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How Do I Get A Job Or Internship?

By Casey Rooney ’18

This question comes up often in the Center for Career Development by students in all class years. The trick is that there is no one path for every student to take in order to secure a job or internship. While each path is different, here are some guidelines to help you with your search!

  1. Networking. Having a strong network is one of the most important tools when searching for a position. You must build this network over time by attending alumni events, creating a LinkedIn profile, and engaging with employers. When the time comes leverage this network! 
  2. Search and Apply. Be on the lookout for internship and job deadlines throughout the semester! Use Crusader Connections as well as other search engines to find the position that is right for you. Come by Hogan 203 to get your resume and cover letter looked at before submitting! 
  3. Interview. If invited for an interview do your research! Know about the company and the individuals that will be interviewing you. Schedule a mock interview with Career Development to help prepare. 
  4. Thank you. Be sure to send a thank you note or email to anyone you met with within 24 hours of the interview! This important step can set you apart from the other candidates. 
  5. Negotiation. If offered the position be prepared to negotiate benefits and salary. Stop by the Career Development Center and talk to a counselor for guidance!
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Meet Emily Zeno ’19 Intern at New York Sound & Motion Productions Inc.

Meet Emily Zeno ’19 Intern at New York Sound & Motion Productions Inc.

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

This summer, I have been interning at New York Sound & Motion Productions–a video production company located in Springfield, Massachusetts–which produces more than 500 video projects annually for clients from a variety of different industries. The company is responsible for many of the local commercials you see on TV in the area, and I have had the opportunity to both write commercials and assist in production on the days of the shoots for them. The main project that I have had the opportunity to work on is a documentary about stress and anxiety for a health industry client. From assisting in shooting the interviews, to taking notes on them, to forming the story arc of the documentary as a whole, and finally to sitting in in the editing room, I have been able to be a part of the production process of this documentary from start to finish. It is very gratifying to have the opportunity to see a project come together from its inception to its final state.

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

Holy Cross has sharpened both my analysis and synthesis skills which proved to be very helpful when I was going through hours of interview footage and deciding what quotes and perspectives best contribute to the story of the documentary as a whole. These two skills were also crucial in choosing what order the clips should be presented in so that the final product flows as organically as possible, and my experience writing essays at Holy Cross has greatly helped me with this.

What has surprised you about being an intern?

I have been most surprised by the amount of responsibility that I have been given in producing the documentary. I have been able to work directly with the client as well as many of the people we have interviewed, and I have had the chance to contribute a lot of input on how the project should be structured. I have had much more hands on work than I could have ever expected, and it has been a really great and immersive learning experience.

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

In the future, I want to write for and produce television shows, and this internship experience has allowed me to see first-hand what the production process is like from start to finish. It has also taught me the importance of creating a story in all of the video projects that we produce, which directly connects to the storytelling that is done in TV.

Any internship advice to pass on to other Holy Cross students?

The advice I would give to other Holy Cross students who will be interning at some point during their college career would be: to always ask questions when you are unsure about something, and to never sit around and wait to be told what to do next after you’ve completed a task or assignment because taking initiative will help you stand out to employers.
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Meet Leyda Frias ’18 Intern at Part of the Solution (POTS)

Meet Leyda Frias ’18 Intern at Part of the Solution (POTS)

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

This past summer I was working at Part of the Solution (POTS), a non-profit in the Bronx, NY. At POTS, I worked with the legal clinic, where we prevented evictions. Some of my major assignments for the summer include, making six month and year follow up calls to recipients of an emergency fund, aid in the preparation for fair hearings and eventually I was even able to complete my own intake for new incoming clients. I was also fortunate to shadow lawyers and legal advocates in housing court and administrative court.

What was your favorite part of your internship?

My favorite part was directly interacting with clients, whether it was during intakes or just simply helping them write a letter to their landlord. It was rewarding to see that I was making at least a small difference in their lives.

What has surprised you about being an intern?

I realized that too many people in these communities do not know how to properly read their leases, which hinders them from knowing all their rights and what a landlord can and cannot do.
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Meet CrusaderIntern Emmanuel Wu ’19

Meet Emmanuel Wu’19 Market Analysis Intern at Northern Light, LLC

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

I interned at Northern Light, LLC in Boston, MA. As a market analysis intern, I analyzed markets within certain industries and presented my analyses through PowerPoint slides. My PowerPoint slides will eventually be displayed on Northern Light’s online market research dashboard. My industry focus has been IT. The markets in IT include cloud computing, artificial intelligence, telecom, big data, etc. Conducting market analysis involves gathering market data and news reports, examining market information, discussing market information with colleagues, and extracting key arguments from news reports. As for presenting analyses through Powerpoint slides, it includes searching and posting relevant graphs and diagrams, writing brief paragraphs that sum up certain market topics, and simplifying information for easy visualization.

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

Since I am an economics major, most of the knowledge I learned from Principles Of Macroeconomics (ECON 111) have been used to the fullest during my internship. The terminologies I learned from the course have allowed me to easily understand the lingoes in news reports and market data. In addition, the knowledge I acquired from Financial Accounting (ACCT 181) has helped me to interpret the numerical meanings in market data and financial statements.

What has surprised you about being an intern?

Before I entered my internship, I underestimated the level of difficulty to present market analyses through PowerPoint slides. During the first three weeks, I struggled to complete several workloads on time, since I was not used to transform market information into graphs and brief synopses. Additionally, I was not very familiar with the IT industry, which usually slowed down my pace in gathering the correct market information. In order to comprehend IT news and its market information, I had to spend extra time self-studying IT terms and ask my supervisor a lot of questions regarding technology businesses. Despite several challenging experiences, I was surprised how approachable my supervisor was whenever I asked him questions. Interestingly, consulting with my supervisor was very similar to discussing my papers with my professors at Holy Cross.

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

My experience at Northern Light has led me to thoroughly learn about the IT industry, sharpen my analytical skills, and develop the habit to read the news on a daily basis. I realized that my internship is well connected to finance, which is the field that I aspire to enter in the future. My understanding of the IT markets and familiarity with the methods to conduct market analysis would benefit me in creating projects and doing research in the financial industry. Furthermore, I would be able to explain my reasoning to people that are interested in or uncertain with the fluctuations in the technology markets. While part of my job is to read through news reports, I have been forced to read multiple news articles on a daily basis. This part of the job has in fact developed my habit to follow closely with political and financial news. I believe that this habit is mandatory for anyone that works in finance.

Any internship advice to pass on to other Holy Cross students?

I would highly encourage interns to ask many questions and demonstrate a “can do” attitude during challenging times. As I have mentioned above, asking my supervisor questions was very similar to going to my professors’ office hours. Although there will be challenging times during the internship, I would suggest to remain patient and persevere during the process. My experience has taught me that demonstrating a “can do” attitude is the key to successfully persevere during hardship.
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Meet Kiernan Black ’18 Intern at Turnbull and Asser

Meet Kiernan Black ’18 Intern at Turnbull & Asser

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

This past summer I interned at the British men’s luxury clothing company, Turnbull & Asser. As the Royal Shirtmakers to HRH Prince of Whales, this company takes every task very seriously and does not falter in maintaining the quality of their product. As the e-commerce intern, I managed the visuals of the main site and processed the orders through the back end, which is called Magento. I also monitored our big summer sale through email campaigns and tracked the success through google analytics. As the marketing intern, I strategized on how to increase U.S sales while keeping prices high and the brand not over publicized.

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

I believe that my communication skills, both in writing and in speech, that I have learned being a Political Science major allowed me to be effective and efficient at getting a lot of the marketing done. The staff there knew that they could trust me with communicating directly to their clients, so the work got done faster and it allowed me to have free reign on how the process was working.

What has surprised you about being an intern?

What surprised me was how much I could learn about a company in such a short amount of time. After the first few weeks there, I felt as if I had the company’s best interest at heart and that makes all the difference when trying to achieve goals and bring passion into your work.

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

I have always been primarily interested in media work, and have had internships with media company’s in the past, but when looking to move on in that industry I ran into people telling me that I needed some marketing/business experience to set me apart. That is why I pursued Turnbull & Asser. Now I have a set of invaluable skills that I can bring to any career.

Any internship advice to pass on to other Holy Cross students?

My advice is to never pigeon hole yourself with one path. If an opportunity comes your way, take it! You will never learn skills that you won’t need or won’t set you apart for the career that you want. A well rounded worker is the best type of worker.
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Meet CrusaderIntern Vanessa Costa ’18

Meet Vanessa Costa ’18 Special Events Intern at Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

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

This summer, I interned at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, a nationwide nonprofit dedicated to the fight to find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis, a genetic disease affecting 30,000 children and young adults in the United States. I had the privilege of working at the MA/RI chapter of the foundation with an amazing group of dedicated individuals. Throughout my internship, I collaborated with my team and aided in the preparation and production of about six or seven different major fundraising events, some of which I saw through to the end, and others of which are still to come. The majority of my time at my internship was spent on two events, in particular; a weekend-long hiking event in the Berkshires, and a three-course cycling event coming up in October.

My internship projects included recruiting participants and sponsors, attaining donated auction items and local services, preparing mailings, maintaining itemized inventory and organization pre- and post-events, as well as many other tasks. All of the money raised at each of these fundraising events goes toward supporting medical efforts to find a cure for CF, while also allowing the foundation to provide support and resources to CF patients and their families.

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

As a Sociology major, I have gained a deeper appreciation for the diversity of the world and its peoples. I have become more open-minded and understanding as a person, which I have found to be extremely beneficial when interacting with different types of individuals. This proved particularly beneficial during my internship when I had to interact with such individuals as corporate leaders, small business owners, and CF patients and their families.

What has surprised you about being an intern?

It surprised me how willing my coworkers and supervisors were to accept me into their space. I immediately felt like part of the family, like I belonged there. I think that’s why it felt so strange to leave at the end of my internship; I didn’t want it to end.

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

This internship definitely strengthened my desire to make a difference in the world, and it reaffirmed that I had made the right decision by choosing Sociology as my major. I want to help people in the future; help make their lives a little easier and fairer. For that reason, I would really love to pursue a career in social justice or social welfare.

Any internship advice to pass on to other Holy Cross students?

Put yourself out there. Give everything your best shot and don’t shy away from new experiences. You never know who you are going to meet and how much of an impact something or someone might have on your life and your passions.

 
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ALUMNI FEATURE: I Was a Sociology and Spanish Double Major, Now I am a Recruitment Assistant

Name: Adrianna Tomasello ’16
Title: Recruitment Assistant
Organization Name: Edelman

In one sentence, what does your job entail?

I manage the recruitment process for the internship program and entry level hires in the Edelman DC office.

What planned and unplanned events connected you to your industry and your first employer after Holy Cross? How did you learn/decide it was a good fit for you?

I came to DC the September after graduating for a three month fellowship in my congresswoman’s office. I did not plan on staying in DC, but I really enjoyed the city and began looking at recruitment and HR entry level opportunities in the area. After starting at Edelman as a recruitment intern in December, I was fortunate enough to be hired into a full time position 6 months later! Public relations was never an industry I had seriously considered. Through my internship, I was able to discover that I enjoy recruiting for PR jobs and learning about the industry.

What were you involved in when you were on campus?

I was on the steering committee for Dance Marathon and danced in Noche Latina during my time at Holy Cross.

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

I was a Sociology and Spanish double major. Learning about social inequalities from my sociology professors peaked my interest in recruitment and human resources because of the diversity and inclusion initiatives that companies have. I also wanted a career in which I would be able to continue speaking Spanish. I discovered in my interview that I would be able to assist in recruitment for the Edelman Miami office. I have since conducted interviews with potential candidates in Spanish, as it is a valued skillset in our Miami office.

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

Learning how to write concisely and effectively through my liberal arts education has helped me navigate the world of communicating effectively via email. I have also been able to apply my Spanish speaking skills when helping with recruitment in our Miami office.

What advice do you have for students on campus interested in the Communications / PR field?

One thing that I’ve heard from the teams I recruit for is that strong research and writing skills are essential in selecting an intern. Skills like writing press releases and building media lists can be taught on the job; curiosity and communicating effectively are capabilities that can be cultivated during your years on campus. Use your time on campus to think about what you are passionate about (and if you’re having trouble, head to the career planning office to talk it out!). PR firms like Edelman serve clients in various industries, so even if you are passionate about a sector like healthcare and complete internships in that field, there is still an opportunity to summarize those experiences on your resume and apply for opportunities in the PR field that could help clients in the health industry tell their stories.
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Meet CrusaderIntern Jacob Wronski ’18, Intern at the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office

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

As an intern I spent most of my time at the Worcester Courthouse running errands for assistant district attorneys. I was also fortunate to be paired with a great mentor who was the ADA who processes all of the gun crimes in Worcester. There, one of my main tasks was to contact various police stations across the nation to request records for defendants that were being tried in a Dangerousness Hearing, and help organize their case files.

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

The internship worked also as a class. I have never taken a criminal law course or a course of the basics of the court, and at the office I got to experience the entire process first hand from arraignment to sentencing and everything in between. This is a great way for anyone who may be interested to learn about law, but doesn’t know where to start.

What has surprised you about being an intern?

I was surprised to find the good relationships that were present in the courtroom on opposing sides. The defense attorney’s and ADA’s were civil and, more often than not, got along well in a way that you may not expect.

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

Before this internship, I was unsure of what my future plans would be. Now, with help from many people at the office, I have decided to apply to law school where I will further explore my interest and passion for the law.

Any internship advice to pass on to other Holy Cross students?

Be assertive and pro-active at all times so that your employer knows you are eager and willing to get work done.
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Meet CrusaderIntern Jenna Marinis ’18

Meet Jenna Marinis ’18 Research Analyst/ Clinical Observer at NYU Winthrop Hospital

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

This summer I interned as a clinical observer/ research analyst at NYU Winthrop Hospital. Throughout the summer I was able to experience a number of different medical disciplines from working in a office setting conducting research to watching open heart surgery. Towards the end of the summer I was able to begin my own research project analyzing patient anxiety levels in relation to certain prostate cancer treatments, which gave me the opportunity to experience the process of publishing an academic paper. Days when I was observing in the hospital consisted of shadowing doctors and physician assistants in a number of different fields, getting a front row seat to a day in the life of a medical professional.

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

Holy Cross has provided me with a well rounded education which helped me adapt to the different environments that I was exposed to throughout the summer. Whether it was critical thinking skills in the research setting, or care, compassion, and understanding in the hospital, the education provided to me by Holy Cross has prepared me to succeed in any professional setting.

What has surprised you about being an intern?

At first interning seemed intimidating, but I was surprised to find how normal it was to sometimes be confused and to ask questions. Everyone turned out to be completely understanding and more than willing to help me whenever I needed it.

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

Being a pre-medical student at Holy Cross consists of strictly classroom prerequisites, which can sometimes cause you to lose sight of why you are doing what you’re doing in the first place. This internship has allowed me to realize why I am putting in the work that I am in the classroom and has motivated me to keep working hard in order to eventually achieve my goal of one day becoming a medical professional. I am extremely thankful to career services as well as the Holy Cross Alumni who set up this opportunity because it has truly opened my eyes to all that is possible in my future.

Any internship advice to pass on to other Holy Cross students?

Ask, ask, and ask again. Interning is all about what you make of it. You can spend your time sitting in the background, and being confused or you can ask questions and be involved. Don’t be intimidated, everyone is for the most part understanding of your situation and that you may need some help sometimes. Work hard and be sure to go the extra mile, because you never know who may be watching. Interning is an extremely special opportunity, be sure make the most out of it!
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Meet CrusaderIntern Lexi Tamburello

Meet Lexi Tamburello ’19 Accounting Intern at Dovetail Internet Technologies

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

I am interning at Dovetail Internet Technologies, a company located in Worcester that creates custom website solutions for businesses. At Dovetail, I work along-side the head accountant. I process account receivables and account payable, enter and analyze data in excel, and complete book-keeping tasks.

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

Much of what I have learned in my accounting course has come to life in my internship. For example, I was able to understand first hand, rather than read in a textbook, how important a cash flow statement is.

What has surprised you about being an intern?

I was surprised how much I was able to learn in a summer long internship. Specifically, I was given tasks that were important and required responsibility. (ex. checks and contracts)

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

From this experience, I have come to a greater understanding of what I want and what I do not want in my future career.

Any internship advice to pass on to other Holy Cross students?

Enter the internship with a positive attitude. Your experience is truly what you make it.