FIDM's Fabulous Networking Event

There is no better place to see FIDM's alumni network in action than at Career Connections! Just as the event's name implies, students get the chance to connect with their future careers via current contacts. They meet with FIDM alumni in an informal setting to learn about the myriad of career paths available to them. Alumni get to network and exchange business cards with other alumni, so they benefit too.

What do students get out of this event? Plenty! They are able to interact with grads on a one-on-one basis to find out what they need to know about the career options in their major. It always helps to be able to ask someone working in your prospective career field: "so just what exactly do you do in that job?" Another huge benefit: connections. Students get connected with companies they are interested in working for and learn about internships and job openings. The yearly event is held at both the Los Angeles and San Francisco campuses.

In L.A., Grand Hope Park was transformed into a networking paradise as students had a chance to meet over 100 alumni from all majors. DJ-spun music and plenty of wide-open space to see and be seen created a high-energy atmosphere. So who was there? Interior, graphic, fashion, and costume designers; product developers; buyers; and visual specialists, just to name a few! Costume designer Dorothy Bulac Eriksen brought along a piece of abalone-shelled fabric from the set of Planet of the Apes. Interior designer Richard Romano shared his entrepreneurial experiences as partner of Richard Joseph Interiors. Felipe Sanchez displayed his gorgeous fashion sketches across a table and raved about Career Connections. "I love to be able to answer the same questions that I had when I was on the other side of this table," he expressed.

The San Francisco networking event was equally successful and beneficial for students. FIDM grads with fun careers at major companies like Espirit, Gymboree, Macy's, Kate Spade, and Gump's shared their wealth of knowledge with students. Andrea Schnitzer elaborated on her foray into footwear as entrepreneur of her own shoe store, "Fetish." Fashion designer and artist Colleen Quen was a big hit as she talked about her experiences dressing local San Francisco celebrities in beautiful couture gowns and autographed pictures of her designs. That's just a sampling of the alumni who returned for Career Connections!