CAREER CONNEXIONS

continues to help students “Find Their Path”

Senior Career ConneXions leader, Mwenda Mbui shares information about job shadow opportunities.

I learned so much about the world of real estate that I would have never expected to learn had I not gone on a job shadow! One of the things I love about St. X is the people I have met, and Mr. Gardner is the perfect example of someone I never would have met if I hadn’t been involved in Career ConneXions. Thanks again! Jeffrey Hecht ’21 (shadowed Eric Gardner)

As the Career ConneXions program begins its fifth year of programming, the mission of providing students with real-world experiences beyond the classroom is as relevant as ever. Students of all grade levels have opportunities to hear speakers, participate in roundtable discussions, have 1:1 calls with professionals, experience a day in the life through job shadowing, and apply for a summer internship with over 50 company partners. These programs are designed to give students career exploration opportunities that develop life skills critical in college and beyond while connecting with The Long Blue Line and the St. X parent community in a rich and rewarding way.

As of last year we had 1300+ students engage with our program across 3,000+ in person “touchpoints” (a touchpoint is a speaker event, job shadow, 1:1 activity, etc.). Online engagement was at a high point as well especially given the COVID environment. Roughly 7,000 online touchpoints were made with students as they engaged with our online educational content (e.g. resume writing) through videos and online materials. The diversity of students in our programs has also improved with a 16% growth in freshman getting involved as well as 30+% involvement from students of diverse backgrounds.

In a competitive college and professional landscape, our St. X students are more prepared than ever to make informed decisions about career choices that tap into their passions and skills and set them on a course for a purpose-filled life.

Thank you to the 400+ volunteers who have helped bring this program to life - whether you’ve given a talk, mentored a student, or sponsored an intern – these real-world experiences are invaluable in a student’s development and understanding career possibilities for their future. This year over 50 companies partnered with us for summer internships and shared incredible stories of the talented students they added to their organization. Follow us on St. X LinkedIn to see videos about their experiences.

We are always interested in connecting with more volunteers - please contact stxcareerconnections@stxavier.org to get involved.