One Parent’s Story Of How To Become Involved At Gonzaga
As an executive recruiter and working parent, I am thrilled that my junior and senior college students are moving forward with their respective educations. It is both mine and my husband’s goal to see them become productive working adults. Each day at my job, I am less surprised to hear about the challenge of finding rewarding work in today’s complex economy. Whether I am speaking with a young student embarking on their first “real” job, or to a veteran executive with a twenty-year career looking for a new position, the job hunt appears to bring up similar challenges.
Going thru the process with our children from high school to collegiate students has been eye-opening. When we set our collective feet on Gonzaga’s campus at orientation for the first time, I was inspired by the energy that poured out from the staff and from the student-body. My husband and I dutifully went to the presentations offered at Orientation and during Fall Family Weekend, listening intently to the advice being given. We were energized by hearing the senior students express their goals and future dreams, how they would make a difference, and what careers they would be pursuing.
I came out of those sessions recognizing that I had something to offer the Gonzaga students as they would be transitioning after graduation. I went over to the GAMP tent that was set up and offered to be engaged, to volunteer. My husband thought I was crazy given our already busy calendar and commitments at home, but I felt for once that I could help without over committing. I would apply my job skills to assisting students with resume preparation and interviewing. I would be a helpful sounding board. I threw my hat into the ring and decided to be a mentor.
Job hunting is daunting for just about everyone. GAMP required very little of me and the students that have subsequently reached out for help seemed to appreciate my counsel. I have been able to give back on a personal level that is enjoyable for me, too. I get to share in the energy that young people have as they move into the next chapter of their lives. I get to feel their sense of accomplishment as they have earned degrees that have become theirs to hold forever. On a very simple level, I have been able to assist as they envision their productive futures.
After a couple years of being a mentor, I realized I could gain more of that invigorating energy. Each year my employer initiates an internship program. We offer young aspiring college students skills training and global business exposure each summer. I looked into how I could give back to Gonzaga and its students and contacted the campus career center. I decided that having the Trek program visit my office was another simple offer that I could provide to the Zag community.
Early in the calendar year, a smaller contingent of students came for a presentation of the executive recruiting business. They were a bright and talented group of students that asked probing questions. It was easy to see that many would go on to find fruitful employment, but in this challenging job market it would take more effort. I committed my employer to two summer internships and had hopes of bringing in a Zag. Our competitive open internships were put out to several campuses including Berkeley, Stanford, St. Mary’s, Santa Clara, UCLA and USC to name some of the colleges.
As a result of Trek coming to our office, one Gonzaga student successfully interviewed and was granted one of the internships. As a graduating Zag, he interned with us over the summer. Given his strong interpersonal style and work ethic, I am delighted to say we hired him as a fulltime employee. Months later, several of my colleagues have commented on how enlightening it is to hire early career students. There is that piece of revived energy that is shared in our local office.
As I look over the last few years, Both GAMP and the Trek program allowed me to be an easy contributor and to be a part of the greater Zag community. I am surprised at how simply networking with Gonzaga and understanding where a parent can contribute has allowed me to gain shared energy from the students, the student community and the campus at large. Stepping back to look at my own career and to my employer has allowed me to participate in a way that has been simple and rewarding.