at Baruch College who has been in Bottom Line’s program since his first year of college. Shaffiou is an economics major who hopes to pursue a career in finance and – eventually – politics.

He says that his Bottom Line advisors have helped him significantly throughout his time in college, particularly in terms of managing his time, doing well in his classes, and finding internship and job opportunities to pursue.

“Because of my experience with Bottom Line, I have a strong foundation and I am ahead of the game.  And I am just one of the thousands of students they coach, mentor and support.”

His college experience has certainly been a busy one. Shaffiou has held multiple internships and leadership roles. He has also been honored recently as a Forbes Under 30 scholar, signifying his strong record of achievement in academics/leadership/etc., and he has been invited to attend the Cox-State Department Diplomacy Seminar, at which he will explore possible careers in politics and diplomacy.

His internship as a financial analyst with Prudential offered him exciting opportunities to stretch himself professionally – he was tasked with re-working one of the systems Prudential Capital Group (PCG) uses for financial modeling, and though he found the job challenging, and did not know how to approach it at first, he persevered and came up with a new system that the company is now using. He gained significant new critical thinking and data analysis skills through the experience and is already planning to return to Prudential for a follow-up internship next summer.

Shaffiou also attended the Summer Venture in Management Program this past summer, designed to give students from communities who are underrepresented at Harvard a crash course in the type of work done at their business school. Shaffiou spent a week engaging with other students on how to solve complicated problems in project management, strategic planning, etc. He gained a great deal from the experience and is currently weighing his options for applying to Harvard Business School directly out of undergrad.

University of Illinois at Chicago, Class of 2022

As early as elementary school, Alicia’s classmates were pulled into dangerous lifestyles that offered little hope for positive futures. Alicia didn’t want that for herself, and she doesn’t want that for the generations coming after her. “That was the catalyst in me wanting to be involved in criminal justice.”

Alicia is currently a sophomore at the University of Illinois at Chicago and is working toward a degree in criminology with a minor in public policy and psychology.

Ultimately, Alicia would like to be a change-maker in her community – supporting Chicago by helping to keep children out of the correctional system, and by offering guidance and opportunities to those who already are.

Her work in this area is impressive. She currently visits her previous elementary school and works with students through band practice and writing exercises. She believes in using the arts to help teach children motivation, as well as how to set and achieve goals. This mentorship is one of her own creation. Alicia reached out to her old band teacher to ask if there were any opportunities to work with the students – so the school invited to visit when she can, based on her own schedule. “I know what my peers were up against at their age, and I just want to help keep them on the right road.”

Alicia joined Bottom Line as a Success student at the recommendation of her friend, who had gone through the Access program.

While Alicia knows what problem she wants to solve with her career, she’s still exploring the best way to do that. Her advisor has played a significant role in that. She challenges Alicia to be creative and think of all the different avenues she could take to make a change, and what she’d have to do to excel in those different avenues.

“I’m looking at all the different ways I can attack this problem and see which way my skill set and interests can best fit in.”

So far, that line of thinking has helped Alicia into two very different, and eye-opening, internships. With help from her advisor, Alicia has interned with the City Clerk’s office and is currently interning with the Department of Corrections.

At the City Clerk’s office, Alicia was able to see how she could effect change from an institutional standpoint. And, now, she is learning how to make a change on the ground, with individuals already in the system.

Alicia interviews juveniles coming out of Cook County Department of Corrections to see which services they are eligible for upon release. Depending on their eligibility, she then works with them to help get that ball rolling, so they have a plan in place when they are released.

“It’s tough to prepare yourself when you’re going into one of the biggest DOCs in the state, but I’m more motivated than ever. Not only am I learning about prevention, but I’m learning about what happens when crime prevention isn’t there or doesn’t work and what that means for the individuals who are affected.”

This internship lasts for the entire academic year, and she is very excited to learn more and gain more perspective.

“I am looking forward to simply being able to work with people in that environment. It is difficult working in the jail because you see things that not everyone talks about, and I am interested in becoming more aware of what goes on inside the jail. While I am working for a research project, I want to make sure I see these gentlemen as more than just a number or statistic in our research.”

Bottom Line has helped Alicia gain access to these opportunities – by sharing the opportunities, supporting Alicia as she fills out applications, and helping her with the interviewing process.

“The most important thing my advisors have given me is their support. They’ve always been so enthusiastic about exploring opportunities. They’ve been cheerleaders for me.”

For Alicia, a college degree is giving her the freedom to explore her interests and honor her family. “This isn’t just for me, but to thank my family for all they’ve given up for me. Leaving your home and all you know to give your children a better chance is one of the most selfless things you can do. I owe my parents my success.”

by Heriberto Valadez, Class of 2019, Graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago

When I was asked to give a speech for this event, I didn’t hesitate to say yes because, as I’ve said on numerous occasions before, I will never be able to thank Bottom Line enough for all they have done for me in these past 5 years.

I know it sounds cliché, but it feels like it was yesterday when I walked in the Bottom Line office for the first time and I saw my Bottom Line advisor sitting down next to a table with her laptop open, waiting for me to show up to our meeting.

I remember being a little nervous because I didn’t know what to expect. To be completely honest, I felt kind of lost at the time. I had recently graduated from high school, and although I did pretty well in school, college wasn’t something that I was really prepared for, and I was fearful.

I don’t know exactly how many people can relate to this, but at first, I felt like I was in college because of mere luck. I used to think my personal statement on my college application was alright. I believed that whoever was in charge of deciding who was accepted felt a little bad for this kid and said, “you know what let’s give him a chance and take his money.”

But what I’ve always said, and I will keep saying, is that the most significant impact that Bottom Line had on me was cultivating my belief that I had what it takes to be successful and since then it has been my duty to prove them right.

Bottom Line always encouraged me to use all of the resources I had, including my academic advisors at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). But if I have to be completely honest, I always felt more comfortable reaching out to my advisors at Bottom Line for any type of question that I had. They always made me feel like it was okay to ask for help.

I can go into many specifics, but the best of all was knowing that I wasn’t completely alone in my college journey. I could be like “Hey I don’t know how to do this, I don’t know how to apply for FAFSA, please help me because I don’t have thousands of dollars under my mattress.” And thanks to Bottom Line, today I’m completely debt-free.

I always had the opportunity to meet new people through Bottom Line. For example, I was able to network with people who were already working in the real world. It was at the last fundraising event where I met Luke, who works in sales at LinkedIn. He invited me over to the LinkedIn offices for breakfast. I learned a few things from him like the importance of getting to know people and learning from them. I got to see how cool the LinkedIn offices were. They were very clean and modern. They had free breakfast! I remember telling myself, “wow, I would really like to work in an environment like this.”

Luckily, in the end, I was able to accomplish that now that I’m working sales at GrubHub. Their offices are very nice too, and I love it there. My advisor called me days after I graduated and basically said, “Hey Heriberto, don’t think that because you graduated we’re going to throw you to the wolves and say good luck! No, what’s your plan, and how can we help you?” And that right there was everything! I was applying to jobs, and my advisor was helping me with the process by reaching out and saying, “Hey Heriberto just tell all of them that you really want the job but don’t accept anything until you’re able to see clearly all your options on the table.”

She helped me to understand how to manage all that and how to understand offer letters and benefits. All of us at certain moments feel lost, but it is people like those who work at Bottom Line who can change the future of a person.

Sometimes I want to put in the effort and be successful, but I don’t know how to do it, and that can stop me. Having the right resources and people supporting me helps to keep me moving forward in the right direction. Throughout my college journey, I was able to pick up a few skills from people, like how to stay organized and focused. Thanks to those skills, I was able to graduate and find a job that I enjoy! But I’m aware that it is very easy for things not to go as well as they did. I could’ve stayed at the restaurant working long and tiring hours. I would still have been earning a living, but I knew there were greater opportunities for me and Bottom Line guided me toward those greater opportunities, and I’m excited about the future.

I know this is just the beginning and at 22 years old, I have so much to learn, but I have faith that things will play out well because they always have. Right now I just want to go up on the sales chart and see the numbers increase. I want to see what can happen if I put my mind to it. At this point, I’m very proud of myself, and I hope that you as my advisors are proud of me as well because, at the end of the day, my accomplishments are your accomplishments too! So from the bottom of my heart, thank you, to you all and to all the people who make Bottom Line possible.