Vivian, a research analyst at Research Board, offers her advice for students in advance of the HireTigers Meetup on Feb. 12 at Frick Lab.

Q: What advice do you have for students coming to the Meetup?

A: Keep an open mind and think seriously about your short-term and long-term career (and personal!) goals, and what kind of role would best position you to achieve those goals. And study the job! Research the company to see if any alums work there (use the TigerNet alumni directory / LinkedIn as a start) and reach out to them! 99% of us are happy to talk and help.

I studied Comparative Literature/Creative Writing and had this vague idea that I wanted to write after college, so I was initially super turned off by the Research Board as a “technology think tank.” But after speaking with an alum (English ’05) as well as someone who was then currently in the role I was applying for, I realized that the job actually very closely aligned with my long-term goals—even more so than the entry-level publishing/editorial jobs I’d originally targeted. Now I get to talk to smart people, read interesting things, and write about all of it for a living. #blessed.

Q: What are you most looking forward to speaking about with students at the Meetup?

A: I just generally want to know about the students. Like what do you do in your free time? What keeps you up at night? What new foods are they serving in Whitman dining hall? Who is third-floor bickering whom? I want to know everything!