Three Alums Reflect on Their Success With Career and Professional Development Services (CPDS)

Three recent Saint Mary’s alums talked to us about how their time at the College offered opportunities that helped them find meaningful positions—and personal fulfillment—after graduation.

Claire Huebler, ’18, Environmental Science Major

Claire Huebler ’18, who majored in Environmental Science and minored in Economics, advises prospective students and grads to take advantage of Saint Mary’s wide-ranging intern opportunities. In 2016, she worked as a recycle corps education intern with Waste Management in Washington State, and in 2017, she served as a conservation and sustainability intern with Pyramid Communications, also in Washington. 

“My advisor in Career and Professional Development Services [CPDS] both years helped me clean up my résumé and taught me how to write a great cover letter,” Huebler said. “She also helped me prepare for my interviews by going through typical interview questions and helping me identify my strengths and weaknesses. She also taught me the value of networking, and how to go about it.

Huebler was delighted to find internships directly in her chosen field. “The 2016 internship was my first official environmental-focused job that helped me get into the environmental field,” she said. “The internship helped me make connections and develop my communications, public outreach, and teamwork skills. It helped me realize that I am in the right field!” Huebler, who served as president of the Green Gaels from 2015 to 2018, said her 2017 internship also allowed her to consider the nonprofit sector as a potential career path.

CPDS helps potential employers understand the value SMC students bring to their organizations. For more info, click here.

Jordan Trafton ’17, Investment Analyst

Jordan Trafton graduated from Saint Mary’s in 2017 with a degree in Philosophy. Leveraging his liberal arts background and the opportunities provided by Saint Mary’s, he was able to secure a position as an investment analyst at a well-known commercial real estate firm in Los Angeles. He’s grateful to Saint Mary’s for a well-rounded education. “My major distinguished me from the competition (finance majors) and showed employers that I knew how to think,” Trafton said.

“When it came to finding my job, the Career and Professional Development Services’ [CPDS] staff was invaluable,” Trafton continued. “Their sessions helped me present my best self by developing a career plan of attack, a high-quality LinkedIn page, role playing job interviews, and developing a personal branding campaign.”

Trafton advises grads to take CPDS’ advice seriously: “One, you need an advocate,” he said. “Don’t apply to a job without one. Two, alumni, alumni, alumni—they love helping students! And three, ask for specific ways to stand out. Join industry groups, or do what I did, which was to enter myself in a Saint Mary’s Business Idea Competition. As the only liberal arts undergraduate, I made it to the final round of competition. There, I pitched in front of a large crowd of investors and alumni, and immediately knew just how lucky I was to be at Saint Mary’s.”

CPDS’ mission is to “Provide Resources for Every Student to Plan for and Create a Meaningful Professional Life. Learn more here.

Allison Costa ’17, Marketing and Communications Specialist, Clindata Insight

Allison Costa ’17, who earned a BA in Business Administration and Management, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship, took advantage of every opportunity she could at Saint Mary’s, absorbing many of the skills she’d need as a grad. Currently working with Clindata Insight, a biopharmaceutical company based in Moraga, Costa specializes in biostatistics, statistical programming, and big data for life science and talent solutions. “As the marketing and communications specialist, I promote our company brand through social media campaigns, videos, and verbiage for platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter,” she said.

“While taking business and entrepreneurship classes at Saint Mary’s, I engaged in student clubs and started a small business,” Costa added. “I learned to manage my time, build and stick to a budget, create my own brand and image, converse with customers, and educate people about the many benefits of essential oils. I learned that I enjoy creating digital images and have an internal drive for making a positive difference in everything I do,” she said.

Costa met with Career and Professional Development Services (CPDS) at SMC to craft her résumé, which is where she learned about the position with Clindata. “CPDS helped me with interviewing skills and aligning my résumé and cover letter to the job description,” she began. “They also introduced me to the Clindata hiring managers at the Spring Job Fair. And they helped me with the salary negotiation process. Saint Mary’s College has prepared me well for a great future career!”

Costa is happy to provide advice on how future students and graduates can succeed: “Get involved on campus, gain leadership and work experience, and visit Career and Professional Development Services!

CPDS collaborates with student success coaches in the Student Engagement and Academic Success (SEAS) Department. Learn more here.