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