“Who needs a job!? I’ve got a job available!”
These were the magic words that reached Jamie Arnold’s ears this past March a t the Spring Networking Social sponsored by the NU Club of Washington, D.C. Jamie, a 2008 graduate with a bachelor's of communications, was on the hunt for a new career, and figured the Norwich event would be a great place to network.
“I knew networking with other alums would be helpful, but I honestly never expected things to happen so quickly. I heard someone yelling that they had an open job to fill and I stepped right up, shook his hand and introduced myself,” says Arnold.
The person yelling was U.S. Navy CMDR Dave Harris M’05, member of the NUAA Board of Directors. “My organization had a staffing need and I thought how great it would be to fill that role with a Norwich alum. I knew after five minutes of talking to Jamie that she’d be a great fit. She has a maturity and thoughtfulness I’ve come to expect from Norwich grads.”
Harris helped Arnold prepare for the formal interview process, and she officially began work in April. “CMDR Harris has been a great help to me,” says Arnold. “I’ll eventually be working for the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) in the Innovation Department helping to develop and deliver their communication plan. But first I need to receive my security clearance.”
In the meantime, Harris made arrangement for Arnold to begin her job as a consultant for one of ONI's external contractors, McMunn Associates (www.mcmunn-associates.com). Arnold loves this arrangement as it lets her get started learning the ropes right away. “Having a security clearance is a huge deal in the D.C. area. It will open up a whole new career track I had never considered. I had been looking for the right jobs for months, eventually deciding to relocate to the D.C. area. This wasn’t the best climate to be looking for work. In the end, it was the right connection that made all the difference: The Norwich connection.”
The Networking Social was organized and sponsored by the NU Club of Washington D.C. and the Alumni Office. Allison Sultan, Clubs Officer for Norwich, was pleased that the event had had such a positive impact. “This year we’ve started to focus more purposefully on networking events as a competitive advantage for our alumni and current students," Sultan says. "Alums have been gathering together to socialize for years, but now more than ever professional networking is vital to professional success.”
Sultan hopes events like these can help to foster a sense of responsibility to provide professional support to fellow alumni everywhere, and encourages alumni to come and represent their business whether they have positions available or not. "For the D.C. event we had more than a dozen companies formally represented, all with active openings.”
Attendees wear color-coded nametags that indicate whether they are a job seeker, employer or just there to socialize and catch up. “It makes it easy for attendees to identify each other and spend their time effectively,” says Sultan.
Sultan plans to use the D.C. event as a model for next year’s Networking Socials. During Spring Break 2120, Networking Socials will be hosted in Boston; Philadelphia; Portland, Maine; the Hudson Valley area of N.Y.; and Washington, D.C. For more information on Norwich events in your area, or to find out how to get involved, visit the Norwich alumni and family website at www.alumni.norwich.edu/events.
Jamie, the fifth member of her extended family to graduate from Norwich, is happy to share her experience and offer advice to her fellow alumni. “Use the resources that Norwich provides. The Career Development Center (CDC) provided some great coaching and helped me fine tune my resume and interviewing skills. Go out to Club events and network. Even if you’re not actively looking, you’ll never know who you might meet, or who you may end up helping. Norwich grads are going to take care of other Norwich grads. I love my new job and have CMDR Harris to thank for it.”
This article is the first in a new series focused on celebrating the power and reach of the Norwich community. If you have a story and would like to share, please email your information to alumni@nowrich.edu.
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