Last week, on Thursday, March 1, five St. Lawrence alumni returned to campus as part of Career Service’s Laurentians in Residence event. The event allowed students to ask alumni questions related to post-graduate life.
The panel consisted of: Pierson Fowler ’14, a manager of corporate partnerships, at Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment who graduated from SLU with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Performance & Communications Arts; Ashley Jeffress ’13, a program manager for Women@HubSpot, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Performance & Communications Arts; Tonisha Kerr ’15, a junior analyst at Canaras Capital Management who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Business and a minor in Chinese Studies; Tai Nixa Peterson ’12, works as a database and development coordinator at the Himalayan Cataract Project. She graduated from SLU with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology and African Studies; and Dzifa Yador ’11, a producer at velocity who majored in Performance and Communication Arts and minored in Government while here at St. Lawrence.
Each of the alumni addressed important topics, including job application do’s and don’ts as well as figuring out when to leave a job and when to simply stay and settle. Much of the advice the alumni gave was centered on being confident in both yourself and your skills. The alumni advocated overcoming your fear of approaching connections at a networking event by starting off simple: introduce yourself and have a conversation. They emphasized that it’s often easier to find a commonality between yourselves than it originally seems.
Yador repeatedly advised students to write out a list of their skills and positive attributes. She stated that the list was an excellent point of reference for not only job applications but also for promoting confidence and self-love.
Peterson advised students to follow their passions during a job search. She emphasized that when applying it is important to show your positivity and dedication, and to not be afraid to show your true colors.
Kerr emphasized not limiting your vision when looking for a position. She talked about how there are many jobs out there that one would never think about, but that fit perfectly with one’s skills.
Jeffress highlighted the importance of standing out from others. She said it was important to make yourself more noticeable and therefore more desirable to employers— she even suggested sending in a video for your CV. In addition, she was adamant that individuals should not immediately ask professionals at networking events about job openings. Rather, people should strike up a real conversation and make an authentic connection, which will likely benefit them more in the long-term.
Finally, Fowler recommended that students not be afraid to ask their friends what industry their parents are in, because “that’s the best networking.” He also stressed the importance of a hand written thank you note after an interview.
All alumni were very happy to be back on campus and were extremely willing to connect with current students to provide advice and suggestions about job hunting. If you’re interested in attending a future Laurentians in Residence Event, make sure to check out the Career Services webpage or stop in to their office on the second floor of the Student Center!