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“Don’t put pressure on your first professional job to be “the one.” For many people, career paths are not linear. You may need to do some trial & error, moving around, or trying out new (possibly unexpected) opportunities to figure out what kinds of workplaces, fields, and roles align with your goals, values, and needs.” Aishwarya Nagar ('16), Research Associate at Iris Group in Chapel Hill, NC
Meet Mallory Allred ('16), our fellow @WFUalumni who also happens to be one of our fabulous colleagues in the @wfuopcd and @wakeforestbiz. In addition to her job role at Wake Forest, she's graciously volunteered to serve as an Alumni Career Adviser! 🎩🎩🎩
Here's how Mallory can help you:
"I’d love to offer you some guidance if you’re planning on taking a career path which might not seem as straightforward as your peers. I also love to offer advice about how you can turn a job into the first stepping stone of your career and leverage existing connections at a place where you’re familiar."
Check out the 🔗 in our profile to read more about Mallory and get connected to her for a conversation! 🎊
Each January we celebrate National Mentoring Month along with the Wake Forest Mentoring Resource Center! 🎩🎩🎩
This year's theme is focused on the importance of relationship-building, particularly when it comes to growing your professional network. 🤝👋
Check out these step-by-steps directions for how to reach out to new contacts for a conversation. We could all use a refresher on how to initiate new personal & professional relationships, especially after living through two years of a pandemic and doing so much of our lives virtually. 💻
Visit the link in our profile to learn more about National Mentoring Month 2022 and to download 💫free💫 resources from the WFU Mentoring Resource Center to help you build intentional relationships that expand your network. 🙌
The start of a new year is a great time to update your resume! 💫 That's why we're bringing back Tune-Up Tuesdays in the month of January.
How does it work?
💻 Email us a Word Doc version of your resume, along with any specific questions you have, to WFUalumnicareers@gmail.com.
📝 Every Tuesday morning in January we'll review the resumes that we've received and follow-up with you by email with edits and feedback.
That's it! 🙌
For ten years, the LGBTQ+ Center has provided education, advocacy, and support around gender identity and sexual orientation to Wake's students, faculty, and staff. The Center has helped a generation of Deacs find a safe and affirming home away from home. During this anniversary weekend, we will hear from current students, alumni, faculty, and staff about their experiences at Wake Forest and in the larger world.
Registration is open for Wake Pride: Celebrating 10 Years of the LGBTQ+ Center! We are proud to be supporting this weekend celebration!
We hope you will make plans to join the events during February 25-26 as we celebrate 10 years of the LGBTQ+ Center on campus! Alumni and friends from all class years, as well as faculty and staff, are invited to return to campus for a weekend of learning, connection, and celebration.
We're bringing back Coffee Chats with Alumni in the new year! ☕️🎩
These chats were so popular this past year that we plan to offer them monthly this spring.
So what are coffee chats with alumni?
✨They are easy opportunities for you to be paired up for a 1-on-1 conversation with another @WFUalumni to help you build your network.
✨You register by the deadline.
✨We email you the name/contact info of the person who you're paired up with.
✨The two of you pick a time to meet (virtually over Zoom, by phone, or in-person).
That's it!
The deadline for our next coffee chat is January 7. Sign-up now and we'll do the rest! 🔗 is in our profile.
🎩 NEW DEACON SPOTLIGHT! 🎩
Meet Kim Jones, a proud @wfualumni Double Deac ('05, MaEd '06) and equity-focused educator in Chapel Hill, NC! In her spotlight, Kim discusses:
💰the importance of compensation in education - and how educators can find districts that honor their value
💕her personal why - it'll move you, trust us
🤝the value mentors and relationships have played in her life - and ways to push through initial discomfort
Her advice on developing positive life habits speaks to starting small and being consistent:
"Don’t be immobilized by choices! Pick a few things that will work within your current agenda and do them with fidelity. They will become the new norms of your life and the improvements they bring will also become your norm. Tackle a few at a time and regularly assess if they’re working for you."
Read more of this incredible spotlight with Kim at the 🔗 in our profile!💥
We have another Alumni Career Adviser for you to meet, Kevin Smith ('12)! If he looks familiar, it's probably because you've seen us feature him on our Deacon Spotlight (basically, Kevin is a SuperDeac to us)! 🦸🏾♂️🎩
Kevin has worked as a corporate attorney in the area of M&A and Private Equity in Boston, MA and in Charlotte, NC. Here are a few fun facts about him:
⚡️He's married to another SuperDeac, @_kristenbryant_ (‘12)!
⚡️He recently became a new father to an adorable baby boy 💛
⚡️He was a member of the WFU men's track & field team
⚡️He has good tips for searching for Southern food in New England🥧🧈 based on his time in Boston!
Learn more about Kevin, how he can be of help to you, and how to reach out to him for a conversation at the 🔗 in our profile!
Can we all agree that we’re tired of being tired? 🥱😴
If the “Great Resignation” has taught us anything, it’s that we no longer want to be working ourselves to exhaustion and burnout. 🔥🚫
That’s why we’re focusing this month’s expert advice on wellbeing, including:
🌿 how to start saying “no” and quitting the things that don’t bring you energy or life
🌿strategies for prioritizing your mental health
🌿focusing on the future and your own wellness (particularly at work)
Read more at the 🔗 in our profile.
Also comment below: what have you quit doing this past year to enhance your wellbeing? Share with us!💛
🎩 NEW DEACON SPOTLIGHT! 🎩
Meet Ben Robb, a 2015 grad who studied Biology during his time at Wake Forest. Ben currently works as a Spatial Ecologist (yes, we had to Google what exactly this was!) for the U.S. Geological Survey in Fort Collins, Colorado. 🌎🌳🍂⛰
While you can learn about Ben's background and career, he also shares some great advice for other @WFUalumni who are navigating their first jobs after college, including this on time management: ⏰
"It was an odd shift to a regular work schedule where I was given the timeframe to work, regardless of whether that timeframe worked best with my productivity. It’s really taught me a lot about paying attention to my energy levels — I always crash in the early afternoon — and scheduling the day around my energy levels. Doing that has helped me prepare for my productivity dips by having tasks I can do with little thought/energy, and save the energetic tasks for when I’m most awake."
Read our full Q&A with Ben at the 🔗 in our profile!💥
⚡️Back by popular demand in January 2022 is our Introductory Mentoring Skills Online Certificate Course for @wfualumni, faculty, staff, & students!⚡️
This self-paced virtual course walks you through how to be both an effective mentor and mentee. We provide you with practical tips and resources to help you enter into and navigate mentoring relationships in your professional and personal life.💛
The course is *FREE* to Wake Forest alumni! 🎩 However, space is limited, so register now at the link in our profile.
The course will be open to registrants between January 12 - February 12, 2022. After successfully completing each module and the final reflection assignment (which our team will read and provide feedback on), you'll receive a certificate of completion. 🏆
Today we honor all those who have served our country so selflessly. We especially say thank you to our @wfualumni who are Decorated Deacs. We're grateful for your extraordinary commitment and service. 🇺🇸🎩
🎩 New Deacon Spotlight! 🎩
Aishwarya Nagar ('16) works for the Iris Group in Chapel Hill, a women-owned consulting firm that integrates gender and social inclusion into global health and international development projects. 🌍
From starting off college as pre-med to learning how to set boundaries as a professional to seeking out mentors at work, Aishwarya shares so much wisdom from her life and career experiences.💡
We'll leave you with a tidbit of her advice for current @wfuniversity students and @wfualumni:
"Don’t put pressure on your first professional job to be 'the one.' For many people, career paths are not linear. You may need to do some trial & error, moving around, or trying out new (possibly unexpected) opportunities to figure out what kinds of workplaces, fields, and roles align with your goals, values, and needs."
To read her full story, click the 🔗 in our profile!
Assistant Vice President: Allison McWilliams, PhD
Associate Director: Lauren Beam, MS, NCC
Assistant Director: Megan Hoyt
