By Ryan Mackey '17Marist alumnus Ryan Mackey ’17 was recently accepted into the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at University at Buffalo. The path he took to medical school not only brought him to Marist College, but all around Poughkeepsie. Read about Ryan’s journey in his own words. After graduating from Marist College in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics, I began to work part-time as a medical scribe in the emergency department at MidHudson Regional Hospital in Poughkeepsie and continued my part-time position as an EMT at EMStar Ambulance in Poughkeepsie. Concurrently, I was taking Biochemistry and Anatomy & Physiology at Marist during the Fall 2017 semester. I continued to work part-time as a medical scribe and began volunteering as an EMT at the Fairview Fire District in Poughkeepsie for 12-24 hours per week while studying for the MCAT. I continued to work 24-36 hours per week as a medical scribe and volunteer while I took Microbiology and Genetics during the Fall 2018 semester. In September 2019 I began working as a full-time special education teaching assistant at Arthur S. May Elementary School in Poughkeepsie. I took this position in part because I am interested in understanding the special needs of children affected by autism spectrum disorder. The position is both an eye-opening and a rewarding experience of which I am sure will help me in my future medical education. I am grateful to have the opportunity to work in this environment. I view the time I took between graduating from Marist College and applying to medical school as a period to better prepare myself for the rigors of medical school. The additional knowledge I gained from the four science courses I took was an invaluable resource. Additionally, the extensive experience I gained working closely with physicians as a medical scribe and working directly with patients as an EMT had solidified my passion for medicine and my goal of becoming a physician. Ryan held multiple practice interviews with Executive Director Mary Jones and Associate Director for Career Coaching Laura Grevi in the Center for Career Services while he was applying to medical school. He will begin pursuing his MD in August 2020. We wish you all the best, Ryan. Thank you for all you have done to serve your community. We are especially grateful for the tireless efforts of you and your fellow essential workers during the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
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By Jennifer DiTomasso '22In trying to make good use of this quarantine period I have been focusing on self-improvement. I began working out, rededicated myself to playing guitar, and crafted a list of all the things I should be grateful for. This past school year has been one of the most fun and rewarding of my life, so I was heartbroken to hear that it would be ending prematurely in March. However, I truly believe that in all bad there is good and this pandemic made me realize how truly blessed I am to be a part of the Marist community. I am thankful for the career coaches in the Marist College Center for Career Services who are still guiding me in this uncertain time. In such an unclear job market I thought I lost my opportunity to intern this summer. However, all it took was one phone call to career services to quell my fears and to build a new plan. Last week I spoke with Executive Director Mary Jones, who has been guiding me since my freshman year. She suggested that I begin searching FoxQuest for remote positions this summer. She also recommended that I participate in the Center for Career Services’ upcoming webinars that focus on the internship search. Career Services recommended that I use the Alumni Career Network to reach out to professionals in my field, which I will do even more moving forward. Doing this in the past has had extremely positive results, and I always walk away from the conversation with a new perspective on the internship search. For example, one alumni mentor suggested that I use Twitter to search for freelance writing opportunities. It’s nice to know that if I still have trouble finding an internship after taking these steps, I can still schedule an appointment with a career coach and make a new plan. There is no manual for handling this pandemic, but I am thankful that Marist has always kept students at the forefront of their minds during their decision-making processes. I am thankful to attend a college where the faculty and staff wanted to stay on campus as badly as the students did. I’m also grateful that Marist has been so communicative during this time by always sending updates and being willing to listen to the feedback of the community. Jennifer DiTomasso '22 (left, playing guitar) performs during Love in the Afternoon, a benefit concert hosted by Marist Music on March 7, 2020, in Nelly Goletti Theatre. Jennifer is taking voice lessons by video conferencing with Marist faculty members during the college's period of online instruction. I am thankful to have professors who start and end each weekly update with a message wishing us good health and happiness. I feel very privileged to have instructors this semester who not only care about my education, but who care about my well-being. Although the transition to online instruction has not been perfect, it’s enough to know that my professors are trying to make their classes as informative and engaging as possible. I am thankful for the Marist music department, who refuses to let distance stop us from practicing our craft. My voice lessons over video chat are the highlight of my week and I take comfort in knowing that this community will always be there for me whether we are on campus or not. I am thankful for all the clubs I am a part of on campus---HerCampus, Students Encouraging Environmental Dedication (S.E.E.D.), and Dance Ensemble to name a few---whose email updates always make me smile even if the messages are those of parting. Finally, I am thankful for all the wonderful friends I have met at Marist College. I feel very fortunate that I have people in my life who always make me laugh, who text me just to tell me that they miss me, and who I cannot wait to see on campus in the fall. Although things are scary right now there is still so much we should be thankful for. So in this time where we are all counting our blessings, it’s nice to remember that Marist College will always be at the top of my list. By Will LinkWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. The Internet and social media have drastically changed the job search process and workforce in the past decade. Much of the commonly held advice regarding the job search years ago has now evolved into new trends and practices. Therefore, advice given to undergraduates and recent college graduates as they look for their next role is not as rigid as it once was. Here are some job or internship hunting tips that are still applicable today, but require a new approach. Past - Pound the Pavement Present - Follow Instructions and Connect Digitally If you were looking for a job in years past you could likely show up at an office and ask the hiring manager if the company had any open positions. You might have even been able to fill out the application or hand in your resume in person. In the era of LinkedIn, Indeed, and other online job boards this method of job hunting is almost non-existent. Since almost all applications are based online, showing up in person will make it seem like you have not paid attention to or followed the application instructions. Building security is also much stricter in most offices today than it was a decade or two ago, which makes it difficult to meet with a hiring manager on the spot. Your primary means of contacting the employer during the early stages of the hiring process should be through email or LinkedIn. These digital communication platforms will allow the person reviewing your application to respond when they can best get back to you. Following up with a recruiter via email or LinkedIn also prevents you from interrupting the recruiter during any busy or awkward times. Some job postings today might also explicitly state that phone calls from applicants will not be accepted. Past - Job Hopping Makes You Look Like an Unreliable Candidate Present - Job Hopping Helps You Gain More Experience and Skills Many workers from previous generations graduated from college, remained with one company, and maybe worked multiple roles within the same company until they retired. With an increasing number of Gen-Z workers job hopping today due to the gig economy, this career trajectory is rare. Serial job hopping and many lateral moves can look negative on a resume or other application documents. However, if you are constantly moving up to higher positions, job hopping will make you look like a more appealing candidate. Many of our peers are taking on part-time jobs or side hustles in the gig economy in order to pursue projects that resonate with them or learn new skills before getting their first full-time opportunity. While some people argue that job hopping can indicate to a potential employer that you are unreliable or disloyal, changing jobs or working for a variety of companies in a shorter period of time can give you a more diverse skill set and make you appear more open to flexibility in your duties. If you are offered an opportunity that you believe will get you into a leadership role quicker, increase your responsibilities, or broaden your horizons, you should take it. Serial job hopping and many lateral moves can look negative on a resume or other application documents. However, if you are constantly moving up to higher positions, job hopping will make you look like a more appealing candidate. Past - Sell Yourself in an Interview Present - Market Yourself and Have a Conversation During an Interview Sometimes we’re told that when interviewing we have to sell ourselves to the hiring manager. This is not the only component to an effective interview, however. Some hiring managers might dislike the idea of a sales pitch during an interview. Constantly pushing your skills on the interviewer can also come across as inauthentic. Instead, treat a job or internship interview as a give and take between you and the employer. View it as an opportunity to learn about the company and role itself. Just as the employer is evaluating whether or not to make you an offer, you are evaluating whether the position will be a good fit for you during an interview. Make sure to prepare questions for your interviewer such as what they like about working at the company and what challenges they face. The hiring manager will also likely ask you about your hobbies and interests outside of your work or academic courses as well. When you are not only focused on selling yourself in an interview, you will appear more relaxed and be able to have a better conversation and learning experience. Past - Take the Highest Paying Offer at the Biggest Company Present - Evaluate all of the Opportunities Available to You When offered the choice between a large corporation or a startup, you might think that your best option is to take the former because of the potential for a higher salary, more benefits, and better chances of job security. This is not always the case, however. During the 2008 economic recession it became evident that large corporations can go through massive layoffs in times of hardship. One benefit of working in a startup is that because there are fewer employees, you will likely receive more responsibilities and have the possibility of earning a leadership position earlier in your career. Working for a startup or company with fewer employees allows you to acquire more skills at a faster rate than you would at a larger corporation. For more information on the benefits and drawbacks of working for different types of companies check out our Company Size Matters series of blog posts. Read thoughts from these Marist students who completed internships at corporations, non-profits, the federal government, and a start up in our Company Size Matters series. Career and job searching trends have changed dramatically in the past decade and much of the long held wisdom has evolved into new ideas and suggestions. Many good intentioned people can give you advice that is no longer applicable to your specific job search. You should always seek advice that is relevant to your own career goals and the positions that you are applying for.
When in doubt, conduct more thorough background research on the company to see what their application processes and culture is like. One way to accomplish this is through an informational interview. The career coaches and other staff members in the Marist Center for Career Services are always there to help put you in position to secure the job or internship that you are looking for. |
AuthorInformation on the latest professional development trends and advice, plugs for Marist College Center for Career Services events and initiatives, and stories from your Marist peers. Content is produced by Marist students for Marist students. Categories |