Three recent graduates of Elon University’s Martha and Spencer Love School of Business shared personal and professional advice with an audience of students on October 19.
Panelists included Alex Dempsey ’12, advisory associate for PricewaterhouseCoopers, Grace Foster ’12, corporate analyst for JPMorgan Chase, and Jennifer Small ’12, associate district manager for ADP.
The panel was moderated by senior finance major David Brown.
During the discussion, the panelists emphasized the importance of networking and finding a mentor, highlighted the benefits of the internship experience, and discussed the need to provide potential employers with accurate information on a resume. The panelists also urged students to make the most of their time at Elon to be able to leverage their Elon experiences during the job search process.
“The experiences you have at Elon you will use 10-fold in the real world,” Dempsey commented. Your time at Elon prepares you with information and skills, he said.
Small stressed the importance of standing out in an internship. “Be that person who goes above and beyond,” she said. She noted how small acts like thank you notes, asking questions, and doing more than what is asked can help set you apart from other interns.
“Make a name for yourself at your internship,” Dempsey added, as he explained how doing this added value to his internship experience.
“Try your best to be self-aware,” Foster said as she discussed her personal experience going through job interviews. She said to not lie during an interview because people are looking to work with someone who is honest. All three panelists stressed the importance of only putting what you know on a resume. They said to focus on highlighting the skills you have learned at Elon and through involvement in student organizations. They shared examples of how potential employers may test their interviewees on the information provided on the resume.
With their final words of advice, Dempsey encouraged students to make a difference while at Elon, to do something you can take pride in, and to not be afraid to fail. Foster and Small encouraged students to maintain connections with their classmates, faculty and staff, as well as to take advantage of the Elon Job Network and Elon Mentor Network.
“I thought the panel was extremely beneficial, especially to seniors who are searching for a job right now,” said senior marketing major Becky Dwyer. “The panelists gave great insight into how to find a company with the right culture that will be a good fit for you, as well as some good resources that they used in their job search.”
A reception was held after the panel discussion for alumni, students, faculty and staff.