Bonaventure Magazine: Winter 2012-2013 Page 20

WINTER 2012-2013

By Michael Vitron '12, '13

e all heard the horror stories this past
election season: the national unem-
ployment rate that has hovered

around 8 percent, astounding industry layoffs
and countless college graduates who went back
to school because they couldn't find work.

St. Bonaventure's Career and Professional

Readiness Center (CPRC) is working hard to
ensure these stories aren't coming from the
mouths of Bona grads.

The CPRC aims to realistically prepare students

to be flexible and adaptable with its three-part
Professional Development Action Plan:

Emerge

Intended for underclassmen, CPRC

counselors look to meet one-on-one with stu-
dents to discuss passions and strengths to explore
employment opportunities that may be a good
fit.

Engage

Where students develop and

strengthen the skills employers are seeking while
pursuing professional growth opportunities
through experiential education. In this stage,
CPRC counselors work with students to develop
personal brands, strong cover letters and
résumés, etiquette and networking skills.

Evolve

The final part of the action plan calls

for upperclassmen to evolve into confident pro-
fessionals while developing strategies for job
searches, refining LinkedIn profiles, polishing
interviewing skills and participating in on-campus
recruiting.

"When you look back at the last two years,

members of the classes of 2011 and 2012 trav-
eled through their final two years of college with
so much negativity related to the job market that
I almost think they took a different approach.
They said, `you know, I could let this beat me
down, but why would I let this beat me down?'"
said Connie Whitcomb, director of the CPRC.

"I think our graduates should be optimistic, as

long as they are prepared. This is a difficult mar-
ketplace. Even with the uptick of the economy, it
is not going to be easy to find a job, it's a com-

petitive market, you have to be putting your best
self forward, and you have to be marketing your-
self as impactfully as you possibly can. Optimism,
coupled with hard work, appropriate skills and an
awareness of how to go about that marketing is
what's really going to allow the Bonaventure
graduate to be successful."

Whitcomb said that in a difficult economy

where many job applicants will have similar tech-
nical qualifications, it is the ability to set yourself
apart that will land you that first job. The CPRC
staff spends a great deal of time working with
students to develop and strengthen their personal
brands.

"It's really about coming to understand those

softer skills that employers are looking for, and
it's also very much rooted in the ability to mar-
ket oneself," she said. "You have to know your
brand, you have to know what you bring and
how you will add value to an organization and
you have to be able to articulate that."

Kristy Bonanno of East Aurora, N.Y., will gradu-

ate in May with a BBA and MBA in accounting.
Although she is months away from attaining her
degree, Bonanno has accepted what she calls her
"dream job in her dream city."

During her undergrad years, Bonanno was a

frequent CPRC visitor. The staff helped her
strengthen her résumé and cover letter and
develop her personal brand. In her senior year,
Bonanno participated in the on-campus recruiting
program, where she interviewed for an internship
with PricewaterhouseCoopers. Although she
never interned with PwC, she was able to make a
connection that would later get her an interview
for a full-time position with the company in New
York City.

The company flew her to the city and put her

up in a hotel before the interview that would ulti-
mately land Bonanno her first job.

"I owe a large part of my success to the

CPRC," she said. "It did a fantastic job preparing
me for interviews, and it helped bring me to the
level I needed to be at to do well in the inter-
views. From that, I was able to land my dream
job in my dream city, and I found out before
graduation, which was my goal."

Budget cuts to school districts have left the

education field one of the most competitive.
When Abigail Schaaf walked across stage to col-

Networking with

a PURPOSE is key.

Don't waste a per-

son's time. Come prepared with

questions and a defined goal.

Always showing initiative to

learn and being extremely

proactive in delivering results

will set you apart from others.

You will be sought out for new

job opportunities by managers

and will be regarded highly by

your peers and superiors.
~ Vasile Godenciuc, '06

Vice President

JPMorgan Chase

New York, N.Y.

It's no secret that

knowing someone

can often get you

an interview, but it helps to be

creative about networking. I

serve on a few boards and

assist with charitable events

close to my heart. This expands

my professional network expo-

nentially, and it's easier to get a

referral for jobs in places where

I wouldn't typically have a con-

nection.
~ Carri (Gregorski) Prue, '04

Development

Communications

Syracuse University

What's worked

for me is dreaming

big and not letting

others' opinions determine how

big I can dream. If you have

the passion to make a differ-

ence, step into that purpose

and the support you need will

surface. Don't wait until you've

got it all figured out. You never

will. Be the tall poppy in the

field today.
~ Julie Gray, '01

Coach and Owner

Profound Impact Organizing

Washington, D.C.

brand

CPRC preps students

for all job markets

Main Street USA

your

personal

Building