Kristi Wakeham
Administrative Assistant
Recruiting, Human Resources Department
The best part of my job is helping the summer interns. Our office hires more than 100 students from all over the nation every summer. For some of them, Lincoln Laboratory is their first exposure to a professional environment, and I am one of the first people they interact with on a business level. So it is important that I make a good impression and make sure they feel comfortable enough to ask questions in order to make their internship successful.
I've actually had a student call me many months after his internship ... he had a question while doing his taxes, so I helped him through it, and then he told me "HR is overwhelming and scary to call, but you're very approachable. Every time I talk to you, you're so helpful!" I'm glad the Lab gives me the opportunity to have a positive effect on someone in that way! I received another card from an intern saying he wanted to thank me for all my efforts I put into the summer internship program making it an outstanding summer experience.
When I take the students on tours of Lab facilities, I'm able to see what the technical staff are doing. I'm just as amazed as the students with some of the projects and items built in-house—especially in the flight hangar and Millstone. The number of experts and amount of knowledge inside Lincoln Laboratory continually impresses me. I understand the visitor's perspective more because I've brought my 10-year-old daughter in three times for Daughter's Day. She loves it and thinks that coming to visit the Lab is the greatest thing. I'm happy to be able to show her where I work, and show her all the science demonstrations throughout the day. Her favorite activity so far was piloting a simulated airplane.
One benefit to working in HR is that I get to interact with more than 300 technical staff volunteering to help with on-campus recruiting. I supply all the resumes, set up interviews, send confirmations, make itineraries, and develop information packets for handouts recruiting. I really enjoy getting to know the staff before, during, and after their recruiting efforts.
I think part of the reason why I enjoy welcoming others here is because the Lab has made my life better in many ways. The Laboratory has some great conveniences that make my life easier. My schedule doesn't allow the flexibility to exercise before or after work, so just walking up to the fitness center and working out over my lunch hour is a great opportunity. I also take advantage of MITAC [MIT Activities Council] discounts on games, movies, and museums. Having MITAC in close proximity has come in handy over the years. Also, the Laboratory emphasizes continuing education and the tuition reimbursement program paid for 22 of 40 of my classes for a bachelor's degree in business administration with a minor in graphic communication. This Fall I will continue my studies for an MBA. I wouldn't have been able to afford going back to school if it weren't for this program. It's given me an education that I wouldn't have been able to get on my own, so the Lab has definitely changed me professionally.
I am Kristi Wakeham. I am Lincoln Laboratory.
