Mona Albertine This is Me

Education

 Web References

1. 1. www.thebulletonline.com

   www.thebulletonline.com/2002-1 - [Cached]

   Published on: 12/31/2002   Last Visited: 12/31/2002

   According to College Relations, Albertine is currently the chairman and CEO of the merchant banking and consulting firm Albertine Enterprises which is based out of Washington, D.C., as well as the husband of Mona Albertine, the vice-rector of Mary Washington College's Board of Visitors.
   
   Though he spoke little of his current position, his informal lecture handed out a wealth of advice to students about to approach the job market.
   
   "If you're outgoing and you like people-you need to be in the front end of business-selling, marketing, and sales," he said . "If you can sell a product, you can make money, you can be successful."
   
   Though selling a product was a necessary piece of success, Albertine said accounting and economics were just as important.
   
   "It's important to have a quantitative background [in business], but by and large, don't settle for something you don't like; settle for what you want to do," Albertine said.
   
   In the business field, Albertine said working on Capitol Hill with a business, economics, or accounting degree is a good idea, because one can work with a congressman or a senator who can use a different perspective.
   
   "Beacuse everyone on the Hill is a lawyer."
   
   Albertine himself has been a legislative assistant to Senators John Tunney and Lloyd Bentsen, giving them valuable information in economics.
   ...
   Yet, Albertine said he has also seen many different majors in the corporate world.
   
   "I know a guy who had a Masters in Fine Arts from Yale, another in Philosophy," he said.
   
   Albertine, who holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Virginia, also taught at Mary Washington College in the economics department between 1968-1977.
   
   From his experience, he had a lot to say about hitting the workforce fresh out of college.
   
   "[In finding a job, you] have to be aggressive if you want a job at graduation," he said. "Go after every lead, and be a bulldog out there."
   
   One college administrator who attended the session noted how many students cannot find a job because most openings require previous experience.
   
   In response, Albertine said to emphasize the work done in 400-level classes in college as well as internships.
   
   "If someone asks for 5 years [of experience], then ask them, why 5 years? Why not 2 years?" he said. "If you get turned down, go up there and sit outside the door."
   
   Ultimately, Albertine said it's important to never limit yourself and to never take rejection seriously.
   
   "Rejection isn't an issue-you have to wear [potential employers] down," he said.
   
   Albertine also said that the dire state of the economy should in no way dishearten the job search.
   
   "There still is a lot of opportunity. All the clichés are right-don't take no for an answer. You can get a lot if you want it," he said.
   
   From his experience as a father, Albertine said asking parents about career opportunities can be more help than most students would like to think.
   
   "You don't have to go it alone," he said. "Use whatever asset you got."
   
   The Executive-in-Residence program that Albertine participated in was established in 1989 to provide students from all academic disciplines the opportunity to interact with established leaders in the corporate world, according to the Office of College Relations and Legislative Affairs.
   
   Albertine's visit to the college also had him teaching again, lecturing to a total of eight business administration classes and three economics classes in the campus center, as well as a community breakfast held Tuesday morning where he gave a formal presentation to about 200 people which included various business leaders from the Fredericksburg area, students, faculty, and administrators invited by the president's office .
   
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