Author: hcwebdev

Name: Tyson Youngs ’17
Title: Broker’s Intern
Organization: Douglas Elliman

What were you up to this past summer?
This past summer I worked as a Broker’s Intern in Manhattan at Douglas Elliman, the largest residential real estate firm in Metropolitan New York.  The broker who I interned with focused primarily on new developments, but also brokered smaller deals, such as single-family sales and leases.  Without an agents license, it was hard for me to completely shadow my broker as there are issues with legality and confidentiality, but I tried to fully immerse myself in the day-to-day operations of a real estate broker in NYC.

It is hard to describe a typical day, because every day was so different. Some days I would work from 10am-2pm, and other days I would work from 8am-7pm.  It all depended on how much needed to be done on each individual day.  As most agents and brokers are independent contractors, there is no set schedule, and daily activities vary based on a client’s needs.  This means, if a client calls Monday night at 9pm and wants to see a few condos the next morning at 8am, you better be prepared, otherwise, you might not have that client anymore.

The fast passed, flexible schedule was something that I really enjoyed.  Doing something completely different every day helped me learn a plethora of new skills, and it kept my energy high throughout the summer.

What was your favorite part?
The median sales price in NYC is just over $1,000,000.  For the most part, as a top 75 broker in NYC my boss was brokering deals well over this amount.  It was awesome to meet the people he was doing business with, and to see the places that amount of money can buy.  It further fueled my passion for real estate, and motivated me to continue to learn and become the best agent, and eventually broker, that I can be.

I also enjoyed roaming the streets of New York City.  Whenever my boss would give me an errand, I would be excited to explore a new section of the concrete jungle.  I felt as though I was unlocking a map, and by the end of the summer, I knew my way around the city.  It was also helpful in learning the different neighborhoods of NYC, as this will prove to be a vital skill when I return to the city after graduation.

What surprised you?
I was surprised by the amount of fun I had at work.  I knew I would have fun when I had time off, but I didn’t expect that I would thoroughly enjoy going to work every day.  I was excited to see that I had such a passion for this particular job, and the entire industry.  I’m obviously sad about leaving Holy Cross, but I could not be more excited to be going back to New York and begin my new career.

 

Name: Lilly Pearce ’17
Title: Global Merchandising Intern
Company: Coach (Coach is looking for summer interns – apply by March 1, 2017 – apply now)

 

What did you do during your summer internship:

I started working in the Global Merchandising (Outlet Leather Goods) department for Coach New York.  In a nutshell, merchandising involves the promotion of sales through a variety of strategies.  So far, I’ve been able to learn more about the inner workings of the department and also the larger processes of the company.  Our department specifically focuses on promoting the sale of women’s handbags.  I have attended an assortment of meetings that have involved brainstorming, sales strategy, and analysis of sales.  I’ve also been learning about the different types of handbags, including the differences in construction and material, and how they are cataloged.  In addition to this, we have been working extensively with excel and other creative programs to organize, create, and reference assortments.  I have been able to help organize and pull samples to bring to the showroom where professional photos are taken to market each new collection.

Favorite part:
I really enjoyed working with the merchandising team! It’s a small group of women who have been very helpful and knowledgeable. I’ve also really enjoyed the trend forecasting project I’ve been working on for next fall. Since the collections for each season are released in advance to the actual season, the creative process has to start early on.  It’s really interesting to research trends as well as our competitors to learn more about the creative process.

Something that has surprised you:
There is so much work that goes into assembling a successful collection for an upcoming season.  From predicting future trends in fashion, to studying the previous success of certain silhouettes. It’s a very complicated process. It’s really cool to see all the hard work manifest itself in all the stores globally! There is a ton of creativity, perseverance, and talent at Coach. In addition to this, it has been fascinating and eye-opening to learn more about what certain consumers in different parts of the globe look for in a handbag. A bag that sells well here may not be as successful for Coach China, for example. I definitely wasn’t expecting the handbag market to be so diverse!

The first snow of the year has officially fallen on campus. It wasn’t enough to go sledding down the hills of Mount St James but enough to remind us that winter is here. As classes come to an end this week and you begin preparing for finals, please consider these tips to ensure a successful finals period.

Start Early: A key to doing well during finals period is starting to prepare early. How else will you get that 20-page paper done and study for your 3 sit down finals? Don’t wait to the day before to start studying. A little each day will help avoid cramming the night before.

Get enough sleep: Avoid an all-nighter if possible. Getting enough sleep will help you stay fresh and alert. It also saves you from “the crash” after your finals are over so you can pack and get ready to go home.

Stay active: Get up and move around. Avoid sitting down and studying for hours upon hours. Take a break and go to the gym to help boost blood flow to the brain. Perhaps you might not have time for a full workout, but just getting out for fresh air and a quick cardio session might help you concentrate better when you return to your books.

Identify the best study method for YOU: We all learn in different ways. While studying alone in a quiet place might work for some, for others study groups work better. Figure out what works best for you.

Take breaks: Schedule time to take breaks and step away from your books. Take some time to recharge yourself and relax. Perhaps take a nap, have lunch in Kimball with a friend or go hang out at Coolbeans and grab some coffee or tea. Remember balance is key.

Find a place to study on campus: Finding the right place to study where you can concentrate and minimize distractions will be important. Take a walk around campus and consider places you have never been too. You’ll notice that Dinand fills up quickly during this time of the year.

Melisa Alves ‘06

The Peer Career Assistant position is a new role in the Center for Career Development office this year. PCA’s work closely with the counselors in the career center to help cover drop-in hours, edit student resumes and cover letters, co-present Career Center workshops, and assist the office with promotional campaigns and special events.

Below, a few of the PCA’s reveal what they love about the role:

John Swartzwelder, ’19: “We are committed to educating our peers about the value of a liberal arts experience and a vocation towards a lifetime of professional achievement. Engaging with active and responsible students in a stimulating environment is challenging, yet meaningful too.”

Francy Mata, ’19: “I really enjoy being able to meet new students during drop-ins. This role has really given me the opportunity to enjoy the satisfaction of helping a fellow students while being able to befriend them as well.”

Aleyra Lamarche, ’18: “What I like the most about being a PCA is learning about all the opportunities the office has to offer. There are programs that help students who are exploring different careers. There are also awesome resources that help us connect to alumni. I’ve learned so much more about my own career interest through working at the CCD office.”

Cassie Naimie, ’17: “I love using social media apps to connect with the student body! As a Marketing PCA, I create different social media campaigns to spotlight the Career Center’s mission by promoting the endless possibilities of a liberal arts education, and the many opportunities granted to us by our strong Holy Cross’ alumni base.”

 

We all know how busy the week can get. Between exams, papers, and presentations, it might be impossible to make it to drop in hours at the Career Center during the week. That’s why we’re introducing…. Sunday Drop-In Hours! Sunday’s 7-9pm in Hogan you can find a Peer Career Assistant ready to help with all your career-related questions. Bring your resumes, cover letters, or general questions and we will be happy to help you out. See you there!

Name: Alisha Collazo
Class Year: 2018
Major: Mathematics

Shadowing Visit Site: Boston Insurance Brokerage

1. Describe your visit and what did you gain from the experience?
As soon as we arrived, our host was extremely welcoming and ready to teach us all he knew about the industry. After explaining in detail what the career of an insurance broker consists of, he introduced us to every administrator at the firm. Just like Mr. Driscoll, the administrators also gave us advice on how to be successful in the insurance industry and further information on their day-by-day responsibilities. Our alumni host not only instructed us on what we would be doing if we followed his career path, but also on other careers and roles within the industry making sure to focus on any roles that were of interest to us. After our visit, I gained a better understanding of the various roles within the insurance industry and started to realize the path I would like to focus on. I was also able to see what I can start doing now at Holy Cross to prepare me for a possible career in insurance.

2. How did this experience influence or connect to your future career plans/goals?
Primarily, my alumni host helped me network which I greatly appreciated during the stressful time of searching for internships. Not only did he give me his personal contact information, but he also emailed actuaries at other firms asking them to guide me through the process of entering this field and give me any advice they have.

3. What is some helpful advice your alumni host shared with you?
In terms of my specific interests, he informed us how Microsoft excel is vital to the career and something we should start getting familiar with during our time at Holy Cross. He also stated how using the alumni network is a vital part of finding the career that best suits our interests. Asking past alumni for advice, information on their careers, and staying in touch with those in our field is a great start on our career search.

4. Why would you recommend the Alumni Job Shadowing Program to other students?
You need to experience first-hand what it takes to enter the career you are interested in. I thought I knew almost everything on what a career in insurance would consist of, I read online articles, used databases, and even went to information sessions. However, the shadowing program was more beneficial than everything else put together. Mr. Driscoll gave us information that I had never read online and would have never thought of had I not spoken with him.

By Patricia Nwobodo

Although I’m a thousand miles away from home, I’m never more than a couple steps away from home. Literally.

As a Caribbean or African student living in a foreign country, there are bound to be times when you feel homesick, whether it is simply missing your traditional food or just from missing the comfort of being in a familiar environment with people who are just like you.

Being from Nigeria and attending boarding school in Massachusetts, I’ve been away from home for a long time; so trust me when I say that just like you, I understood the struggle of just wanting to be home once in awhile – that is until I came to Holy Cross. I remember the first time I visited Holy Cross. I walked into the Hogan Ballroom and right in the middle were a couple of girls next to a table with a large sign that read Caribbean African Student Alliance (CASA). They yelled enthusiastically, while waving their hands and motioning for my brother and I to come over and visit their table – and we did just that.

A few months later, I found myself in that very ballroom again, writing down my name on a sheet of paper that read CASA; I was now officially a member of the Caribbean African Student Alliance. Little did I know that such a small gesture would make all the difference for my time here at Holy Cross.

The Caribbean African Student Alliance, also known as CASA, is Holy Cross’s student organization targeting Caribbean and African students at the college. Other students not from the Caribbean or Africa are also welcome to join, as some existing members in the club are neither Caribbean or African. CASA provides many exciting ways for members to get involved, such as our campus-wide fashion shows!  From strutting down the runway displaying the wonderful prints and colors of African and Caribbean attires, to working behind the scenes of the shows, there are many ways to get involved. And as a bonus for being a member, you can attend these fun-filled events for free!

 

Another event which I love that makes me feel like I’m back in Nigeria again is CASA’s culture night. During this, many Holy Cross students, whether they are from Worcester or halfway across the country, get a taste of what Caribbean and African culture is really like. A wide range of African and Caribbean food, music, dance, and prose are presented and performed and by the end of the night, students, as well as teachers, leave this event feeling more enlightened and enriched about our culture.

Along with these wonderful ceremonies, the tight knit community CASA has been able to form aside from these events allows me to always feel close to home. My home and my culture make up my identity and are things that define me as a person.  I carry them with me everywhere I go. As I continue to embark on my Holy Cross journey and get to know more about other Holy Cross students and their cultures, I want them to be able to know more about me and my culture as well. Now I no longer have to merely just tell people who I am. Through CASA’s array of events, I can now also show people the real me and let them live in my world too.

 

As cliché as it sounds, in a small, secluded college a thousand miles away from home, I was able to truly find my home away from home.

By Emily Bowman ’17

 

So you’ve attended the Career Fair, stocked up on business cards and handed out more resumes than you can keep track of. Success!  But now what?  One of the most crucial steps of any networking experience is the follow-up.  Letting people know that you valued their conversation and were truly interested in what they had to offer will go a long way.  Don’t forget, these recruiters talked to hundreds of students… you have to make yourself stand out!

In the email, you should thank the recruiter for taking the time to speak with you.  You should then mention one or two specific details of your conversation that really stuck with you.  This will demonstrate that you were engaged in the conversation and have spent time thinking about the discussion since then.  It’s also another opportunity for you to make a connection to the company – use the conversation as a way to prove your potential asset to the company.

If you felt that your dialogue with the recruiter was a helpful and productive one, you might want to ask the him/her a question to keep the conversation rolling.  Specific questions about the company or about the recruiter’s role are great.  It’s also more than appropriate to ask for any advice they might have for you at this stage in the job search process.  Recruiters understand the ins and outs of the networking process better than anyone else, so capitalize on this chance to pick their brains!

Overall, networking is about making connections on any level.  Keep your emails professional and friendly… but never be afraid to add a touch of personality too! The purpose of following up is to keep the conversations going, network further, and show recruiters that you would be a catch at any company!

If you have any questions about networking or want help crafting your follow-up emails, feel free to stop by the Center for Career Development (Hogan 203) during drop-in hours Monday-Friday, 1-4pm.

By John Swartzwelder ‘19

My first memory of the Co-Curricular Extravaganza was somewhat of a blur- and here’s why. The room was noticeably hotter than outside, more hectic than NYC during rush hour and louder than ten million girls screaming Justin Beiber’s name. Just about every club on campus is tightly packed into the Hogan Ballroom and overly enthusiastic RSO’s do just about anything to grab your attention to hear their club’s sales pitch. But do not be discouraged from going- if I survived and was able to meet with some clubs then you can too! Below, I’ve provided some advice to help you navigate the Co-Curricular Extravaganza and make the most of your experience there.

• Grab a list of clubs present. If you skim through the packet quickly, you can save yourself a lot of time walking around. You can find the list just outside the ballroom.
• Walk around and take everything in. Maybe walk around again. And again. You may just find something that catches the eye the second time around.
• Do not be afraid to talk to the club director or general member at the table. You can ask them general to specific questions, which may give you a better idea about the club.
• Put your name down on the email list! If you change your mind later, you can always take your name off. It is best to receive emails from clubs regarding informational sessions and general member meetings.
• As a reward for being interested in their club, most tables provide freebies. Take them!
• Do not feel pressured to join anything, especially if you already feel too overwhelmed. I express this piece of advice especially towards first-year students. Life at Holy Cross is hectic enough- your class dean recommends joining no more than two clubs and stresses the importance of academics first.
• Just have fun! Holy Cross truly prides itself on creating and fostering “community” ideals, which starts with students getting involved with various clubs and organizations. Hopefully by the time you finish browsing, you will have found a co-curricular, or two, that truly interests you.

And on a final note, if you do join a club…Congratulations! Becoming a member of any campus organization is a full commitment but also extremely rewarding. My last piece of advice is to stop by the Center for Career Development to start or approve your resume, which will showcase all your accomplishments and highlight your on-campus involvement. Hours are M-F 1-4 pm and Wednesday 10am-12pm.

by Emily Peplowski ’17, Hunger Banquet Research and Concert Outreach Intern

This summer, I have been working closely with Oxfam America’s Community Engagement team on two of their biggest advocacy projects, Hunger Banquets and Concerts. My personal responsibility this summer has been to organize Oxfam volunteers from across the country for the U.S. leg of Coldplay’s “A Head Full of Dreams Tour.” By the end of my internship, I will have received over 500 volunteer applications, and coordinated 220 volunteers for 22 different shows, in 19 different cities as part of Oxfam’s global Stand as One Campaign.

The best part of my job is that I get to engage with the grass-roots foundation of a much larger, global effort. The incredible volunteers at these shows are essential in reaching the Stand As One campaign’s goal of 500,000 “signatures of solidarity” to support those globally who have been forced to flee their homes. This list of signatures will be presented to world leaders at the UN Summit on Refugees and Migrants in the fall, is led by the international organization Oxfam, is backed by Chris Martin and Coldplay, and represents such a global and current issue. Despite the massiveness of this effort and the high profile people involved, the success of the campaign is largely dependent on the volunteers that I have been coordinating all summer. It goes without saying that getting to work closely with- and see- the Coldplay tour has been a pretty cool part of my internship too!

I think what has surprised me most is how complicated and challenging volunteer coordination really is. There are many moving parts in each city, for each show, on every team, and with every individual volunteer. Sitting at my computer in Boston, it is difficult to keep track of all of these moving parts to ensure that Coldplay will have ten Oxfam volunteers at each of their shows to promote the campaign. With the 22 shows happening all across the United States in only 45 days, it is a fast-paced work environment with daily deadlines and not much room for error. Volunteer coordination is a fun position to have, and I love to work with so many different people for a great organization, but it really keeps me on my toes and tests my ability to adapt and problem solve!