Students gain valuable industry exposure at BuzzFeed through Sophomore Shadow Program

This January, four students went to work with two SUNY New Paltz alumni at BuzzFeed, a social news and entertainment company based in New York City, as part of the first Sophomore Shadow Program at the College.

“I’m incredibly lucky to work at a company like BuzzFeed and my hope is to inspire students to pursue their passions and talents as well,” said Senior Learning Specialist, Annie Yu ’11 (Organizational Communication, Public Relations). “We had four sophomores at BuzzFeed for the day. They met with different departments specific to their interests (News, Editorial, Video, PR, etc.) and also worked on a few projects so they got a real-world sense for what it’s like to work at BuzzFeed.”

This year, 15 students were given the opportunity to shadow professionals at eight different host sites. Yu and her colleague at BuzzFeed, Kristofer Pistillo ’12 (Communication and Psychology), were two of four alumni professionals involved in the program.

The Sophomore Shadow Program is a one-day career exploration opportunity where students in their second year gain exposure to a specific position, company or industry by observing a professional in their field. Created by the Career Resource Center, the program attempts to engage students as they solidify their choice of major. Meeting with professionals in various industries allows them access to the many different careers available to them after graduation.

“This program is a relatively low commitment for our alumni, but offers a big impact on our students,” said Emily Zurner, senior career specialist at the Career Resource Center. “We would love to have more alumni hosts, they often make a lasting impression on the students who look up to them because their college experiences are so relatable. This unique opportunity illustrates what one day and one conversation can do for a student who is trying to decide where their educational path might take them.”

On shadow day, hosts commit to a minimum of four hours to a full day spent with a student at their place of employment. The Career Resource Center staff matches student applicants and employers according to the information provided on the student application and host registration. Possible shadow activities include office tours, introductions to office communications including professional phone and email etiquette, career readiness coaching, departmental meetings, company training, and networking lunches or discussion opportunities.

“Finding a job can be very stressful and it’s very easy to get caught up in salary and logistics,” said Yu. “While those things may be important, I also want to urge students to think about the company culture and environment where they’ll spend a majority of their time. It’s so important to find a place where you’re fulfilled and happy. When the students came to BuzzFeed, I hope our company culture was their biggest take away.”

For more information on the Sophomore Shadow Program contact the Career Resource Center 845-257-3265 or careers@newpaltz.edu.