Name: Nerelly Checo
Class Year: 2018
Major: Sociology
Shadowing Visit Site: Weight Watchers
Describe your visit and what did you gain from the experience?
During my visit, I was able to connect with various employees from the Weight Watchers company. My host wanted me to be able to explore the different opportunities that exist within the Marketing field. She scheduled multiple meetings with people who do different things (all related to Marketing) to give me a stronger idea of what aspect of Marketing I would want to pursue. Because of this, my experience became so valuable. I was able to realize that I am mostly interested in Consumer Insights. In addition, having the one-on-one experience during my meetings allowed me to have the chance to ask what kind of things I should do during college and afterwards to make me more marketable to future employers.
How did this experience influence or connect to your future career plans/goals?
This experience completely changed my future career plans. Initially I wanted to be a psychologist, but after declaring a Sociology major, I was really confused as to what I wanted to do with it in the future. As I developed an interest in Marketing, my confusion got worse because there were so many things involved with Marketing that I was not sure which field I was most interested in. However, participating in the shadowing program has given me a clear focus on what I would like to pursue in the future.
What is some helpful advice your alumni host shared with you?
One of the most helpful pieces of advice my alumni host shared with me was to always have a technology background. Because Holy Cross is a liberal arts school, a focus on technology is never emphasized here. This is especially true for me because I am a Sociology major and most of my work is centered around readings and not so much on technology. However, my host was able to show me, through meetings with people who do different jobs, how technology was incorporated into each of their jobs. I thought this was extremely helpful because I probably would have never thought about technology if I was not able to see the importance of its role in any career.
Why would you recommend the Alumni Job Shadowing Program to other students?
It is very common for students to come into college either not having any idea of what they want to do in life or having a very set plan for their future. However, things are always easier said than done. Therefore, being in an actual workplace and sharing the work experience with someone is much different than simply having an idea of what you think a job will be. That being said, having the opportunity to shadow someone before declaring a major is so beneficial because it allows you to recognize whether that is truly a path you want to take in the future. Even after declaring a major, it is just as beneficial because it gives confirmation on whether you made the right decision or not.
