Career Development Blog

Stand Out in Your Non-Profit Careers Conference Application

Non-profit organizations strive to make a positive impact in the world.  The non-profit sector is growing and includes a very wide range of causes.  Students interested in helping others, improving communities, and contributing to the common good of society often share values with non-profit organizations and find fulfillment in their daily work.  Ready to find out if the non-profit sector aligns with your skills, interests, and values? If you are unsure or think the non-profit sector could be for you, apply to the Non-Profit Careers Conference.

The Non-Profit Careers Conference is a week long program held at the end of winter break and is designed for students considering a career in the non-profit sector.  Applications are due at 11:59 PM on Sunday November 1. Thoughtfully written and well organized application materials really stand out and will influence the selection process.

A well organized one page resume is required. Never written a resume before? No problem!  Visit the Center for Career Development to get started.  Drop-In hours are Monday-Friday from 1-4 PM and Wednesday from 10 AM – 12 PM.  You can find the Resume Guide on the Career Development website.  If you already have a resume, stop by for a quick update.  The Conference seeks to bring students together with diverse and interesting backgrounds.  Be sure your resume highlights your most important experiences including academics, extra-curricular/leadership involvement, service, athletics, work experience, and any other experiences that are significant.

Use the essay to tell a story about yourself.  Reflect on an experience, explaining why it was significant for you and why it motivated you to apply to the Conference.  Sincerity is key.  It is also important to explain what you hope to gain from the conference. Avoid summarizing your resume.  The essay is a place to elaborate and expand upon an experience listed on your resume.

The non-profit sector is very versatile, exciting, and meaningful.  The Non-Profit Careers Conference can help you find ways to make your positive impact.

(Written by Megan Chester)

Full Name: Christopher R. Morgan

Graduation Year: 2016

Internship Company: Ocean Spray Cranberries

Internship Position: Research Analyst

Internship Location: Lakeville, MA

While looking for your internship, what services did you use at the Center for Career Development?

I went to the Center for Career Development to prepare for my interview and they edited my resume before applying for the job.

What skills did you gain from your internship experience and how have they added to your professionalism?
The internship experience allowed for me to gain industry experience and add to my ability to market myself. During the past summer, there were 16 other interns at Ocean Spray. Even though there were no more than 2-3 of us in each department, making a positive impact and being able to market myself led to a full time offer for post-graduation.

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

Significantly. Working with upper management weekly, and being able to connect/work with the CFO, and Vice Presidents of the company allowed for me to significantly expand my network. Also, working with suppliers, my network has grown to companies outside of Ocean Spray.

What is one piece of advice that you would give to the future intern?

Do the little things to set yourself up for success. Employers applaud when you show dedication to work and excitement. With this being said, if you truly don’t like what you do don’t fake it; being genuine goes a long way, especially when you are giving your work 110% of your effort.

Overall, what was your most exciting experience at your internship?
To be completely honest, my internship had many very exciting experiences and to label a single one as #1 doesn’t do justice to my experience. Due to the constraint of the question, I would have to say traveling to Chicago to visit packaging suppliers and co-packers was my most exciting experience of my internship. It is exciting to see the product start from the ground (cranberry bog) and end on the shelf.

Vault.com is a new tool available on the Center for Career Development online resources page. It provides in-depth intelligence on what it’s really like to work in an industry, company or profession—and how to position yourself to land that job. Research a company, school or industry, get the inside scoop on what it’s really like, and find the career advice you need to launch your career. Our Center for Career Development interns recently explored Vault.com. Check out what they had to say!

 

Researching Industries & Professions…

One defining feature of Vault is its Industries & Professions tab – here, students can select an industry (with selections from Accounting to Writing and Editing) and read an overview of the industry as a whole, along with other key features about the field. The general overview includes the goals of the industry, a brief history, the impact emerging technology has had on the industry, and the way that profession has recently impacted the economy and vice versa. I have never come across one website that offers so much information about such a wide array of industries! As a student, I would use this feature of Vault to explore industries that interest me, in hopes of better positioning myself as a candidate to future employers.  

Other tabs will walk you through the current state of each industry, offer insight into what it would be like to work in the industry, and provide information to weigh potential pros and cons to better help you consider whether a job in this field is something worth pursuing. At the end, Vault provides an extensive list of resources and associations within each field, along with a short description and contact information for each resource. Once you have reviewed the information available for the industries that interest you, you can narrow your exploration into specific companies within those industries with Vault’s Company Analysis feature.

Researching Companies…

Vault features in-depth company profiling and market analysis to provide a holistic glimpse of a company’s presence in a certain industry. Along with the “Industry and Professions” section discussed above, the “Companies” page is directly accessible from Vault’s homepage. Once you select the “Companies” tab at the top of the home page, you’ll be asked to select from a list of industry and firm categories. This allows someone who may not be as knowledgeable on specific companies to search and find some that they might be interested in based on different credentials. Within each industry tab, Vault includes a variety of “Tops” and “Bests” of companies per certain variables related to that industry. For example, if one were to choose the “Consulting Firms” tab, they would be greeted by lists that rank consulting firms based on their prestige in certain focus areas (like technology advising, defense, strategic consulting, etc.). Additionally, you can also filter by region if you would like to target a specific location.

Hovering over the “Companies” tab also allows you to perform a more focused search for a specific company. If you know the name or some keywords related to the company, you can enter that into the search bar at the top of the page. Moreover, you are able to limit your search by selecting from a list of industries, company size ranges, regions, and publically traded versus privately held. Vault’s attention to detail in the actual company profiles truly sets them apart from other company ranking & review websites. They separate their analysis into the company’s operations, their geographical reach, sales & marketing initiatives, financial performance, strategies (mergers & acquisitions), competitor lists, along with recent company news and publications. Moreover, at the top of each company profile there lies a brief summary of what it’s like to work for them, and the “Uppers” (pros) and “Downers” (cons) employees experience while being there.

I believe that Vault provides substantial information to students; both those just entering the job or internship search, along with those a bit more versed in the subject. Vault’s features within the “Companies” tab makes meandering through different industries and related companies simple. I also really like how each industry has their own unique “Top” lists for different performance markings specific to that industry. This allows for one to learn both about the industry playground as a whole, while also finding the constituent companies that align with his or her interests.

 

Written by Catherine Cote ’18 & Kyle Hughes ’17

 

Before you have the luxury to brainstorm the most creative, unique and timely Halloween costume ever, you probably have a handful of projects and midterms to get through first. In between studying for mid-terms and finding the perfect Donald Trump-coiffed wig, take a look at the worthwhile Career Development events and programs taking place in October:

Upcoming Workshops: 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 October workshops, visit Crusader Connections online or on your mobile device by downloading the Careers by Symplicity app.

Alumni Job Shadow Program (Deadline to apply: October 19): The Alumni Job Shadow Program is a great way to get your foot in the door at an organization… literally! Once admitted to the program, you will be paired with an alumnus in your career field or industry of interest so that you can shadow them at work for a day over winter break. For more information and to apply, search for a program as if you would search for a job/internship in Crusader Connections.

Athlete Alumni Networking Night (Monday, October 26 @7pm in Hogan Suite B/C): The Athlete Alumni Networking Night invites alumni who were student-athletes back on campus to share advice on how their athletic experience influences the work that they do. The night will start with a panel discussion featuring alumni from different sports and career fields. The panel will be followed by an open networking forum where you can speak with a variety of alumni from a range of past sports and current industries. RSVP in Crusader Connections under Events.

Non-Profit Careers Conference (Deadline to apply: November 1): Apply to participate in the Non-Profit Careers Conference, taking place in mid-January, right before classes start for the spring semester. This week-long conference is a great way to gain exposure to the wide variety of opportunities available in the non-profit sector and get your hands dirty working on real-world business problems faced by local non-profit organizations. For more information and to apply, visit the Donelan Office of Community-Based Learning.

Don’t forget to get your resume approved! All students need to have their resume approved before they can apply for jobs or 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.

(Written by Maura Sweeney)

Name: Tom Campbell

Graduation Year: 2014

Major: Architectural Studies and History

Industry: Admissions (Holy Cross Office of Admissions)

Favorite Class: HIST 401 Seminar – Gender and Sexuality in the United States (History Seminar) with Professor Yuhl

Campus Involvement: Fools on the Hill (co-ed acapella group), ACT (Alternative College Theater), Fall Gateways Orientation Leader, Study Abroad Ambassador (Melbourne, Australia), Spring Break Immersion, HC Goes Unified, SPUD, Alpha Sigma Nu, DESI (Developing and Educating South Asian Ideologies)

College Internship/Work Experience (if you were in Summer Internship Program, Academic Internship Program, other programs): I was a preservation intern for Historic New England in Waltham, MA through the Academic Internship Program in the spring of 2014. 

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

When I look back at my time at Holy Cross, my involvement with college acapella stands out strongest among my memories. I’ve always been involved in a lot of creative outlets growing up; oil painting, drama, heck, I even Irish step danced since I was four years old. But it wasn’t really until I came to Holy Cross that I really got involved in singing, and now I feel like I really appreciate music so much more because I was in Fools. I started out just singing with the group, but eventually became co-chair my senior year and arranged all of our pieces that year, which was an amazing experience.

Now to be clear, I am no vocal acrobat. I wasn’t the Christina of the group (in fact, I always identified more with Britney), but that didn’t matter to me. What mattered what that I was having fun, letting loose and creating something unique. I’ve seen first hand how music brings people together, and the bonds and memories that it can foster. I love being able to entertain, and I definitely got my weekly dose of that at 10:10 every Thursday at Cool Beans (see, I still even do shameless plugs for them… once a Fool, always a Fool).

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

I’m a huge advocate for the MSOs (Multicultural Student Organizations) on campus. Not only was I in DESI, but I also frequented all of the culture nights and dinners put on by ASIA, LASO, CASA, etc. I think they are a great opportunity to expose yourself to a new culture and way of celebration. So many of our students do this in other ways: from study abroad, to coursework, to outreach in Worcester.They are seriously the most fun shows, and I was always so impressed by the diverse array of talent on campus, not to mention the diverse array of foodstuffs. I must say, I was a little skeptical when Hogan Dining prepared a five-course Indian feast for DESI’s Holi celebration, but after one bite of that curry deliciousness all my doubts seemed to disappear… much like every scrap of food on my plate that night.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out in a volunteer position?

As a Jesuit Volunteer, you commit to your agency for a year, and I would encourage you to make the most of your commitment and dive right into your placement as deep as you can. Stick out the year, even if it’s not an industry you see yourself spending the rest of your life in. See how your work there is benefitting the community and take pride in the fact that you are helping others. See the year as a chance to not only do good, but also explore an industry you are only slightly familiar with. There’s a chance it’s not a good fit, but there’s an even greater chance that you find yourself appreciating the work more than you did before.

What skills have you found most useful in your professional life that you attribute from learning at Holy Cross?
Hands down, knowing my strengths and weaknesses. Everyone has them, and although it is admirable (and encouraged) to improve in areas you see yourself floundering in, it’s okay to admit them. When you’re a Holy Cross student, it’s easy to suppress your weaknesses and pretend they don’t exist. You see this talented group of young people around you who appear to be able to do everything, but remember that this is not the reality. Knowing which things you excel in at your workplace, and which areas are the ones who might need to go to a coworker for help, makes your role at your office much easier for both yourself and the rest of your company. Being honest with those around you and not filling up your plate with more than you can chew is a huge lesson that Holy Cross taught me.

What is the most important advice you could give a student who is considering doing a service year?

Let your talents shine at your placement and use your gifts to benefit others. For me, I worked at a social service program that helped families with children under 5 years old; my duties ranged from day care, to diaper changes, to distributing clothing. Now, this was my first time doing work in an agency like that. Was it a perfect fit for me? Not exactly. But I loved my clients and I wanted to improve the agency for their sake. Because my skills lied more in art and graphics, I took it upon myself to redesign my agency’s logo and prepared a bevy of different graphic brochures and features to move them into the 21st century (seriously, the Microsoft Publisher flyers I passed out in the beginning of the year xeroxed themselves into retirement). Just last week, my supervisor sent me a photo of my logo, which was made into a full-scale wall decal right at the office entrance. I felt proud that I left my mark on the office (literally). So, long story short, here’s my advice: find your own way to “leave your mark” for your coworkers and your clients to remember you by.

Have you heard about the Networking Opportunities and Diversity Programs on Wall Street? These fantastic opportunities for real-world experience in the fields of finance and banking have quickly-approaching deadlines! The firms extending these opportunities include J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse, Bank of America, and Barclays, and the earliest deadline is September 20th– just two days away! Several of these opportunities are part of the firms’ diversity programs and are targeted towards underrepresented groups in the business world; several are general networking opportunities that will start you off on the right track towards Wall Street. To see the full list of upcoming opportunities on Wall Street, click here!

Big things have been happening this past week! On Monday, September 14th, the Center for Career Development held its Finance, Accounting, and Banking Intern Panel. Students had the opportunity to ask their fellow students about their experience working as interns in the fields of finance, accounting, and banking. If you missed the event and have questions, a list of the panelists can be found here.

Also on Monday the 14th, the COES Pre-Business Office held their annual Back2Business fall event. Students were treated to pizza and learned about the COES Professional Program, met Professor David Chu (Pre-Business Advisor), heard from the co-chairs of Pre-Business Clubs, and learned about the workshops offered by the office. If you didn’t make it to this event and still have questions, feel free to stop by the COES Pre-Business Office in Stein 129E or email dchu@holycross.edu.

Looking forward, the Career Fair is Monday, September 21st from 1:00-4:00pm in the Hogan Ballroom. The list of attending employers can be found here. For tips on what to expect and how to best prepare for this event, check out the blog post below titled, “Networking Tips.”

(Written by Catherine Cote)

 

 

On Friday, September 11th 70 students participated in the Summer Internship Expo in the Hogan Ballroom. Over 55 internship sites were represented across multiple industries including Education, Entertainment, Finance, Fashion, Law, Media, Medicine, Non-Profit, Publishing, …and many more! Students created a poster to showcase their summer experience. It was an opportunity for students to articulate the skills and knowledge gained from their summer internship and to think about how they plan to leverage those skills in the future.  Internships are an important part of your undergraduate education at Holy Cross. They allow you to take your knowledge out of the classroom and apply your skills to a practical setting. Internships continue to be one of the most important factors that employers and graduate programs consider when selecting candidates.

If you’d like to learn more about any of the internships our students completed this summer, click here to access the list of Summer Internship Expo attendees. I’d encourage you to reach out to any of these students to learn more!

(Written by Julie Draczynski)

 

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)