Backpack to Briefcases' a big hit

Seniors participated in "From Backpacks to Briefcases" Wednesday night, a series of panels and seminars designed to ease the transition into the workforce. This year the event attracted three times as many attendees than the "Future Feast," which the event was called in previous years.

Tim Brooks, director of Alumni Relations, said the event means to "fill in the gap between graduation and job placement," through the advice and experience of older professionals. Students attended seminars ranging from "Lifestyle Transitions and Personal Finances" to "Negotiating Your Salary" in an effort to give students an edge on their job search. The program was free for all seniors.

The panel was comprised of seven Tufts graduates from a variety of professions as well as 25-30 additional alumni in the audience who were available for consult during a reception. Ranging in graduation years from 1964 to 2000, the panelists offered personal anecdotes and advice to students in the hunt for a job. They touched on a variety of questions including how to engage people in an interview, how to make connections more readily, how to make yourself stand out of a crowd, and how to start a dialogue between an employer and yourself.

Facing a flailing economy and massive job cuts, many seniors expressed concerns about salary, job-connections, and networking strategies. Others wondered about the relationship between job location and career possibilities.

"I enjoyed it. The practical knowledge from recent graduates is good advice that can be applied," senior Kevin Halter said.

On helping students find jobs this year, Jean Papalia, director of Career Services, said that "Career Services has taken on quite a few new initiatives this year to address the current economy and the job search challenges facing Tufts students."

The event, traditionally called "Future Feast," went through an extensive overhaul since it failed to attract much attention in the past. Tim Brooks, director of Alumni Relations felt that the original name didn't work and the name was changed to emphasize the program's "fresh feel."

Brooks said that it was time to update the program. "We wanted to make this event relevant considering the times," he said.

These initiatives include two new workshops, "Using the Web for your Job Search," which instructs students on how to use resources to research opportunities and apply for jobs, as well as "Networking Workshop," which teaching students strategies for networking, learning about careers, meeting alumni, and making contacts.

"There is so much information on the Internet, it can be unwieldy. We show students key resources, some of which we subscribe to for their benefit, including CareerSearch and Vault," Papalia said.

Networking is a device employed by both Career Services and the Tufts University Alumni Association (TUAA) which allows seniors to develop connections. Recent graduates and alumni relocating to new communities can take advantage of this worldwide web of people. Network contacts can analyze starting salaries and give advice on how to make a counter-offer, along with giving general advice to new entrants to the job market.

"From Backpacks to Briefcases," is part of a series of Career Services job preparation events including, "Communications Networking Night" and "Wall Street Night." There will also be a "Law Day" held during April. The continuously offered Nuts and Bolts workshops work with students on topics such as resume and cover letter writing, interview skills and finding summer jobs/internships.