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By Stephen Wilson
Looking for advice as you consider a shift in industry or a return to work after a hiatus? Wanting to further your education and need help with your personal statement? Perhaps you’re simply ready to take your skills to another company and could use some guidance about the job search process?
Whatever your goal may be, it’s likely your résumé, interview answers, and networking skills are a little rusty. Shake that rust off and find helpful advice by simply reaching out to Gateway Career Center.
Thought it was just for current students? It’s not. The center offers numerous complimentary career services for alumni.
“We want to make it easy and valuable for alumni to engage with us,” says Margie Cherry, associate director for alumni career services. “Accessing alumni services through the Gateway Career Center website makes it easy to ask a quick question or set an appointment to discuss career strategies and resources.”
One such resource is the newly launched GatewayLink, a Lafayette-exclusive platform that allows you to connect and network with alumni and students.
“It is a great example of how we continue to offer new ways to help our amazing alumni stay connected and broaden contacts,” says Cherry. As the dedicated alumni resource, Cherry has a solid grasp on what alumni seek.
“She is fabulous,” says Liz Pittoni ’98. “Her positive energy and helpful tips made her a valuable asset to me during a job transition.”
Back when she was a student, Pittoni described her time in the career center as her third major.
“I spent a lot of time there, attending career fairs and getting pointers on what to wear to interviews, what questions to prepare for, and questions to ask,” she says.
Pittoni was hired by Bloomberg during her senior year. She spent a decade there before securing a new role with CitiBank as a project manager in Bermuda.
After 10 years there, she and her family relocated to Colorado. Pittoni continued to work remotely for CitiBank but wanted a smaller organization in which to effect change.
This is where Cherry entered the picture.
“I hadn’t interviewed in years and remembered the assistance I received at Lafayette as a student, so I reached out,” says Pittoni.
Cherry helped draw out good information from her to use in her résumé and conducted mock interviews.
“She served as a great sounding board, helping me tell stories that differentiated my skill sets,” says Pittoni. “It was nice to have an independent third party whose best interest was aligned with mine.”
Pittoni found the exact company she was looking for—Alteryx. Cherry was of invaluable help during the several rounds of interviews. Pittoni secured the position, has since been promoted, and has spent over three rewarding years at the company.
Pittoni’s advice to alumni seeking help is simple.
“Contact Gateway Career Center,” she says. “They make the job search process easier.”