Dr. Joseph Volpi, BS '10
Job Title: Rural Family Physician at Orchid Health
Major: Human Physiology
Part of the Daily Emerald "Alumni Take Flight" Series
 

Joseph Volpi came from a military family, so serving in the U.S. Navy as a nuclear engineer felt like the natural choice when it came to paying for his education. While he found the science to be fascinating, he admitted that he was not passionate about the job. Later at the University of Oregon, he discovered that he cared about science and people the most. In his sophomore year, Joe switched from biology to human physiology setting him on a career path that has led to his present position as a rural family physician.

What advice do you have for effective networking?

Students can start by reaching out to the UO Student Alumni Association. You can also work with your advisors and go to the Career Center. It may feel like you’re hunting for a job, but now that I’m on the alumni board and on the professional side, I see these are ways to get students plugged into networks. One of the biggest pieces of advice I give now is to look outside your immediate network, because a lot of people tend to silo themselves. People in advertising are going to be promoting a lot of different products, so connecting with people in other disciplines can help advertisers find better market products; sports marketers might make shoes for certain sports, so reaching out to the human physiology department could help inform their decisions. The main thing is that cross collaboration is so important.

Do you think interdisciplinary skills are necessary for networking?

Yes, absolutely. In medicine, there are a lot of doctors who were art majors, and their perspectives can be so “outside the box,” but are so valuable. Learning from other people doesn’t mean you have to learn the nitty gritty details of their field, but it does give you a unique perspective that makes you stand out from the crowd.

What would you say are the top skills employers are looking for in an employee?

To break it down fundamentally, people who are hiring are looking for students who have foundational skills. On the other hand, strong communication skills are essential, and these skills are harder to teach on the job. Poor communication skills are easily picked up by employers.

What would you say to someone who is struggling to find the job they want?

If they’re struggling, I would say the first thing to do is more self-reflection. Are they open to all the available opportunities that they find? Most individuals are not going to stick with their very first job forever: you find parts that you like, and parts that you don’t. At some point, you’re ready to switch jobs, and that’s how you get closer to the job you want. At the beginning of your career, you need to be more open to what may be that first job.
  
How can an existing network help someone when moving out of town or out of state?

The UO Alumni Association is a great way to start. We have chapters all over the country, and you can use these alumni contacts to meet people who know what you’re going through. My connections with people in business, architecture, and art can be shared with other people meet. You never know who knows who, so you should appreciate everyone you meet. 


Written by Cadaxa Chapman Ball, Daily Emerald Reporter