COMM1010

Work as an Attorney

  • Working as an attorney does not happen immediately after passing a bar exam.

  • Examples of the speaker's journey navigating their role at Fidelity.

  • Current responsibilities involve negotiating agreements to support Fidelity clients.

Introduction of Participants

  • Sean Bryant, a newer member of Fidelity with approximately three and a half years of tenure.

  • Academic background:

    • 2012: Graduated from CCRI.

    • 2015: Graduated from URI.

    • 2021: Earned a master's degree from Stonehill.

  • Work experience includes:

    • Recruiting.

    • Nursing home sector.

    • Hospitality and medical device industries.

  • Current role: Licensed stockbroker.

  • Responsibilities:

    • Assisting clients with buying stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds in their 401(k) plans.

    • Providing phone support for loans, withdrawals, hardships, and account maintenance.

  • Reflection on the variability of calls indicating the dynamic nature of the job.

Student Engagement

  • Students engaged in a poll about career interests related to Guided Pathways at CCRI.

  • Reminder of a job fair on April 7, which Fidelity will be attending.

    • Free registration link provided.

Building Trust Through Communication

Topic Introduction

  • The importance of building trust in relationships, especially in a workplace.

  • Andrea's perspective:

    • Overview of her 35-year experience at Fidelity.

    • Shared experiences of working with new individuals.

    • Strategies for building rapport and trust quickly by reaching out to new team members.

    • Examples of how establishing quick assistance builds trust (e.g., asking how she can help).

Jeremy's Approach to Trust

  • Describes trust-building as consisting of three components:

    • What You Say: Incorporating credibility, honesty, and valuable insights.

    • What You Do: Emphasizing the importance of follow-through and reliability to build trust.

    • How You Make People Feel: Encouraging emotional connections and psychological safety in relationships.

Sean's Client Interactions

  • Focus on relating to clients personally based on their financial situations during phone interactions.

  • Highlighting the significance of listening and understanding clients' needs to build trust quickly, even in short interactions.

Concept of Personal Brand

Student Input on Definition

  • Students define personal brand as:

    • Identity and values.

    • How others view you and how you present yourself.

Jeremy’s Understanding of Personal Brand

  • Defined as what people think or say about you when you're not present.

  • Influenced by actions, behaviors, and the impression made during interactions.

  • Stressed the importance of being intentional in shaping one’s personal brand and making a positive first impression.

Social Media Presence

  • Importance of engaging in a professional manner across all social media platforms.

  • Poll launched to assess social media presence among students.

  • Presentation of possibilities to utilize social media for job opportunities and networking, while cautioning about negative footprints.

Ethical Considerations Regarding Online Communication

Sean's Perspective

  • Companies often review candidates' social media before hiring decisions.

  • Highlighted need for students to remain professional and mindful of their online presence.

Negative Instances on Social Media

  • Discussed inappropriate posts or comments about workplaces as examples of potential red flags for employers.

  • Emphasized that individuals should maintain professionalism, even in casual settings.

Company Culture Discussion

Fidelity's Workplace Culture

  • Jeremy describes Fidelity's culture as collaborative and relationship-based.

  • Importance of maintaining strong relationships across teams, regardless of your role.

  • Mention of Associate Business Resource Groups (ABRGs), which enable employees to share and promote diverse perspectives within the company.

Preparation for Job Interviews

Significance of Dress and Presentation

  • Factors to consider regarding attire and background for virtual interviews.

  • Recommendations to always present oneself in a professional manner, emphasizing personal brand in professional settings.

Key Questions to Ask in Interviews

  • Encouraged students to ask about what it takes to thrive in the organization.

Conclusion and Final Insights

Email Communication

Key Takeaways

  • Importance of professional email communication:

    • Always reread your emails for clarity and completeness.

    • Maintain professional tone, avoiding casual language and emojis.

    • Use appropriate grammar and punctuation, ensuring formal sign-off with name.

Student Questions and Feedback

  • Encouraged to continuously inquire about company culture and adjust resumes to highlight relevant skills for job positions.

  • Acknowledged the need for genuine effort in customizing resumes and preparing for interviews.

Summary of Interview Tips

Things to Remember

  • Don’t express doubt about your abilities in an interview.

  • Always highlight your skills and the value you can bring to the company instead of focusing on shortcomings.

To structure your response to the panel discussion questions, here’s a suggested template you can follow:

  1. Date and Time of Attendance:
       - Panel attended on [insert date] at [insert time]. Provide context about the session you attended.

  2. Screenshots:
       - [Upload your screenshots here as per the guidance in the preparation assignment.]

  3. Your Question and Panelists' Answer:
       - Question Asked: "[Insert your question here]"
       - Panelists' Response:
         - The panelists addressed my question by confirming that [insert main points from their answer here].

  4. Best Points Discussed During the Panel:
       - Point One: [Insert best point made].
         - Why This Was Good: This point was compelling because [insert reasoning].
         - Supporting Quote: "[Insert quote from textbook relevant to this point.]" (page [insert page number])
       - Point Two: [Insert another best point made].
         - Why This Was Good: This insight resonated as it [insert reasoning].
         - Supporting Quote: "[Insert another quote relating to this point.]" (page [insert page number])

  5. Demonstrating a Valued Skill:
       - In my experience as a [insert job title], I learned that [insert how the past or current experience showcases a valued skill].
       - This skill highlights my personal brand quality of [insert personal brand quality]. Here’s a possible script:
         - "During my time as a [job title], I developed [insert skill], which has equipped me for [insert new roles/promotion]. I believe this experience truly demonstrates my ability to [insert relevant task/skill related to the job]."

  6. Enhancing Social Media Personal Brand:
       - I plan to enhance my social media presence by [insert strategy, like posting relevant professional content or engaging with industry leaders].
       - To maintain a professional image, I am considering making certain posts private or deleting content that does not align with my professional goals, such as [insert examples].

By preparing these sections thoughtfully, you will create a comprehensive reflection on the panel discussion that effectively showcases your engagement and insights from the event.