International, Multicultural Alumnae Group (IMAG)

Below is a sample of one of spring events hosted by IMAG. It was compelling, with useful information for all alumnae breaking into or transitioning in the job market. The IMAG group is reaching out to support and socialize with all interested alumnae. Please come to our meetings and social events, or contact us with your feedback, suggestions, hopes, and queries. You can reach us at:

Panel Moderator Cynthia Phimmasone Shasky '05 and two of the panelists: Noi Keothammakhoun 03 (Medtronic) and Rita Pomroy '05 (Deloitte and Touche). Photos courtesy of Nadja Mataya.

The Alumnae Association’s International and Multicultural Group (IMAG) sponsored a panel discussion, “Transition to the Real World” on February 22, 2007, in the Centers of Excellence in Coeur de Catherine. Panelist Deepa de Alwis '93 The panelists talked to recent international and multicultural graduates and current students about what it's like in the "real world" ('It's a shock!), how to cope and how prepare to enter it well to get where you'd like to be. The panelists were: Deepa de Alwis ’93, Chemistry (MN State Agricultural Department, Alumnae Association Board member) Noi (Susan) Keothammakhoun ’03, Business Administration/Marketing (Medtronic Human Resources) Rita Pomroy ’05, Accounting (Deloitte and Touche, Alumnae Association board member) Shilpa Seshadri ’01, Chemistry (Medtronic Informatic). Program moderator was Cynthia Phimmasone Shasky ’05, Political Science (Alumnae Association board member candidate), chair of the International and Multicultural Alumnae Group. Shilpa Seshadri '01 (Medtronic) explains how she ended up in her job, which she loves, in a roundabout way. So she advises students to get an internship even if there isn't one available in your field. The experience will be valuable and lead you somewhere, and it may be where you least expect it!

Tips for a Transition to a Professional Life Take advantage of the many Career Development and Alumnae Association events and services (as well as the Leadership and Entrepreneurial Institutes and Centers of Excellence on campus). Get internships, do informational interviews, and network! Most jobs come from referrals, not just resumes Start looking early for internships and jobs. Career fairs are in the fall because decisions are made by December or January for summer internships and May graduates Put specific details in your resume – about volunteer experiences (projects handled), jobs, internships, publications, and travel, even if you don’t think them directly pertinent. You never know what an employer will pick up on. Career Development can assist in resume writing. If you have an immigration issue, such as a need for sponsorship, tell the employer right up front. Research companies ahead of time (talk to alumnae and others in your field), targeting only those that have welcoming policies. Many do, especially larger companies. Keep options open – apply for both jobs and graduate school, so that something for sure works out. Keep an open mind – don’t feel you have to seek an internship or job only in your major field; you may find something that you can do and like doing that is related or even unrelated Understand that you can work for change in many different kinds of jobs Stand up for what you believe, but be smart about it -- don’t be militant, speak your truth consistently, patiently, and constructively, without getting fired Reach out to others, don’t expect them all to reach out to you. Get involved in employee resource groups and projects, such as diversity groups and projects and Toastmasters -- it’s a way to get to know the company leaders and have them know you, as well as other company employees Follow through on immigration paperwork and processes, and keep checking on them, even at work, to make sure nothing falls through the cracks by accident.

It's a Shock!

Many of the panelists commented on what a rude awakening it was to leave St. Catherine's, not because they weren't prepared or didn't have the skills, but because of the change in cultural climate. “It was a big shock!" said Rita Pomroy. "There was a big difference in the community between St. Kate’s and a job. You feel much more alone. Your whole network changes. At St. Kate’s you felt you were accomplishing something meaningful and creating change. You don’t feel that in a job as much.”

Cynthia Shasky agreed, "“It was like starting over. You are suddenly a very small fish among a whole lot of other small fish!”

Shilpa Seshadri moaned: “You miss vacations and count every hour to gain vacation. You don’t know how relaxing it was at St. Kate’s. There’s no spring break, no change after fifteen weeks of class to something new. And sometimes you end up at work saying, 'What’s the goal here?'”

No one disagreed. All the panelists noted how they also missed the challenges they had in school -- they had to tell their bosses "I can do more."

Student Carly Miyamoto listens intently to the points being made. Everyone agreed that it was a shock on many levels to go into a professional setting where the goals and schedules (and vacations!) are not the same as at St. Catherine's.








Facing Prejudice and Stereotypes Head On

Deepa works in the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and she found herself often telling her boss that she needed more work and challenges. Though her boss was supportive, her colleagues, however, were not. “The white males in the department looked at me as a 'two-for' -- hired because I was female and minority. They expected me to fail so they could say ‘there we go, see!’ They were wrong. I was trained very well. If you can survive four years in the chemistry department here, you can handle anything. And you need that level of toughness to survive here."

She added honestly, "The standards are high here, and I had to work my tail off to get a “B”. So grad school was easy. Now I keep asking my boss, what next? I want more. But I have to watch out not to be militant."

Her boss called her on the carpet for saying "white male" in a derogatory manner a few too many times. Deepa admitted "It made me think, maybe I do, I don’t want to be called a “brownie.” But at the same time, I have to prove myself every day to some people, and that’s not a good thing. It’s been eight years, and they are still expecting me and wanting me to fail . . . I started Leadership training around the time Rosa Parks died. And I decided you either sit in the front of the bus, or you get off the bus."

Noi had also run into the difficulty of being "different." “My co-workers joke that I am a freak -- I’m young, a woman of color, left-handed, and a vegetarian. In the beginning, before my colleagues understood, when they had meetings and forgot, they expected me to just pick out the meat. But I’m not willing to do that. You need to remain true to yourself. You can meet someone half way, but not to the point where you feel bad."

Shilpa advised everyone to participate in corporate diversity groups.

Corporate Groups for Inclusion and Diversity

Noi and Rita affirmed the need to get involved in diversity projects at work. "Big corporations are driving the change more than religion or government or national organizations," said Rita, "working to include everybody, and be fair, because their employees are demanding it in these groups. In these groups, you get exposed to leadership, and they get exposed to you. You can even end up doing research for the company.”

Student Carly Miyamoto, Rita Pomroy, and Kshanika Anthony '94 consider other participants ideas about diversity groups.

Shilpa emphasized not only the change that you can achieve in the business and society, but also in yourself. "At St. Kate’s you tend to stay in your comfort zone, with the people you know, and you’re not really ready for the real diversity out there. Many people are shy and scared and don’t want to ask you questions about your background or religion because they don’t want to offend you. So you have to offer them some information so they can get to know you."

The friendships that come along the way can also be rewarding. 'Make typical European American friends," said Deepa. "They are my strength at work, especially when things go bad."

Make Sure You Network!

Besides friendships, getting noticed by company leaders, and making change for social justice, getting involved in business projects, groups, and programs can be a form of networking, which is always useful. Noi offered her own job at Medtronic as an example. 'At Medtronic, forty percent of hires are by referrals. So network, and do informational interviews and internships, and maintain those relationships. Check in on them. Work on team projects with other companies. I was recruited from Wells Fargo because I had worked on a project with Medtronic recruiters who referred me and wanted me to work with them.'

Chuayi Yang, Assistant Director of the Multicultural Programs and Services in the MIPS office, ponders the discussion.

"Corporations have huge human resource data bases," Shilpa pointed out, "and you need some way to have your resume stand out. A personal recommendation from someone inside the company does that."

But if you are an international alumna, the questions of immigration sponsorship still exist.

Be Up Front About Immigration Issues

The international alumnae present agreed that being honest about your immigration status and needs right away can save time, effort, and disappointments. Shilpa shared her experience: “Having to ask for sponsorship was my biggest fear going into an interview and I finally figured out it’s best to just get it out of the way right up front. I went to a small company that gave me a good offer, but when I told them, they just responded ‘we don’t do that.’ They could have given me the job for a year, but at the end of it, I would have to scramble to find something or be sent back, like some other people I know. So you’re best to look for companies that do this as part of their policy. The big ones around her like Medtronic and Target do this well. Hospitals and all nonprofits don’t have quotas, so it can also be easier there.”

Noi reminded everyone: "Even if you’re with a company that is good at immigration issues, still follow through. Stay on top of your case to make sure it gets filed, because sometimes cases fall through the cracks."

Nora Hoff, Associate Director of MIPS observed that "It’s getting harder for international students to even find internships. We had some students at the job fair, and they couldn’t even get internships.'

Shilpa nodded: “Yes, but you can’t get discouraged. It is possible to find something,you just need to really talk around to other people and find out what are the right kind of companies."

Deepa jumped in, "That’s where the Alumnae Association can come in. If you are looking in a particular field, you can call them up and ask for other international alumnae in that profession."

All panelists assured the students and other alumnae that they should not get discouraged, because there are jobs out there for them, they need to use all the college resources and their own to NETWORK and connect, through job fairs, personal interviews, personal contacts, internships, and volunteer positions. Several panelists made job connections through internships and volunteer service. They also advised all students to pull their heads out of their books for awhile in their sophmore, junior, and senior years to attend the on-campus job fairs and seek out internships, even if those available are not in their fields. Rita remind the students and other alumnae that the college has resources to help them in writing their resumes well.

Sell Yourself on Your Resume and in Interviews --
Don't Forget to Detail Volunteer and Publishing Experiences!

Noi, who has the responsibility of sorting resumes in her work, knows how good fortune can be found in the details. "It is so competitive. So get those internship and volunteer interests detailed on your resume…you have to sell yourself." She told the story of one man who had served at a hospital in a volunteer experience, who did not note exactly what responsibilities he held. When he called later to ask why he didn't get called for an interview, he mentioned this experience. It was just the type of expertise that Medtronic was looking for, but he had failed to be specific. That cost him the chance of being interviewed.

Cynthia had her own story to tell. "Yes, even if you wrote a paper and got it published, write that down too. I wrote that I had studied abroad three times and that got me my job . . . GMI hired me because I had lots of international travel, and I would have to do that in this job."

Don’t Limit Yourself Just To Your Major Field

Sia Vang '05
Deepa gave a rousing call to remember one's educational strengths: "We have a liberal arts education and that prepares us to be able to take on anything. You don’t have to be fixed in one track. The editor of the WHEEL is now a train dispatcher. A weekend college student who majored in English now manages the entire I.T. Data base of Minnesota . . . She got the job because they figured she could read the computer manuals and now she’s writing them."

Shilpa laughed: "Yes, here’s the irony. I was in the sciences, and I ended up with a job in business I like, doing medical writing and information technology, and my roommate who was in business, is now in sales for medical devices. It all has to do with aptitude and interest.'

"A liberal arts education lets you know you can make it anywhere," agreed Deepa. All panelists agreed that a liberal arts education from CSC particularly makes you ready for anything.

They also agreed that both graduate school and work were easier than studying at CSC, though with fewer breaks and invigorating changes. They wanted to encourage students and alumnae to think in terms of the broadest options possible, because you never know what might really turn out best or appeal to you in the long run.

Don't Put All Your Eggs in One Basket --
Apply for Jobs AND Graduate School

All the panelists agreed that students should apply for both jobs and graduate school, since one path may not open up. If they go to graduate school, they should apply for a wide variety of assistantships to help with finances. Shilpa explained: "You can get them in other programs. I got one at the U simply because I was a St. Kate’s grad and the man hiring me had had success with Katies..."