LWTech Career Services
Winter 2023 NEWSLETTER
Career Services Staff Introductions
Laura Drake
Career Services Coordinator
Hello and happy Winter Quarter! I'm Laura Drake and I use she/her/hers pronouns. I have an Advanced Paralegal certificate from Edmonds College and a BA in Psychology from Pacific Lutheran University. I've worked in higher education for many years, mainly as an advisor for prof/tech programs and here at LWTech as a Worker Retraining Coordinator. I've also previously been an Educational Navigator and a Career Consultant for local agencies, facilitating hundreds of career workshops and assisting clients with training support, career exploration, networking, resume and cover letter writing, interview prep, and LinkedIn profile development. I'm passionate about helping people identify their strengths and learn to market themselves so they can land a job they love! Outside of work, I enjoy my cats Archer and Autumn, making jewelry, and collecting dragons. I'm excited to be able to support LWTech students as a Career Services Coordinator. I hope to meet with you soon!
Rachel Manier
Career Services Coordinator
Hi everyone! My name is Rachel Manier, and I started as a Career Services Coordinator at LWTech in October 2022. I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Wisconsin School of Business with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting. As a student, I facilitated a course on educational and career exploration. I assisted students with self-assessments, authentic and ethical leadership skills, resume and cover letter creation, interview practice, and professional networking. Nothing brought me more joy than seeing students gain confidence in pursuing their academic and career goals and the following success. Although my accounting journey instilled valuable transferable skills, my interest in accounting shifted after realizing my passion was helping others find theirs. I am ecstatic about assisting you with professional invention or reinvention. Please stop by W201E to schedule an appointment and say Hi - we are so excited to meet you!
Amber Hisatake
Workforce Development - Assistant Director of Recruitment, Outreach and Employment
Aloha everyone! My name is Amber Hisatake and I was born and raised in Hawaii and take great pride in my Native Hawaiian and Samoan cultures. I have resided in Washington State for the last 13 years and have been at LWTech since 2015 and in my current role of Workforce Development Assistant Director since 2018 overseeing recruitment and outreach for Workforce programs and our Career Services department. I have a bachelor’s in communications from U.N.L.V., a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership, and a Master of Arts in Higher and Post-Secondary Education. I have worked in higher education for the past 13 years specializing in career services, admissions, outreach, and recruitment and truly enjoy working with students to help them achieve their education, professional, and personal goals. I have many years of experience working with employers, job fair planning, facilitating workshops, providing direct student support, and managing multiple platforms such as our Hire Lions online job board. One of my primary goals is to support my team in supporting students with all their career service needs which is directly connected to the LWTech mission, “To help prepare students for today’s careers and tomorrow’s opportunities.” It’s especially meaningful to my team and I to have an impactful and helpful role on students as they make their way on their professional journeys. We look forward to assisting you and hope you stop by to see us soon!
SAVE THE DATE - LWTECH SPRING JOB FAIR!
The LWTech Spring Job Fair will be held on Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023 from 10 a.m.-1p.m. in the East Mall area. MORE INFO TO COME SO STAY TUNED!
Hack Your Career
Networking for Introverts
By Rachel Manier - Career Services Coordinator
Networking is creating lasting, meaningful, and mutually beneficial relationships. Think quality, not quantity. Additionally, it is a primary way to cultivate employer trust and prove you are a low-risk candidate. Imagine this,
It is a beautiful day, and you are preparing for your first job fair. You are a Software Development student who dreams of becoming a Software Engineer for REI. You are an avid adventurer and have a special place in your heart for REI - the place you and your dad would stop every summer before your annual camping trip. Additionally, after researching REI, its mission, and values, you, too, believe "a life outdoors is a life well-lived," and profits should be invested back into the community.
Your dream of obtaining a Software Engineer Internship has pushed you to exceed the limits of your comfort zone and participate in the LWTech Job Fair. To prepare, you schedule an appointment with Career Services to work on your resume and elevator pitch.
The day is finally here, and you are buttoning up your snappiest shirt. You arrive early and greet the employer with your elevator pitch, a smile, and a positive attitude. You express curiosity by asking tailored questions like "What do you love about working for REI?" "What does success look like in the Software Engineer Intern role?" and "Is REI hosting informational sessions for interested interns?". Toward the end of your conversation, you affirm your interest, provide the recruiter with a copy of your resume, and obtain their contact information. It was a successful evening, but before you hit the hay, you sent a personal follow-up to the recruiter.
Congratulations! You are now a step closer to obtaining that dream internship and have successfully networked! The employer now knows who you genuinely are outside the page of your resume, and trust is starting to form. There will be more steps before you reach your end goal (attending information sessions, chatting with other employees at REI, creating application materials, booking appointments with Career Services, etc.), but perseverance and hard work are key! You got this!
Putting ourselves out there can be daunting. If you consider yourself an introvert, networking events can expend your energy, causing you to become drained and overwhelmed. However, networking is crucial for introducing you to new opportunities, drastically improving job prospects, and reaching your career goals. A study by the Federal Reserve Banks of St. Louis found the following:
- Those with a robust network find jobs more quickly (Arbex et al. 34); Using your network to job match can take 1 - 3 months off your job search (Arbex et al. 5).
- Networking can produce higher-quality job offers (e.g., higher wages) (Arbex et al. 32).
If you consider yourself an introvert or feel all the jitters when networking, keep reading.
Be Yourself
Did you know introverts are typically better networkers? Why? Introverts are excellent listeners and observers and are more apt to build one-on-one relationships. While networking, be yourself and play to your strengths (e.g., utilize those excellent listening skills). Additionally, consider what time of day you feel best (Are you a morning bird or evening eel?). If you have the option, choose to network when you feel most energized.
Be Prepared
The power of being prepared can significantly reduce your stress. Whether a novice or a pro, you should always prepare for networking. Ensure your resume is in tip-top shape, curate your elevator pitch, formulate specific, open-ended questions you can ask the employer, and plan your attire ahead of time. Remember the 6 P's: Proper Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance.
Connect One-On-One
Schedule an informational interview if you are new to networking or large networking events are not your jam. The purpose of an informational interview is to have the opportunity to learn more about someone's academic and career path, an industry of interest, and network! Connect with other LWTech alums in your "Hire Lions" powered by Handshake account and contact individuals in a position or field of interest.
Follow-Up
You haven't networked until you follow up! Send a message ASAP, or within 24 hours, to the individual you networked with, expressing that you enjoyed meeting them. Furthermore, reflect on a point from your conversation to personalize the message. For example, "It was wonderful meeting you at the LWTech Job Fair! Best of luck with your yard project this weekend! Toward the end of our conversation, we started chatting about your audit experience, and I would love to continue our discussion. How does your schedule look next week for a Zoom call or in-person coffee chat? ".
Works Cited
Arbex, Marcelo, et al. Network Search: Climbing the Job Ladder Faster. Economic Research: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Lous, 2016.
Upcoming Virtual Workshops
*Click on the workshop title(s) below at the time indicated to access the Zoom workshop *
Ace Your Interview
- Lunch & Learn: Wednesday, March 8, 2023, from 12 - 1 PM
- Happy Hour: Wednesday, March 8, 2023, from 6 - 7 PM
Career Choice Workshop
Career Services Overview Video
Job Search & Advice
Career Services provides job search services to LWTech students and graduates and can assist with resumes, cover letters, interviewing, LinkedIn, and more.
Career Planning
"HIRE LIONS" Powered by Handshake
Check out the LWTech Career Services online job board called “HIRE LIONS, POWERED BY HANDSHAKE”.
Benefits include:
- Hire Lions powered by Handshake users have access to employers with active job and internship postings
- Access to your account via mobile device
- Single sign-on access so you can use your current LWTech sign-on info to access your account
- Accounts remain active and accessible even after you graduate
- Gain access to a variety of employment events such as job fairs and employer panels
Visit Hire Lions on the Career Services webpage or click on the "Hire Lions" picture above to get started!
Need Help Obtaining Professional Clothing?
“Dress for Success (DFS)” offers students free professional women’s interview clothing. Students must get a referral from Career Services by emailing Career.Services@LWTech.edu and be willing to pick up the clothing at Pacific Place in Seattle location!) Personal stylists help you select appropriate outfits by industry. Email us to find out more.
RECOMMENDED JOB SEARCH VIDEOS
CareerSpots contains short online videos to assist LWTech students and graduates with their job search and networking skills. Click one of the videos below to learn more!
Any Questions? Contact Us!
Email: Career.Services@LWTech.edu
Call: (425) 739-8113
Services are offered in person, online, or by phone