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What makes a college education worthwhile? For students today, one top priority is career readiness. More and more, they hope to step into a job they’re passionate about not long after commencement day.  

According to a  from Inside Higher Ed, 8 out of 10 college students said they want college to prepare them for careers they love. Around 60 percent of those students are seeking high-paying jobs, and more than half say they want to secure a job as quickly as possible after graduation.

Mary Beth Stadt is executive director of the Career Center at Saint Mary’s, and those numbers certainly reflect what she hears from Gaels. “Career preparation is a top priority for our students,” she says. And that’s precisely what she and her Career Center team offer—from one-on-one coaching sessions to professional development workshops to alumni and employer networking opportunities. 

"We help students gain hands-on experience, build professional networks, and develop the confidence to take that next step after graduation,” Stadt says. “It's a critical part of the Saint Mary's experience."

We recently checked in with four Gaels from the Class of 2024 about their post-grad journeys. They were candid about the challenge of applying for jobs while finishing up their degrees. Ultimately, though, they offered tangible advice and encouragement for life after Saint Mary’s.

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Prithvi Koka

Major: Computer Science and Data Science

Role / Company: Technology Analyst - Software Engineer at Wells Fargo

From internship to full-time position (with some Saint Mary’s support)

I got the job in part because I had interned at Wells Fargo over the summer of 2023. Applying for a job while finishing college was definitely very difficult because I had to prepare for interviews while at the same time doing schoolwork or preparing for tests. It was hard to balance both at once, but I allotted time for schoolwork in the day and interview prep in the evenings. 

Saint Mary's offered a number of career events where we could talk to employers in the tech field and get familiar with their type of work. My Data Science and Computer Science professors were also very helpful in teaching us what sort of work we would encounter when we graduated. And my experience working in the Intercultural Center helped me to deal with a diverse array of issues that I would face in interviews and careers. 

Advice to graduating Gaels?

My advice for Gaels hoping to step into a job right out of college is to follow their passion and work hard on getting a job while even in college. It's best to start early to maximize the number of opportunities you can get! 

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Katrienne Lemye

Major: Art Theory and Criticism

Role/Company: Marketing Designer at Lesher Center for the Arts

Juggling, balancing—and getting the job

Balancing job applications with homework and finals felt like juggling flaming torches, but I’m proud to say I managed it. Staying organized was key—I relied heavily on Apple's Calendar and Reminders apps to keep track of deadlines and tasks. 

I began as a Marketing Assistant in 2022, and over two and a half years, I worked my way up to Marketing Designer. My role involves marketing and press strategy, design and production management, email marketing, website management, and handling social media. My work and designs are featured on street banners, postcards, digital advertisements, and newspapers all over Walnut Creek and Contra Costa County.

The Saint Mary’s boost

I was lucky to gain valuable work experience and a solid understanding of the basics of the arts industry at the Saint Mary's College Museum of Art, thanks to John Schneider and Britt Royer. Additionally, as an art major, I received a timely email from Lorinda Cunha—the amazing administrative assistant for the Art department—about the marketing position at the Lesher Center for the Arts. Honestly, the networking and support from SMC were crucial in landing me where I am today.

It’s normal to be unsure and overwhelmed, but don’t be afraid of rejection–if a company says no, it’s their loss! Continue to believe in yourself and walk with confidence. 

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Lauren Stadt

Major: Data Science and Economics

Role/Company: Program Analyst in Aladdin Client Services at BlackRock

Getting the role

I interned for BlackRock last summer and received a return offer from them. However, I decided not to take that specific role, so I re-interviewed for a different full-time position within BlackRock, which I ended up getting at the beginning of November 2023.

I was studying abroad for my internship applications, but the Career Center was super responsive in helping me find and apply for internships. A huge shout-out to the Career Center and Mary Beth Stadt, its director, for the incredible support throughout the internship application process and my re-application to BlackRock.

Advice to graduating Gaels?

Everyone either thinks they know how to find a job or wants someone to tell them exactly how to find a job, but it is so much more complicated than that. There is no one path to a career, no quick fix, and no right answer. 

My best advice is to go to the Career Center early. They will help you polish your resume, build your network, and guide you toward a path that might be the right fit. However, you have to be consistent; one meeting with the Career Center will not find you a job!

 It can be incredibly frustrating, especially watching your peers seem to have everything together. But you will find your path.

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Joseph Miyashita

Major: Anthropology

Role/Company: Assistant Language Teacher for Morioka Board of Education

A network of support

I’ll be teaching English to a handful of elementary and middle schools across the city of Morioka in northern Japan. I was luckier than most in that I received my acceptance in the spring of 2024, so a tremendous amount of stress and anxiety was lifted before I even entered finals season. 

Every one of my Anthropology professors was extremely supportive of the prospect of my teaching abroad. Without their unwavering excitement and support, I could not have taken this next step in my life without the confidence I have now. Additionally, Uehara Sensei—the sole Japanese professor on campus—sat down with me for over an hour to help me choose between my three acceptances. 

Finally, a huge thank you to everyone at the Center for International Programs for my study abroad opportunity in Ireland, which taught me that I can live alone and abroad in a strange new world. 

Advice to graduating Gaels?

Whether you want to work at a convenience store for a year or two to save money for something bigger like grad school, work with a service group like the Peace Corps, find a job in a field you have a passion for, or teach English abroad, I’d argue there’s no right or wrong decision. 

Part of the fun of it all, I think, is that we still have so much life to live and we have no clue what that’s going to look like. Pursue what you need or want and trust that at the end of it all, these decisions are stepping stones, not final destinations. 

Hayden Royster is Staff Writer at the Office of Marketing and Communication for Saint Mary's College. Write him.