Management grads share their next steps

“I will be working at Cisco in Durham, North Carolina, as a marketing specialist and I am very excited!”

Those were the words of Dana Cohen, a management and marketingmajor set to graduate in May. Cohen shared her upcoming career plans as part of the Department of Management’s job placement event, held Tuesday, April 23, and Wednesday, April 24, in the atrium of Pamplin Hall. Management seniors were encouraged to stop by and pose for a photo commemorating their post-graduate employment opportunities, and then share the photo across social media channels. The event acted as something of a “match day” for management graduates.

“The biggest aspect of Cisco that sticks out to me is their company culture,” added Cohen about her future employer. “They truly believe in work-life balance and want employees to enjoy going to work every day.”

The careers that each of the soon-to-be graduates would be embarking upon were as varied and unique as the students themselves.

“I think this is a great opportunity to learn something new and to really challenge myself,” said Liana Sinnott of her new career as a medical technician. “I have no medical background, so this is going to be exciting.” Sinnott, a member of the Corps of Cadets, will be joining the 3rd Infantry Division of the United States Army and will be based out of Fort Stewart, Georgia.

Senior Garrett Jones will be joining his father’s Fairfax, Virginia, based-business, Remington Mulch Company, as an equipment manager. “While the job title doesn’t really say it, I anticipate that there will be a lot of marketing work involved in what I will be doing,” Jones explained.

According to figures provided by Virginia Tech’s Career and Professional Development office, management graduates have an 88 percent job placement rate and an average starting salary of $53,900. Management majors also have two of the “Top 10 Degrees for Getting Hired in 2018 by Large Employers,” according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

The event was organized by the Management Society and the society’s faculty advisor, Margie Deck. The Department of Management would also like to recognize the support of Jim Dickhans and Tracy Price of Pamplin Information Technology in making the event possible.

Written by Jeremy Norman