Alumni work it - and come back to tell their experiences

Penn students hoping to don stiff business suits and circulate their resumes to aloof recruiters were disappointed on Tuesday. That's because the Alumni Career Fair held in Houston Hall yesterday afternoon was anything but stiff. Fifteen alumni returned to Penn to share their personal experiences. Four discussion groups, covering the areas of law; business; education and journalism; and non-profit and social work, drew about 200 students -- not all of whom were College students. Among the alumni present was a private school teacher, a Philadelphia Daily News editor, a corporate executive, a lawyer and a district attorney. What set the discussions apart from the average career fair, several students said, was the more relaxed environment. "These people aren't here to recruit you, so they are going to be honest and straightforward about all the issues... [instead of] trying to impress each other," College junior Nanik Daswani said. Many of the alumni recalled the confusion they experienced as undergraduates, which is what they said allowed them to relate to the current crop of students. "I came back because I can empathize with people who aren't sure what they want to do... to sort of serve an older sister function," said Jordana Marinoff, an attorney in the Simpson, Thatcher and Bartlett firm and former Daily Pennsylvanian executive editor. Through all of the discussions, the alumni sent the same essential message: "Take some time and figure out what you want to do," Marinoff said. "Figuring out what you like and what you dislike" is a valuable part of the undergraduate experience. "You don't have to go through college like it's some kind of checklist," explained Rachel Kugelmass, a director at PricewaterhouseCoopers. "Employers are looking for people with diverse skills" not necessarily related to their major, Kugelmass added. And indeed, most of the speakers majored in areas unrelated to their current careers, and many are on their second or third careers. Many alumni emphasized that motivation, passion and strong communications skills were the most important factors for job applicants. More specific training often takes place on the job, they said. "I learned a hell of a lot more in my first few years of teaching than I ever learned in class at Penn... because I didn't go to class very often," Friends Central School teacher Grant Calder said. "Work is active. You are visibly accountable for yourself." The career fair left many students feeling encouraged. "It made me feel better that I don't know [what I want to do]," College and Wharton sophomore Trina Dasgupta said. Dasgupta seemed to have grasped the theme of the afternoon: It is alright not to know what's in the future. "Surprises are not a bad thing," Marinoff said. "You may get the job you always wanted and find that you hate it, or you may end up doing a job that you never thought you'd do and love it."