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The 5th annual Saints Helping Saints event, sponsored by St. Scholastica Career Services, was held in the Great Lakes Ballroom at the Holiday Inn on Feb. 9.

Saints Helping Saints is a networking event that encourages students to learn about networking and feel more comfortable in a networking setting, with the help of St. Scholastica alumni.  

The event also included the opportunity for students to participate in a mock interview, and have their resumes critiqued.

“It gives students the opportunity to practice in a situation [networking] that can be scary or intimidating,” said Mary Anderson, career counselor in career services.  “We added the interviews and resume critiques last year to help students with skills in those categories.”

When attendees arrived, they were given a job search handbook and a networking tip card to help prepare them for the event.  

The evening began with a brief introduction by Anderson, giving thanks to all those who helped coordinate the event, and then the students and alumni were free to network.  Groups began to form, and students and alumni discussed majors, careers and networking, among other things.

Maya Mattke, a St. Scholastica alumna with a degree in accounting, was one of the alumni to attend the event.  Mattke said that it wasn’t only the students who were learning from the event, but the alumni as well.

“I wanted to get involved more with alumni relations, and also take this opportunity to help students,” Mattke said.  “Plus, I myself am still young, and this will help me with my networking skills as well.”

Rachel Imsande, a sophomore majoring in accounting and Catholic studies, said that she liked how the network setting prepared her for a more professional setting.

“It really helped me gain confidence a lot,” Imsande said.  “I really liked the professional aspect of the event, because it will get me used to what future business settings may be like.”

While the networking was going on in one area of the ballroom, the mock interviews and resume critiquing were being conducted next door.  Imsande was one of the many who participated in a mock interview.

“It gave me a feel for what a more professional interview is like, and for the type of interview I expect to run into in the accounting profession,” Imsande said.

In years to come, Anderson urges more to attend, even if they have had networking or interview experience before.

“Interviewing and networking is a skill, and skills need to be practiced,” Anderson said.  “This is why I push for anyone and everyone to attend; it is a great chance to practice.”