Students
Commerce or LA&S? Non-profit or corporate? Chicago or New York?
Faced with many decisions, most college students feel uncertain about their career choices at some point. Talking to someone who’s been there can help.
ASK is comprised of DePaul alumni and professionals who understand the complex nature of career choices through first-hand experience. ASK volunteers offer insight and guidance that can help you through a number of situations including:
- Researching career options for your program/degree
- Exploring programs or careers in other areas
- Preparing for an upcoming interview
- Making a positive first impression at job fairs
- Revising your resume to better fit a specific field or industry
- Transitioning into DePaul University as a transfer or out-of-state student
- Building your professional network locally and out-of-state
ASK services are available to currently enrolled, degree or certificate seeking students and alumni. Prospect students are encouraged to contact the ASK team with questions.
| “My mentor provided a valuable amount of insight concerning Chicago, and she made me feel welcome by continuously reminding me to call her whenever I had questions. I seriously appreciate her effort, and feel extremely confident about my future endeavors and speaking to a person so completely satisfied with her education.” ASK Mentor Program participant |
DePaul Resources
Stay in touch.
Keep valuable networking contacts informed of your progress.
Be prepared.
Meeting with a mentor? Read about your contact's field and organization in order to get the most out of your meeting as well as show your interest.
Have an effective handshake.
A limp grip makes you appear hesitant. An overpowering grip can turn people off. Smile, make eye contact, and shake firmly and sincerely.
Attend a workshop.
Looking for in-depth info on resumes, interviews, networking and more? Attend a Career Center workshop.
Practice your pitch.
When networking, be prepared to introduce yourself. Your 30-second pitch should indicate who you are, the strengths and skills you have to offer, and what information you are seeking.
Be attentive.
Listen as people tell their stories and share their expertise.
Say thank you.
Whenever someone offers career guidance and support, remember to thank them.
Don’t skip the subject line.
Emailing a mentor? Be specific in the subject line, such as “DePaul ASK Mentor Request.” An empty subject line from an unknown email will be deleted.
Meet Ken.
Ken Lapins holds a BA in English from DePaul. He currently works as Communication Manager fro SC Johnson in Racine, WI. Ken credits the world-class academic instruction he received during his years at DePaul for his ability to excel at one of hte country’s best places to work. He also writes for Kenosha News, his local daily paper. Find Ken and mentors like him through ASK.
Meet Danny.
Danny Shields is a Technology Coordinator at the Local Economic and Employment Development Council where he develops training materials and oversees the center’s operations. He holds certifications in IC3 and E-Business Train-the-Trainer, among others. He received his degree in Community Social Psychology through the SNL program at DePaul and went on to pursue his MS in Business Information Technology. Find Danny and mentors like him through ASK.
Meet Dale.
Dale Cabreira works in the Transaction Advisory Services division at Ernst & Young. As a "Double Demon," he earned both his BS in Accounting and an MBA in Finance from DePaul. He is a CPA and certified project management professional. Find Dale and others like him.
Meet Effie.
Effie Fronimos was a first generation student at DePaul where she majored in Marketing with a minor in Accounting. She found her niche in academia while a Marketing Associate at Triton Community College and now works at Northwestern University. Find Effie and mentors like her through ASK.
Meet Matt.
After working in media analysis and consulting, Matt Ewald wanted to work more closely in finance and has been running his own mortgage brokerage every since. Matt holds an MBA from DePaul and is a regular workshop facilitator for the Financial Fitness program.Find Matt and mentors like him through ASK.
Meet Sharell.
Sharell McKennie received her BS in Accounting from DePaul and her MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management. She is currently a Compliance Advisor at BP and pursuing her PhD in Human Services specializing in nonprofit management. Find Sharell and mentors like her through ASK.
Meet Tim.
Tim Payne graduated with a BA in Economics from DePaul, during which he held several internships as a quantitative analyst developing models and analytics for structured finance products. He joined Capital One in VA as a Senior Associate in the Global Capital Markets group and has since joined the Structure Finance Team. Find Tim and others like him.
Meet Beth.
Beth Gilfillan received her M.Ed. in Human Services & Counseling from the School of Education at DePaul. She is a certified school counselor and currently works at Proviso Math & Science Academy. Find Beth and others like her.
Meet Jay.
Jay Stefani received his BS in Political Science from DePaul. After working in the corporate world for several years, he returned to his alma mater to pursue his JD. Jay is currently an attorney at Joseph, Lichtenstein & Levinson, where he practices personal injury, nursing home abuse, and medical malpractice. Find Jay and mentors like him through ASK.
Meet Joanne.
Joanne King completed her MBA at DePaul with a concentration in MIS. She has 15 years management experience in IT, including 12 years at Accenture. Her current work includes the business operations group for the internal IT Organization where she leads the IT Contract and Vendor Management group. Find Joanne and mentors like her through ASK.
Meet Tom.
Tom Hartmann received a degree in Education from DePaul and is currently a reference librarian. His experience as a cataloger includes private institutions and CPS schools. With an MS in Library and Information Studies from Northern Illinois University, his work includes reference and adult services. Find Tom and mentors like him through ASK.
Meet Lena
Lena Zarkin graduated from DePaul with a BS in Finance and a double minor in Accounting and Spanish. She now works as a banker and manages her own portfolio of businesses. She would be happy to advise students on her profession and other finance opportunities. Find Lena and mentors like her through ASK.
Meet Tracy.
Tracy Conroy was a first generation college student who graduated from the College of Commerce. She now works for a marketing firm that specializes in services for NPOs and is currently responsible for the marketing and productivity for graduate programs of a private university in Texas. Tracy seeks to positively impact the experiences of other first generation college students. Find Tracy and mentors like her through ASK.
Meet Jim.
Jim Baum earned his BA in Geology and Geography from Augustana College and holds a certificate from the Computer Career Program at DePaul. With an established background in trading and legal systems development, he currently works as Senior QA Analyst at the Chicago Stock Exchange. Find Jim and mentors like him through ASK.
Meet Joseph
Joseph Yacovacci has worked in the ESL field for the last 18 years. He also worked in the insurance field for 14 years, but presently devotes his energies to helping students learn English as efficiently and quickly as possible to improve their future. He now teaches English as a Second Language at Truman College, Triton College, and Morton College. Find Joseph and mentors like him through ASK.