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“My advice is to ‘follow the clues’ in your life—they’re already there. Pay attention to how you spend your time, money, and energy. These can point you toward what you value most and, often, where your passions lie.”
Pauline Bearden Simonowich (’87), Part-Time Faculty, Developmental Education & Academic Support and Social & Human Services at Pitt Community College in Greenville, NC
🎩NEW DEACON SPOTLIGHT🎩
Take a few minutes to read about Elliot Ivey’s (‘03) career journey after Wake Forest! He currently works in Private Equity Operations at Pathway Capital Management in Irvine, CA, where he leads a 9-person team responsible for strategic operations and technology integration across the company’s portfolios. He began his career working at firms like Lehman Brothers and Deutsche Bank and eventually earned his MBA from USC Marshall. Elliot says that all of these experiences shaped his approach to work and gave him the tools for the job he has now.
Here are some fun facts that Elliot shared with us:
🌄While living in Japan, I once got very lost on a mountain hike—no English signs, no cell service, no humans for hours. Just as I was accepting my fate as Rip Van Winkle, an elderly man appeared, pointed, said “wrong way,” and saved me from wandering into 200 miles of uninhabited wilderness.
🧗🏼 I go to a rock-climbing gym for fun—because I enjoy feeling adventurous without actually needing a rescue team.
🏈 I played defensive back at Wake Forest, but yoga humbles me more than covering a deep post. Holding Warrior III in total silence? Somehow tougher than shedding a block from a 300-pound lineman on a screen. At least on the field, I could yell.
We’ll leave you with some advice from Elliot for any Deacs interested in a career within the Finance industry:
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“Finance has a wide range of paths—some analytical, others people-focused, creative, or operational. The key is finding what energizes you. Do you like leading? Doing things solo? Solving problems? Building relationships? There’s a role that sits at the intersection of your strengths and interests. Be patient and picky and don’t be afraid to pivot.”
Read more of our Q&A with Elliot at the link in our profile or stories! Plus, you can always check out our past alumni spotlights in the “Deacon Spotlight” highlight reel in our profile.
https://alumni.opcd.wfu.edu/deacon-spotlight/deacon-spotlight-elliot-ivey/
Our latest edition of 🌳ReForest, our quarterly newsletter for alumni navigating transitions in mid-career, was emailed out this past Friday! We tackled the topic of the 😱mid-career crisis, shared a recent study of job satisfaction for mid-career professionals, and included some recommended reads and resources.
Not on our list? Subscribe at the link in our bio or stories.
https://alumni.opcd.wfu.edu/reforest/
If you’re not a mid-career professional, we also have our 🎩 Beyond the Forest newsletter. This is our email list for any and all Deacs interested in career resources and programming from our team. Subscribe at the link in our stories!
We have good news for any current Seniors or new grads still searching for a job: you can still access Handshake as an alum! 🎉
You’ll be able to use your student Handshake account up until your WFU Gmail account expires 60 days after graduation. Then, you need to set-up your alumni.wfu.edu email account and request access to Handshake, where you can continue to search for and apply to job roles!
Side note: Handshake, our job search board, is available to ALL @wfualumni with an alumni email account.
Visit the link in our bio or stories to access your alumni Handshake account. 🤝
https://alumni.opcd.wfu.edu/job-search-sites/handshake/
Whether you’re a current student or alum, we’re here for you in the job search process! Our career coaches are always happy to have a conversation to help you get clear on your goals and move forward with tangible action items to land a job. 🎯
Here’s how to get connected to us:
🎓 Current Students (including Seniors / 2025 graduates) – Schedule an appointment with an OPCD career coach on Handshake🤝 at wfu.joinhandshake.com/edu/appointments/new.
🎩 Alumni – Request a coaching appointment on our website at alumni.opcd.wfu.edu/connect-with-a-career-coach/.
Visit the link in our bio or stories to set up a time to chat to get the support you need. Have questions or need help? Always feel free to send us a message!
Seniors, recent grads, and all @wfualumni – the Wake Forest network is vast and strong! 🎩 As you conduct a job search, networking is key. Most companies value internal referrals for open job roles.
Don’t just apply online for open positions, but combine that with networking. Reach out to fellow Deacs who work in career industries and companies of interest to learn more about their career path and organization. Have informational interviews, tell your contacts when you’ve applied for a job at their company, and work your network!
Here are the 2 best places to access the Wake Forest network:
💛 WFU Alumni Group on LinkedIn – A private, by-request only group of 22,000+ Wake Foresters.
🖤 Wake Network – Online directory to filter and search for other Deacs.
Check out our best practice tips for using the alumni group on LinkedIn and Wake Network in these posts and visit the link in our bio or stories to start using these resources!
https://alumni.opcd.wfu.edu/networking/
We’re back today with more job search advice for Wake Forest seniors and recent grads: CAST YOUR NET WIDE. 🎣
Why do we say this? Ask anyone who has been in the world of work for a while, and we guarantee you they will tell you that your first job is NEVER the “dream job.” And guess what? That’s okay (and honestly, it’s a relief from the pressure to find the most perfect job after graduation, right?)!
Your first work experience after college should give you exposure to the professional world, allow you to build your skill set, show you what interests you most about work, and give you information to inform where you go next in your career. 💡
As you conduct your job search, don’t be too narrow in terms of company, job role, or industry. Be open to a wide range of possibilities! Also, don’t forget that summer internships, short-term graduate or certificate programs, or pursuing a side gig/freelance job for a few months post-grad can be great options too.
We highly recommend reading this Psychology Today blog post from our @lifeafterwake AVP and fellow @wfualumni Allison McWilliams (‘95) called “Why You Shouldn’t ‘Do What You Love.’” Access the full article at the link in our bio or stories and use the tips from this article as you conduct your job search.
https://alumni.opcd.wfu.edu/2019/12/why-you-shouldnt-do-what-you-love/
If you’re a soon-to-be graduating senior 🎓 or recent grad and still searching for a job, you’re not alone! Sometimes the hardest part is just getting started.
As you prepare to make the transition from student ➡️ alumni, we have resources to help you begin your job search. Here are 2 resources that we recommend:
JUMPSTART: A Job Search Strategy Prep Course – this is a free, self-paced online course with 4 quick modules to help you launch a job search. Register now and access immediately!
go.wfu.edu/next
LEARN Model: Step 5 – This is your self-directed framework for managing your career. Step 5: Navigate focuses on how to land your next job role and includes how to set a job target, sample resumes, LinkedIn resources and more.
https://alumni.opcd.wfu.edu/step-5-navigate/
Visit the link in our bio or stories to access these resources. If you have a question or need help, shoot us a message!
It’s a good day to sprinkle some reminders around campus. 🎩💛
🎩NEW DEACON SPOTLIGHT🎩
Mary Daniel Cheek (‘19) works as the Development and Communications Coordinator at Little Lights Urban Ministries which is a faith-based nonprofit that provides compassionate support and practical resources for underserved children, youth, and families in📍Washington, DC. She spent 9 months post-grad in a spiritual formation and vocational discernment cohort which prepared her to enter the full-time world of work.
Here are some fun facts about Mary Daniel:
🖤 Some of her most cherished memories while at Wake Forest include playing intramural basketball, writing for the Old Gold & Black, and going to Cook-Out with friends.
🎩 As a student, Mary Daniel tried out to be the Demon Deacon mascot. Sadly, she didn’t make the cut, but it was a fun experience she’ll never forget!
📚 She has a goal to read one book written by an author from every country in the world. So far, she has read 58 books on the way to her goal.
We’ll leave you with some advice from Mary Daniel for new grads and young alumni:
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“For anyone considering working for a nonprofit, I would emphasize the importance of being flexible. Needs, resources, and the scope of work are ever-changing when you work for a small, mission-driven organization. This means that employees who want to contribute well and succeed need to be okay with change and willing to adapt to that which benefits the organization and those it serves.”
Read more of our Q&A with Mary Daniel at the link in our profile or stories! Plus, you can always check out our past alumni spotlights in the “Deacon Spotlight” highlight reel in our profile.
https://alumni.opcd.wfu.edu/deacon-spotlight/deacon-spotlight-mary-daniel-cheek/