When new graduates begin their job search, networking can feel like a Catch-22. How do you find contacts in a career you haven’t even started yet?
For Libbie Weimer ’10, the answer turned out to be simple: reach out to Carleton alumni.
While still a student, Weimer filled out a short profile for Engagement Wanted, a Career Center program that connects Carleton juniors and seniors with volunteers—primarily alumni and parents—who may have advice or opportunities to offer.
“I took an ‘everything but the kitchen sink’ approach to my profile,” Weimer admitted with a laugh. “I included all my interests, and just about everything I was involved in at Carleton. But I did specifically mention that I was looking for leads in the filmmaking.”
Weimer’s profile caught the eye of Miles Mercer ’98, who recognized someone he knew in that ‘kitchen sink’ list of interests. He forwarded Weimer’s profile to John Fiege ’97, an award-winning independent filmmaker in Austin, Texas. Fiege’s films have played at the Cannes Film Festival, the Museum of Modern Art, Tribeca, and SXSW, as well as many other venues.
“Miles saw this profile and thought of me immediately,” Fiege said. “Libbie and I had so many overlapping interests, like film, social justice, and energy and environmental issues. So I invited her to get in touch.”
Soon the two connected by phone. Fiege didn’t have a job to offer at the time, but Weimer remembers him being generous with his expertise and advice to his fellow Carl.
“It was such a great conversation,” Weimer said. “John gave me wonderful advice about different job roles and different ways of getting a foot in the film industry. And he told me that if I should happen to end up in Austin, to give him a call.”
As luck would have it, the AmeriCorps position Weimer landed after graduation was located in Austin. After that job concluded, Fiege hired her part-time on a documentary project, and was able to promote her to a full-time position after landing a significant grant.
“It was a small team the first year,” Weimer said, “but that meant I got to do a little of everything. I was able to learn so much. I started with sound recording and editing, and I’ve done a lot of producing work as well. I’ve helped write grant applications, and I’ve also done some of the camera work. Working with John has been a wonderful partnership to grow in.”
Both Weimer and Fiege firmly believe that liberal arts graduates—and Carleton alumni in particular—have a special set of skills to offer in the workplace.
“I’ve done a lot of varied work since I graduated that does not seem to relate superficially to my Carleton major,” Weimer said. “But in another sense it all relates. Being able to gather information quickly and relate it to current events…being able to work in a community and understand the biases you bring…writing and communication skills and analytical thought…all of that I learned at Carleton.”
“I saw that so clearly in Libbie when we first began working together,” Fiege agreed. “She was self-directed and inquisitive, and even though she had very little experience, I was confident she would learn quickly and bring that certain Carleton quality to the work. The skills Carls acquire are actually a fairly rare commodity in the working world at large.
“What I learned at Carleton transcends any particular subject,” Fiege said. “What I do as a filmmaker, the broad range of skills I need to bring to my work—that’s exactly the liberal arts. “
Weimer and Fiege continue to work together today. Fiege Films’ current project is the documentary Above All Else, a portrait of a group of landowners and activists in East Texas who tried to stop construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. See the documentary website.