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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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My Alumni Job Shadowing Experience at Amazon Robotics

Full Name: Victor Sanchez
Class Year: 2020
Major: Mathematics
Shadowing Visit Site: Amazon Robotics

Describe your visit and what did you gain from the experience?

When I first arrived at Amazon Robotics, Chad (HC Alumni) brought me into his office and gave me an overview of his position at Amazon Robotics. Then we talked about how he made his way to the position he was in now (Senior Director IT). Afterwards, Chad gave me a full tour of the Amazon Robotics office and warehouse (where they actually build ALL of the robots, and do all the testing and everything). Then I followed a schedule Chad had set up for me, to meet people in all different positions at Amazon Robotics. So I was able to meet people in all kinds of fields, such as computer engineers, electrical engineers, cybersecurity, business analyst, IT, etc. Within these meetings I was able to get a sense of all of these different possible careers, and was able to discuss with them on how they got to their position today and what sort of things they do on a day to day basis in their career. From this experience, I was able to get a better sense of the workforce, better understand many possible career paths I would like to take, create relationships with people in many fields that I am interested that I can now refer to if I have any questions about the specific career. Additionally, it gave me motivation, because the work environment there seemed so enjoyable. And it reassured me that I do want to go into the fields of engineering, mathematics, or CS. Lastly it made me realize the many possible career paths I could take with my specific major (mathematics).

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

This experience was perfect for my future career plans because it solidified/reassured that I want to be a Mathematics major. It made me enjoy the field that I want to go into even more because actually seeing these robots in action was a surreal experience. I told myself “I 100% want to do something like this for the rest of my life.”

What is some helpful advice your alumni host shared with you?

My alumni told me that there are so many jobs out there that I could possibly do, to not limit myself because of my specific major. As well as to do what I want/enjoy because you have to remember you are going to be doing this for the rest of your life. So just think to yourself, do I see myself doing this for the rest of my life?

Why would you recommend the Alumni Job Shadowing Program to other students?

I truly recommend the AJSP to other students because it is really helpful. Doing the AJSP is a win-win situation because at the end of the visit you for sure know something, either you are interested in that field and would like to learn more about it. Or you will walk out of there and think I DO NOT want to do that for the rest of my life, and that’s one career off of your possible careers list. With that being said, it truly does help you decide what field you want to get in. Lastly, you are able to network with people in your potential field. So if you build and maintain a relationship with these people it can give you a reference to go to when you have a question about the field, and who knows, they might like you enough and help you get a job once you graduate!
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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 CrusaderIntern Rebecca Stanton’18

Meet Rebecca Stanton’18 Research Assistant Intern at The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse

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

My internship is held in New York City at The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse. My tasks mainly involve conducting extensive research and literature review for one of the organization’s on-going reports. This report is on early prevention programs and my job is to research and analyze the effectiveness of current programs and write overviews. These overviews will be analyzed and referenced in the report. Also, I am completing data entry for a report that will evaluate each state’s insurance coverage for substance use services. Additionally, I have been given the opportunity to write a blog post on opioid addiction and the elderly. Therefore, I have been researching the most recent data on this topic and its significance.

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

As a psychology major, I have taken a substantial number of courses on mental health and courses that reference addiction. Therefore, I understand the majority of terms that are being used at the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse and the organization’s mission statement. In my courses, psychology and others, I have conducted research and written research papers. At my internship, I have been using these writing and research skills that I have developed from my courses and help from my professors. For example, I have used my background knowledge of Psychology Statistics to evaluate studies and understand to what extent they are effective.

What has surprised you about being an intern?

The most surprising aspect of being an intern is how much responsibility I have been given. Before starting the internship, I expected that I would be writing and researching, but what I did not expect was the extent to which I felt part of a team. I frequently have meetings with my supervisors and research associates about the on-goings reports and find that my tasks are valued and appreciated.

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

I plan to go into the healthcare sector, specifically as a Nurse Practitioner, and my experience thus far has reaffirmed my plans. What I have learned from my internship is the prevalence of addiction and the responsibility that healthcare professionals share in tackling this problem. From the extensive research I have done, I now have a better understanding of what influence I could potentially have in minimizing addiction.

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

For students interested in an internship, the best advice I can give is to be open-minded. There are going to be things that you find to be exciting and intriguing and others that you find to be tedious. However, an internship is meant to be a learning experience and there is always something you can take away from it.
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Meet Edgar D. Rodríguez ’16, Legislative Correspondent/Aide to Congresswoman Norma J. Torres

Name: Edgar D. Rodríguez ’16
Title: Legislative Correspondent/Aide
Organization Name: United States House of Representatives; Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35)

In one sentence, what does your job entail?

I am responsible for managing the Congresswoman’s entire mail correspondence system between constituents and her office, as well as, using constituent input (among other avenues) to help advance her legislative agenda by proposing and drafting bill ideas.

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

My original plan was to return to my hometown (Pomona, CA) and work in the community expanding access to healthcare, specifically for U.S. citizen children of undocumented parents. However, after participating in the Washington Semester program in the fall of 2016 and receiving a job offer, I decided to stay in D.C.

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

While I truly enjoyed my internship on the Hill—especially since I was interning for my representative—I still had plans to return to my community. It wasn’t until the Congresswoman asked me to join her on the campaign trail the week leading up to the general election that I began contemplating the idea of staying in D.C. after graduation. Driving the Congresswoman around to multiple campaign stops in California and Nevada and seeing first-hand the issues that she was advocating for and how it related to the work she was doing in D.C., made me realize the possibility of doing the same in Washington. Immediately after returning from California, the Congresswoman offered me the position to stay and help her accomplish the work she advocated for on the campaign trail.

Rarely do you find D.C. staff working for their home representatives. I saw the need to stay here and work for my home representative and advocate for my community because I am from there and I understand the local issues.

What were you involved in when you were on campus?

I was involved quite extensively during my time at Holy Cross through the Student Government Association. I was the assistant to the SGA Director of Student Life my freshman year, a two-term Senator, and eventually Director of Diversity. Concurrently, I was also involved in the Pre-Business program, co-founded the RSO Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlán (M.E.Ch.A. de Holy Cross) my sophomore year, took part of several service trips, was appointed to a couple of Presidential committees under the Office of Diversity, and founded the new center for students of color, among other things.

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

I came to Holy Cross seeking an Economics Accounting major. However after my first year, that quickly changed to Political Science. While my major did not directly affect my career decisions, I have greatly benefitted from its instruction in my current job.

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

The two greatest skills that I developed at Holy Cross are the same ones that I utilize today on a daily basis. The first is the ability to manage people. Aside from handling a legislative portfolio for the Congresswoman, I also have the wonderful opportunity to manage our internship program. Understanding the weakness and strengths of people and knowing how to utilize them to the benefit of an organization is something that took quite a bit of trial and error during my time at Holy Cross. The second skill is perhaps more common: the ability to multitask and take on different projects at the same time. For a very long time, I was the type of person that always took more than they could handle simply because I wanted to do it all. Learning to understand your capacity as a leader and how to effectively manage multiple projects early on has truly helped me balance my innate feeling of wanting to take on a lot and doing a good job at it.

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

I think students always fall short of pursuing their passions and, more often than not, pursue what makes them feel secure and not what challenges them. My advice for students is to try to escape the fear of judgement.

Pursue what makes you grow. There are passions out there that you may discover along the way, passions that you never knew you had. And that might not only impact your life in a positive way, but the lives of those around you as well.
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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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What Your Favorite Aspect of Autumn Says About Your Future Career

By Nerelly Checo ’18 and Casey Rooney ’18

While some mornings you might wonder if wearing shorts and a wool sweater are the right layers to get you through the day, autumn is the season to celebrate pumpkin spice and many other splendid things. Read on to see what your favorite aspect of autumn says about your possible future career.

Football is back!

You are excited for all the tailgates, food, fantasy football, and of course cheering on your team! There are many aspects to the football season that excite you which makes it your favorite part of fall. A career in the areas of sports, arts, fashion, or entertainment industries could be a good path for you.

New Themes on Social Media!

Whether it is trying out new Snapchat filters or scrolling through all the tailgating and apple-picking photos, social media is buzzing during the fall! You enjoy updating your social media and seeing what others are up to. A career path in marketing, media, communications, or advertising could be good for you.

Tech companies are releasing new products!

You like having the newest gadgets and are excited for all the releases that are on the market for the upcoming holiday season. Technology is a big part of your life, especially figuring out how these things work (iphone X face recognition?!). A career path in technology, engineering, or the physical sciences could be good for you.

Black Friday and Holiday Shopping!

You spend all of Fall saving up to splurge on gifts for yourself and those you love for the holidays. You budget every meal, outing and new adventure. Saving and spending wisely are your strong suits. A career path in finance, consulting, real estate, insurance, or accounting could be good for you.

New Elections!

It’s that time of year when local candidates are running for election. You look forward to seeing signs on people’s front lawns and listening to why candidates should be elected. If this is something that excites you, a career path in government, international affairs, or law could be good for you.

Back to School!

You’re looking forward to getting your brain stimulated again with new content and conversations with your best friends. You can’t wait to learn about the different ways to get involved on campus and in the community this upcoming year. A career path in education, non-profit, or human services could be good for you.

Changes in Nature!

You love seeing the leaves change color, the apples turn ripe and enjoy being one with nature during this time of year. You make sure to take a picture of every beautiful sunset you encounter. You plan the most scenic route to go pumpkin picking. At the same time, you make sure to take care of yourself by drinking all the fall-themed teas to keep you warm on the chilly fall days. If this sounds like you, a career path in health professions and life sciences sounds good for you!