Network, network, network. This was the refrain echoed by several professionals at Skyline College’s Career Networking Night on Wed., March 23. Harry Joel, vice chancellor of human resources and employee relations at the San Mateo County Community College District, emphasized this point.
“(E)veryone is a potential contact to someone who may be in a position to hire,” Joel said. He added that we are all at “six degrees of separation.”
Virginia Padrón, who is a career counselor, Career Center director, and one of the coordinators of the event, said the purpose of the event was to re-establish the connection between education and work, which she thinks is missing.
Professionals from six different industry categories—including Arts/Communications, Business/Administration, Education/Human Services, Health/Medicine, Law/Public Service and Technology/Science—were organized into groups of five panelists. These panelists spoke to students about the everyday realities that their jobs entail as well as effective methods of beginning a career in a specific industry.
Skyline student Leticia Lopez was hopeful that she would gain valuable knowledge from the panelists. Lopez, who is interested in the medical industry, said she would like to talk to “a nurse and see how their work environment is.” She added, “I like helping kids and adults, so that’s kind of my inspiration.”
The event was sponsored by several campus organizations, including the African-American Success Through Excellence and Persistence Program. Jamela Brown, who was a volunteer with ASTEP and had helped to prepare the building for the event, offered this advice to students: “(I)f you can’t be disciplined about your education, you’re definitely not setting the right path for your career. . . . (Employers) want the students that have a proven capability, a proven track record of reliability.”
The event kicked off with counselor Nate Nevado serving as master of ceremonies to introduce various student musicians, who played, sang and rapped. With the crowd sufficiently excited and engaged, Joel took the stage and encouraged students to network and dress for success.
Following the vice chancellor’s speech, students went upstairs to listen to the panelists in their chosen field speak about job success. Professionals such as Cece Rebele imparted knowledge and wisdom to their attentive audience. Rebele, who is the program services coordinator for the early childhood education department at Skyline, advised students to “start to tailor your education around something that you think is going to be a big job demand. . . . (D)iversify yourself because you’re going to have to market yourself eventually.”
Vanson Nguyen, a math professor at Skyline, also had recommendations to offer to would-be teachers. Vanson said they should “volunteer at a nearby community college any way possible; get their foot in the door. While they’re in there, they need to make some good connections, and the ideal situation is to have a mentor, but the biggest deal is to make good connections.”
Students who participated in the networking event reacted positively to the experience. Music student Vincent Iannone said he received good advice from the presenters, and he seemed enthusiastic about his prospects.
“Tonight learned about how to gauge the value of your work and how to protect yourself when it comes time to start negotiating with people you’re wanting to sell your work to,” Iannone said. “I learned how the freelance industry differs from the commercial industry, and I learned a lot about the speed at which things change within electronic media.” Iannone added that he feels better prepared to pursue a career in the arts and communications industry.
The consensus among people involved in Career Networking Night seemed to be that interacting with professionals in your chosen career field is the best way to get involved in the career of your dreams.
For more information about furthering your career, visit the Employment Development Department in building 1, room 1221 or the Career Center in building 2, room 2227.
