Sometimes you just don’t know what you want because you don’t know that it exists.  Somehow, Challenge Detroit knew what I wanted.

Without knowing anything about the company or the job, during my interview trip with Challenge Detroit, I was assigned to interview with Compuware Corporation, an IT performance company. That opportunity to interview with Compuware was a career turning point for me. If you look at my resume, filled with service-learning, mentoring, tutoring, activism, and psychology, you would be as confused as I was about why on Earth I was selected to interview for a job in a technology company. To my surprise, my interview with this strange tech corporation consisted of me talking about issues like education, violence against women, diversity and human rights. At this point, I was surprised. I didn’t know why Compuware cared about all my favorite things to talk about, but I didn’t give it too much thought and just enjoyed the ride. Finally, as the interview was almost over, I was told that the Challenge Detroit Fellow would work in Compuware’s Culture, Community and Diversity department. Tanya Heidelberg-Yopp, SVP of this new department, described her vision for the department as an opportunity to redefine corporate engagement with communities and to create a model for moving beyond just monetary contributions. At that moment I’m fairly certain that my jaw literally dropped and I couldn’t speak coherently because I felt like a giddy child.

In the end, Compuware offered me a position as their Culture, Community, and Diversity Specialist and I easily accepted the dream job that I didn’t know existed. After almost four months of work I am still inspired on a daily basis because I have a voice that is heard, I am surrounded by colleagues who are extremely talented and creative, and because I get to participate in meaningful work. A year ago I would have never imagined myself working for a corporation, but today, thanks to Challenge Detroit, I have an unexpected dream job!

(Picture: Compuware employees volunteering for Project: Welcome Home, our partnership with Habitat for Humanity)