Vegas in a Flash

10/09/2012 10:43 AM

By: Lauren Campbell ’13

Josh Koebert ’12 is no stranger to hard work. Thanks to his dedication, Koebert faced every grad’s struggle to get hired with ease, landing a position in Las Vegas with the world renowned Pawn Stars in July 2012.

For Koebert, a sports communication major, landing the coveted position was a whirlwind. He had an interview on a Friday and by that Sunday he had flown home to Wisconsin, packed up his car, and driven 28 hours to start his new job in sunny Las Vegas. As an executive assistant to Rick Harrison, a star of the hit History Channel show Pawn Stars, Koebert never knows what his day at work might have in store; assignments range from driving Harrison’s ’68 Mustang Fastback to taking a trip with the crew to Argentina. He is also currently in the process of developing a fan newsletter for the shop.

He credits his time at Bradley for his current success, saying he “was able to learn from some of the best, most dedicated professors around, all of whom made [him] better at [his] chosen career.”

His connections were largely established through his working experiences while at Bradley. He had brief stints as a SCOUT writer and Edge DJ, and got internships with the Peoria Chiefs, the Sanford Mainers, NBC Sports at the Super Bowl. It was the spring 2012 internship with Alumna Laura Herlovich ’79 at her Las Vegas public relations firm, P.R. Plus, that made his connection to the Pawn Stars possible. He also interned for the Bradley University Alumni Association, a position in which he “enjoyed interacting with all of our fabulous alumni and finding out about their experiences and how Bradley shaped them for success.”

Bradley Greek life was also important to Koebert; he pledged Delta Tau Delta. According to Koebert, it was the second best decision he has ever made, after deciding to come to Bradley.

As for passing on advice to students about getting hired once they graduate, Koebert offers simple advice: it’s tough out there; don’t hold out for a dream job right away. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, since utilizing connections can make all the difference when it comes to finding a “real” job.

Despite finding a new home, Koebert keeps Bradley on his mind. “I seriously can’t say enough about how much I love my alma mater and how well it prepared me for life after college.”