Ray Corona shares his career path with students

Ray Corona (’13, Society, Ethics & Human Behavior) met with Martha Groom’s students to share his career path and advice for the journey. Ray currently works as a corporate recruiter for LandCare, a national landscaping company. Ray is also a member of City of Seattle LGBT Commission, a citizen group that advises city staff and elected officials on issues concerning the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. Ray’s fervent commitment to advocacy extends to other groups. In former roles as advocacy manager for the Latino Community Fund and student recruiter for UW Bothell, Ray has advocated for fair and equitable policies.

In Groom’s Portfolio Capstone course (BIS 499), Ray discussed the importance of networking and provided practical advice, such as:

• Networking is about building relationships. Treat it as such, recognizing that relationships require time and investment.
• Networking can be likened to dating. Asking someone out is not the first step, nor is asking for a job. You start by introducing yourself and getting to know the person. Then you ask for contact information and follow up. Similarly, successful networking begins with making a positive first impression and pacing the process.
• Do your homework! Whether networking or applying for jobs, research the company/organization to demonstrate knowledge and genuine interest.