Where does WIT Work?

By: Becky Smith


Using LinkedIn to Identify Receptive Alumni, Students & Employers Around the Globe

Networking is a crucial part of any job search…and it is especially important if you are entering a challenging job market! Get started by locating and talking with alumni and students from your major who have done co-ops or jobs related to your interests.

Why Search for Alumni on LinkedIn

1) it is easy to sort by major and see what a targeted group of people have been doing

2) your shared experience from college is an effective way for you to introduce yourself

3) it can help you to identify opportunities in a specific geographic area (home, or a less familiar city/state)

How to Locate Alumni Information on LinkedIn

To find alumni on LinkedIn, go to the School Page: Type our university name in the search bar on your LinkedIn homepage. Make sure you select the School Page, not a Company Page, Showcase, or Group.

Pro Tip: You can do this for any university or school, even if you were never a student there! Try this to get data on alumni in a specific geographic area outside of Boston, or to see where students from another college are working.

Search "Wentworth Institute of..." into LinkedIn search bar

Next, click on “Alumni”.

Select "Alumni" tab

Filter Search Results to Find Companies of Interest, Potential Contacts, and More

Alumni information is categorized by filters such as where they live, where they work, what they do, and what they studied. These lists display top results under each category; we strongly recommend that you also use the search bar above these lists to look for specific cities, companies, etc. if they do not appear in the lists. At the bottom of the page is a display of alumni who meet the criteria.

Other helpful searches: Adjust the date range depending on whether you are seeking young alumni to chat with, or more experienced alumni who are now managers; and search by company name, job title, skills, or any other details.

Pro Tips: Click Next to see more filters. Click Show More to see the entire list under any category.

Filter results

Alumni/Student Profiles

Profile summaries are displayed at the bottom of the page. Click on them to see full details such as:

  • Where has the person worked?
  • What job titles have they had?
  • What skills do they have listed?

NOTE: ALWAYS send a personalized message when you invite someone to connect on LinkedIn. It establishes your credibility and makes that individual more likely to respond.

Pro Tip: An invitation to connect is also an opportunity to message back and forth, even if you do not actually connect!

"Connect" on LinkedIn

Co-op Stories: Julia Gravano

By: Julia Gravano

Julia Gravano is a Wentworth junior studying Construction Management with a Concentration in Facilities Management and a minor in Business Management. She completed her first mandatory co-op semester this past spring with J. Calnan & Associates, Inc. and shared her experience with CO-OPS + CAREERS:

Julia with hard hat on

With J. Calnan & Associates in New York, NY., I served as a Project Coordinator. This position provides support for project management teams throughout the construction process.  Through close partnership with team members, as well as clients and subcontractors, the assistant project manager helps to ensure all job-related documentation is up to date.  This position works with project managers to monitor the status, details, and finances of each assigned project.

 

What is a typical day like at your co-op with J. Calnan & Associates, Inc.?

Every day is a different day! One day I could be helping with pre-construction which entails me becoming familiar with the drawings and calling subcontractors who may want to bid on projects.  Other days, I am assisting on existing projects dealing with RFI’s, submittals, and miscellaneous project management tasks.  In addition, I will walk through potential jobsites that our company may be looking to take on with our Project Manager and Estimator.  I look forward to each day because they may seem similar, but I always learn something new.  My co-workers and I try to eat at new local restaurants each Friday as well to take a breather from the office.

 

What is something that you are working on that has inspired you? 

The biggest project I have been a part of since the beginning of my co-op is 446 Broadway. It is an entire building totaling of 6 floors (including a cellar).  This building is identified as a New York Landmark Building.  I have been able to partake in preconstruction and construction activities this far.  This has allowed me to forge close relationships with both the Preconstruction and Project Management sectors of our NY branch.  I have learned about the different facets a project must undergo when it is identified as a landmark.  This project will allow me to see the transformation of a deteriorating old building to becoming new tenant and retail space.  I take pride in of all the projects that I touch upon working at J. Calnan.  I am grateful that they have taken me in as a co-op with open arms and see my potential by giving me responsibility.

I am also proud to say that I am part of such a compassionate and flexible company that cares about its employees and clients.  During this time of Covid-19, JC&A has been proactive about keeping its employees safe and up to date on protocols both in the office and in the field.  Though the NY department is smaller the Quincy HQ, we are able to strongly communicate and coordinate accordingly as we work from home.

Julia in front of J Calnan sign

 

What did you learn from your first optional co-op that have helped you in this role?

I have learned to have more attention to detail from my first co-op.  It provided me with my first experience of interior fit out construction as well as project management experience.  My first co-op also allowed me to learn about the dynamic and complicated relationships that owners, architects, and construction managers may have on fast paced projects.  Furthermore, I believe my job experience allowed me to be open about asking questions about why things are done and how things are done.  I took advantage of the subcontractors and co-workers that loved to explain and talk about what we do on a daily basis.

 

What advice do you have for female students interested in the Construction Industry?

The biggest piece of advice that I have for females is to not be afraid to ask questions and to be yourself.  The thing that I found most challenging is making sure that my voice is heard and proving that it matters.  I am not afraid to ask any question whether it be obvious or not.  It shows how interested you are and how you are applying knowledge that you have learned on the job or at school.  Be a sponge and soak it all in, but most importantly don’t forget to have fun.  I am such a high stress person and the biggest thing that I am still learning is to make your moments enjoyable and ones to remember.

 

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned through your co-op?

The biggest lesson I have learned is that knowledge is important, but your network it ultimately equal to your net worth.  The industry is small wherever you may go, and it is all about who you know.  I have found both of my co-ops back home in New York.  Without my involvement in industry events and constantly meeting people, I believe that I would not have had the luxury of living at home for co-ops.  In general, it is nice and important to hear other industry people’s stories and advice.  Be personable, make friends, and forge relationships that will last throughout your career.

 

Thank you for sharing your experience with us, Julia! Be on the lookout for our next co-op feature. If you would like to share your co-op experience with us (positive or not-as-expected), or have any questions about the co-op process, please email us at coopsandcareers@wit.edu.

To make an appointment with your CO-OP + CAREER Advisor call the front desk at 617.989.4101 or visit our website for more information about scheduling virtually.

Where’s the Action? 10 Places to Look for Jobs Right Now (Spring 2020)

By: Becky Smith

Searching for a co-op or a job that will start in the next 1-6 months? Worried about disruption from COVID-19? Consider searching for jobs in these very busy areas:

Now Hiring Sign

  1. Telehealth: This includes apps, chat bots, virtual reality and augmented reality (VR & AR), and online scheduling companies such as Teladoc Health, Firefly Health, Amwell, and Orbita
  2. Teleconferencing and EduTech: right now it’s so common to get training on line and conduct meeting and appointments on apps like Zoom, WebEx, MS Teams, or GoToMeeting! More companies are moving into this space to offer critically important training under today’s urgent circumstances.
  3. Ecommerce/Online Marketplace Platforms: Businesses and individuals are flocking to online marketplace and ecommerce sites such as BigCommerce, Shopify, Wix Ecommerce, Woo Ecommerce, and MIRAKL.
  4. Alleviating Social Isolation while practicing Social Distancing: Apps, on-line communities, social support and VR support groups are becoming more widely available for caregivers and elders. There are also companies helping patients and caregivers to collect and share data, for example, Folia Health and XR Health.
  5. Goodness knows we need enhanced cyber security for many of the services above!
  6. Data analysis and data sharing: companies SalesForce, Tableau (owned by SalesForce), Decision Point, and Splunk are providing access to their data resources and dashboards. This simulation in the Washington Post demonstrates how data science and mathematical modeling help us to understand epidemics and pandemics.
  7. One of the industries impacted least by the COVID-19 pandemic is life sciences. This includes biotech, pharma, and related sub-sectors. Manufacturing of medical devices and supplies, pharmaceuticals and therapeutics, and lab equipment must continue through shelter-in-place and economic downturn. Our society relies on these life-saving devices and treatments. Companies like Thermo Fisher Scientific, Abbott, and Vertex are still hiring!
  8. Logistics and Supply Chain Management: Several companies in the business of product shipping are overwhelmed: Amazon, grocery stores, and Walmart to name a few! UberEats and Postmates are reducing and sometimes waiving fees for delivery…even more business. To help behind the scenes in a professional capacity, look for job titles with keywords such as “Operations”, “Supply Chain”, and “Logistics”.
  9. Web-based wellness communities are leveraging these unusual circumstances. This growth may present a need for marketing or operations support, programmers, software developers, technical support, and customer support!
  10. Large Government & Financial Institutions: What do Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, Citi, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Veterans Affairs & Department of Justice have in common? They all rely on mainframes and they are scrambling to gear up their legacy systems for COVID-related responses such as small business relief programs! Skills originating in past eras such as COBOL, Basic are in demand, along with SQL, HTML, and JavaScript.

Hands typing on laptop

 

Additional Resources:

Data for Good: The Tech Community’s Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, March 23, 2020

https://www.uschamber.com/series/above-the-fold/data-good-the-tech-community-s-response-the-coronavirus-pandemic

The Latest on the Coronavirus, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, updated daily

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/the-latest-on-the-coronavirus/

Here’s Who’s Hiring Right Now, LinkedIn, April 2, 2020

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/heres-whos-hiring-right-now-andrew-seaman/

 

Thank you all for your patience during this challenging time. CO-OPS + CAREERS is here to support you! Do not hesitate to reach out directly to us with questions or concerns, by phone: 617.989.4101 or email: coopsandcareers@wit.edu.