Author: Arica Clauson

By: Katie Flanagan ’19

The Career Fair is coming up this Wednesday, September 19, 2018 from 2-5pm in the Hogan Ballroom, so get excited! The Career Fair is a fantastic opportunity to talk with potential employers about future full-time job and internship opportunities (a list of the employers attending can be found here). Preparation is key to ensure that you make a good impression on potential employers, and also make the most of out of your own time! Whether this is your first time attending a career fair or your hundredth, it’s always nice to have some tips and tricks up your sleeve. So without further ado, here are NUMBER tips to help you ace the Career Fair:

1. Do Your Research

I cannot stress enough how important it is to do your research on all the companies that you’re interested in that will be at the career fair (here’s the list again). Know which companies and positions you’re interested in, and be prepared to talk about why they interest you. You also want to avoid asking questions for which the answers can easily be found on their website. Also, you want to know your deadlines. Many of the organizations that will be at the Career Fair have deadlines coming up within the next month.

2. Polish Up Your Resume

Stop by the Center for Career Development (Hogan 203) for drop-in hours Monday through Friday, 1-4pm to make sure your resume is as up-to-date and polished as it can be. There will also be Resume lobby tables next week in Hogan where you can also have your resume edited and polished.

3. Make a Game Plan

There will be over 50 organizations in the Hogan Ballroom on Wednesday, so it will be easy to get overwhelmed. To prevent this, make a list of the organizations you’re interested in and rank them in order of which ones you’re most interested in. Then, if you have to leave for class or the career fair ends, you won’t miss out on the organizations most important to you.

4. Prepare Your “Elevator Pitch”

Your “elevator pitch” is a short, succinct description of yourself that will make an impression on the person you give it to. You should say your name, your major, your class year, and something that differentiates you from everyone else around you. An example of one would be:

“Hi, my name is Mickey Mouse. I’m an Art and Economics double major in the class of 1928, and I am the face of a multi-billion dollar and internationally known corporation.”

5. Come Prepared

Not only do you have to prepare in the days before the Fair, you should need to be prepared on the day of the Fair. Here are some things you should bring:

• Printed resumes
  • You should bring 5-10 printouts of your resume to hand out to employers if they ask
• A folder
  • Those resumes should be in a nice folder, not crushed in your backpack or folded in your hand
  • A folder is also handy if you accrue any materials from organizations you talk to

6. Put Your Game Face On

You want to represent the best side of yourself (and Holy Cross!) as you can, so make sure to dress in business casual, get a good night’s sleep, and don’t forget to put a smile on! If you’re an introvert, give yourself a mental pep talk to be prepared to talk with people. As I learned at the Senior Alumni Networking night, be a lion, not a wildebeest!

7. Own Your Awesomeness

Just by virtue of being at Holy Cross you’re already awesome (though I might be biased), but this is the time to own it! Competition for jobs and internships can be tough, so now is not the time to be overly humble or shy. You are an awesome person, so own what makes you unique and what differentiates you from the crowd. In the words of my future best friend (even though he doesn’t really know it yet!) Ben Platt, “the things that make you strange are the things that make you powerful.”

Now, go forth and set the (career) world on fire!  

Meet Alumna Lisa Hua ’14, Middle School Math Teacher- Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School

Name: Lisa Hua

Class Year:  2014

Current Title/Employer:  Middle School Math Teacher / Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School

Graduate Degrees (if applicable):  Master of Art in Teaching (M.A.T.)

In one sentence, what does your job entail?

I get to get to know kids, guide them to learn more, in different ways, and get better as people as well as learn about myself everyday.

What planned and unplanned events connected you to your industry and your first employer after Holy Cross?

I knew I was going to go into teaching at graduation because as a Junior, I interned at the Nativity School of Worcester and by Spring of my Senior Year, I had been accepted into their Teaching Fellowship program. I was so excited, and also knew I would be able to pursue my Masters in Teaching as part of that program.

How did you learn/decide it was a good fit for you?

I knew after interning there for a summer and then continuing to volunteer during my Senior Year. I felt that it was such a great place for the kids and was such a close-knit community, which is what I’m all about and what I wanted to be part of during my time on campus.

What were you involved in when you were on campus?

I was involved with a few things on campus. I was a work-study student, so some years I worked at Cool Beans, CrossRoads and the Deli, and in my last couple of years I worked at the Cantor Art Gallery and the Music Library. I also worked as a Resident Assistant for my sophomore and Junior years and was Head RA in Lehy my Senior Year. For all 4 years, I was on the EBoard for LASO (Latin American Student Organization), I really enjoyed all the things I was involved with, it really shaped my outlook on time-management, balancing finances, and making sure to diversify all your experiences on campus.

What was your major and how did it affect your career decisions?

My career decisions were not highly reliant on my major. I was a Chinese major and a Chemistry minor. I chose those 2 things because I really enjoyed both and both played a huge role in who I was becoming at HC. They both taught me to not only learn what those areas of study have to offer, but to really take a look at the culture of each and how that plays together to make me as a person. As I mentioned before, I started being interested in teaching as an intern and volunteer, and I was interested because I was able to branch out and be more part of the community, on campus and beyond.

What are one or two skills that you developed at Holy Cross that you use in your work?

So many! I use time management all the time and it keeps me sane! If I wasn’t so involved on campus while I was at Holy Cross, I don’t think I would have ever been able to manage teaching at a charter school with an extended day program, going to Graduate School and being able to still have a social life all at the same time. I also learned how to really think outside the box and be resourceful, which I use all the time in the classroom and in my personal life. If I did everything conventionally or because I thought I had to as opposed to because it made sense (even if it sounds crazy!), then I would not have been able to experience everything that the unexpected brings. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

What advice do you have for students on campus today?

My best advice would be to work hard and finish what you start. I have had many people who have motivated me to see through to the end of things on campus and since I’ve graduated. Even if you are not sure if it’s for you, you never know how everything can work out. Don’t think you are wasting time, think you are gaining experiences and be proud that you saw the end. If it doesn’t work out after you’ve met a logical goal, then you can go in a different direction. If you see it through and it changes your thinking on it, you might have found your calling, or at least are getting closer.

Copywriter Intern at Olympus Scientific Solutions

By: Katie Flanagan ’19

I love writing. I love finding the perfect combination of words and that moment of inspiration when the words seemingly flow seamlessly from your fingers, a veritable freight train of thought. So last year, I went into my internship search for the summer of 2018 with one single thought: “This is my last summer before graduation. This is the summer I need to figure out what I want to do with my life, so whatever internship I do has to be perfect.” I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do when I graduated from Holy Cross in 2019 (eek!), but knew that I wanted to write.

After applying to a multitude of internships in marketing and publishing, I was offered a position as the Copywriter Intern at Olympus Scientific Solutions America in Waltham, MA. If the name “Olympus” sounds familiar, maybe you’ve used one of their cameras or interned at a hospital that used their equipment. Even though I didn’t really know exactly what I would be doing as a copywriter, or what I would be writing about, I was both nervous and excited to start my first “real” marketing internship.

My first day arrives, and after the compulsory HR paperwork and meetings, I meet with my manager, Phil. My first meeting with Phil instantly calmed my nerves. Having never taken a marketing course, I was worried I would be woefully unprepared and had the irrational fear that my new employers would realize just how unfit I believed myself to be for this internship. Meeting with Phil proved to me how wrong I was. He showed me that a marketing or business degree, though important, can be useless if you can’t communicate, if you can’t write. We bonded over our mutual love of puns and enthusiasm for the Oxford comma (it’s important, people!), and then I was set to work.

My first assignment was to write a blog post. The post was going to be used as part of an upcoming marketing campaign, and all I had to do was make sure to highlight our products. Simple enough, right?

Wrong.

The topic for my first blog post was glass recycling. Now, I don’t know about you, but I knew nothing about glass recycling. I had a vague idea that the colors needed to be separated, but other than that? Nothing. And so started my research.

Throughout the summer, I wrote over twenty-five blog posts that followed this same pattern. I would have to write a topic I knew nothing about, do an immense amount of research, then write what was essentially a two page persuasive paper that somehow tied in one of our products. I wrote about topics like the aforementioned glass recycling, airplane safety, car manufacturing, bridge safety inspections, and so many more. I also edited blog posts written by engineers and product managers, and application notes that had been translated from Japanese and French to English about antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (now say that 5 times fast!).

Now, I should mention, I’m an English major. The last science course I took was in high school, and I’m a senior in college now. My scientific knowledge is limited, and I’m an English major for a reason—science is not my favorite subject. In my internship, I was writing and researching scientific topics every day. To me, the topics I was writing about and editing for were the very last thing I found interesting.

And that brings me to my main point: what I learned this summer. Because this post is already long (I’m an English major, what can I say?), I’ll try to be succinct:

Don’t blind yourself to opportunities by looking for the “perfect” internship

Copywriting was not even on my radar before this summer, and now I’m actively looking for copywriting jobs for graduation

It’s okay to not exactly love what you’re doing, as long as you’re learning

I did not enjoy the content of what I was writing about, but I loved learning about copywriting. I loved using my creative writing skills in a marketing environment, and I found a strange amount of joy in editing others’ work.

I learned that copywriting is something I actually would like to do upon graduation

And if you’re not crazy about pursuing a job in the same field as your internship, at least now you know that it’s not something you want to work towards

A liberal arts education is invaluable

I know, I know. You’ve heard this so many times before, why am I saying this again? Humor me. When I thanked Phil and Hilary (the director of the Marketing/Communications team) at the end of the summer for taking a chance on an intern with absolutely no marketing experience or classes, they said hiring me was a no-brainer, because I could actually write. I could communicate my ideas, something a liberal arts education requires. By requiring me to take classes outside of my major, Holy Cross gave me the critical thinking skills and communication skills students who only take business classes or only take biology courses lack. And that’s what makes us as Holy Cross and liberal arts students stand out.

1. Tell us about where you are interning and the kind of work you are doing.

This summer, I am a data and research intern at The Ana Grace Project (AGP) in New Britain, CT.  The AGP was born out of the tragedy at Sandy Hook School on December 14, 2012 that took Ana Grace Marquéz-Greene’s life.  Her mother, Nelba Marquéz-Greene, started The AGP to remember her daughter by promoting love, community, and connection for every child and family. Shortly after the tragedy, the Marquéz-Greene family adopted the slogan “Love Wins” which serves as the name for their three lead initiatives: Love Wins partner schools, professional development, and music & arts. At The AGP, I am a data and research intern. In this role, I collect data from Love Wins programs and the State Department of Education as well as write research manuscripts to display the impact of the Love Wins programs on elementary school students, teachers, and administrators in New Britain, CT. Additionally, I have also been able to contribute to the Ana Grace Project Professional Development and Implementation manual and to a collection of Love Wins therapeutic techniques and curriculum extension activities.

2. Give us an example of how you have applied your academic learnings to your internship?

As double Psychology and American Sign Language (ASL)/Deaf Studies majors at Holy Cross, I have been exposed to many different research studies and methodologies through my courses. Through this, I became familiar with the format, content, and creation of APA-style manuscripts.  Holy Cross has also provided me with a sufficient knowledge of ethics, especially in data collection and research. This knowledge has helped me substantially while navigating ethical standards, confidentiality, and informed consent. This strong foundation in psychological research from Holy Cross was extremely beneficial in my internship as I was able to “jump right in” to contributing to the in-process manuscripts. In particular, Professor Bukatko’s “Developmental Psychology” course at Holy Cross allowed me to learn about child and adolescent development and how trauma, violence, and emotional dysregulation impact children. The material in this course has been extremely prevalent for my internship. Overall, my academic learnings have been very applicable to my internship.

Throughout my internship, I was surprised (and excited!) to be included in different organizational, task force, and committee meetings throughout the state. In these meetings, I was able to learn from and connect with prominent individuals within the fields of education, psychology, early intervention, marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, and more. These opportunities have also allowed me to see the types of committees and organizations I can be involved with in my future career.

4. How is this experience influencing or connecting to your future career plans / goals?

As I am pursuing a career in clinical mental health counseling, this research internship is providing me with many beneficial experiences and useful skills that support my future career. Research allows me to witness the effectiveness of certain therapeutic models, techniques, and programs as well as witness current trends in mental health. In addition, my internship location is in a multi-purpose behavioral health agency which allows me to meet individuals in a range of different professions in the field of Psychology. These interactions have provided me with further discernment in my future profession.

Bridget Kelly ’18 on the Importance of Networking Events 

Describe your experience at the Healthcare, Medicine & Science Industry Night?

I was unable to attend the Healthcare, Medicine & Science Industry Night but I saw the flyers posted around the Biology building advertising which alumni would be in attendance and some information on their current career.

How did this experience influence or connect to your future career plans/goals?

I recognized a familiar face on the flyers, Heidi Boland. We had Neurobiology together my sophomore year/her senior year and I knew we were both Biology majors and Neuroscience minors. I read on the flyer that she is employed at Mass General Hospital as a Clinical Research Coordinator so I reached out to her as I had been applying for this position in various departments at MGH. She was more than willing to pass on my resume to her superiors, as well as give me incredibly helpful tips for interviews, the job, and post-grad life. I received three interviews from different departments thanks to Heidi and got an amazing job offer from it.

What is some helpful advice you learned from alumnus or the event?

Heidi advised me to send a follow-up email after phone interviews. A few hours after my first phone interview, I followed Heidi’s advice and emailed the hiring manager to say thank you for taking the time to speak with me; she immediately responded with an offer for an in-person interview. She also told me to reach out to any HC alumni and connections I may have for any job opportunities.

Why would you recommend networking and attending the event to other students?

I would recommend networking and attending events put on by the Center for Career Development because I would never have received the opportunity to interview at MGH and ultimately this job offer if I had not reached out to Heidi. I am so grateful to the Center for Career Development for giving me the resources to connect with alumni in my future career field.