Networking and Volunteering: A Student’s Journey Through Career Change

In today’s episode, Pierre Michiels interviews Kika, a legal studies student at College of DuPage and a legal professional working in immigration law. In the interview, Kika shares her journey of moving from Colombia to the United States, transitioning from a career in real estate to the legal field, and navigating cultural and professional differences while building a new career path. She also discusses the importance of networking, volunteering, mentorship, and using campus resources to gain experience and confidence. After listening to this episode, we hope you have a better understanding of how to approach major career transitions with intention, resilience, and a commitment to continuous growth. 

Full episode transcript can be found on the episode page. Below is a general timestamp summary.  

00:00–02:00 | Episode Introduction & Guest Overview

Host Pierre Michiels introduces the Career Ready Podcast and welcomes Kika, a legal studies student at College of DuPage. He previews her story, which includes immigrating to the U.S., changing careers, and pursuing work in the legal field. 

02:00–08:00 | Cultural Transition & Professional Norms

Kika discusses moving from Colombia to the United States and adjusting to cultural and workplace differences. She reflects on professional expectations, time management, and how understanding U.S. norms has shaped her growth and confidence in the workplace. 

08:00–14:30 | Career Change & Choosing Legal Studies 

The conversation shifts to Kika’s background in real estate and what motivated her transition into legal studies. She explains how her past experience aligned with legal work and how College of DuPage supported her career pivot through practical, real-world instruction. 

14:30–19:00 | Networking, Volunteering & Skill Building 

Kika shares actionable advice on networking with intention, volunteering, joining student organizations, and building relationships that lead to opportunities. She emphasizes humility, consistency, and gaining experience while still in school. 

19:00–23:45 | Final Advice & Encouragement 

To close, Kika offers guidance for students facing imposter syndrome or uncertainty, encouraging them to take action before feeling “ready.” Pierre reinforces the importance of self-advocacy, campus resources, and steady progress in career development.

Listeners in the College of DuPage community can visit our website. All other listeners are encouraged to view the resources of their local community college, WIOA training programs, or other local support centers.

Send us YOUR Listener Questions at careerpodcast@cod.edu

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn @codcareercenter

Transcript

Welcome to the Career Ready podcast.
 Learn about resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn, interviewing, and all things you need to be career ready with the Career Service Center at College of DuPage.
 I'm your host, Pierre Michaels.
 I'm excited to have Kika with me.

Kika is currently a legal studies student at College of DuPage, but she has a great story to share that includes making big changes, including moving to a different country and starting a new career path.
 That's all I'll say for now, because she can tell much better than I can.

Kika, thank you for being here today.
 “Thank you for inviting me. It’s honestly an honor. I am super excited to be here.”

Well, I'm excited to hear your story and share that with our listeners.

So as we get started here, can you provide a quick introduction — or as we like to say, your elevator pitch?

“Okay. A little about me, so hi, everyone.
 My name is… but you can call me Kika.
 I currently work as a front desk administrative assistant at Kansas Immigration Law Firm.
 I am the first point of contact for clients and family, so my real focus is on creating a welcoming experience, supporting client and case preparation, and making sure that all phases stay organized and run smoothly.

Before this, I worked as a legal assistant at 800 C Law Firm, where I gained experience in case preparation, document preparation, and most important, drafting petitions — Chapter Seven and Chapter 13 — and client communication during stressful times.

Right now, I am pursuing an associate degree in legal studies here at College of DuPage, and I volunteer through Know Your Rights in Glendale in their legal clinics.
 I was also part of their process — I had theirs in family law and disparagement clinic at DuPage County Courthouse last spring, and that helped me strengthen my commitment to access to justice and especially to community service.

One of my passions is serving underserved communities, and right now the immigrant community needs all our support. I am here being a proud Latina.”

I love hearing that — your passion, your excitement for serving the underrepresented. I hear that passion in the work you're doing. And that’s part of why I enjoy talking with you so much.
 I know there’s more to your story, and we’re going to unpack that a little bit.

Talking a little bit more about your story — you moved to the United States, and I’m assuming cultural differences. I've never been to Colombia. Can you share a little bit about those cultural changes, and what helped you move to the United States and start understanding the norms here?

“Okay. So the first question about the difference — the professional cultural difference — is a subject we could speak about all day long, and this could be a podcast with any number of episodes.

So I’m going to speak about one small difference that makes me smile. It’s very significant to show the cultural gap — the professional and cultural gap — between Colombia and the United States.

My hometown is… It’s a small city.
 So they know my office hours.
 There, office hours are from 8 to 12 and 2 to 6.
 Which means that when I was living in Colombia, I had a two‑hour lunch break.

Lunch is not just for eating your food — it was time to slow down, restart, and most importantly, to connect with your coworkers.

Here, lunch is totally different.
 You just have time to sit down a little bit, eat, and that’s it.”

That is a big difference. Not that one is necessarily right or wrong, but that’s got to be a big transition.
 The first time you had lunch here in the U.S. professionally, were you surprised it was over so quickly?

“Yes, I have to say yes.
 I used to take my time to enjoy my food.
 Now I need to enjoy my food a little bit shorter.

But it’s also an adjustment, and I was prepared in my mind that I am making this big change in my life and I have a reason to do it.
 This is a small difference, but I can adjust. It’s not something against my beliefs — it’s just a habit.
 And you can build a habit in time.

The hardest part for me is coworker relationships.
 I work with an amazing team — they’re all powerful women — but like I said, lunch for me was time to speak and connect. Here, because it’s a short period of time, you say hello, you eat, and that’s it.”

I can definitely see that — when you have two hours for lunch and you’re taking it with coworkers, there’s a lot more time to relax and build those personal relationships.
 Here in the U.S., a lot of that is more professional relationships and knowing the correct times to engage in personal conversations.

“And that is true. It is an ongoing process.
 Every day I learn.
 But I am very fortunate that I work with this amazing team of female, powerful women. It’s really a blessing.”

Speaking about U.S. professional norms, what stands out to you?

“First of all, discipline and consistency.
 You have to be focused on what you want and why you are making these changes, to not step back.

The main point for me to understand U.S. professional norms was College of DuPage.
 In the legal studies program, all the professors are attorneys, retired or still practicing.
 They don’t just bring theory — they bring real experience.

They teach expectations for employers, how legal work functions, and how to be prepared when you enter the field.”

So through your education and work, finding good role models and people you can trust has really helped you understand these new expectations?

“Totally.
 And if I can say names, I will say Annie Knight.

She’s someone you can schedule an appointment with — it can be something professional, academic — she listens, gives the best advice, and makes you feel confident.

The faculty members of the legal studies program — and College of DuPage in general — help you be ready.
 Even as an immigrant with many cultural differences, at the end when you get your degree, you are ready to go out into the world in a professional way.”

I'm not surprised you found a great mentor in Annie.

For listeners trying to make similar changes, finding someone you can tap into is a great resource.

Moving on — before coming to the United States, you were doing other work.
 What motivated you to change your career path?

“Okay.
 So what motivated me — it was a big decision.
 I used to be a real estate agent, and I owned my real estate business in Colombia.

But if you are a good real estate agent, you need to know basic legal concepts — contracts and especially consequences for your clients — without giving legal advice, of course.

Law was always on the table, but something you just see and keep moving forward.

However, when I came here, I felt like it was my time to restart, my time to listen to myself.
 I am 39 years old — it is time to dream, but grounded.

Being an attorney sounds fabulous to me, but here it is expensive and a long pathway. So I decided to see what options fulfill my passion.

I found the paralegal program — now legal studies — and it filled what I was looking for.
 It is a nice way to help underserved communities, and there are many job options in the legal market.

So this was my opportunity to tweak my path a little. I found College of DuPage, and then everything came to me.
 When you are looking to fulfill your dream, your purpose, everything comes to you — but you also have to do something.
 Opportunity finds you when you are prepared.”

I love that — having a dream, grounding it, and working toward it.
 It sounds like you were wired for law even before real estate, and those skills confirmed that law was the path.

Now that you are working in the legal field while still studying, how did you start making yourself a strong candidate for this change?

“I will say everything combined to make your dreams and goals true.

When you are a real estate agent, something natural to you is socializing — networking.
 So networking is first of all.

You are preparing yourself in this amazing program, but if nobody knows you, nothing will happen.
 Networking, but conscious networking — real connections.

When you connect with people, you recognize you have to be humble because you are starting over.
 It’s not ‘I know everything,’ it’s ‘I’m here, ready to learn, I work hard, and I want to move forward.’

Volunteering also makes you a strong candidate.
 It builds your skills even if nobody sees it.
 Being involved in the program — I used to be the treasurer of the paralegal club before moving to Chicago.
 Using the resources the college and nonprofits give you — that’s how you build yourself.

For me it was a combination: networking, preparing, saying out loud what you want, being open.

Both legal jobs I got were through people who knew me.
 Sometimes you feel imposter syndrome — you don’t want to let people down, so you work harder.

You have to ask:
 ‘Hey, I am looking for a new job.’
 ‘Here is what I am looking for.’

You never know where your opportunity will come from.”

There’s so much great information in that — networking, volunteering, being humble, advocating for yourself, creating opportunities before finishing your degree.

“And yes, that is the idea — to get into the field.
 Especially in the legal world — the legal field relies a lot on connections.
 Not connecting with wealthy or powerful attorneys — just that people know you.

And back to the faculty — if you show your work, they can make references.
 That is powerful.
 If your professor says you work hard, people trust you.

Beyond skills, in legal work you deal with confidential matters — people need to find you trustworthy.”

Exactly.

So we've talked about you making big changes — new country, new career path — and the resources you used.
 As we wrap up, do you have any last tips or insights to share with our listeners?

“Yes.
 My biggest tip is:
 Don’t wait until you feel ready.

Take the class.
 Apply for the job.
 Ask for help.
 Reach out to Career Services.
 Talk to people.

Your confidence will catch up after you start taking action.
 And give yourself grace — progress doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be consistent.”

Beautiful.
 It reminds me of what you said about imposter syndrome — if we wait until it goes away, we never move forward.
 But if we do little things — even when we don’t feel ready — we become prepared.

I love how it’s paid off for you.
 Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight today.

“Thank you so much for your time.”

And thank you to all our listeners.
 There was no listener question in today’s episode, but if you have one you want answered in a future episode, submit it to careerpodcasts@cod.edu.

We hope you join us for our next episode for more information to help you be career ready.