A spring break in Boston
The 845 miles standing between Dayton and Boston did not intimidate junior marketing major Evan Rawbon.
As vice president of professional affairs for UD’s Delta Sigma Pi (DSP), a professional business fraternity, Rawbon coordinated a networking trip to Boston over spring break. From Feb. 27 to March 3, a group of 19 business students traveled with Rawbon.
“I pitched going to Boston because I thought it was a place that doesn’t have a big DSP alumni base,” Rawbon said. “I wanted to get our name out there and tell Boston-based companies what we do so when we graduate having DSP on our resumes will help us stand out.”
As a Cleveland native with no Boston connections, Rawbon secured tours by cold calling and reaching out to employers and recruiters on LinkedIn.
After nearly two months of planning, the group visited companies including: Smartsheet, TripAdvisor, HubSpot, AMP Agency, Boston Celtics and The Boston Beer Company.
Professionals talked about the ups and downs of their career paths, providing insight into what students should be looking for in post-graduation positions. Students were prompted to consider what size, culture and region fits their personality and work ethic best. Rawbon recalled the group being asked if they want to “make a big impact in a small pond” or work for a larger company where there is more opportunity for growth?
“Hearing first-hand from individuals from all types of fields was very helpful, as we are currently sorting out what we want to do for future work,” said Katie Hamor, junior marketing and management information systems major. “It was time well spent as I came back feeling confident and eager for my future in business.”
Gaining professional advice does not stop in Boston, however, as Rawbon is currently planning a “mini trip” to visit companies in Cleveland next month.
DSP began at New York University in 1907 and formed its UD chapter in 1963. In the past, UD DSP members have traveled to Washington D.C., New York City and Dallas to build their professional network.