Career Development Blog

After attending the Summer Internship/ Research Expo, I was  blown away by how students spent their summer, from furthering their educational pursuits with research to helping build the community around them.

These students did everything. As I journeyed through the maze of information, I saw posters explaining Personal Information and Physiology, the Constraints on Bodily Synchronization Underlying Joke Telling, and even research on different marketing methods.

I stopped at Maria Rodriguez’s poster to see what exactly she did, and the most rewarding part of the whole process. As stated above, Rodriguez did work on Personal Information and Physiology. She told me that after months of research, it was amazing to conduct an actual experiment she made up with the help of a professor. I could see she was so happy with the outcome and her hard work had paid off.

Stopping at Raha Maalin’s poster, I could see she had the same enthusiasm for what she did. Raha worked at BBDO, an advertisement agency. She said she has learned so much about branding, the use of social media analysis, and what exactly is meant by account managing. Both of these individuals glowed when talking about their summer experience.

Being a first year student, I have seen a lot of amazing things at Holy Cross, but this exposition showed me what Holy Cross’ education leads its students to do.

(Written by Stephen Ross)

Fall semester is underway and we have a number of career related events coming up that we’d like to remind you of! The Finance, Accounting & Banking Intern Panel will take place September 14^th from 7:00 – 8:30 in Hogan 320. Our annual Fall Career Fair will take place September 21^st from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. in the Hogan Ballroom. Here are a few helpful tips as you prepare to attend these events.

Finance, Accounting & Banking Intern Panel

1. This is your chance to talk to fellow students who have interned in an industry that may be of interest to you! Know which students will be participating in the panel.
2. There will be a Q&A session following the panel where you can mingle and chat with a number of students who interned in finance, accounting or banking this past summer. Prepare some questions that you’d like to ask!
3. Talk to interns from the various industry groups so you can truly compare and contrast their experiences to determine the right fit for you.

Attire is casual. This is an informal event for you to interact and network with your peers.

Career Fair

1. Know which employers will be in attendance. The list of employers attending the fair can be accessed here.
2. Make a list of the top ten employers that you are most interested in. Then, Do you Homework!! Research the company and their industry. Use the following resources:
   • Company website
   • LinkedIn company page
   • Google the company to see if there are recent articles or news releases
3. Anticipate questions you may receive about information on your resume. Practice answering those questions.
4. Create and practice your “Elevator Pitch”. An elevator pitch is a short (30 second) introduction of your professional self. Think about your skills and experiences and what you have to offer an employer. Think about how you might articulate those skills and experiences.
5. Compile questions you might ask the employer that demonstrates your interest and that you’ve done your research on their company.

**When in doubt, if you’re not sure what to say to an employer, just introduce yourself and they’ll take the lead from there!

Attire is business professional. Please have several copies of your resume with you to hand out to employers. Carry your resumes is a professional portfolio or folder. Gather business cards from the employers you talk to.

We look forward to seeing you at the Career Fair! Get ready to WOW those employers!!

We are here to help! If you have any questions about the Finance, Accounting and Banking Intern Panel or how to best prepare for the Career Fair, stop into the Center for Career Development office, Hogan 203, during drop in hours M-F 1-4 pm and Wednesday 10-12 pm.

(Written by Julie Draczynski)

So it happened again – suddenly, you’re a senior. It may sound cliché but, you truly have your entire life before you.  How exciting!  And terrifying!

Here are a few tips to help you survive your final year at Holy Cross from a career development perspective.

1. Take a deep breath. This is your FIRST step in your professional life – not the only step and certainly not the last.  The beauty of studying at a liberal arts institution like Holy Cross is that you possess the core skills employers across all sectors seek.  As a result, you can adjust to not only your own ever-evolving interests but also our world’s ever-changing needs.  Holy Cross seniors go on to do a variety of things immediately after graduation as evidenced by our first destination reports.  Whether you go directly to graduate school, enter a training program, do a year of full-time service or take a job that is just for a year or two, your experience right out of Holy Cross is valuable to your long-term career progression.
2. Listen to your elders. I know, I know.  Its hard to admit but your parents, friends’ parents, aunts, uncles, older cousins and yes, even older siblings actually know a thing or two.  And while you definitely don’t have to admit this out loud, odds are, they have valuable information (and definitely opinions!) to share.  Share your immediate plans and longer-term goals with them.  Tell them about the courses, topics and issues that are of particular interest to you.  Talk about your favorite ways to spend your time in and out of the classroom.  They just might have soe valuable insight that can help you formulate a plan of action for the next nine months.
3. And now ignore them. There is a downside to taking everyone’s opinions and advice to heart.  Sometimes students pursue an industry, career or path that they believe (or know) their families want for them but is not a good fit for their own interests and strengths.  We speak with far too many students who feel pressure to pursue careers as doctors and lawyers because it will make their parents proud and bring prestige to their   There are more career fields and industries available to you today than ever before that are lucrative, fulfilling and prestigious in their own right.  No one knows you better than you.  Trust that you can make the best career decisions for yourself based on your own interests, strengths and values.

4. Show up. There are many people and resources in the Holy Cross community who are eager to assist you in getting to where you want to be after Holy Cross.  But you has to be the driver and propel your own progress to get there. No one can be helpful to you if you don’t show up and engage.  Your first stop?  Try the Center for Career Development.

The team in the Center for Career Development (CCD) is available to meet with you no matter where you are in the career development process.  We offer career counseling and career assessments for those students who are undecided about their path.  We offer job search advising for those who are ready to enter that process.  We can coach you through the intimidating endeavor of conducting informational interviews and networking.  But here’s the hitch: you MUST come in to our office to meet with us!  We are available by appointment, Monday – Friday between 9am and 5pm.  We also host daily drop-in hours, Monday-Friday from 1pm-4pm and Wednesdays from 10am-12pm for quick questions and critiques with no appointment necessary.  You simply need to visit us in Hogan 203.

5. Timing is everything. Full-time hiring, graduate school admissions and volunteer program recruitment all happen on different timetables.  Many graduate and professional school acceptances are issued late in the spring.  The same holds true for full-time volunteer program placements and fellowship awards.  In the employment world, finance, banking, accounting and consulting recruitment happens via summer internships and very early in the fall semester. Most other industries aren’t interested in interviewing graduating seniors for employment until the candidate can actually start working, i.e. once they graduate.

That is not to say the job, graduate school or volunteer program search should wait until April.  You should begin now to identify program application deadlines, request letters of recommendation from faculty members and advisors, craft personal statements and resumes and most importantly, network with alumni and other contacts in his/her field of interest.

6. Knowledge is power. Visit the Center for Career Development website to familiarize yourself with the many services and online resources we offer.  Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and our blog to find out about our industry nights, networking receptions, workshops, programs and visiting employers.  Its senior year – show up and take it by storm!

(Written by Amy Murphy)

Happy New Year! We in the Center for Career Development are thrilled to have you back on campus and can’t wait to have the chance to chat with all of you about how you spent your summer and what you might like to try out next.

As we kick off the semester, we wanted to let you know about a few important initiatives and events taking place in the next few weeks:

Resume Approval: Hopefully you noticed the email we sent in August about the resume approval process required of all students interested in applying to jobs and internships in Crusader Connections. Simply stop by the Center for Career Development (Hogan 203) with a hard copy of your resume during drop-ins on Monday-Friday 1-4pm & Wednesday 10am-12pm, and we will help you polish your resume and get it approved.

Never created a resume before? No problem! Stop by the Center for Career Development to pick up a resume handout. This handout provides samples of past Crusaders’ resumes, so you can get a glimpse at how to describe the activities you participate in at Holy Cross.

New Workshop Schedule: This fall we’re offering workshops to help you write a resume, conduct an internship search and better utilize LinkedIn. For a full schedule of workshops, visit Crusader Connections online or on your mobile device by downloading the Careers by Symplicity app.

Summer Internship EXPO & Summer Research Symposium (Friday, September 11 @1-4pm in Hogan Ballroom): Browse their posters and speak with fellow Crusaders about the meaningful impact made this summer through their internship and research experience. Over 150 students will present on a wide range of industries including advertising, fashion, finance, human services, journalism, law, manufacturing, medicine, non-profit, public relations, research, social policy, technology and many more!

Finance, Accounting & Banking Intern Panel (Monday, September 14 @7pm in Hogan 320): This is a great opportunity to hear from fellow Crusaders about their internship experience in the corporate finance, accounting and banking industries. Panelists include- Dabness Atkins ’16 (PIMCO), Chelsea Brophy ’16 (Citizens Bank), Kati Goguen ’16 (GE), Maria Korchak ’16 (Deloitte), Scott Mongiardo ’16 (JP Morgan), Michael Ortlieb ’16 (EY).

Career Fair (Monday, September 21 @1-4pm in Hogan Ballroom): Stop by the Career Fair to connect with alumni and employers who want to hire HC students for jobs and internships. Most of the tables are represented by HC alumni, so it’s a great way to learn how to translate your liberal arts HC education to the working world. For a complete list of attending organizations, visit: http://bit.ly/2015HCCareerFairEmployers

Name: Elizabeth Heston

Graduation Year: 2009

Major: English and History (Double Major)

Industry: High School English and History Teacher, History Department Chair

Favorite Class: Medieval England to 1216 with Professor Attreed and Poe’s Haunted World with Professor Sweeney . The great thing about Holy Cross is the different teaching methods of every professor and both of these professors helped me to form my own teaching strategies, while also teaching me some of the most interesting content I have ever studied!

Campus Involvement:

Campus Activities Board (CAB), Co-Chair and Executive Board member

Purple Key Society, Member

Campus Ministry, HAYES retreat leader and Mass Greeter

Appalachia Service Trip, Participant and Leader

Leir Luxembourg Program, Participant

SPUD (Nativity School),  Tutor

College Internship/Work Experience:

Religious Studies Department, Work Study Student

What were some of the most defining events/opportunities/aspects of your time at Holy Cross?

The resources available to Seniors were absolutely critical in getting me where I am today. The post-graduate volunteer fair was where I discovered the PACT program that placed me at my current school and was an important event in helping me figure out my future. The resume help from the career planning office was also especially important. In a similar way, the advice I got from my academic advisors Professor Bizzell and Professor Conley was really essential in helping me learn how English and History can work together both in my learning and in my teaching.

What is one thing someone should be certain to do before they graduate?

It may seem broad, but get involved! The more involved you can be with the life of Holy Cross, the better! You will have a lot of time in the future to sit behind a desk or watch TV in your room, but the opportunities for involvement that Holy Cross offers are truly once in a lifetime. Leadership positions in student groups, lectures from experts in their fields and service trips are not going to be as available once you graduate, so be sure to use your time in college wisely. Also, go to Lessons and Carols at least once before you graduate, you won’t regret it!

What advice would you give to someone just starting out in your field?

Teaching can often feel overwhelming; lesson planning, classroom management, and keeping up with grades are only part of the profession. My advice would be to use your resources; teaching is not a solitary endeavor and you can learn so much from your peers, department heads, administration and online resources. Teachers are part of a larger community and sharing resources can save time and effort.

What skills have you found most useful in your professional life that you attribute from learning at Holy Cross?

Being a teacher goes beyond just facts and figure, the profession is also about being a leader and role model for your students. Holy Cross taught me the morals and values that I promote in my own classroom and try to apply to my own life as a model for my students. The leadership skills I learned through my involvement in clubs at Holy Cross also helped to teach me how to effectively handle a classroom. Finally, the ultimate value I learned at Holy Cross was the importance of the “education of the whole person”. That Jesuit Charism is what motivates me to see teaching not just as a profession but as a calling.

What is the most important advice you could give a student on obtaining an internship or a job?

Build up connections, then wow them in the interview. In the competitive job market of today, there is often very little that separates you from many other applicants. A connection through friends, family, or even Holy Cross can work wonders in pushing your name ahead of the pack. Once you get that push however, you are on your own and that is an important understanding to have. The next step is to approach you interview as a final exam, that means you have to study/prepare, know yourself well, and put your best foot forward to pin down the job!

Name: Abaigeal Healy

Graduation Year: 2011

Major: Psychology

Minor: Studio Art

Industry: Investor Relations, Business

Favorite Class: Psychology of Complex Thinking

Campus Involvement:

Pre-Business, Member

Women in Business, Member

Co-Chair of the Communications, Advertising and Marketing Club (“The Agency”)

Study Abroad, National University of Ireland, Galway

Career Experience:

FTI Consulting, Inc. –Manager, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications

FTI Consulting, Inc.-Senior Associate, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications

FTI Consulting, Inc.-Coordinator, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications

EMC Corporation-Associate, Marketing Development Program

College Work/Internship:

Holy Cross Summer Internship Program: The Geppetto Group, Account Management Intern, New York City

Holy Cross Summer Internship Program: VIACOM, MTV International Media Networks, Social Responsibility Intern and Blogger, New York City

Holy Cross Crusader: Feature Writer

Holy Cross Work Study: Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery

Holy Cross Work Study: Music Department Marketing and Design

What were some of the most defining events/opportunities/aspects of your time at Holy Cross?

Besides meeting some of my very best friends on Mulledy four, one of the most defining aspects of my time at Holy Cross was solidifying my major in psychology with a minor in studio art. This was a unique combination that provided me an opportunity to explore the full extent of my liberal arts education. One day I would be discussing the evolution of behavior in Beaven Hall and the next day I would be in the dark room developing film in the studio. This combination allowed me to experience many different types of learning as well as provide me with an opportunity to interact with a diverse group of people and personalities. Two of my proudest moments at the college came near graduation where I was inducted into the Psi Chi National Honor Society while simultaneously showcasing my senior art portfolio in the Millard Art Center.

What is one thing someone should be certain to do before they graduate?

If you have the opportunity, go abroad. And do not be afraid to go for a whole year! I spent a year in Galway, Ireland and the amount of traveling I was able to do over the course of the year was life changing. Because of my abroad experience, I developed an openness and awareness of diversity across a range of cultures and business markets. Now working in a global company, I cannot imagine not having the experiences that I did living internationally. It also opens you up to a whole new group of friends. Some of my closest friends today are those who I studied abroad with.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out in your field?

Say yes to every new opportunity that comes your way. I came across my career in investor relations by helping to put together an analyst day at EMC. I knew very little about the Company’s analyst and investor base but became very intrigued by the profession through the process. I eventually made a switch from marketing to investor relations.

What skills have you found most useful in your professional life that you attribute from learning at Holy Cross?

My professors and mentors at Holy Cross would always encourage me to reach out to the alumni community for career advice and internship opportunities. Although it was sometimes intimidating then, I was pleasantly surprised by the responses I would receive. Today, I am continuously expanding my network as a business professional and always seek out Holy Cross alumni at business events and company socials. It is always fun to connect with fellow Crusaders!

I also attribute a lot of my success in career to the multi-tasking skills I learned at Holy Cross. Between classes, extracurricular activities, community service, friends and campus life, it was always a balancing act to get everything done. In my current role, juggling many things at once is one of my strengths and necessary to drive value in the organization I’m a part of.

What is the most important advice you could give a student on obtaining an internship or a job?

Be persistent, yet polite. Unless you are very lucky, no one will hand you an internship or job. You must have the confidence to be in control of your own opportunities. Every position I have landed in my career has been a result of what I call ‘professional persistency’. Always, always follow up!

Although it’s hard to believe, winter is finally behind us and we can look forward to the (short lived) spring season on the Hill. With this passage of time comes the hopes & worries for the coming future, namely in the form of summer plans. As a sophomore and an intern in the Career Planning Center, I have come up with a few points of advice for students who are either stressed or confused (maybe even both) about what’s to come with regard to summer 2015. These tips originate from my own personal strategies and from what I’ve heard in the office, whether it be from students or career counselors.

1. Prioritize
   • Of course this is kind of a no-brainer, but with the combined stress of finals season and the closure of many application deadlines, successful prioritization of tasks becomes pivotal. Take a step back and ask yourself; how would you like to spend your time this summer? This may not be an easy question to ask, but it is a necessary one to at least bring up if you want to take initiative and close out the rest of the year right.
   • If you are looking for an internship and haven’t had much luck yet – keep searching!! Even if you don’t find one for this summer, you’ve increased your awareness of the opportunities out there and have also probably improved your application materials. This will only benefit you in the long run!
   • I came into this semester with the hope of having a concrete plan for my summer by midterm season, and as of April 1st, 2015, I still have no idea what I’m doing. It definitely isn’t ideal, but I have created a bunch of plan b’s and c’s for the summer, and you should do the same thing!
2. Stay open-minded
   • As I just said, it’s important to be open to advice and constructive criticism in the internship search process. Be open to multiple possibilities, and try not to obsess on one potential summer opportunity.
   • Creating backup plans will ease your mind and ultimately give you something to lean on if your initial plan doesn’t work out. For example, if I don’t find an intern position, I will work in my hometown and take classes at a nearby college to set myself up for an easier junior year.
   • Things like taking classes elsewhere, volunteering, shadowing alumni or finding some kind of interesting summer program to participate in will definitely benefit you, so don’t be dispirited if you don’t find an internship.
3. Make use of your resources
   • Since the year is quickly coming to a close, the stresses of finding something to keep yourself productive this summer are increasing rapidly. At Holy Cross, there are a bunch of people and places to confer if you are in need of an outside opinion or advice concerning a plan that you may have.
   • The Career Planning Center (Hogan 203) should be your first stop if you are in the search process for an opportunity this summer (or anytime for that matter). A simple visit to drop-in hours (M-F, 1-4pm) is guaranteed to be helpful, regardless of how far you are in the process of preparing application materials.
   • Know that it never hurts to apply, even if the deadline seems like it may be too close or if you think you don’t fulfill the position’s requirements. You never know what a specific employer is going to think about you!
4. Utilize ‘free’ time
   • If you are reading this, it is probably after Easter break so I just hope what I’m about to say applies to you. When you are relaxing at home, devote a couple of hours a day to researching positions or sending out applications! General productivity can’t hurt, especially when you have the time off from attending classes and taking care of immediate assignments.
   • Don’t stress yourself out though; Easter break is a time to spend with family and get off campus for a bit. Nonetheless, taking care of extracurricular tasks like internship applications during this long weekend would definitely be beneficial.

The year has flown by, and it will be no time until you reflect back on reading this blog post sometime in late May or June and reflect on how much it taught you (just kidding, maybe not … who knows). If you feel inspired or have any questions then I hope you find your way to the Career Planning Center sometime ( if you haven’t already ) to familiarize yourself with the office and what it can provide you!

Name: Irvin Scott

Graduation Year: 2014

Major: English

Industry: Financial Services, BNY Mellon and Acting, Eaux de vie Bluespark Collaborative Documentary

Favorite Class: Bible and Literature- Professor Kee and Cording

Campus Involvement: Interdenominational Services, BSU, D1AA Varsity Football

College Internship/Work Experience (if you were in Summer Internship Program, Academic Internship Program, other programs): Northwestern Mutual College Intern Program (Junior Year)

What were some of the most defining events/opportunities/aspects of your time at Holy Cross? My most defining moment was when I spoke at my class’ Holy Cross Baccalaureate Mass.

What is one thing someone should be certain to do before they graduate? There is no one right answer to this question, but I’d say receiving some professional exposure in whatever field you are looking to become involved in is essential. If you don’t know what particular field is, shop around, try things out but whatever you do, don’t sit around and wait.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out in your field? The financial service industry is extremely lucrative with an array of avenues you can go down. The most important thing to do is become familiar with the field you are looking to go into quickly. If it’s insurance, get certified as soon as possible. If it’s banking, get your securities license (Series 6, 7) early. Get your foot in the door early through internships. Reach out to Alumni in the financial service industry.

The acting is more of a hobby than a career, but getting involved after college is essential.

What skills have you found most useful in your professional life that you attribute from learning at Holy Cross?

My ability to learn new material is something I attribute from my Holy Cross education. You will notice that you are an anomaly in most work settings because of your natural intuitive skills. Being able to clearly articulate my thoughts is something I attribute to my background in English.

What is the most important advice you could give a student on obtaining an internship or a job?

Don’t put too much emphasis on landing the “BIG TIME” internship or job. Understand what your strengths and weaknesses are and see where you can be both an asset and sponge. Apply to as many companies as possible. Whether it’s an internship or a job, pick whatever company or industry you feel provides the most stability and education. There will never be a company that’s the absolute perfect fit but make the most out of every opportunity that presents itself. As I mentioned before, spend less time thinking about what you want to do and more time trying out what you think you want to do.