Career Resilience Virtual Panel Event
On Tuesday, May 20, Clark’s Alumni Council hosted “Career Resilience in a Time of Layoffs, Downsizing & Agency Closures,” a virtual panel discussion and networking opportunity designed to support Clarkies facing career uncertainty or disruption. Access the event recording here (Passcode: m%33nY+O).
Resources:
VIA Strengths gives you a report of your top strengths (similar to Clifton Strengths, but free!)
O Net is a wealth of information for discovering job categories/ functions/ requirements!
CareerOneStop is sponsored by the U.S. Dept of Labor. Find local help here.
LinkedIn: Create a profile, connect with other Clark alumni and follow potential employers. LinkedIn facilitates networking, career development and business growth.
ClarkCONNECT: Connect with other Clark alumni and students, find career resources and view/share job opportunities.
Clark’s School of Professional Studies offers flexible graduate and professional programs and microcredentials, as well as career success support.
Many thanks to Christopher Brennan ’73 for the following tips and information:
- The Career OneStop Centers help with resume development, job search assistance, job fairs, training, and job placement assistance. Almost all of the services are free. One of the services is a career interest assessment where people can explore careers that interest them.
- Some universities and colleges offer free courses, especially online (MIT and Harvard).
- Community colleges offer short term training programs in growth fields. Many of these are non-credit offerings. Bachelor degree holders can enroll in both credit/non-credit programs and courses at community colleges. Many other colleges and universities have such offerings, both online and in-person, through their Continuing Education divisions.
- Attend Job Fairs that are offered through the Career Centers and other organizations.
- Attend meetings of Chambers of Commerce and other business organizations to network with employer members.
- Informational interviews with people in a certain fields can help you discover how to get into that field. (Tonja’s idea was to ask people you know for three professional contacts.)
- For those interested in going into the public sector it’s helpful to work on local, state, and federal campaigns in order to make contacts.
- Study state and federal budgets to see where substantial funds are – which departments and job functions. Open jobs often follow funding.
Our Moderator:
Tonja Mettlach ’03, MSPC ’04 | Executive Vice President of the Massachusetts Business Roundtable
As Executive Vice President of the Massachusetts Business Roundtable, Tonja Mettlach is responsible for developing and advancing all Roundtable public policy strategies and initiatives. Tonja has over 10 years of experience working in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. Prior to joining the Roundtable, she was the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Workforce Association (MWA), a statewide membership organization that leads, advocates, and convenes on behalf of the Commonwealth’s regionally-led and employer-driven workforce system. In this role, she worked closely with employers to help meet their workforce needs and connect job seekers to employment and career pathways. Prior to that, she was the Director of Government Affairs for the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network and worked at the Massachusetts State House, first as Chief of Staff to Representative Tom Conroy on the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development and then as Research Director and Committee Counsel for Representative Jennifer Benson, House Chair of the Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee. Tonja holds a B.A. and M.S. from Clark University, and a J.D. from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University.
Our Panelists:
Stephen Bandler ’91 | Financial Professional, Wealth Advisory Group LLC
Stephen Bandler graduated from Clark University in ’91 with a B.A. in Psychology. He played lacrosse at Clark and earned a MA in Sport Psychology from Brooklyn College. He started his career as a Teacher and a Coach and then transitioned into a career in Human Resources Recruiting. Steve has over 22 years of recruiting experience both in corporate America and in staffing agencies. He recently transitioned into a career as a financial planner, where he helps young professionals, young families and experienced professionals become great savers and great wealth managers.
Matthew Harris ’90 | Senior Attorney, Air Line Pilots Association
Matthew Harris has been a labor and employment lawyer for over 25 years, representing unions and unionized workers in litigation, arbitration, contract negotiations, etc. Currently, he exclusively represents airline pilots, and on the side he is active in his community. For the past 23 years Matt has been on his city’s human rights commission; is a member of his city’s transit agency’s board of directors; and for the last 10 years has been his HOA president (because he enjoys getting yelled at!). Recently, Matt was back at Clark giving career advice to the men’s soccer team.
Lisa Krull ’02 | Owner, Leadership & Career Coach, NextGen Leadership LLC
Lisa Krull is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and Certified Personal Branding Strategist (CPBS) helping clients create positive change. She is passionate about developing the next generation of leaders and supports them in designing and executing individualized strategies that drive professional growth. Lisa believes that authenticity and inclusivity are the core values that will set the next generation of leaders apart, fostering greater workplace satisfaction and personal flourishing. As a Human Capital Consultant in her early career, Lisa delivered organizational change, learning & development, and talent management solutions to federal clients across the public sector. She earned her MA in Organizational Management from The George Washington University and BA in Psychology and Economics from Clark University.
Abby Locke ’89 | Career Pivot Coach, PWS LLC
Career transitions can feel uncertain, but they’re also opportunities for growth. As a Career Pivot Coach, Abby Locke has spent over 20 years helping mid-career professionals and executives navigate career pivots with confidence and purpose. She specializes in career branding, executive presence, and leadership developing, guiding clients to transform their experiences into strategic assets. Whether returning to the workforce, transitioning their skills into new roles, or redefining success in new industries, Abby empowers her clients to own their worth, articulate their value, and position themselves for new opportunities.
Bryan Tamburro ’97 | VP of Operations, Bayat Power
Bryan Tamburro leads energy infrastructure projects and drives innovation in emerging markets. As a key leader at Bayat Power, he played an instrumental role in launching Afghanistan’s first gas-fired power plant in over four decades, a project that now delivers reliable electricity to over 200,000 users and has garnered international recognition, including the Gas Power Project of the Year award at the Asian Power Awards. Under his leadership, Bayat Power achieved a significant milestone of producing one billion kilowatt-hours of energy, underscoring his commitment to sustainable development and energy access. Bryan is known for his strategic vision, collaborative leadership, and ability to navigate complex operational challenges in high-stakes environments.