We had a chance to catch up with young alum Andrew Kaufman ’12 to hear about his first year out. Check out our conversation below.

Ryan and Derrick: What was your first year after graduation like for you?

Andrew: My first year was a bit odd, as I missed everything about UVM. Luckily, I had plenty of friends who stayed in the area and there were plenty of opportunities from UVM to get involved as an alum. I now serve on UVM’s Vermont Regional Board.

Getting my job definitely involved a bit of luck, as I managed to convert my senior internship into a job offer in the final month of school, in my field of study — marketing. Believe it or not, that was actually a stressful choice at the time. I accepted the position and have been with the company ever since.

After graduation I had a week off before I was thrust into the working world. Naturally, like many others, I moved back in with my parents — I guess that’s one of the benefits of being local. I lived at home for a couple months and saved up some money while I figured out how the “real world” actually worked. I then ventured out on my own and moved to Winooski, where I’ve lived ever since.

So in short, my first year was surprisingly relaxed. I envied my friends who had the ability to travel the country and the world, but I was able to jump start my career and I’ve been with my company almost four years now. I guess there’s something to be said for that.

R & D: What did you do to land your job right after graduation?

Andrew: It really came down to networking. I networked daily during my four years at school. I remember, my senior year, I spent countless days calling companies and contacts I had met looking for “advice”. When it came down to it, I met my future employer through a friend of my dad’s friend’s son! Crazy how it ends up working out…

R & D: What’s one thing you wish someone told you your first year out?

Andrew: Don’t rush — you’ll find a job. There’s nothing wrong with taking a step back, reflecting on the past couple years and traveling around. Take that time to begin figuring out what you want to do and move ahead from there.

Networking isn’t over. There are lots of young professional groups, sports groups, etc. in the area. It’s still important to get out and get involved. The benefit about staying in the area is that there are always other students doing the same thing, so you still know people locally. I’ve since joined marketing groups, young professional groups, etc. and have been able to meet many other business people in the area. One never knows when a new contact will lead to a new and exciting opportunity!