On Thursday evening from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saint Mary's students gathered at Haggar Center’s Welsh Parlor for an alumnae panel titled, “Beyond the Avenue: Navigating Post-College Etiquette.”
Six alumnae appeared at the event to share what they’ve found from their experience in their work environments that can help students navigate the world beyond Saint Mary’s College.
Before the discussion, students were given the chance to use a raffle ticket for a chance to win different prizes including but not limited to books such as “Leaders Eat Last” by Simon Sinek and “Modern Manners: Tools to Take You to the Top” by Dorothea Johnson and Liv Tyler.
Jessica Brinker Foster '08 starts the conversation about post-college tips by talking about general etiquette in the workplace. Speaking from experience, she holds the positions of board member for the College Board of Trustees and vice president secretary of the board of directors for the Alumna Association. Foster specifically goes into detail about what manners and principles are.
Foster offered her own definition of what differentiates the two. She explains that manners can be simple such as saying “please” and “thank you” and one chewing with their mouth closed, adding “are nothing more than common sense and thinking of the other person first.”
At the same time, she defined principles as having consideration, respect and honesty towards others.
Alumnae Association board of directors member Jessica Zigmond ‘97 directed the conversation into how to network and build oneself up for a job interview. Zigmond spoke about her experiences with preparing for the interview in the section of the discussion called “Professional You.”
“It brings us a lot of joy to interact with the alumnae at Saint Mary’s,” Zigmond said.
Assistant regional superintendent for the Regional Office for Education in Bloomington, Illinois Molly Kahn Allen '01 spoke about how someone can build their presence at work. She shared her experiences about what one may be expected to do for the job, such as clarity of expectations and presence in professional settings.
She also talked about how one should be careful of how they talk about themselves. She continues that it’s important to not overshare and that “not everyone is entitled to your story.”
Leticia McDonald Hart ‘00, former member of the Alumnae Association Board of Directors, expanded on the discussion by emphasizing the importance of defining job needs and wants to guide a successful job search.
Hart also addressed the significance of research, whether it be the jobs themselves, the employers or salary trend.
“Seek out content creators that are in-line with career opportunities. It’s a good way to get out of your immediate circle,” Hart said.
Associate attorney for Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Nicole O’Toole Peterson '15 continued by talking about the interview process. Peterson addressed how the process has become more about the resume and not just the cover letter, saying it should be specialized for each application.
Peterson stressed the importance of early networking, encouraging students to start building connections through LinkedIn and other platforms. She also highlighted the need for thorough interview preparation, including knowing what to bring, wear and say.
Eileen Gallagher Loranger ‘90, President of the Alumnae Association Board of Directors and the final speaker, addressed professional conduct after securing a job. She emphasized the importance of preparing for events, actively listening and seeking guidance when needed.
“You’re at this point where you’re walking into a completely new world … Give yourself the grace to know you’re just learning and becoming a better woman every single day,” Loranger said.
She finalized the conversation with her Aunt Eileen section, saying how important it is to know that “nothing ever stays the way it is … You think things might stay confidential and stay on the down low. But they don’t.”
According to Foster, if there is anything students should take away from the Beyond the Avenue event, it’s that “they have a whole network of alumnae to help them answer their questions and help them in any way possible.”
