Networking!

Networking is a term that is thrown around so much in the business school. From the time we are freshmen, we are encouraged to attend every possible business society event and special presentations that they Clay Center and Career Center sponsors. These events give us the opportunity to meet people from different fields and hear about their career backgrounds, and most importantly network with them! You probably think of the idea of networking as something that has little importance to helping your career or something that you can never master. However, I am here to tell you that every great internship experience and career stepping stone I have experienced can all be contributed back to the people I have met and kept in touch with!

In my first entry, I spoke about how important it is to find an career ambition that you have passion for. Being excited about your potential career path is a great way to offer direction to how you spend your time at Villanova. For me, it's always been my desire to work in the fashion or beauty industry that have led me to attend such events as a brand management panel discussion, Fashion Marketing Day trips to NY, as well as keeping up to date with different speakers coming to campus in the retail industry. However going to these events is only the first step! What you take away from them is where it counts. For me that has meant being inspired and intrigued by their career paths and taking the time to talk to them after. Doing that led to my first internship at a Fashion Brand Management firm the summer after my sophomore year.

Another great networking story I've had was taking the time to send a thank-you e-mail to a presenter from a trip to NYC with the Clay Center last April. I had already had my summer internship and no intention of gaining any sort of real career boost from her but that e-mail turned out to be the best jump start to my job search this semester. We met for breakfast at the end of the summer and I sent my resume shortly after. I followed up throughout the semester to find out about the time line for college recruitment and just recently received a phone call to come in for an interview over Christmas break to learn more about the company. It is important to be patient but definitely touch base every once in a while to ensure you are not forgotten or your resume slips through the cracks.

If you don't have a LinkedIn page yet, make one! This is similar to social networking sites however it can serve as an online resume that many employers can have access to. It also gives you the chance to search any company you may be interested in and offers the profile pages of their registered employees and even HR people that you can contact. If you think you have no way into a company you desire to work for, LinkedIn offers you access to the right people to get in touch with and find out more about how you can be considered for positions there. LinkedIn also lets you see the connections of all family and friends you are "linked" with and you never know, one of your friends could have an uncle who works for The New York Yankees and can forward your resume along. Obtaining a career in an industry that a lot of people desire to work in is all about knowing the right people and getting your name and resume out there. I wish you all the best in your networking endeavors and feel free to contact me with any questions you have or to seek advice.

Good luck on finals and enjoy the rest of the semester!

Dressing the part...

One of my favorite shows for a long time was TLC's "What Not to Wear" and I'd like to share a quote from Stacy and Clinton that I feel is very relevant to college students at the stage of looking for a career and that is, "Dress for the job you want". With so many business society meetings, interviews, pre-interview dinners, company information sessions and visits that Villanova offers, it is always quite the conundrum to figure out what is appropriate to wear for these types of occasions and events.

I always say it is better to be dressed up than dressed down because you never know when you will want to talk to that executive after a speech they gave or if you are taken to a fancier restaurant than expected. Here are a few suggestions for some typical events that business students would take part in.

A Marketing Society event with a speaker from a company you are interested in: khaki's or dress pants and a button down shirt, or if you're like me and interested in working more for a fashion brand then it's important to look the part and add some style to your outfit by adding accessories and something that shows your personality a bit more while still looking professional and polished. The reason I think that it is important to consider what you wear to these kinds of events is because there are opportunities to do great networking at them and first impressions especially count when seeking a job or internship. Some of my favorite stores to stop for business appropriate but still stylish and youthful outfits are J. Crew, Banana Republic, and Ann Taylor.

Another event you may take part in is a dinner with a company you desire to work for. These are usually the night before they are interviewing candidates and allows them to get to know you in a more relaxed setting. Since it would be in the evening, you're allowed to get a little more dressed up and veer away from the typical suit outfit. I suggest a pencil skirt with a dressier top or a sweater with a necklace. The outfit to the right from Ann Taylor is a good example but throw a cardigan over it because sleeveless is not appropriate for these types of things!

Next is the all-important interview and the outfit choice for these big days is always a suit! It should make you feel good and fit well so that you are confident and prepared to shine from the moment you put it on. A safe choice for a shirt is always a light colored button down so that it's your personality and words that do the talking, not an inappropriate leopard satin shirt. As far as shoes, a good quality black pump is the best option and allows you to stride into the room standing tall and elegant.

Once you land that great internship or job, play it safe the first day with a basic shift dress and heels, or dress pants and a nice top and the best way to know what to wear every day is to observe the office culture and to ask Human Resources! It is their job to help you with these kinds of things and you want to always look like you belong there and can interact with people there at any executive level.

While what you wear for these kinds of things may not seem to be the most important, I always say that what you are wearing can boost your confidence and help overall in how you portray yourself each day. So keep in mind these simple tips and feel free to ask me any questions and you can always go to the Clay Center for any doubts on what to wear for any job related activity!

Fashion Marketing Day

This past Friday was the annual trip to NYC for Fashion Marketing Day! It is one of my favorite events sponsored by the Clay Center and it gives Villanova students the chance to visit the offices of well-known fashion brands to learn about the company and hear from top people in those companies discussing their career paths and giving helpful advice on how to pursue a similar career.

In the past we've visited companies such as Michael Kors, Estee Lauder, Lord & Taylor, American Eagle and this time we went to IMG, Salvatore Ferragamo and Bloomingdale's. First we went to IMG, and we were lucky enough to hear from Fern Mallis, Senior Vice President of IMG Fashion who runs Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. She told us all about her background and how her position as the Executive Director for the Council of Fashion Designers of America led to her current role with IMG. It was also very interesting to hear how Fashion Week came to be at one central location after a 1991 incident at a Michael Kors show in a old loft in Manhattan had pieces from the ceiling falling down during a show.

Next, we went to the beautiful 5th Avenue office of Salvatore Ferragamo (where this picture was taken!) and learned all about the brand and how it has evolved and then we heard from the HR Manager there who informed us about their internship program and gave us all her card to send our resumes along. It is opportunities like this that make these experiences so worth it since it gives us the chance to network with people from great companies and expand our potential for getting a great internship or even job!

The last place we went to was Bloomingdales. They talked all about their program for new hires in the Buying Department who go through extensive training and workshops to be fully prepared for their career as Buyers. It is path with has great opportunities for growth and a clear plan for promotions from Asst. Buyer all the way to a General Merchandise Manager who reports to the CEO.

Overall, I loved getting to learn more about these brands and get a glimpse into how they are run but the most important advice I have for those who attend events such as these is: never underestimate the power of a thank-you! These people take the time out of their days to talk to all of us and give us great career advice. It is a gesture which should not go unnoticed and by saying thank-you, it is a great way to reinforce the relationship you can develop with them for future career opportunities. I hope to one day be in a position to be able to be a resource for Villanova students to reach out to since I have been so thankful for the mentors I have met during my time as a student here!

Fashion Week 2009

This week I headed back home to New York to experience what is the hallmark event of the year for the fashion industry and that is Fashion Week! It takes place twice a year in Bryant Park during September and February to allow journalists and merchandisers a preview of the top designers collections for the upcoming season so they can start forecasting trends and preparing their orders for their stores.

It was my second time actually getting to go into the tents after going once during high school. The energy and excitement I feel when I walk up the steps into the tents is indescribable and it is always the perfect confirmation that I have made the right choice in following my "passion for fashion" as a career. We had seats at an 8PM show to see the collection of Erin Wasson, so we arrived around 7:00 to peruse the sponsor booths and mingle in the Mercedes Benz VIP lounge! A few minutes after we arrived, Jenny from Gossip Girl and then Bruce Willis walked in! When we finally sat down in the main tent for the show, I just couldn't stop smiling and looking around at all the buzz of editors taking their front row seats, event managers running around with their walkie talkies, and the press and paparazzi snapping their cameras like crazy at all the celebrities. The show itself was great and had a very hippie and relaxed vibe displayed by models with beachy hair and lots of denim. After the show, I even ran into a former pal from Bergdorf's! He is an Assistant Buyer for Women's European Labels (Chanel, Dior, Lanvin, ...) and just graduated from UPenn this past May. His first day in this position was the same day as when I started my internship so we had our orientation together at the store! It was a great feeling already feeling connected in the industry just from my internship this summer.

Overall, I had a lovely weekend being back in New York City and it got me so inspired to whole-heartedly begin the process of reaching out to some people about getting a job in fashion for when I graduate. Once again, thanks for reading... I'd love to hear your thoughts!

The Start of Senior Year!

Hi! My name is Emily Quadrino and I'm a senior Marketing and Italian major from Staten Island, New York. I've been asked to write a blog chronicling this ever-important and life changing senior year of mine. I have learned so much along my way at Villanova from professors, friends, upperclassmen who I considered role models, and most importantly with the guidance of all the lovely ladies at the Clay Center! I hope my experiences will in some way help you and make you evaluate a little bit more how you spend your time at Villanova which can ultimately lead to how you will spend your time in life after college.

It's extremely hard to believe that I am rapidly approaching the end of the "best four years of my life" and have attained the status of a senior in college! These past three years have been a absolute whirlwind that have allowed me to take advantage of opportunities I never could have imagined taking part in. I remember having a mental checklist as I neared my freshmen year at Villanova from studying abroad, to mission trips, to Special Olympics, as well as pursuing great internships. While I am thrilled that I have reached all of those goals, it is crazy to think that the final item on this "college checklist" of mine is finding my dream job at the end of these four great years.

Some tidbits I've learned along the way that have brought me closer to finding a job I hope to love, go hand in hand with very these wise words I once heard from a guest speaker on Villanova's campus, "Find something you love and go after it, and you’ll never work a day in your life." I recommend thinking about that quote as a starting point to anyone who is ready to consider what their career path after college will be.

As a freshmen, I remember feeling very set on my major which was accounting. I had excelled in accounting courses in high school and thought becoming an accountant was the perfect natural progression for me, especially since the firms had shown such a great presence on campus and held awesome events for accounting majors, including freshmen! However, it was sophomore year while studying until 3am in Bartley for a managerial accounting exam that I started to think, "Is this something I really enjoy and could see myself doing for the rest of my life?" I thought back to the days when grown-ups used to ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I had such a love of fashion, beauty and anything related to the sort. I was obsessed with magazines and held on to all of my issues forever, just to reference them from time and go back to my favorite articles in "InStyle" and "Elle". This passion for the fashion and beauty industry came to fruition for me when I studied abroad in London and interned for the Luxury Products Division at L'Oreal! It was the perfect internship for me and got me so excited at the career opportunities that I learned about during my time there.

When I returned to campus January of junior year, I was ready to face the very important and time consuming summer internship search. The best advice I have for this process is to be open-minded and proactive! Apply to any companies you would dream of working for and just go on their websites and at the bottom of the sites you will find an "About Us" section which usually leads to information about internship opportunities. I was very fortunate to have made a contact at Bergdorf Goodman in New York City, but I started to lose hope when I hadn't heard from them after sending my resume. However, I decided to send a follow-up e-mail to check up on the status and sure enough the next day i received a phone call that I had gotten the internship based solely on my resume!! It was thrilling news and I'll end tonight's entry on that lovely little dream come true of mine to give you all hope that despite the economic conditions we are in, there is hope for everyone of every major as long as you decide on a dream and go after it!

I hope this first entry gave you a little picture of my highlights here at Villanova so far. Please let me know if you have any questions/comments/or suggestions on what experiences you would like to share! Thanks for reading :)