Reynolds Hall- With perilously low temperatures and massive snowfalls leading to class cancellations and limited mobility, Georgetown students have had to do the impossible and network just with their roommates. What was once a promising semester of industry-sponsored meet-and-greets and off-campus informational interviews has devolved into Georgetown’s version of cabin fever; namely exchanging, editing, and re-exchanging resumes over and over again with your roommate until he or she says, “I’ll pass it along.” Students of all ages and aspirations have expressed frustration at being trapped in their rooms while tantalizing career networking opportunities go unattended.
We interviewed roommates Nathaniel Davis (MSB ’14) and Ray O’Brien (SFS ’14) who were found pacing around their rooms in business suits that they’ve apparently been wearing for days. “I don’t know how much longer I can take this!” said Davis. “This week alone I missed two Foreign Service seminars and Tuesday it was even too cold for the “Is Delloite De Right Place For You?” bagel brunch; they only have like six of those a month!” He then handed off a recently revised cover letter to O’Brien, whose trembling hands prevented him from reviewing it again. When this reporter left Davis and O’Brien planned on practicing their handshakes for the next three hours.
When reached for comment, Associate Dean for Student Advancement Gary Parsons admitted to the underlying tension this weather was causing: “While students certainly come to Georgetown for our sterling academic reputation and Jesuit values we understand that they are also ambitious to a fault. And when they can’t get to their Congressional internship or meet a recent alum for lunch on K-Street, well that’s going to cause some frustration. But just because they’re missing out on a few networking opportunities that doesn’t mean, for instance, that it’s the end of the world or that Georgetown needs to recompense in blood and fire…So if the people of Copley Hall would stop screaming that from their windows I would be really appreciative…for my own peace of mind.”
In response to the increasing distress of Hoyas, Georgetown’s Career Center has been turned into a makeshift emergency management hub. If students are able to brave the cold to reach it they receive a space blanket, a warm meal, and a coupon for discounted business cards. If necessary, representatives from the center are on hand to reassure them that the weather is not stunting their future success. Career counselors like Katherine Duhaim have been working double shifts to care for the distraught, the disheveled, and the definitely-not-Goldman-material. Comforting a sobbing student barely able to get through his mock interview Duhaim reminded him, “Don’t look at this as a missed opportunity. Prospective employers actually want to see how you behave in times of stress…and if you keep crying into your tie like that you’re just going to have to get it dry cleaned.”
