NHHI Spotlight – Alexandra & Alexis Taylor

Sisters Alexandra and Alexis Taylor joined Yale in February 2022. We had a chance to talk with them about her current role, hobbies, and advice for job seekers as a New Haven Hiring Initiative (NHHI) program alumni.

Alexandra Taylor

Tell us about yourself.

I was born and raised in New Haven. The first time that I lived somewhere other than New Haven was when I left for college. In May 2020, I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and English from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. I currently reside in the Beaver Hills area.

Tell us about your job searches.

Having graduated in May 2020 at the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic, my job search was stalled and difficult. I eventually obtained a consulting position as a Contract and Grant Coordinator for non-profit organizations. Once business began to reopen and resume hiring, I reinitiated my job search. Family members recommended that I look into job opportunities at Yale. They also advised that I apply to become a New Haven Works member, as they heard from several individuals they knew, who sought employment at one point, that the organization was helpful in them become employed with Yale.

You both joined New Haven Works during your job search. What was that experience like?

The process was very swift, in terms of entering the New Haven Works program. In July of 2021 I attended a community meeting to learn more about it, applied to the program, and was accepted in time to attend the August orientation. Within the next week, I had my first meeting with my job coach, Linden Grazier. From the beginning, Linden worked diligently and earnestly to hear about what I was looking for in a job, as well as what career paths I was considering for myself. She was insistent on finding positions that were a good fit for my skill set and goals. Linden has stayed in contact with me. She continues to check in to see on how I am doing in my new position.

Tell us about your current roles at Yale.

I am an Administrative Assistant for the Faculty Support Team at the Yale School of Management (YSOM). I started the position in January of this year. The FST supports and assists the faculty of YSOM in a variety of ways, from doing different financial transactions in Workday to supporting courses through tasks, such as hiring TAs, RAs, or setting up the faculty’s course sites in Canvas.

What advice do you have for other job seekers?

I would say to be patient with the job search process, and with yourself as you work through it. One thing that working with Linden, my job coach, taught me is that you should not be afraid to put yourself out there and apply to positions that interest you, even if you are a bit unsure or hesitant. Take the chance- apply and interview for the position; give yourself that first opportunity. Also, take time to do your research and assess the company and positions that you are considering. Really take the time to assess what kind of positions and work environment fit best with your personality, career goals, and interests.

Alexis Taylor

Tell us about yourself.

I am from New Haven, born and raised, and attended Clark University where I double majored in both English and Spanish. Having come from a bilingual household, I intentionally wanted to expand my knowledge and proficiency. I was fortunate to be able to sharpen my skills as a writer, while also broadening my repertoire of Latin American literature. I feel very fortunate in being able to have experienced having gone to a university where my courses were centered around racial discourse and social change. Following my time there, I reflected on how I wanted to uplift and support my community as both a female and a person of color. I came to the conclusion that wanted to explore the field of psychology. During the beginning of the pandemic, I took it upon myself to hold informal video interviews with several women in the field of psychology, more specifically women of color. I wanted to have a proper introduction to the field and speak to women who come from similar walks of life and who’s passion is similar to mine in regards to providing mental health care to minorities of all income levels. Ultimately, I’d like to pursue higher education and perhaps become a psychotherapist, as mental health care is not accessible to all, especially in black and brown communities.

Tell us about your job searches.

Being a recent college graduate going into the job market right at the very beginning of the pandemic created an element of inescapable pressure and anxiety. However, taking into consideration my desire to enter the field of psychology, and mental health, I also understood that having work experience that was associated with one or both fields needed to be a goal of mine. A family member suggested I apply to New Haven works after hearing both my goals and frustrations regarding the difficult job market due to the pandemic. They communicated that the program could provide guidance on where I should begin, and could potentially provide assistance in looking for job opportunities in those areas. I was paired with Erica Petropoulos, who was understanding of my concerns in both being a recent graduate and my decision to venture into a new career field. She was very insightful and gave great feedback as to how to incorporate the strengths I carried from past jobs ( i.e. working as an intern for the City of New Haven during college) and highlight those. Also, she helped me learn to not be afraid to tackle my weaknesses instead of letting them continue to give me discomfort.

You both joined New Haven Works during your job search. What was that experience like?

With my sister being in a similar position workwise, it was comforting to have someone else understand and go through this new process that was unfamiliar to both of us, in the sense that, worldwide we were going through a crisis, meanwhile also sharing this experience of seeking job opportunities, which is emotionally taxing in itself. Additionally, it was helpful for me to have someone who understood the process and helped me work on difficult questions, cover letter verbiage etc. We also gave each other pointers or helpful tips that our coaches had given us as well.

Tell us about your current roles at Yale.

Currently, I am an Administrative Assistant in the Department of Psychiatry. I work for a neuroscientist who also is the Director of Scientist Diversity and Inclusion, at Yale School of Medicine and Director, Minority Organization for Retention & Expansion (MORE) Faculty Mentoring Program. I am fortunate to be able to witness first-hand, individuals who are passionate about the empowerment and advocacy of people of color in the science/ medical division. It is a privilege to assist and be in meetings where people are productively working together to give a voice, opportunity, and have representation of minorities in a field where they are underrepresented. As a woman of color, for me, it was a goal of mine to be in a work environment where I was surrounded by like-minded individuals and people who shared a common goal. I also wanted to contribute in my own way, regardless of prior experience and I can happily say I do that here. Some of the groups I have been able to contribute and learn from are DEI and DICE. Additionally, I am the newly appointed manager for a podcast called The Addy Hour where subjects such as mental health, mental illness, faith and community are discussed and grappled with by different guests who come and provide both their personal stories and professional insight on the matter.

What advice do you have for other job seekers?

My advice is: 1. Don’t be afraid to tackle your weaknesses or areas where you feel uncomfortable. For me personally, while I felt strongly about my cover letter due to my writing experience, I knew that the interview process, and more specifically being asked about either my weaknesses/ prior work experience was a sore spot, so I practiced discussing most what I feared most. After working with Erica and interviewing with individuals who were in different areas in their careers, it helped ease my fears. Repetition is key, and comfortability is key; while you may always be nervous for an interview, by familiarizing yourself with those questions, you become less hesitant in answering them. Additionally, I would say, with my current position I intuitively chose it. While I was hesitant to apply due to my own feelings of doubt, I still did because in reading about it and learning more about the podcast I had this calling to its message and the overall description made me feel as though it would be a great fit with my long-term goals. I advise to not discount that small voice in your head telling you to apply for a certain position, regardless of your own self-imposed restrictions. You never know where it could lead you.