Meet the Student Staff of Housing: Desiderio L.

A student employee, Desiderio L., smiles at for a portraitWhat year in school are you?

Second-year

What is your major?

Mathematics for Secondary Education

What department in University Housing do you work for?

University Housing Facilities

How long have you worked for University Housing?

I was a Student Custodian from September 2021 to April 2022. Since April 2022, I have been a Student Custodial Supervisor at Waters, Bradley, Phillips, and Dejope Residence Halls.

What is your current position?

Building Services Student Supervisor

What do you do in a typical shift?

During a typical shift, I help to clean bathrooms, take out trash, and wipe down common spaces with other student custodians. I also help schedule student custodians for their shifts and plan meetings with them and with my building supervisor.

What are some perks of your job?

Some perks of my job are getting to work with a really good team such that the work day goes by fast. Alongside that, I get a nice discount at dining halls.

What is your favorite part of the job?

I really enjoy getting to work with other student custodians. Working together allows for getting to know one another really well, which is not something that is so easy to do in classes with people who have wildly different schedules from one another.

What is something you have accomplished in your job that you are proud of?

In my job, I was able to provide feedback on equipment in the Waters unit that made the cleaning process easier for all the student custodians in the unit.

What transferrable skills have you learned?

I have learned the transferable skills of conflict management, time management, the importance of communication, and how to delegate tasks on matter of importance.

Why should students apply for this job?

Students should apply for this job because it is probably the most flexible job they will ever work, it is located close to many academic buildings, and they will have the opportunity to meet and become friends with great people who are likely to have many shared experiences with them right from the start. Working in Facilities has been the highlight of my time here at UW–Madison so far. I have met so many wonderful people that have led to me to want to become a student supervisor and stay with the job for my time here at UW–Madison.

Why did you choose to work for University Housing over somewhere else?

I chose to work in University Housing over another location because I live in the residence hall in which I work in. Even though other jobs were available, I knew that I would be getting to know people that were more integral to a key service the students of UW–Madison depend on, which helps make the job feel all the more worthwhile!