Are you like me and have no idea where to go with your degree or even your overall life after graduation? Do you wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat with nightmares of unemployment, resumes, and elusive interviews? If you have answered yes to any of these questions, the Alumni Office is creating a mentoring program that could be a big help.

I had the pleasure of speaking recently with Scott Ettle ’96, one of those generous alums who’s offered to do some career counseling for other alums and current students. Let me say, five minutes into my conversation with him, he had me feeling uplifted and confident about my prospects.

Ettle is a senior director at Gartner, on the Board of Directors for Literacy Volunteers, a husband, and father of brand-new twins. As I spoke to him, I was amazed how quickly he connected with me, understanding what I was feeling and thinking, though he’d never met me face to face. I realized that he had experienced the same feelings of anxiety that I am enduring now as a senior, which gives him the empathy to help others.

Ettle is currently working one on one with Steven Theleen, a KSC senior, and Ettle is determined to get Theleen ready for a career come graduation. “He has been helping me develop goals for my future, having me examine my strengths and what departments in a company I would be able to use them,” Theleen said. Ettle also gave the senior useful insights into what employers look for in a resume and the best ways to present oneself and answer questions at a job interview.

“Tell me what you want to DO not what you want to be.” Ettle asked me. I was at first taken aback by this question. Since kindergarten, adults ask us what we want to be when we grew up; no one ever asked me what I actually wanted to do. He explained that, though an ambitious student might want to be a president, a manager, or director of a company, if she lands one of these positions doing something she hates, she’s going to be miserable. “Industry” is the most important thing to look at as you set forth to search for a job. “If you love what you do, you will be successful” he said.

“By mentoring, I am hoping to give people guidance and a little framework,” Ettle explained. Most students do not realize that there are resources out there to help them with the career-building process, but there are, if you know where to look, and that is where mentors such as Scott Ettle come in. “I loved being at Keene State and will always make time to meet people that need help; the advice is free,” he said.

If you’re looking for help getting your career started, or if you’ve been successful in your career and would like to share your advice for success with others, please contact the Alumni Office. Current students, please contact Sara Telfer (603-358-2425). Alumni, please contact Kay MacLean (603-358-2424). Success is waiting!