Students, especially graduating seniors, know the job market is competitive. That’s why they appreciate getting a helping hand from Susquehanna University alumni who care about their success. Alumni in the Sigmund Weis School of Business have been building pipelines for internships and jobs for years, and 2017 is no different.
Bryan Thistlethwaite ’99 reached out to his alma mater when searching for a talented student to intern at his company’s San Francisco headquarters this summer. He is vice president of product management at iShares ETFs by BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager with $5.1 trillion in assets.
“When I graduated from SU back in 1999, I didn’t know anyone in California, but the director of alumni relations at the time put me in contact with a 1977 alum who offered to host me until I found a place to live after moving from Maryland,” Thistlethwaite said. “I will always remember their generosity and want to do my part to further help the SU community.”
Zachary Goodwin, a junior finance major, will work alongside Thistlethwaite as part of BlackRock’s analyst rotational program in business management, product management and relationship management.
“I cannot stress enough how grateful I am that Susquehanna has such a tightly knit alumni network that is so eager to help current students,” Goodwin said. “There is so much opportunity on campus to network with professionals who graduated from SU. Events like Break Through and trips to large companies like Prudential and Goldman Sachs are truly invaluable.”
Making connections with alumni also helps students obtain jobs. A recent example is finance major Steve Weidlich ’17. Upon graduating, he will become a financial analyst at Swift Group Financial, thanks to the help of Stephen Bealer ’03.
