Last week I had the opportunity to invite one of the graduate assistants from the Heller Career Development Center, Nijimbere Lahayiloyi, to step into the admissions blog room to provide us with more insights of what the career development center is, breaking any myths about the career development center, and how the team can be benefititial to you and your career goals. This week I had the amazing opportunity to attend the Career Development Center Alumni Networking Night!
The Alumni Networking Night is a space for current Heller students and Heller alumni across all our programs to connect with one another as Alumni to share their expertise, insight, stories, and connections. This year’s Networking Night was hosted at Time Out Market in Boston, near Fenway; if you have never been, I highly suggest that you write this one on your list of places to try. The Time Out Market has an array of food and drink options to choose from— my favorite of the night was the sushi bar GoGo Ya, and the most delicious mushroom bento bowl I have ever tasted in my life. Oooooh, my mouth is watering just remembering it! But enough about the food, you will just have to try it to believe me, let’s talk about the set up.
What I liked most about the Networking Night this year versus last year is that Time Out Market has tons of space. Instead of shuffling to around to meet an alumni and yelling over one another, you are able to find a location on the outside (weather permitting) or inside the location. This gives you the opportunity to connect one on one with Alumni, or even in small groups if you like, without the worry that the person standing directly beside you can’t hear you. Having so much space to freelance is very helpful because you do not have to feel the pressure of being too crowded, or if it becomes a little overwhelming for you, then you are able to sneak away and give yourself a break if needed.
Let’s not forget, however, that this night is about networking: meeting with alumni who were in the same program as you and possibly working in the career field you could be interested in. But let’s not limit ourselves here, right? Even if you do not have the chance to meet with an alumni who is directly connected with your program, most Alumni have connections to people within in your field of study or work. You know what I love to say: closed mouths don’t get what? Fed! So never stop yourself from having fruitful conversations with people all because what they have on paper doesn’t match what you have on paper. You never know who knows what and who knows who.
Another amazing part of Networking Night is that not only do you have the chance to network with alumni but also it is the perfect opportunity to network with your classmates as well. Being at Heller, sometimes we can get really caught up in just being around our own program’s cohort majority of the time. The Networking Night provides you with the space to finally be able to engage with your peers across the different programs that Heller has to offer. You can learn more about why your classmates decided to join Heller, what are some interesting classes they have taken so far, have they participated in any field practicums or internships, or just enjoy each others openness and presence at the event. Your peers are your first chance at showcasing your networking skills, so connect with your classmates and utilize one another as a support and resource.
I really enjoyed myself at the Networking Night and can not wait to see how future Networking Nights go for the Career Development Center at The Heller School. Thanks to everyone for making this event happen, and I will truly miss being able to apart of this experience hoping I can return as an alumni who shares their stories, insights, and connections :).