Adrienne Kravitz and Katie Munroe

Lisa McAdam Donegan

Carol Crosby

How to 'Map Your Career'

Posted on November 23, 2010 - Permalink
Audiences: Alumni Current Students Faculty and Staff HomePage Parents and Visitors Prospective Students Research Trustees

The "Mapping Your Career: Think Globally" panel hosted by Career Services featured three experts in business and international programming who offered students sage advice on résumé building in today's increasingly global job market.

It was one of many events held on campus to celebrate International Education Week.

Panel moderator, Carol Crosby, assistant director of Career Services, prompted the experts to explain how students could better prepare for today's work force, where international engagement figures prominently in employment success.

Lisa McAdam Donegan, director of study abroad programs at Bridgewater State, said international exchange programs can help students learn important nuances of foreign cultures, such as dialect and cuisine choices. "Being in a culture for a long time is an invaluable experience -- something you can't get from just surfing the Internet," she said.

In addition, Ms. Donegan, who is multilingual, emphasized the importance of learning foreign languages. Adrienne Kravitz, partner and chief operations officer at MCG Partners, echoed Ms. Donegan's sentiments. "If you have the opportunity to stay in a foreign language course for all four years of college, do it," she said. "That really sticks out on your résumé."

Additional examples of international engagement opportunities on and off campus, included: working at a restaurant or store with an international focus, seeking involvement in international communities, and studying globally-based topics within a major, such as diplomacy or international business.

Katie Munroe, Career Services counselor, discussed Bridgewater's various community service opportunities in foreign countries. "You get the combination of international experience and community service, which looks great to potential employers," she said.

As an alternative to study abroad programs, Ms. Kravitz said it helps to befriend international students for conversation partners and for personal lessons in cultural understanding. "Those experiences don't require a financial commitment and they make a great difference," she said.

Perhaps Ms. Donegan best summarized the sentiments of the panel: "Start becoming involved with all things international," she said. (Story and photos by Rob Matheson, '07, Office of Institutional Communications)