Alumni Professionals Advise Students at Career Strategies Workshop

On Sunday the College’s Office of Career Advisement hosted a Career Strategies Workshop about job discernment, networking, résumé- and cover-letter writing, and interview preparation. Leading the discussion were three graduates of the College who — having worked for several of the country’s most prominent corporations — were able to share their wisdom about how best to apply the benefits of a Catholic liberal education in the marketplace.

The first presenter was the College’s Director of Student Services, Mark Kretschmer (’99), who, prior to coming to work for his alma mater, was the youngest branch manager for Kinko’s, Inc., in the Los Angeles market. Mr. Kretschmer initially focused on discerning the right career path, before turning to the elements of a well-constructed résumé.

“The key is marketing,” he said. “Getting a great job is a marketing campaign. You have to be able to effectively sell your skills and your unique education.” A degree from Thomas Aquinas College, Mr. Kretschmer observed, points to several skill sets that all employers seek, and which students should promote in their résumés and cover letters. As an illustration, Mr. Kretschmer, suggested sample phrases that students may want to employ, such as “demonstrated ability to acquire and apply knowledge rapidly through the reading of hundreds of primary texts” or “four years’ experience presenting and defending cohesive arguments in discussion-based classes made up of various small, dynamic teams with a variety of personalities and perspectives.”

Next, Kayla Six (’12) described her work as a strategic sourcing manager at Anthem, Inc. When the healthcare conglomerate recruited her for the position four years ago, she said, her experience at the College proved invaluable. “One of the things they saw about Thomas Aquinas College was that there was a difference about this place,” she recalled. “I didn’t have specific training for business, but what I did have was the critical-thinking, the analytics, the problem-solving skills that led them to say, ‘You know, that’s what we want. That’s what we can’t teach. We can teach you all the business items. We can’t teach you some of the skills that are developed here at the College.’”

Mrs. Six gave the assembled students a detailed presentation about writing cover letters, stressing that each one should be well-researched and tailored to the specific employer and job. “Identify the organization’s needs,” she advised. “Look at the job requisition or posting. If they say, ‘We are looking for someone with these qualifications, find ways to intertwine those into your cover letter, and show how you have those qualifications, and how you’re that solution for their specific needs.”

The last panelist, Paul Lazenby (’10), formerly worked for Google and DHL before recently returning to the College as the director of its Annual Fund. Recounting his extensive experience as both an interviewer and interviewee, Mr. Lazenby offered suggestions for ways students can make a favorable impression with prospective employers. “Thomas Aquinas College is a huge selling point,” he remarked. “I have absolutely said in interviews that this is not a party school. This is not a place where students can just relax and have a jolly old time. The curriculum builds on itself from year to year. It gets harder. It is a very rigorous academic program. All these differences are going to make you look a lot more impressive in an interview. Highlight what we have here and be proud of it.”

The workshop is one of a series of events sponsored by the Office of Career Advisement, including a panel on law earlier this month. “It was great to see so many students turn out, and for them to appreciate what a resource we have in our alumni, both in terms of advice and for networking,” said Mr. Kretschmer. “Our graduates are living proof of the versatility of this curriculum, and their assistance can help our students greatly as they make their way into the workforce.”