Tag Archives: alumni network

Establishing Your LinkedIn Profile:

Whether you are or are not aware of the importance of building a strong LinkedIn professional network, with busy schedules and stressing about the future, sometimes we dismiss our social media. LinkedIn, however, is one type of social media network that should never be dismissed!

Establishing a strong LinkedIn profile and network will propel your chances of finding more opportunities by making YOU stand out of your sea of competitors and makes it easier for your prospective employees to review your knowledge, skills, abilities, and personality traits. Here are a few tips that really helped me build my profile:

1. Have a professional photo

LinkedIn isn’t Tumblr, there is no excuse for not having a professional head shot. Look clean, friendly, and approachable! Remember, first impressions count…even virtually!

2. Have a strong headline and summary

LinkedIn creates your headline with your job title and current company…but you can create your own! Consider making it your specialty and speaking to your audience directly. For example, mine is “Public Relations Student at FIT”, even though I currently have other positions.

Use bullets for your actual summary or make it a power sentence. LinkedIn also allows you to add media, so if you’re creative, even make an introduction video!

 3. Fill out everything

Skills, abilities, volunteer work and associations, education, previous positions, etc. This is all the important stuff that prospective employers are looking forward to seeing, make sure it’s concise and displays YOU.

4. Keep your profile up-to-date

You don’t need to list every. single. thing. you’ve done. But consider maintaining your profile with current career goals and positions that are relevant and timely to your position seeking and network building opportunities.

Go on and make your LinkedIn profiles great!

xx

Mariano

From Student to Alumni

The term alumni always felt so foreign to me. Alumni reminded me of 30 year class reunions and gray hair. Technically, I knew what it meant, but it was always weird picturing myself as an alumni…I was either a student or I wasn’t. When I graduated high school, I was onto bigger and better things at college. There was no time to be an alumni of my high school.

Until this past weekend…:)

My best friend had the idea months ago to put together an Alumni Cabaret for any one who had been a part of the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Drama Program (my high school’s drama club.) Drama club and music were my LIFE in high school. My fondest memories during high school came from my time spent in drama club, in rehearsals and performing in the shows. And most importantly my best friends in the world were made in drama club.

Fast forward to this past weekend, all the plans were made, the alumni interested in performing were there with songs, we rehearsed, laughed and had a wonderful time. We had performers from all the way from the class of 1955 to current day students. It was so amazing to see the range of people and talent that went through my high schools drama club and to be all together in one space. The show went swimmingly! Many community members came to support us, and we raised about $600 for the drama program! After, I saw so many familiar faces who have supported me all the way and I was so, so appreciative to be able to talk with them.

Performing as an alumni made me think how I will be an alumni of FIT in just a few short months. AHHH! Very very very very crazy to think that. But it’s true! I will be another success story coming out of FIT. I will be among names like, Brian Atwood, Nanette Lepore and Calvin Klein – all of course notable FIT alumni! The power and prestige this school and its alumni has is exciting and comforting. To know I will have a degree from FIT gives me hope that I have a bright future ahead of me!

FIT is the community and set of networks that has helped me launch myself and my career, and it will always be there for me through the FIT Alumni Network. There is a specific office at FIT, the office of Alumni Relations, that maintains and enhances connections with former students in order to support the FIT alumni network. They host educational, cultural, and social events for alumni and always keeping them informed about college events that may be of interest! Another great perk is that alumni are encouraged to use the many resources available to them, including the Career and Internship Center, the Gladys Marcus Library, The Museum at FIT and the School of Continuing Education and Professional Studies. These things don’t just disappear once you walk across the commencement stage.

You can follow the alumni network on Facebook or subscribe to the exciting Hue Magazine, which is contributed to by FIT alumni and keeps you up to date with who’s doing what. If you are an FIT alumni and would like to sign up to stay informed, update your records here!

FIT has made such an impact on me in my three years here so far. I can only imagine the impact it will have in the years to come.