On 9 February 2010, the Washington and Lee Alumni Office the below e-mail accounting one alum's networking experiences (this should be useful advice for anyone currently searching for employment):
http://alumniwlu.wordpress.com/2010/02/09/a-warm-fuzzy-on-a-chilly-day/
“'Just wanted to send you a quick email about how great the alumni network has been for me so far. Internships are terrible to find for the summer after 1L year especially in this economy. I sent some letters to a bunch of firms in January and went through career services here at Wake some. Just about everyone has sent me back letters saying that they don’t take 1Ls. Which, let me tell you, is very stressful.
Then I decided I’d go through Colonnade Connections and email W&L alums in different areas with my resume to see if they had anything. They have been WONDERFUL! People have either called me about interning for them, emailed me about it or sent my resume to their career department. Even those who are in firms that aren’t taking summer interns have been great and said they would pass around my resume at other places or have offered to call to discuss the legal field in their area or take me to lunch when I came through. I’m just really impressed with W&L and how helpful colonnade connections has been and with the alums. It’s just made this entire internship experience so much better. Where before it was faceless firms, this has made me feel cared about. I just wanted to say thanks for making the alunni network great and yay for Washington and Lee. Best school EVER.'
~ by Washington and Lee Alumni Office on February 9, 2010.
Posted in Alumni Office."
Showing posts with label networking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label networking. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Friday, December 4, 2009
CNN Money: "They got jobs!"
"In August, CNNMoney asked nine recent grads about their job search. Six months after graduation, all of them are working at least part-time. "
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Dan Birdwhistell '01
Dan, who graduated from W&L in 2001 with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology and Public Policy, participated in one of Career Services’ on-going Psychology Alumni-in-Residences lunches.
Dan has had a very dynamic experience since graduating from Washington and Lee.
After receiving an MA in Education and Philosophy at the University of Cambridge in 2002, Dan has traveled extensively and worked in in Belgium, Nasheville, and Los Angeles. Presently, he lives in Washington D.C., and he is the CEO of Bigsight Media Group.
A recent graduate himself, Dan has a lot of advice for W&L students about to enter the job market:
1) Take your time. Dan suggests that students should not take their new job prospects too seriously. Recent graduates can afford to take a few years pursuing different interests; they have a lot of time. Dan says, “Never be afraid to spend a couple of years just working at a surf shop if that’s something you want to do.”
2) Don’t worry too much about money. Dan admits that his personal finances have been through both the highs and the lows. But this isn’t a problem. Even if your pockets are empty, as long as you’re doing something productive and getting a good experience, you can ensure that you earn it back. Never be afraid to take a risk; it might be of benefit in the future.
3) Spend a few years away from W&L. It’s very tempting to graduate and move directly into one of the hotbeds of W&L alumni. Dan suggests students take a couple of years off before reimersing themselves in everything W&L. There are a lot of different people and different experiences out there. Plus, the move into the W&L alumni community is a much easier transition after being away from it for a few years.
Dan offers a great message that is sometimes lost in Washington and Lee’s highly competitive environment. You shouldn’t expect to have your entire life planned out when you graduate. Experiment, pursue your interests, and don’t try to stick to a highly specific plan. You’ll never know just quite where you’ll end up, or what you’ll end up doing. Follow your intersts, work, take risks, figure it out, and keep learning. And at the same time remember that you are you and that you do have a lot of time to figure things out.
For more info on Dan, check his website at http://bigsight.org/dan_birdwhistell.
Dan has had a very dynamic experience since graduating from Washington and Lee.
After receiving an MA in Education and Philosophy at the University of Cambridge in 2002, Dan has traveled extensively and worked in in Belgium, Nasheville, and Los Angeles. Presently, he lives in Washington D.C., and he is the CEO of Bigsight Media Group.
A recent graduate himself, Dan has a lot of advice for W&L students about to enter the job market:
1) Take your time. Dan suggests that students should not take their new job prospects too seriously. Recent graduates can afford to take a few years pursuing different interests; they have a lot of time. Dan says, “Never be afraid to spend a couple of years just working at a surf shop if that’s something you want to do.”
2) Don’t worry too much about money. Dan admits that his personal finances have been through both the highs and the lows. But this isn’t a problem. Even if your pockets are empty, as long as you’re doing something productive and getting a good experience, you can ensure that you earn it back. Never be afraid to take a risk; it might be of benefit in the future.
3) Spend a few years away from W&L. It’s very tempting to graduate and move directly into one of the hotbeds of W&L alumni. Dan suggests students take a couple of years off before reimersing themselves in everything W&L. There are a lot of different people and different experiences out there. Plus, the move into the W&L alumni community is a much easier transition after being away from it for a few years.
Dan offers a great message that is sometimes lost in Washington and Lee’s highly competitive environment. You shouldn’t expect to have your entire life planned out when you graduate. Experiment, pursue your interests, and don’t try to stick to a highly specific plan. You’ll never know just quite where you’ll end up, or what you’ll end up doing. Follow your intersts, work, take risks, figure it out, and keep learning. And at the same time remember that you are you and that you do have a lot of time to figure things out.
For more info on Dan, check his website at http://bigsight.org/dan_birdwhistell.
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