Keynote speaker Michael Elliott, Executive Vice President – People at JetBlue, addresses the interview process, job search secrets, and other professional tips during the Mount Saint Mary College Career Center’s Senior Professional Development Conference on February 12.
Nearly 80 Mount Saint Mary College students learned job search secrets, interview techniques, and more at the Senior Professional Development Conference, hosted by the college’s Career Center on February 12.
The conference was designed to help students market themselves to prospective employers and graduate schools. Topics included preparing for grad school, affording life after college, and crafting high quality résumés and cover letters.
Michael Elliott, Executive Vice President – People at JetBlue, was the keynote speaker. Among other valuable tips, he suggested that students plan for their future immediately, including creating a 401K retirement savings plan.
“The course that you set now is important,” he said. “Now is the time to start setting these things up, because you never know where life will take you.”
A panel of recent, successful Mount alumni followed. Seniors enjoyed asking the alumni about their work and graduate school experiences. The panel included Stephanie Weaver, ’14; Christopher Harrison ’09; Alexander Florez ’15; Anthony DiNoto ’09; Colleen Jones ’14; and Kaitlyn Miccio’15.
“The seniors learned a lot and enjoyed this event developed specifically for their needs,” said Ellen Bourhis Nolan, director of career development at the Mount. “Thanks to Student Activities, Facilities, Operations and Sodexo Catering for contributing their time and effort into making this a success.”
The presentation was spearheaded by Nolan; Kathleen O’Keefe, associate director of the Career Center; and Regina Eisenbacher, Career Center administrative assistant.
The Mount’s Career Center prepares students for varied career opportunities in the Hudson Valley, New York City, the Capital Region, and beyond. Each semester, the center hosts programs such as job fairs, events featuring specific academic programs, business dining etiquette, interview and search strategies workshops, and off-campus professional visits to help pre-professionals explore career paths.