A new initiative launched by the UVM Career Center allows students to get up close and personal with alumni in a variety of professions. In its inaugural year, the job shadow program paired 55 eager students with alumni willing to open their office doors in the name of career exploration.
“I think of it as something of a ‘first step’ in career development,” says Amanda Chase, internship coordinator for the Career Center. “It allows students to learn more about a company and industry, make connections, and evaluate whether this kind of job could be a fit for them. It also gives them a chance to build their confidence in a professional environment and learn about workplace culture.”
Job sites ranged geographically from Burlington to New York, Boston, D.C., and even San Diego. Participating companies included Facebook, the NYC Department of Transportation, Dealer.com, Fidelity, Burton, Eaton Vance and many more.
Natural resources planning major Margot Halpin ’16 says, “I think there is a disconnect for many students, including myself, about how to transition from a learning environment to jumping into the workforce putting your knowledge to work. This job shadow experience is one way to close that gap.”
Halpin was paired with Jesse Bridges ’02, director and harbormaster for Burlington Parks, Recreation and Waterfront. Over the course of the day, she was impressed by the variety of people Bridges met with -- a park designer, an engineering consulting firm, a soil specialist and a stormwater specialist -- in the context of planning a new design for Burlington’s beloved waterfront bike path. “Understanding how all of these players work together was very cool,” Halpin says.
Public Communications major Evan Morehouse ’16 shadowed graphic designer Josh Brown ’92, co-founder of Burlington-based Capacitor Design Network, during meetings with two of his clients. For the second one, with Burton Snowboards, Morehouse spent an hour with the company’s creative director and brand manager, both UVM alums, who described in detail -- and with humor -- how they had made the jump from UVM to work. Both were rejected multiple times before dogged persistence, relationship skills and their passion for snowboarding won the day. Morehouse, who aspires to a career in public relations, found their energy and candor inspiring and their determination to succeed “very reinforcing.”
Alumni participants from coast to coast spoke just as glowingly about the experience. Suzanne McGillicuddy ’89, who works in enrollment management and student services at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan, hosted Gisselle Francis ’16. “I went home feeling so connected to my alma mater and really impressed with the students who are there now -- especially Gisselle,” says McGillicuddy.
The job shadow program is scheduled to recur annually during winter break. Recruitment for the next installment begins in summer 2015. Find out how to get involved and get more info at uvm.edu/career.
