We all know how crucial networking is to our professional development, and the program allows students to do just that.”īrad Bofford, the managing director and partner of HighTower Financial Principles, LLC, hosted a UD junior last winter and understands the importance of career opportunities before graduation. “It’s a great way to network and make some contacts in your field. “An informational interview is super important to help students become well informed about the industry or company they’re considering joining,” she said. While students won’t be able to conduct daily tasks with their host, Fuller said the most important aspects of the original job shadow program - creating professional connections and gaining career advice - are preserved. “I also enjoyed hearing about their coursework at UD and their future plans.” “It gave me the opportunity to tell them how UD prepared me academically for my career in environmental consulting, and give them advice based on my own experiences,” she said. Last summer, she hosted two students who assisted with field investigations on project sites and examined soil profiles and wetland vegetation. “Many hosts say that they wished they had this opportunity during their own time at UD.”Įvelyn Maurmeyer runs Coastal & Estuarine Research, Inc., her one-person environmental consulting firm in Lewes. “Our students get glowing remarks from our alumni and employers,” she said. All three still keep in touch.”įuller said she always receives amazing feedback from hosts and doesn’t expect any less from the virtual version. It’s a very competitive business and I thought it could provide a great networking opportunity. “I thought this was a good opportunity to give back to the UD students who are interested in getting into the sports media world. Where they start will likely not be where they end.”įOX Sports Vice President Gary Trenaman hosted three UD students last winter to observe pitching clients and observe on-air marketing campaigns for brands in the NFL, MLB, NASCAR and college football. “I hope I can play even a small role in giving them some comfort that they are prepared and know that there will be many ups and downs along the road. I did when I was graduating and still do, so I understand the anxiety that these students feel,” he said. Todd Moore, the scientific director of cardiovascular disease at Janssen Pharmaceuticals, hosted a UD senior last winter. Hosts love connecting with fellow Blue Hens and giving them the opportunity to learn about their industry.” “The virtual nature of this event has allowed even more alumni to participate than ever before and from all over the country. “We’re so excited to have more than 185 hosts participate in this year’s job shadow program,” she said. “Students can apply to any shadowing opportunity they are interested in through Handshake and are then added to a pool of applicants to be chosen for the informational interview opportunity,” said Fuller.Īlthough the structure of the program has drastically changed from years past, Fuller said engagement is higher than ever with the most hosts of any previous program. The UDCC aims to match applicants with an alum or employer in their desired industry. “Instead of connecting students with alumni or employers for a full day of job shadowing at the host’s place of employment, students are now connecting with employers virtually via Zoom, Skype or Google Hangouts for one-hour informational interviews,” said Ryan Fuller, assistant director of employer and alumni engagement at the Career Center (UDCC).Īpplications for the first Virtual Summer Job Shadow are open until May 22, and the program takes place during the week of Monday, June 8. But like many things during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the program will look a little different during the summer of 2020. The University of Delaware Career Center is gearing up for another season of its job shadow program, which pairs current students with employers and alumni to follow them around their workplace for a day.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |