Alumni Panel on Post-Graduate Life

Alumni Panel on PostGraduate Life

by Addy Camisa '21

In early April, RMI was fortunate to welcome back five program alums to discuss aspects of their postgraduate life with questions sent in by younger members of the institute. Members of the young alumni panel included Angelina Hazzouri, Katie Kelley, Lyssa Urrutia, Anelly Allmen and Olivia Kem, all of which graduated in Santa Clara University’s Class of 2020. All individuals offered a unique perspective to life after college and careers in retail, bringing knowledge from various industries.

What do you think are the best ways to secure a job post-graduation?

What challenges have you experienced in the early stages of your career?

Kelley suggests reaching out to individuals you think have an interesting job, even if their company does not have any openings Urrutia reminds students the importance of remaining open to opportunities because your first job may not be your forever job Hazzouri encourages students to be mindful of not stressing out too much, given the unusual world we are living in

Kem has found that the technical side of parts of the business like their wide range of acronyms can make you feel overwhelmed initially, but you will learn just like everyone else has Hazzouri suggests asking coworkers to have zoom meet and greets to combat the difficulties of getting to know people working from home Kelley emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries for yourself for your mental health

What have you learned from RMI that has helped you in your career?

How has working from home and the pandemic affected your work life balance?

How can one find a mentor?

Kem recommends being open to connections anytime, in and out of RMI, because you never know when you will meet people Hazzouri states that you would be surprised how often you will come across fellow RMI alumni in your career; it is always beneficial to check LinkedIn for RMI alumni at a company you are interested in

Allmen emphasizes setting a strict schedule for yourself early on in order have a separation of work and outside life; she also encourages students to be honest with your team with how much work you have because they cannot necessarily tell behind a screen Kem states that it is good to teach people how you want to be treated early on and what they can expect from you, especially at after-work hours

Kem suggests that rotational programs like the one she is currently in is valuable because of the built-in mentors it provides Urrutia suggests setting up meetings with people you connect with on projects to develop those relationships and keep in touch

How do you stay motivated through setbacks?

Tips on getting your resume seen?

Kem emphasizes recognizing that everyone has setbacks and to extend grace to yourself; in everyone else’s eyes it is not the end of the world Allmen states to not let the fear of making mistakes stop you from working Kelley suggests to often speak to others about your problems because chances are that they know something about it or have gone through the same thing; always be able to admit when you have a question

Kelley suggests finding recruiters on LinkedIn to find their email and politely reach out to get human eyes on your resume Allmen encourages to be consistent in reaching out because you will eventually get on their radar despite their busy schedules Urrutia states that when networking, ask the person you are speaking with if there is anyone else they recommend that you talk with

Anelly Allmen Buying Coordinator, Stitch Fix

Lyssa Urrutia Data Analyst, Walmart

Angelina Hazzouri

Assistant Merchant, Women's Leathergoods, Coach

Olivia Kem

Rotational Management Program Trainee, Gap Inc.

Katie Kelley

Associate Launch Manager, Side