For Meagan Stroud, not much has changed at Point Park, but her real-life experiences while in school helped her rise to a job at a hotel in Washington, D.C.
Experiences gained while getting a degree in Business at Point Park enabled Carla Mitchell to not only succeed in business.
When Rebecca Rorke went to Point Park, it was a very different school—so different that they don’t even have her major, Arts Management anymore. It’s now combined into sports, arts, and entertainment management (SAEM).
Students who attended the School Of Communications and History trip to Washington, D.C. not only got to tour and visit interesting places in our nation’s capital, but they were also given the opportunity to talk and network with Point Park alumni who now reside in the D.C. area at a Mexican restaurant called Mission.
“I would say I benefited from the alumni dinner because a lot of the alum advised us to look for internships outside of the Pittsburgh area and to not be afraid to take risks when making a large decision on a career,” Madison Krupp, a junior journalism major who attended the trip, said.
The trip to Washington, D.C. not only let students explore a different city outside of the Pittsburgh area, but it was also a great opportunity to speak with alumni and build connections. Students and alum were able to enjoy a meal together while sharing stories.
“Point Park is a great school with great opportunities for students to get involved and have real-world experience. This allows students to round out their education and stand out from the competition.” Stroud said.
Stroud, a 2011 graduate with a B.A. in Advertising and Public Relations who was one of the alumni in attendance at the dinner, told students about how her and her roommate were tour guides at the CONSOL Energy Center when it first opened, and it eventually led to an internship for her roommate, who now works for the Tampa Bay Lightning. She now works as a Catering & Conference Services Manager at The Jefferson.
Mitchell, a 2006 graduate, helped her family in multiple ways by getting her business degree. She made her family more financially stable and eventually led her to becoming the CFO of Junior Research Scholars, Inc., where she works alongside her daughter.
Rorke, a 1998 graduate and now Director of Development and External Relations at Kirov Academy of Ballet in the D.C. area, feels that Point Park has grown in multiple ways, but some things haven’t changed such as the real-life experience she received at the school and the personal relationships she built with professors.
These alums shared tips on interviewing and networking.
Stroud feels that networking through interviewing is in students’ best interest.
“Start with informational interviews, just meeting people and asking about their job, their story, and for their advice,” Stroud said in an e-mail interview on Wednesday. “It’s a great way to network and get your interest out there. After the interview, send a handwritten thank you note by traditional mail – it will really make you stand out and show your interest.”
Rorke thinks that paying attention in class will lead to success in networking.
“Sit in the front row of all of your classes. Ask questions. Get to know your professors and maintain a relationship with them after you graduate,” Rorke advised in an e-mail interview on Thursday. “Be careful what you put on social media because employers will do their research. Good writing skills still matter. Force yourself outside of your comfort zone.”
Mitchell believes that using opportunities given in college is best despite if it is not comfortable.
“If you feel you aren’t comfortable in a subject, it’s okay to get a tutor. Utilize the resources that are available to you,” Mitchell said during a phone interview on Friday. “Don’t get discouraged, reach out to a counselor and get the help you need to succeed. When you succeed, the university succeeds so don’t be afraid to ask questions.”
