Student Employee Spotlight: Maksims Kurjanovics Kravcenko '25

Rutgers Class of 2025 | Computer Science Major
Head Learning Assistant, Aquatics Supervisor, Former Program Coordinator/Director

For Maksims Kurjanovics Kravcenko, working as a student employee at Rutgers has been much more than a way to earn a paycheck; it’s been a way to build real-world skills, grow his confidence, and prepare for life after college.

As a Head Learning Assistant, Aquatics Supervisor, and former Program Coordinator/Director, Maksims has had the chance to take on leadership roles, manage teams, and tackle problems head-on. Through these experiences, he’s been developing what are called career readiness competencies or essential skills like leadership, critical thinking, professionalism, teamwork, and communication that employers look for when hiring.

“Through my student employment role, I've mastered crucial skills such as a critical eye, leadership, professionalism, accountability, and managerial skills,” Maksims explains. These skills are helping him prepare for his future goal of becoming a Principal or Director in the FinTech sector.

One experience that really stood out to him was when an urgent task popped up right before a swim meet. Rather than getting overwhelmed, Maksims worked with his team to figure out a solution on the spot. “We worked together and devised a solution that would bring us where we needed to be,” he shares. This moment taught him the importance of staying calm under pressure and showed him how effective teamwork and clear communication can lead to success, even in stressful situations.

Through his various jobs, Maksims realized how much he enjoys solving problems, improving processes, and helping others succeed. Whether it’s analyzing data, refining workflows, or mentoring new employees, these hands-on experiences have helped him see how his interests in technology and leadership can combine into a meaningful career.

Maksims also credits his supervisors and mentors for playing a big role in his growth. “There is a supervisor to whom I owe everything, for they taught me how to be who I am today based on things they've regretted not doing,” he reflects. Their guidance helped him become more confident in making decisions and navigating feedback, skills that will serve him well in any future career.

An important part of Maksims’ journey has been taking time to reflect. He consistently sets personal and professional goals, tracks his progress, and looks for ways to improve. This habit of self-reflection has kept him proactive about his growth and prepared him for new challenges.

For students who are just starting out in their own campus jobs, Maksims has some advice: “Student employment, just like college, really comes down to how much you're willing to get out of it. Some just do it for the degree, or, in this case, money, but in my opinion, student employment is a strategic advantage into building meaningful connections way ahead of time.” He encourages students to take initiative, seek out mentors, and look for opportunities to build skills beyond what’s in the job description.

Maksims’ story shows how student employment can be a stepping stone to career readiness. By getting involved and staying intentional, on-campus jobs can help you build the skills and experiences that will give you a head start after graduation.

Through the Student Employee Enrichment (SEE) Program, Rutgers students like Maksims are able to turn their work experiences into meaningful opportunities for professional growth, building the skills that will support their career goals long after college.