Importance of Internships (thoughts from a senior)

My name is Elizabeth Hayes and I am a senior here at Curry College. Since I’ve been a student at Curry I have done two internships, both with the help of Career Services.

My first internship took place at the Boston Preservation Alliance which is a non-profit organization that helps protect landmarks, historic buildings, and communities throughout the city. When I first started this internship I was completely overwhelmed, not really knowing what to expect. The first few weeks I was there they had me doing newspaper clippings and filing, which was pretty boring, but I think they wanted me to get comfortable being there. After I got comfortable being an intern they started including me in a lot more work. I got to make style sheets for the company logo, create PowerPoint slides for their meetings, go to business meetings with them, contact the media through phone and e-mails, and write press releases. The one thing that I was the most intimidated with was writing the press releases. I never thought I was that bad of a writer, so I spent time on this press release to make sure it was perfect for them. When I was done I was pretty proud of myself because personally I thought it was a job well done, until I showed the head of the Boston Preservation Alliance who thought differently. She read the press release I wrote out and literally scratched out nearly everything. At first, I was discouraged thinking maybe she did that because I was the intern, but I listened to what she had to say, did what she wanted me to do, and ended up handing in a revised version. After that day whenever I was asked to write press releases for them I always went to her first, and by the end of my internship I believe I became a much better writer than I ever was before. This internship made me more confident in my work, and this experience made me realize that it’s important to ask questions, because no question is a stupid one.

My second internship is currently at Career Services, where I help market and promote events they’re holding, and I also help inform students about how important having an internship really is. Interning at Career Services has helped me work on my public speaking skills, my marketing skills, and my graphic design skills. It has taught me to look outside the box and try different things that I wouldn’t normally do such as creating style sheets and working at Career Fairs. I have talked to students all over campus asking questions about their internship experiences and talking to them about the internship process. Interning for Career Services has more than prepared me for the future. I have not only improved on my skills, but I have learned new ones. Interning for Career Services has helped give me the complete confidence I need.

Career Services has given me the insight on how they work and want to help students succeed here at Curry. Being an intern there now I am learning something new every day and learning how important it is to use them especially when you’re in search of finding an internship or a career. They are the most useful resource on campus and they want you to succeed. So while you’re at Curry take advantage of what they have to offer because chances are if you don’t, you’re going to regret it. Doing two internships with the help of Career Services has changed my life. Now I am more likely to be considered for a career, I have the networking connections and skills that I need, I am confident, I have majorly improved on my interview skills, I have learned to be open to try new things, even if I don’t think I have the skills, I have become much more computer savvy than I was before, and I am not afraid to ask questions. So in writing this article I would like to say thank you to Career Services in helping me go out and gain amazing experiences through both of my internships. They have truly made it that much easier for me to go out and get a career.

A PRofessor's thoughts...

Check out Prof. Kirk Hazlett's fantastic blog post about cover letters. It's a must read!

Professional Dress

Are you wondering whether you can get away with wearing your favorite, yet questionable, red shoes to an interview. What about your lucky socks? Do they match your belt? Here are some pictures to get you on the right track:

*********DO**********

*********DON'T*********

Oddball interview questions...

It's not uncommon to be asked some strange questions during an interview. Check out this posting from glassdoor.com with a list of the top oddball interview questions of 2009.

Mock Interviews

Just read a great article on Mock Interviews. Enjoy!

Ben Franklin spotted at job fair...

Check out this witty and creative blog post about thinking outside the box. This post is especially timely for those of you who are beginning your job search. Enjoy!

Check out Career Services on the Web Portal!

Check out the Career Services tab on the My Curry Web Portal! This tab contains resources for job searching, selecting a major, internships, study abroad and more! Check it out now!

~Elizabeth

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is

indistinguishable from magic."

~Arthur C. Clarke

Get Connected!

Come to Curry Connections and get connected! Explore internship opportunities, majors, minors, campus resources and more! Paint a pumpkin, drink some cider, talk to a professor, hear from an employer, enter to win a prize, and get connected!

Curry Connections
Miller Field House
Wednesday, October 28th
11:30-2:00

Recent grads!

Here's some great info on using LinkedIn!

Launch Your Career with LinkedIn
Ok, future movers and shakers. Here it is. Your defining moment. Why are you here?
Get. Job. Now.
Your LinkedIn profile is your connection to over 35 million professionals in the business world. Use it to show the world who you are. To help the world find you. This network will not just help you find a job, but GET a job.
Get Started with Step 1
http://grads.linkedin.com/

Seniors! Graduation is closer than you think!

Dear senior...are you convinced that graduation is still a lifetime away? Are you aware that in less than 8 months you'll be jumping into the professional world and leaving the comfort of college life behind??

If you've been hiding your head in the sand, it's time to pull it out, dust it off, and come on down to the Career Services Office. The sooner you start working on your resume and researching career opportunities, the less stressful your spring will be. If you wait until the end of the year, you may find yourself unnecessarily stressed out about your job search.

Remember: The amount of time you spend in the Career Services Office is inversely proportional to the amount of time you'll spend living in your parents' basement.

Come visit us!

~Elizabeth

"Procrastination is Opportunity's Assassin"

~Victor Kiam

Check out this great video tutorial on how to best use LinkedIn for recent grads!
http://grads.linkedin.com/

Don't get "Twitter Fired"

I just read this interesting article on MSNBC. Check it out. It's a must read for anyone using Twitter.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29796962

Join our Facebook Group!

Want to stay connected to Career Services? Join our Facebook group!

In this economy, flexibility is key

I've been hearing frequently from many of you that your biggest fear is not finding a job "in my major." After 4 years of college and several years of concentrating on a specific major, of course your focus is on finding something that matches what you've studied. What you are missing however, are all the jobs out there that don't perfectly fit within a specific major. In this tight job market, these jobs cannot be ignored. You need to open your focus to a broader list of possibilities and consider alternatives to your first, second, or even third choice job. This doesn't mean that you should give up your dream of becoming a police officer, or public relations person, or psychologist, but you should be willing to apply to positions that may be very different from the type of job you've always pictured yourself doing. This also doesn't mean that you should apply to jobs that you are not qualified for, or not interested in. You don't want to find yourself taking a job, just to take a job.

On March 31st from 12-3pm in the Parents' Lounge, we will be holding our annual Career Fair. Employers who are actively recruiting recent grads will be there to speak about their open positions. This is the perfect opportunity to speak with employers from a variety of industries. Half of the employers attending are recruiting students from all majors. This is your opportunity to see what's out there beyond the jobs in your major. If you choose not to attend because "there was no one there from my major" then you will be missing out on possibly the only opportunity you'll have before you graduate to speak to employers in person. If you don't consider other alternatives, you will not only be limiting yourself so narrowly that finding a job may be impossible, but you will also risk missing an opportunity to discover something new.

~Elizabeth

In a Senior's Words: Benefits of Internships

During my sophomore year at Curry College, the last thing on my mind was interning or my life after college. Of course my parents had been reminding me on a daily basis about my future and how important interning was, however I was a sophomore; I had no concern for anything but getting through my classes and looking forward to the spring semester. Before I knew it, I was a junior. I slowly started to see my friends intern, get more involved with school, and gain a serious advantage on their future. I quickly realized that if I didn’t start taking my future serious, it would not be looking too good. I jumped into gear and headed to Career Services. I think I spent about two hours in Career Services that day. I was shocked! There was actually a place on campus that could not only help me with finding an internship, but with jobs!

I came across a position at Lombardo’s Function Hall in Randolph. It sounded great; I went in for an interview and was hired on the spot. My second semester junior year I began my first Internship. The first month or two at Lombardo’s was great. I was getting credit to do something I found a lot more interesting than class. I really got a sense of what it would be like to get up and go to work everyday. My experience at Lombardo’s was definitely a great first internship. I learned what I did and didn’t like about the event planning industry and gained experience that will definitely help me in my future career.

One of the most important things I learned from my internship with Lombardo’s, was just how important doing an internship was. I definitely had to work my way up to my second internship. Lombardo’s gave me experience and useful background knowledge on the event planning industry. Although it was not my ideal job, because I interned I had so many more options the second time I began applying for internships. My experience at Lombardo’s gave me the option to choose a second internship, instead of taking the only one that was offered. Experience is key, whether it is interning or in the work world.

My second internship was my first semester senior year. I was an intern at the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Massachusetts (AICUM). I was hired as a corporate/ political event planner for the company. This was probably the coolest internship I could ever imagine. I worked as a paid intern in Boston next to the State House. My experience at AICUM was extremely fulfilling and rewarding. The connections I made through my internship at AICUM will be forever helpful to me.

What I learned most during my two internships while at Curry was experience matters. My first internship was a great learning experience. Did I absolutely love it? No. However without that experience I would not have been qualified for the internship position I obtained the next semester. Internships are all about experience and gaining knowledge. I feel much more confident graduating in a few months, now knowing what the real world entails. In my opinion, interning is the fastest way to get your resume looked at. Think about it, while it might be great you played a sport in college for 4 years that took up a lot of time and showed team work, it’s more important that you got experience in the workforce. Finding an internship at Curry is simple, helpful, and important! For the longest time I thought graduation was so far away and the only important thing was staying academically stable, however I was wrong. All of sudden I’m graduating in 3 months, and my sophomore year feels like yesterday. The best thing I did for my future was walk into Career Services that day two years ago. College flies by and I feel much more confident heading out into the real world next year with two internship under my belt.

~Chelsea Bennett, Career Services Student Ambassador

Welcome Back!

I hope all of you had a wonderful winter break. As you begin to readjust to life back on campus, I encourage everyone to take an opportunity to stop by the Career Services Office.

First years: Having trouble choosing a major? Stop by and we'll lend you a hand. Also consider attending several events during Career Discovery Week (February 23-27).

Sophomores and Juniors: Drop by to learn about study abroad or internships. Plan on attending at least two events during Career Discovery Week (February 23-27).

Seniors: Career Services is here to assist you through your transition to life after Curry. As you know, the job market is tight. The good news is that there are employers who are hiring. It just may take a little longer to find them. We're still getting active postings in our online job database, Curry Connect. I've also gotten a number of phone calls from employers who are looking to fill their vacant positions. Many of these employers are planning on attending our Career Fair on March 31st, so plan to be there.

Where ever you are in your undergraduate experience, the Career Services Office has something for you. All you need to do is visit us.

~Elizabeth

Missed Opportunity: A Lesson Learned

This time of year our office is flooded with students looking to do internships during the upcoming semester. Many students are excited to get hands-on experiences in their field of choice and can’t wait to get started. They want to get out there, make connections, build their resume and skills set, and make themselves more marketable in the months to come.

But not all students take advantage of the incredible learning opportunities gained through internships. They find this to be their biggest regret when trying to break into the working world. Here’s a recent example: An alum stopped in last week as he found himself in need of our services. He had graduated this past May and had already found himself frustrated. After chatting with him about his current situation, he openly admitted to his disappointment with himself for not doing an internship. His focus was in accounting/management and he was finding that temp agencies couldn’t even help him, due to his lack of experience. When I asked him why he decided not to do an internship, he said “I chose to make $300 a night at the bar rather than do an internship. Now I’m really kicking myself.”

So, if you’re tossing around the idea of whether or not you should do an internship, recognize that in this tight economy, internships help give you that edge against the competition.

~Sara

"Failure is success if we learn from it."

~Malcolm Forbes

Notes from the field-Highlights of Curry interns doing good things

As a Boston sports fan, imagine one of the most exciting internship opportunities you can think of. Yes… working for the Boston Red Sox. Paul Travaglini, a Management major, got that experience this summer. Paul also learned what it means to start at the bottom and the importance of always doing your best. He was assigned to the Security and Emergency Services Department and in addition to screening fans at the gate, was also given some rather mundane responsibilities. After a week of these “rookie” assignments he became a bit discouraged but did not complain and always gave his all. Shortly thereafter, he received a note from his supervisor informing him that his superior work ethic had been noticed by several of the area managers. He not only began getting more interesting and challenging assignments but got an opportunity to hone his communication skills. One highlight Paul shared was meeting and talking with White Sox centerfielder Ken Griffey, Jr.


Carrie Hormanski knows what she wants to do when she graduates and that’s be a police officer. This was her primary motivation in choosing to work at the Pawtucket Police Department for her internship. “This internship was important for me because I discovered why I truly want to be a police officer”, Carrie said , and “I made several new contacts.” She decided to come back to school to finish her degree although she was encouraged to apply for an open position by her site supervisor. He gave Carrie “Outstanding” ratings on her evaluation and we think she’s much closer to getting that dream job.

~Michelle

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