Career Panel: Insights for Summer Interns in NYC

I had the incredible opportunity to participate in a career panel organized by the New York Bates Network and the Purposeful Work Center at Bates College. Joined by fellow panelists Felix Xie, Shirley Serrao Martin, CMA, CFA and Lucy Faust, I was honored to share my career journey with current students, summer interns, and fellow alumni.

Here are my top four takeaways from our gathering:

✨Ask Questions, Seek Answers: Always make an effort to get answers to your questions. Ask more strategic questions that give you depth and understanding. This proactive approach will enrich your knowledge and career.

✨Discover What You Don’t Like: There’s nothing wrong with going through a process of elimination in your career journey. Understanding what you don’t like helps you learn more about what you want, what you’re willing to compromise on, and makes you a better advocate for yourself. Plus, it brings a wealth of knowledge to any company or team you choose.

✨Your Career Path Doesn’t Have to Be Linear: Chart a path that suits you best, even if it’s unconventional. Allow yourself to explore, learn, and discover. This approach makes you well-rounded and adaptable, qualities that are highly valuable in today’s dynamic job market.

✨ Tap into your alumni network: We’ve all heard this before, but it is tried and true. People are generally happy to help, so don’t hesitate to leverage your network. This applies to building work relationships as well. Network across all levels, not just upwards – your colleagues, friends, and even support staff can offer valuable insights and connections.

A special thanks to Michelle Pham, Hoi Ning Ngai, Stephanie Dumont, Rachel Marks and several others behind the scenes for creating such a successful and impactful event. Your efforts in organizing this panel made it an enriching experience and the beautiful rooftop location of the event has inspired a new action on my vision board. Thank you for having me! #CorporateCareers #CareerInsights #SummerInterns #Networking