It was a busy and productive February for students and alumni who participated in the many events hosted through Colgate Career Services. Programs offered throughout the month afforded opportunities for students to gain skills and insight that will help them achieve their goals as they explore career possibilities.
One such event, Prep for Tech 2021, held February 26–27, allowed students to learn what top technology employers expect from job candidates and how to be successful in technical and behavioral interviews. This interviewing boot camp was aimed at students interested in technology fields such as computer science, software engineering, and programming-related careers. The weekend included skill-development workshops and mock-interview sessions with seasoned alumni who work in computer science. It was a very engaging weekend, with one alumni participant saying, “As my first event as an alum, their enthusiasm made me excited to continue participating in years to come.”
Students who attended say that the event helped them to feel more prepared to enter technical fields. “I didn't really know what to expect when applying for internships, and I wanted to get some tips and practice with people who've been through the process before,” said Devon Lee ’22. “The mock technical interview was extremely helpful because I got great feedback from an alumnus, and I also had time to ask them some questions about life after Colgate.”
On February 18, in response to the fast-paced recruiting season, Career Services presented Differentiating Between Investment Bank Paths. The alumni-led discussion helped students understand five distinct banking areas — sales and trading, wealth management, risk, equity research, and investment banking. Students were able to ask questions of the 11 participating alumni to learn where they may excel, the necessary skills, and how banking units connect with other divisions.
Another popular event, held on February 24, was Be the Change: Activism and Social Change, a virtual discussion in which alumni described how they had turned their early interests in advocacy and human rights into full-time, professional careers in activism. Moderated by Janiiya Hart ’23, the panel also featured Dena Robinson ’12, civil rights division trial attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice, and Gabriella Jones-Casey ’09, organizer at the Service Employees International Union.
The second part of the series, Be the Change: Education, was held on March 8. Students learned about roles in education that exist outside of teaching. The panel featured Caitlin Whittemore ’14, planning coordinator, NYC Department of Education, and Domenico Ruggerio ’08, director of education, advocacy, and systems transformation, Teach For America. This series was presented by Career Services, along with the COVE and the Common Good Professional Network.
“There are so many resources available to us as Colgate students,” remarked Lee ’22. “We should take advantage of them.”
Students interested in participating in these types of career exploration and skills training programs can check out the calendar of upcoming events. Alumni who are interested in sharing their advice and experiences with students should contact careervolunteer@colgate.edu.