The Office of Career Development kicked off a series of professional advancement workshops in collaboration with the Board of Advisors aimed at helping students gain knowledge about their field from industry experts.
Anders Croft, the Career Development Center’s marketing communications specialist, said the workshops provide an opportunity for students to meet employers or industry professionals who may not be alumni.
The two inaugural seminars, “Monetizing Passion: How to Make a Living Doing What You Love” and “Interview and Resume Roundtable Discussion,” took place in the Piano Row residence hall and the Ansin Building on Oct. 16. About 10 students attended each session.
The Board consists of 25 Emerson alumni, parents or professionals who specialize in topics like theater, finance, advertising, and entrepreneurship. Each advisor offers their own advice based on their understanding of the student experience which includes diversity and inclusion, institutional support related to carrying out college initiatives and plans, and career development.
In addition to workshops, the advisors have the opportunity to serve as guest lecturers to help connect students with industry leaders and internship opportunities, according to Croft.
The Oct. 16 sessions were the first time the college utilized the Advisors to connect with the student body, according to Croft. The initial workshops discussed resume and cover letter building, interviewing techniques, and how to secure an enjoyable job.
“What’s awesome is that it’s something we’ve talked about over the past few years, but I think this is the first time we really took the next step,” Croft said. “The workshops bring in extended members of the Emerson community in a way that’s beneficial for current students.”
Croft said more professional development events will occur later in the year, such as a seminar called “Telling Your Story: Personal Branding 101” that can be found on emConnect. The workshop will focus on the connection between public identity, sharing an authentic personal image, and how to relate the two to trending topics on social media.
“They’re really expanding the network in a way that’s instrumental,” Croft said.
Freshman Andie Wong said the session she attended, “Monetizing Passion: How to Make a Living Doing What You Love,” was intimate and discussion-based. David Breen, founder of VDA Productions, a marketing and design company, led the discussion. Breen talked about his experiences and gave advice for making money while pursuing passions, according to Wong.
Wong said the workshop solidified common concepts related to finding an enjoyable career.
“I don’t know if the session covered new information because a lot of the advice was to find what you care about and look for ways that your interest can be applied to the field,” Wong said. “It wasn’t groundbreaking, but it was nice to hear.”