In February, alumni volunteers Judy Richard ‘84, Bob Dion ‘84, and Katie Meserve ‘13, M.B.A. ‘13 gathered virtually with Thomas College students to share their insights on what it is like to work from home – and how students can position themselves to be successful in this work when interning or entering a new career.

“I have actually loved working from home!” said Judy Richard, who works as a Senior Channel Account Director for Astellas Pharma. Previously, relentless travel kept her on the go, and now she has more time for productivity and work-life balance. “I am more able to dive into projects that I’d always wanted to get to,” she said, encouraging students to use their remote work time wisely.

“Our organization’s total focus shifted to the pandemic last year,” shared Katie Meserve, who is the Pharmacy Business Manager for Maine Medical Center. “That also meant that we had to be flexible in helping others and making sure that regular business got done.”

Added Bob Dion ‘84, who had already been working from home for two years when COVID hit, “The biggest challenge of working remotely is communicating and sharing information effectively. It’s key that you have one-on-one communication with your boss. Make sure you overcommunicate, because you don’t want your supervisors wondering what you’re doing.”

All of the guest speakers added that it was key to keep a structured calendar and routine that allows employees to take care of themselves physically and mentally. Life After     Thomas volunteer Amanda Drummond ‘12, Senior Account Manager for W.B. Mason,   noted that when considering an employer, students and new graduates should ask about what that organization does to support employee health and reward hard work. Said Bob, “Exercise, prepare for your day, and get up from your workspace occasionally. Make sure you balance work and life – because your computer will always be there, but refreshing yourself is key to long-term productivity.”

The Thomas College Advancement Office, as well as the Professional and Career   Development Office, thanks our alumni panelists for their time, wisdom, and support!

FMI on getting involved as an alum, please contact Senior Director of Professional and Career Development Corey Pelletier ‘04, M.B.A. ‘10 at [email protected] or AVP of Advancement Erin Baltes at [email protected]. Thank you!