Jeff Pini provides one-on-one career support for RIC students in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.
Are you prepared for life after RIC?
Jeff Pini is one of three career specialists recently hired by Rhode Island College’s Career & Life Design Center to help prepare you for the future. There has never been a position like this at RIC before. It is part of RIC’s dedicated effort to make sure that graduates not only leave here with a degree but leave here ready to step into a job.
Though Pini works primarily with students in the Division of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, he can work with any student, including those who are undecided about their major.
He is also a strong believer in not waiting until your junior or senior year to think about a career. He says, “I want to be there for you throughout your four years at RIC. You need that time to explore and discover your interests and to see different paths that might be best for you. You might start college thinking you want to do one thing and, after trying out an extracurricular experience, realize that another field suits you better.”
The first step, he says, if you don’t know what career you want to go into, is to explore your interests. One of the ways Pini helps you do that is through online assessment tools.
For instance, the Work Interests Assessment tool presents 36 different work scenarios. On a scale of Not at All Interested to Very Interested, students rate their interest in each work scenario. Based on their responses, the tool suggests occupations that connect with their interests. It also lists supporting majors that might help them get there.
For students who already know what they want to do, Pini helps you map out the steps you need to take to enter that career or to test out that career, such as gaining hands-on experience in a volunteer or internship experience.
Another way to test drive a potential career is through extracurricular activities, he says. In fact, it was Pini’s extracurricular experiences that led him to his current profession in higher education. While earning his B.A. in media communication at Roger Williams University, Pini worked as a resident assistant in residence halls for three years. He also worked as an orientation advisor.
“These experiences shaped who I am as a person and the career I eventually got into,” he says. “My career in higher education actually started during my collegiate experience. That’s why I encourage students to take advantage of opportunities on campus.”
For those students who are ready to apply for a job or an internship, Pini’s expertise in resume and cover letter writing and in how to prepare for the interview is invaluable.
Before working in higher ed, he worked in talent acquisition and recruiting. His job entailed interfacing with hiring managers to help them find qualified candidates. His day-to-day activities ranged from having phone screen interviews with candidates to extending job offers.
“My talent acquisition background, combined with my love for higher education, is a perfect blend for my role as a career development professional because I can talk with students about the hiring process from the perspective of someone who previously worked in recruiting,” he says.
RIC arts and sciences students are encouraged to make an appointment with Pini as early as their first year.
Along with being an expert in his field, Pini is an athlete (he ran track and field for Roger Williams University), a musician and an individual who is highly sensitive to the needs of students.
“The journey to a fulfilling career can be really hard,” Pini says. “No one should feel they have to do it alone. I want to be there to guide and empower students to find a career that will fulfill them.”
Make an appointment with Jeff Pini or any of the career specialists at RIC’s Career & Life Design Center, (401) 456-8031. Current undergraduate students may also schedule an appointment on Starfish, while grad students and alumni use Handshake.