Alec Gonnella

  • Design and Construction Analyst @ JPMorgan Chase

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Tell us about your job. Where do you work? What do you do and what do you like the most about it?

I work at JPMorgan Chase as a Design and Construction Analyst. One of the biggest parts of my job is providing support on the new JPMC headquarters project, a multi-year mega project that involves tearing down an existing 50-story building and constructing a new one in its place.

How was the job search? Was it easier or tougher than you expected to get a job? 

The job search was really, really tough. It was discouraging when many of my peers around me began getting offers while I was still waiting for interviews!

What tips do you have for seniors who will be looking for a job? For students looking for an internship? 

Don't get discouraged! Keep applying to as many companies as you can that match your career goals. Even if you don't know exactly what you want to do, just getting your name out there is a great start. Having internships are the most valuable thing you can possibly do during your time at school. Not only do they look great on a resume and provide you with talking points during interviews, but they really give you invaluable insight into an industry. They allow you to truly understand whether or not a certain field is for you or not... even if you hate your internship, you'll at least know what you don't want to do as a career, which is arguably just as important as knowing what you do want to do.

If you could change one thing about your time at NYU Tandon, what would you do differently knowing what you know now?

I would have spent more time getting involved with extracurriculars at school for sure. My last semester, in particular, I took a part-time internship which soaked up most of my time when I wasn't in classes. Finding a balance between career development and university life is key. I was so caught up in finding a job as soon as quickly as possible that I nearly forgot to take a moment and breathe and really enjoy my last semester.

Honestly, everyone I know was able to find a job after graduation eventually. Just chill out, a job will come all in due time. Enjoy your time in school, you'll be wishing it didn't go by so fast.