The 3rd Annual Career Mentoring Event, “Piecing Together Your Career,” brought Worcester State University students to the Student Center’s Blue Lounge to listen to career advice and tips from WSU alumni, faculty and staff on Tuesday, February 21.
A panel of four business people started off the program by answering WSU students’ questions and each panel member discussing their career paths and positions. Alumni Association’s Advisory Board Vice President Kristina Jackson ’93, Worcester State Foundation Board President Gregg Rosen ’86, and Foundation Board members Dan Mastrototaro and Kerri Melley made up the esteemed panel.
Jackson discussed how to always “look for someone who could possibly be a mentor at your work” so they can help you grow as an employee and become a better businessperson. She spoke about her past mentors and how they always made her strive to be better, encouraged her to get her master’s degree and higher up job positions in her place of work. Rosen revealed to the students that “networking is key” and to “become an expert at what you do” to succeed in your field of work.
After the panel discussion, dinner was served while the students mingled with the faculty, staff and alumni. Three break-out sessions followed the dinner, each lasting 20 minutes, to discuss relevant topics: “Know Yourself, Find Your Way — Reflection, Self Assessment and Discovering Your Path,” “Social Media and Networking 101,” and “Exploring Your Options — Work, Grad School and Entrepreneurship.”
Each student who attended rotated between the three different sessions to experience and learn from the alumni, faculty and staff who were leading each group discussion. Overall, the students were able to connect in a positive way with the presenters as well as to get a better understanding of what will happen after graduation.
This career event helped me personally, being a student who is graduating in May, to be more prepared about what is to come. I liked the personal experiences that were given by the panelists about their current positions and how they moved through their career. It was nice to hear that it wasn’t simple to begin their career and that they’re still on their career journey. The panelists simply encouraged the students to do what they love, work hard and be focused on their career path. Even if a job won’t last forever, all experiences can have a positive spin to them. In my opinion, the event was a huge success and helped the students have a better understanding of their future beyond WSU.
The next career event involving WSU will be the Colleges of Worcester Consortium Career Fair 2012. The event will take place on Tuesday, March 27 at the Beechwood Hotel on Plantation Street in Worcester from 12:00 to 3:30 p.m. The career fair will offer jobs, co-ops, internships and networking opportunities. Over 70 employers will be attending the career fair this year.
Written by Chelsea Tougas ’12, a communication major, president of WSU’s Omega Psi chapter of Lambda Pi Eta, student worker in the Student Affairs Office, and intern with the WSU Public Relations and Marketing Office.
Beyond the Classroom
Liberia: Peace Corps to Peace Prize, a 50-Year Journey
Steven and Jacqueline Keenan, international development experts, brought “Worcester in the World” to life for history and criminal justice students with their talk about the recent history and . . .