Economic Crisis and the Class of 2009

As I've been watching my retirement account take a nose dive, I've been thinking a lot about this upcoming class of 2009. Graduation is 8 months away and it's unclear what our economic situation will be in a few days, never mind a few months. Right now, things look bleak. The credit crisis has affected small businesses, Wall Street, homeowners, parents of college age children and more. The lack of access to credit has affected virtually every aspect of the economy including the job market. Many industries are experiencing layoffs as other companies collapse. I've gotten phone calls and emails from a number of alums who have lost their jobs and many seniors I've spoken to are paying attention to this crisis.

So what are you to do if you are graduating this year? Besides crossing your fingers for Washington to figure out how to stop the crisis, I have a few more recommendations for the class of 2009.

1. Don't wait until April to start looking for a job. Most likely your job search is going to take a while. Spend your winter break getting your resume perfected and conduct some research on various companies. If you were planning on taking the summer off, you may want to reconsider.

2. Start networking with family and friends now. Don't wait to contact someone about a career in their industry. Do it now. Begin figuring out who you have in your network and don't hesitate to contact them and ask to set up an informational interview. Start letting your network (i.e. friends and family) know that you will be looking for a job in a few months.

3. Don't assume that the industry you want a career in won't be affected. Every industry from retail to marketing, and from business to human services will be affected by this crisis.

4. Be flexible. If you are set on a job in a particular industry, you are limiting other opportunities. The more narrow your goals, the longer it's going to take to find a job. If you are open to working in different industries, don't hesitate to apply to jobs that interest you. Also think about having a Plan B in case you can't find a job in your industry. Plan B may include moving in with Mom and Dad, going back to your summer job, or postponing graduate school.

5. Be patient. It's going to take a while for you to find a job. This is the case even when the economy is strong. Make the most of your time and don't put your job search on the back burner.

6. We're here for you. Always remember that the Career Services Office is here for you and can help you with your resume, interviews, and job search. Don't hesitate to contact us about doing an internship, or attending one of our workshops or events. We will also continue to work with you after you've graduated, regardless of the state of the economy.

~Elizabeth

"We cannot change the cards we are dealt,

just how we play the hand."

~Randy Pausch, Last Lecture

Notes from the field: Stories and Highlights of Curry Interns doing Good Things

It’s a great motivator when your boss tells you you’re doing a good job. Curry Management student, Sam Beausejour, discovered this while completing a summer internship at Enterprise. He was regularly encouraged by positive feedback but also asked for constructive criticism so he could improve on his skills. “I really learned a lot this summer”, Sam recently said. “I know my professional presentation has improved and I feel much more confident.” Sam did so well, in fact, that he was one of two in the entire region to receive a $500 scholarship for his sales performance.
Congratulations, Sam. Nice job!


Another Curry intern, Com major, Colleen Keddy, had a very good internship experience this summer. Colleen was the primary caregiver for an adult woman with autism. “It’s hard work”, Colleen said, “but it’s rewarding.” It takes a special kind of person to do this kind of job and the folks at the May Institute had lots of praise for Colleen’s work. She was selected as “Employee of the Month” and was hired to return during Intersession.
Way to go, Colleen!

~Michelle

"Success is simple.

Do what's right, the right way, at the right time."

~Arnold H. Glasow

Thoughts about the value of work study...from the mouth of a recent grad.

You go to college to learn, plain and simple. Sometimes that learning happens in the classroom, sometimes that learning happens at internships or hanging out with other students, but sometimes that learning can happen in the least expected place of all: your work-study job. If someone had told me that the reason I would get my first job out of college was because of the experience I gained while working at my work-study position, I wouldn't have believed them. But that's what happened, and that's what could happen to you.

I worked in the Career Services Office at Curry for three years. Throughout those three years, I got my hands wet, so to speak, with the various activities that go on in that office daily. I assisted with event planning, student advising, marketing/PR for the office, filing, typing, answering and directing phone calls, all while utilizing office resources. I would help students with obtaining or exploring internships, study abroad opportunities, part-time and full time jobs, and choosing majors. Whether I was doing administrative office tasks, or calling up companies to get them to come to our career fairs, I was learning. I picked up a variety of skill sets that I wasn't even aware I was picking up, and actually enjoyed doing it.

When graduation rolled around and it was time to find a job, I applied at all different types of companies, organizations, etc. At each interview I would go, I noticed that a lot interviewers were interested in my work experience while I was in school. They kept going back to my time at Career Services. Of course, that wasn't the only thing they wanted to talk about, but they always seemed to find it interesting that I had done work-study and had learned so much from it.

Then I came across an open position at the Massachusetts Society of CPA's in Boston, MA for an Academic and Career Development Coordinator. After some research and reviewing the job description I realized that I would be helping high school and college students who were interested in the field of accounting, pursue that career through internships, job fairs, lecture series, etc. I would be servicing accounting students throughout the state of Massachusetts and although it would be more specialized to accounting, I would be using the same skills I learned at Career Services. The main theme of helping students find their way on their career path was still consistent. I had a feeling this was going to be a good match.

As luck would have it, I got the job and have been here a little more then a month. I'm learning a lot every day and know more about the accounting field then I ever thought I would, and more importantly I love it. I love the challenge of learning something new and using not only my Career Services Office experience, but also the skills I learned through my classes and professors. One of my co-workers and I recently were talking about the search process for my position and she told me, "It just really worked out great. I mean you had such a similar experience working at your school with what we do here, that it just made your resume stand out so much more." I couldn't agree more.

~Allison Sturchio, '08

Welcome back students!!

Welcome back to campus! We hope you will stop by to learn about all of our wonderful opportunities and resources in Career Services. It's never too early, or too late, to visit.

First Years Students:
Career Services can help you choose a major and assist you with self-assessments. Feel free to stop by anytime (M-F 8:30-4:30) to pick up information.

Sophomores and Juniors:
Participate in an Internship! Consider Studying Abroad!
Stop by Career Services to learn about the process of participating in an internship. We can also help you get started on studying abroad.

Seniors:
Career Services is here to help you transition from college life to work life. Stop by to learn about current job opportunities, company information, interviewing assistance, job search websites, help with writing your cover letter and resume, and graduate school advising. Don't forget to attend the Career Fair on March 31st!

Courses Offered:
EXP 2340-Introduction to Experiential Education (3 credits)
This course is the pre-requisite for doing an internship for credit. Sign up for this class in your sophomore year and get started on doing an Internship!

EXP 2800-Career Development (3 credits)
This course is designed for Juniors and Seniors and discusses topics such as resume & cover Letter writing, job search process, the world of work, interviewing tips, and more.

To learn more about all of these services and opportunities, contact Career Services to make an appointment!

~Elizabeth