Tufts Career Services Ambassadors

The Ambassador's Top 5 Favorite Job Sites

2012-01-30T10:06:00.000-05:00

To my fellow senior class, this is it. This is the last time we’ll be students before entering the career-world abyss, the one we keep hearing about, but never actually thought would come. But I swear, this isn’t meant to be a depressing,” let’s mourn the loss of our college-youth” post. Sure, we can’t help but think about everything in terms of “lasts”---our last first day of classes, our last winter bash, our last time(s) sprinting to the Joey. But there’s a whole lot of exciting perks about graduating and moving on, too, most of which we can’t even name yet.

For most of us (internship-scouting underclassman included), this semester will probably be focused on finding that coveted first job. The problem? There’s at least a zillion places to start. To prevent brain-overload, I find it helpful to hone in on a few particularly helpful career resources. Here’s a list of my top five favorite career sites:

1.Tufts Career Connect: Tufts Career Connect is valuable because it connects us to job listings, companies, and employers directly linked to Tufts. I’ve applied to my fair share of jobs through Tufts Career Connect—some I heard back from, some not—and each time, I felt comfortable in a way I couldn’t on a totally-random job site. I also suggest making a Job Agent, a handy feature that alerts you to new opportunities based on the qualifications you’ve selected. But it’s always wise to check out this website (updated daily) on your own, too.

2. Career Services introduces the Tufts Career Advisory Network, the revamped, new-and-improved version of its past Alumni resource. Along with mere lists of graduates, this resource offers detailed profiles of an alumni’s entire educational and career path. This new search engine is comprehensive and user-friendly, and it generates a much more satisfying feel of community. What’s more—students can shoot an email (professional and carefully worded, of course) to alumni directly through the site itself.

3. Glassdoor: For those of you that haven’t visited the ever-helpful Glassdoor, I recommend it. Search any company or employer, and you’ll be faced with an all-you-can-ask-for list of background information, statistics, salary trends, interview questions, and more. I’ve personally used Glassdoor to prepare for a few nerve-racking interviews. One of my friends darted the awkward “salary question” by skimming the site’s list of statistics. Whether you’re looking for a specific piece of information, or simply trying to familiarize yourself with a company and its trends, Glassdoor is probably the place for it.

4. Vault: I’d heard about this search engine before, but I had no idea how relevant it might be to the job-hunt until probably three days ago. When you think of the word vault, you probably think of some sort of big, endless, underground storage space; that’s what this is, really. Covering everything even remotely career-related, Vault is known for its seemingly limitless series of detailed profiles and guides—on companies, employers, job industries, everything. It combines up-to-the-minute facts with broader, well-researched information. You might visit Vault before an interview to familiarize yourself with a company and its industry-specific lingo. Or, you might want to get a panoramic feel for a less-familiar job sector. Or company. Or employer. Simply put, it has everything.

5. A final word of advice: As far as job search engines, I suggested sticking to industry-specific job sites, which I’ve found more helpful—and less daunting—than all-inclusive job aggregators. As an aspiring writer/editor/publisher, I trend toward ED 2010, which focuses on jobs in magazines, as well as bookjobs.com. But for all those future engineers, financiers, lawyers, doctors, and save-the-world advocates out there, there are plenty more. Click here for our carefully-compiled list of industry-specific job-search sites. I promise you’ll find something there.

I hope you find this compact list of job-search resources helpful. With the overwhelming surplus of job sites out there, it’s often refreshing to relax, choose few easy-to-navigate ones, and hone in on what’s really important.

What are common good careers?

2012-01-19T10:18:00.002-05:00

This Wednesday, February 1 at 6:30 pm in Cohen Auditorium, Tufts Career Services and The Leonard Carmichael Society will host Careers in the Common Good: A Night of Networking.But what are common good careers? While there is no singular definition, for the purposes of this event we are using the term to refer to all work that has a shared and beneficial value for all (or most) members of a community. This term does not apply exclusively to non-profit work, but also includes for-profit, private, and public sector jobs that bring value to the community (of course, value is subjective).

Interested? Unsure? Want to learn more? Come network with alumni working a wide range of values-driven career fields and learn about why a career in the common good might be the right path for you.

The evening starts at 6:30 with a short keynote address by James Weinberg A00, Founder and CEO of Commongood Careers. Afterwards, join more than 30 alums for networking and small group discussion. Alumni will be present from the following industries and career areas: education; consulting; environmental; health care; public health; human services; legal; and philanthropy. Register to attend online by January 29

Employer Perspectives: OC&C Strategy Consultants

2011-12-16T11:03:00.008-05:00

Interested in a career in consulting? I spoke with two decision makers at OC&C Strategy Consultants, Director of HR and Recruiting Danielle McColgan and Consultant Jason Majane E08, who gave me a inside look into the recruiting and hiring process at one of Boston’s top management consulting firms.

1.Why did you decide to recruit at Tufts?

Danielle: This was our first year partnering with Tufts. We had wanted to expand our undergraduate recruiting program. Jason [Majane E08] is one of our consultants, and he came from Tufts and is familiar with the program and we have always held it in high regard.

Jason: I have been at OC&C for two and a half years. I graduated in 2008. We have historically recruited from a few other schools in the Boston area. It’s easier to focus on a couple of places, and there are a lot of really smart people in this area. Now that the office is at an even greater size, we thought it was time to break in more. Consulting is not as well known a career at Tufts yet. We thought it was a good idea to break in and be a first mover in the Tufts consultant movement.

2. Would you briefly describe your experience working with and recruiting at Tufts?

Danielle: I found it to be a really great and successful year. It was wonderful working with the staff at Tufts Career Services, all of who were very welcoming and accommodating. We were able to get early exposure to students through the Tufts Career Fair and the Careers in Consulting event. The Careers in Consulting event was an especially great experience for me because it was a more concentrated program. I met with some really strong students really early on, and I was able to closely work with them throughout the introductory practice phases. I interviewed and met with a large number of talented students, which translated into some hires for us.

3. What advice can you give undergraduates?

Danielle: I advise them to be conscientious and targeted in the companies they talk to. At the Career Fair, I met with a few students who I had met with earlier on. Throughout the entire progress, we had a chance to see students continuously show up to events. For us as an employer, this shows a level of dedication and interest on the student’s behalf.

Additionally, I found the students we met with at the consulting night to be much more targeted in their search. They typically had very targeted questions and knew we did strategy work, so they already had the flavor of OC&C. This allowed for more meaningful dialogue, rather than a 30 second elevator pitch.

Jason: As a student, I always went to the Career Fair. It was great to have such a large number of employers there. I also enjoyed the Consulting Networking night, mainly because it’s a little more informal than other networking events. Students came and asked really good questions, and I liked the setup of it. There was a group of students asking someone questions, as opposed to students waiting in line and talking one-by-one. The event stimulated group discussion, which allowed people to hear each other’s questions and see what other students were looking for.

5. What are some strengths you see in Tufts students?

Danielle: Tufts students were incredibly engaging and quite a good fit for us personality-wise. We have a very open, collaborative, sort of young culture here, and I feel that a lot of Tufts students definitely had the right energy level and will really thrive in our environment. When I spoke with them, I could easily see them working here tomorrow. There is obviously a strong emphasis on being able to do the work and having the right analytical background. Once we have that, we really do care about fit. Tufts is a great match in that regard.

Jason: In general, students at Tufts are very good at having an open dialogue. I think this is in large part because discussion in the classroom is a very important part of the curriculum. I think this translates well into people being naturally curious and open with their questions.

6. How important are information sessions to your hiring process?

Danielle: As an employer, I feel that information sessions really help students become more prepared and targeted in their search. They help them figure out exactly what they’re looking for upon graduation, which I think goes a long way. It is absolutely okay to be looking at different industries, but it is also important to be targeted and know about the firm you’re talking to.

7. What about the case interview?

Danielle: [The case interview] is the crux of the interview at a consulting firm, and I think it would benefit students to have more preparation there. We offer students the opportunity to come into the office and practice, regardless of whether they have interviewed with us.

8. What is your recruiting schedule for next year?

Danielle: In terms of undergraduate programs, we recruit at Tufts, Williams, Harvard, MIT, and Dartmouth College. We certainly have students from other programs and do hire out of these schools, but this is where we focus our interests. Next year, we plan to continue this same trend. We plan to have the same hiring timeline and recruit from these same schools. It’s been very successful for us. We had a very successful campaign at Tufts and we are looking forward to partnering with Tufts again next year.

Introducing Tufts Alum and Financier: Lorie Lin

2011-12-01T16:08:00.016-05:00

Meet Tufts alum and healthcare financier Lorie Lin (A'11), a entry level banking analyst at Brown Brothers Harriman, an elite financial services company in Boston. Featuring insight into the finance industry, networking, and real-world job-life, Lorie's career-success story is certainly worth a read.

1. When did you first become interested in the finance industry? What aspects of the business world particularly resonate with you?
I’ve always been interested in business. I’m drawn to business not because I’m interested in crunching numbers all day, but because I’m interested in learning where a company’s value comes from. I just think about iPhone and Apple, for instance; there is an insane, ridiculous Apple cult following, with investors playing 400 dollars for a single company stock. The qualitative and social aspects of business are what I find most interesting.

2. How did your experiences at Tufts help shape your career path?
At Tufts, I was Quantitative Economics major and an Entrepreneurial Leadership Studies Minor (ELS). Hands-down, I learned so much more from my ELS minor than all of my economics classes combined. It’s what made me really consider banking finance and business. Through my classes, I created business plans for hypothetical start-up companies, through which I’d project a company’s financial growth and comprise marketing plans. Much of what I learned was applicable to my internships and current job.

3. Did you have any internships and/or prior work experiences within finance?
I was part of Tufts Financial Group my junior year. The summer after my sophomore year, I interned for a mutual fund company in Shenzhen, China. After my junior year, I interned at Brown Brothers Harriman, and I’m currently working in this same group today.

4. How did you land your job at Brown Brothers Harriman?
One of my ELS professors announced to our class that there was an internship opportunity for an internship at BBH (Brown Brothers Harriman). I applied and was offered the internship, which I did right after my junior year. It was a great learning experience and from there, I kept in touch with co-workers and human resources. Then, I applied for an opening in my group during spring of my senior year.

5. What are your day-to-day responsibilities at the company?
I work in the healthcare corporate banking group. We make loans out to middle-market healthcare companies, which include medical technologies, healthcare services, etc. My job is to analyze these different companies. I write credit analysis reports---almost similar to what I did for my ELS business plans---which contain an overview of the company, an analysis of the competition and the market, financial modeling, and forecasting. As an entry-level analyst, I basically support whoever else needs my help.

6. What is the work climate at BBH like?
The specific team that I work on contains 10 people. It’s a very collegiate atmosphere. You’re working on your own-time---you don’t clock in or clock out---and you take on your own responsibilities. It’s a very professional atmosphere, very business-y. But at the same time, it doesn’t give off a snooty banker vibe. Everyone is so nice and all willing to help; they know I’m the “new girl” on the floor. It took just a couple of weeks to get over the initial intimidation.

7. What are your favorite aspects of the job?
I am really lucky to have been placed in the healthcare group. I find it really exciting to be in healthcare, and I feel like it just adds more value to the work I’m doing. I’m investing in companies that are saving people’s lives every day. There is so much happening with new healthcare initiatives; there are enormous opportunities for healthcare IT and service providers because of the economic climate and new healthcare policies, and it’s been so interesting to monitor what’s going on in the current market. It is rewarding to provide money for companies that are physically helping other people.

8. What skills do you feel are important to succeed at a job in finance?
You should be a math person and just generally comfortable with numbers. You should also be very analytical and open-minded, and be able to find different ways of looking at situations. As an analyst, you are constantly evaluating various companies and situations. I think it’s important to be confident in the work you do, to have conviction and stand behind your points.

I also think it’s important to have good communication and inter-personal skills. Senior level bankers interact with clients everyday; in a business role, it’s all about networking. You could be biggest math and excel whiz, but if you can’t interact and connect with other people, you won’t get that far.

9. Where do you envision yourself in 5-10 years?
I definitely want to go to business school and get my MBA within the next 3-4 years. I am studying for the GMAT right now. I want to stay within business, but I’d also be open to seeing what comes out after business school. For now, I am planning to stay with BBH; I’ve already learned so much in the past few years, and I’d love to keep growing within the company. I am very excited by healthcare, and I could definitely see myself staying there if I have the option. I also like the weird, geeky gadget sectors related to technology. It would be awesome to be able to work in a variety of different sectors.

10. What advice do you have for undergraduates on the job-search?
Put yourself out there and network. When I was a senior, it was the only advice anyone gave us. I was skeptical about it at first, but it really is the most helpful thing you could do as a student. I never realized this until I graduated, but I’ve found that people are so much more willing to help you out if you say you’re a student. If you go to a random networking event and walk up to someone and say that you want to learn more about his/her professional life, they will generally want to help you. My professor was a huge help is how I got my job today, for instance; that’s networking. You just put yourself out there and ask to hear more information. Welcome any and all advice, as you never know when it’ll come in handy. And stay in touch with everyone that you know; you never know when they’ll link you to an opportunity

Network Your Way Through The Holidays

2011-11-17T15:33:00.010-05:00

There’s absolutely nothing better than Thanksgiving---the warm feeling of dining with our loud-mouthed families, gorging on oven-fresh turkey, entirely not caring that in a matter of seconds we’ll be too full too move. After weeks of clobbering workloads, this sounds just fantastic---what we could all use and really need. Thanksgiving forces us to leave behind lonesome library hours for face-to-face interaction. From a Career Services stand-point, these animated conversations might benefit us more than we know.

We all have those family members and friends that we only see during the holidays, just once or twice a year. After having the cliché freak-out that we’ve grown up so fast, they love asking about our lives—especially our real-world lives. Chances are, we’ll be talking about, rehashing, repeating, and re-repeating our career interests, job-search progress, and aspirations for the future. Whether we’re conscious of it or not, our Thanksgiving will be filled-to-the-brim with career chatter.

And why not take advantage of the career tips and networking opportunities Thanksgiving offers? Bask in the glory of being the night’s center-of-attention and roll with it. This is a time to openly and candidly talk about your aspirations, concerns, stresses, goals, roadblocks-- really anything-- in a non-judgmental and entirely supportive setting.

Of course, there’s always the consequence of too much too fast. If you’re tired of fielding questions about your career saga, redirect the focus a bit. See this as an opportunity to gather information from your curious family questioners, who most definitely have some tidbits about this daunting thing called real-life. If the time calls for it, you might even ask your Thanksgiving attendees about their own career-lives---the current affairs of their own industry and how they landed that coveted first job. Even if they’re not in your field, they might have connections to field-relevant professionals, or know of some potential opportunities.

Thanksgiving is also a chance to set the stage for any career development on-the-agenda for winter break. In contrast to the mad-dash of Thanksgiving, winter break offers us a long expanse of time to arrange informational interviews, mingle with local professionals, and put our networking skills to good use. If we find a spare moment during the Thanksgiving recess, why not reach out to a few professionals to check in, reinforce our interest, and arrange a meeting for the month to come? It’s never too early to get your name etched into an employer’s busy calendar.

It goes to show that career-development is truly an everywhere, anywhere process. The most candid and vibrant career chatter springs alive when we’re in an atmosphere of relaxation and comfort. And besides, career talk is always most successful over a slice of pumpkin pie.

Jumbo Spotlight: Non-Profit Program Coordinator, Maura Donahue

2011-11-07T11:42:00.015-05:00

I had the opportunity to chat with Tufts alum Maura Donahue A10, the talented, tech-savvy, and ever-busy program coordinator at the Children’s Advocacy Center. Read on as Maura discusses her vibrant work experiences, the infamous job search, and how her own Jumbo college days inspired her professional growth.

1.What was your college major? How did your experience at Tufts shape your interest in the non-profit field?

Tufts has a great college atmosphere; it promotes active citizenship, and there are so many classes and activities that cater to students who have a cause and genuinely want to improve the universe. I found this calling in Peace and Justice Studies, and Art History brought a creative element to it. My senior year, I wrote a senior honors thesis that explored public art projects with a social activism component. I was also involved with Collaborative Peace Games, which is an afterschool program that teaches nonviolence/nonviolent communication skills to middle schoolers. My interest in the non-profit field extended from my academic classes as well as my internship and volunteer experiences during my time at Tufts.

2. Can you expand on the mission of the Children’s Advocacy Organization?

When an incident of sexual or physical child abuse is reported, the Children’s Advocacy Center of Suffolk County coordinates a multi-disciplinary team of police, prosecutors, social workers, advocates and medical and mental health professionals to provide specialized services for the child and their family. An example of a service is a forensic interview conducted at our Center, observed together by the Team. This is why [the Children’s Advocacy Center] has such a special mission. Before the CAC, the child would have to tell their story multiple times, perhaps to a teacher, then to a guidance counselor, then to a lawyer or social worker, and so on. Each time a child is telling his/her story, it’s reinforcing the trauma. At the Children’s Advocacy Center, the whole idea is centered on the best possible interest of the child. We exist so that children can tell their story comfortably and that they can tell it only once.

3.How did you land your job at the Children’s Advocacy center?

I had not heard of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Suffolk County before I applied for the position. I found the job opening on Idealist, which advertises a lot of non-profit positions. After not hearing back a month after applying, I sent a follow-up email, reiterating my interest in the organization and offering supplemental information. Then I was offered an interview. I came in for a second interview, and afterwards I was offered the position. I’ve found that there are so many ways to engage in the job search and just get your name and goals out there – use what works best for you!

4. What is your position at the Children’s Advocacy Center? What are your day-to-day responsibilities?

I am the Program Coordinator at the Children’s Advocacy Center. In many ways, it’s been a crash-course. In a small non-profit, the Program Coordinator can be charged with many responsibilities and tasks because there is often a lot to get done. I have learned many new skills; for example I never thought I would be using Quick books accounting software after graduation. It is beneficial for the organization to do projects in-house, which has led me to take on projects such as web-page programming and social media. This involved a new mastery of design work, primarily utilizing Adobe InDesign. Our generation is in-tune with computers in ways that I didn’t recongize while at Tufts and it has been exciting to bring that to the CAC

The other part of my job is supporting the development sector. This involves not only raising funds, but also raising awareness about the CAC. I work closely with the Development Director to find ways to bring our mission to people and foster their engagement, which we often do through events and programs. One particularly special event we organize is called Hope Blooms, launching this fall. We will plant 1122 crocus bulbs on the Greenway in Boston in recognition of each child referred to our organization last year. The first blooming of these flowers embodies the first signs of hope in spring after a long winter, so this event has a very symbolic meaning that speaks to the CAC mission.

5. What are your favorite parts about the job?

I work with so many people who are really dedicated to the mission of the CAC. It is inspiring to observe the work of direct services providers who have an extremely difficult and admirable job. My other favorite part of the job is the day-to-day challenge. When I graduated from Tufts, I would have told you that I had limited technical knowledge in the computer realm. Now I feel much more confident, using HTML programming, Adobe InDesign, and accounting tools on a nearly daily basis.. So much of my experience has been about tackling new skills formerly outside my comfort zone. It’s fun and rewarding to know that you’re growing your professional skill set and truly contributing to an organization.

6. What skills do you feel are most necessary to succeed at your job?

I think it’s really valuable to be a go-getter and an active problem-solver. If you don’t know how to do something, try to seek out the advice of people who do. If that isn’t possible in the moment, do what college students do best: Google it! And it’s also important to be flexible, especially in a smaller non-profit. I always find myself lending support to co-workers, and vice-versa, and I’ve continued to learn the importance of being a good team player.

7. Is there a particular experience or moment on-the-job that especially sticks out to you?

Last December, one of my first responsibilities was to plan the Holiday Toy Drive. We partnered with South Station, where all of the toys were collected, and we distributed the toys to our partner agencies, which reach the children that we serve. It was such an incredible feeling knowing that each of those toys was going to be in the hands of a child; it made me want to go to work even more. It was wonderful witnessing a stranger’s act of kindness in donating the toys, and then seeing how that kindness was passed along to create more of it. Out of all my experiences, this was especially close to my heart.

8. What steps did you take while at Tufts to get a leg up in the job hunt? What advice do you have for undergrads currently embarking on the career search?

While I knew what my interests and passions were during college, it didn’t always seem like there was a very clear career path when it came time to job search. I started to do a variety of informational interviews with alumni through Tufts Career Network during my senior year and after graduation. It was a great experience to hear from people who had gone to Tufts, and I would highly recommend it. Through the interviews, I also found out about jobs that I didn’t even know existed! I learned about their career trajectory, and it helped me understand that you don’t always have to know exactly where you’re going; if you keep in mind what makes you happy and what motivates you, things have a way of working out. My advice to undergraduates during the job hunt is to keep your confidence and know that you’re a qualified candidate with a lot to offer!

Should I Go To Graduate School?

2011-10-28T12:38:00.018-04:00

As we map out our post college paths, the graduate school question instantly comes to mind. It’s all anyone seems to be talking about, dialing home about, and speedily running to career services about. And the question still remains: are we ready to bravely join the suit-and-tie clad work populace on their tightly wound 9-5 routines? Or are we not quite willing to part with fluorescent-lighted classrooms, gifted professors, and the art of simply learning? Are sixteen years as students enough, or does the fact that we’re “technically done now” freak you out?

In this day and age, the grad school question is increasingly complicated. It requires us to consider an amalgamation of factors, some of which neatly coincide, others of which collide and clash, leaving it up to us to weigh the pros and cons of laboring through GRE prep books and program applications.

First of all, there’s the cost. While public universities cost $10,000 to $25,000 per year, private ones demand as much as $40,000 for that upper-level degree. Some of us have just emptied our pockets for our undergraduate education; are we in the position to trade first-year salaries for the lofty price of grad school? Will spending the big bucks upfront confer us the starting salary and job title we’re hoping for?

But with this said, it’s important to keep in mind that times have changed. The same post-graduate steps we may have taken 10, or even 5, years ago might not be as practical in the wake of today’s crippling economic recession. According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, the number of new students enrolled in 2010 graduate programs actually dipped for the first time in 7 years. While eager-to-learn professionals are more reluctant to abandon current jobs, businesses with tight budgets have been forced to reduce grad-school funding. And then there’s the uncomfortable fact churning in the back of all our minds: will there be a job waiting at the end of your graduate degree?

But this is not meant to deter the grad-school bound from expanding our intellectual curiosities. It’s just to get us to think—really think— about what we hope to take away from graduate school, why we’re choosing a given program, and (the most nagging question of all), when we should be applying.

As always, a sure way to start detangling these thorny questions is to do your research. If you have a so-called dream job in mind, see what kind of advanced degree and/or work experience is required to seize that prized opening and advance up the ladder. Talk to everyone you can—family, peers, teachers, professionals, and our ever-helpful Career Services staff. Generally speaking, keep up with the changing current of your specific industry and the general job hunt game; research the credentials and qualifications needed today to make headway in your field-of-choice.

Across all professions, hiring recruiters value work experience, which proves our ability to perform job functions in ways schooling often can’t. While that prestigious degree shows your depth and breadth of knowledge, time spent immersed in a field’s fast-paced climate proves you’re well-prepared, experienced and refreshingly easy-to-train. In fact, most master’s and doctorate programs highly recommend—or even require—candidates to buckle down for a few years of applicable experience BEFORE applying. A year or two in the work force adds “real-world” experience to your application credentials, a perk that admissions officers eat right up.

But much more than an application perk, meaningful work experience both during and after college offers an expanse of time to just figure things out. It’s by trading the confines of campus for the vibrant work arena—enmeshing ourselves in this whole wide world of professionals and their ideas and perspectives—that we can genuinely know what it is we want to do. Only then might we decide how graduate school fits into our long-term career equation. Is that advanced degree the logical next step in achieving our career goals? Or do we see space to move up the ladder through work experience alone?

So before you dive into scribbling applications and snagging teacher recs, thoughtfully consider some of these larger questions. Keep in mind the insurmountable value of work experience and first-hand professional insight. And, most importantly, remember that it‘s okay not to have all the answers yet; it’s often by keeping our minds wide-open—letting all that impending real-world experience take its course—that our questions will be answered right for us.

Jumbo Spotlight: Public Health Professional, Carolyn Matheson

2011-10-20T13:33:00.001-04:00

Last week, I had the fantastic opportunity to sit down with Tufts
aluma Carolyn Matheson A08, an aspiring nurse practitioner and true career-star in the world of public healthcare. Read on as Carolyn discusses her exceptional years at The Barbara McInnis House, her ambitious long-term goals, and the steps she took to boot up her professional career.

1. How did you become interested in the healthcare industry?
I came to Tufts not knowing what I wanted to do at all. I grew up in Costa Rica, and came to the states for school. I didn’t even know what a nurse practitioner was. But I was always interested in community service, health, and nutrition. I quickly found the Community Health program at Tufts. This, in conjunction with the Tisch Scholars program gave me the opportunity to get meaningful hands-on experience [in the field]. I have Tufts to thank for exposing me.

2. Did you have any prior work experience in healthcare?
Through the Tisch Scholars program, I worked with immigrant provider groups for health. I even got to do a project on intestinal parasites in Nicaragua. And it was trough my community health internship and the Scholar’s project that I ended up at Healthcare for the Homeless. I had an internship there as a case manager. Since I spoke Spanish, the nurse practitioners there also asked me to help translate. I got a lot of exposure to different aspects of healthcare that I didn’t even know existed.

3. How did you land your job at Barbara McInnis House?
It’s a good example of networking. All of the jobs I’ve gotten are through people I know or have worked with. I first worked with Healthcare for Homeless in Jamaica Plain my senior year. I just loved the organization, and I always stayed in touch with them. I would send people Christmas cards, and I continued to email employers. I knew I enjoyed that organization, and that I could see myself working there.

4. Can you describe your work experience at Barbara McInnis? What were you day-to-day responsibilities?
Barbara McGinnis House is an impatient respite facility under the Healthcare for Homeless umbrella, and it [services] about 110 people. I see all kinds of different people—everyone from those with frostbite to people with terminal cancer. As a case worker, I was responsible for helping people get access to public benefits and food stamps, [filling out] housing applications, helping people get into halfway houses, and so on. I had 26 patients at a time on my caseload. I would do a psych social evaluation of each patient, which covers their family history, substance abuse history, sexual history, and more. It’s to get an idea of how we could best be working with each patient.

5. Can you think of any one experience, or a specific client, that particularly sticks out to you?

I worked for a while with a 21-year-old man, who was from an abusive family and had cancer when he was young. He was born in Boston, moved to Puerto Rico, but came back to Boston when he relapsed at 15. He was found living outside the prudential center. When he came into my care, I started calling around and going back and forth with him to Homestart, who finally came through with an emergency voucher. Bridge over Troubled Waters also opened up and took him in, so now he is living around people his own age.

He is one of my favorite success stories. He now has an interview with the admissions director at Tufts. Mayor Menino has offered to help him with his tuition. I even contacted the Globe, and there’s an article about him in the paper. Through my interactions with some of these patients, I realize that you don’t need to have some advanced degree to make a difference. All it takes is someone to advocate a little bit for someone else.

7. What inspired you to change your career path and pursue your interest in nursing?
Being a nurse practitioner allows you to combine public health with direct patient care. Like a physician, I’d be able to prescribe medication and diagnose [patients]. But I like the nursing model more than the medical model because it offers a more holistic view of a person.

8. What is your graduate program like?

I’m at Northeastern, in a four-year program for people who already have a bachelor's degree. I have a shift at Brigham Woman’s Hospital on Thursdays, which I really love.e. It’s a really diverse group of people in terms of age and background. It’s really hands-on, and many classes have a clinical component.

10. What advice do you have for undergraduates, especially seniors, about to embark on the job-search process?
Network. And I know that people don’t like to hear that, but you need to keep the contacts alive with people that you’ve worked with, including professors. It’s important to put in an effort to keep up relationships.

As for me, I didn’t know anyone in DC. So one day I went online and found a study that was trying to [recruit] participants. I emailed the head of the study and asked to meet with her. She ended up forwarding my resume to every principal investigator and head of research. Before I knew it, I had 5 interviews. So even if people don’t have a job for you, you might as well meet and interact with them. It helps if you are just willing to talk to someone, and it always helps to just think outside the box.

Parents Know More than You Think

2011-10-18T09:30:00.004-04:00

What have you learned from your parents? Good manners? How to ride a bike? The importance of good grades? Now, it’s time for another life-long lesson; this one’s about networking.

More than 100 parents have volunteered to be part of this first-ever event during Parents & Family Weekend:

Parents as Professionals: Informal Networking for Students
Friday, October 28, 3:30-4:30pm, Aidekman Arts Center

Most students say that “networking” intimidates them, and rightly so. It’s a skill you can’t learn in a classroom. So, think of this event as a laboratory of sorts where you can practice asking good questions (because that’s what networking is all about ~ asking questions and exchanging information). Whether you’re considering a career in the arts or engineering, finance or healthcare, you’ll ultimately get your most valuable information by talking to people who do the work that interests you.

Wouldn’t you prefer to practice in a casual, low-stakes environment?

Parents will gather in groups according to profession or industry. You may approach them to discuss their careers and ask for advice (Never, ever, ever ask for a job or internship; that’s considered poor manners and your networking will backfire). Instead, think about the jobs that parents have held, the organizations they’ve worked for, and the industries they know well. What a repository of career expertise!

Parents will gather in one of the following groups: Advertising, PR, Marketing; Arts, Media, Entertainment; Business Management/Administration; Information Technology; Engineering; Consulting; Finance; Healthcare; Law; Education/Government/Nonprofit; or Science/Research. If individuals don’t feel they match these categories, they’ll create their own.

Whether you already love networking or you’re mustering the courage to begin, this occasion offers an ideal opportunity. Dress is casual. No resumes needed. Please register by Tues, Oct. 25 at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VV2KBNP

The Career Services team endorses, promotes, and teaches networking as the most effective tool to identify internships and jobs. We believe it’s a fundamental life skill that you’ll use to build professional relationships, learn about employment opportunities, and advance in your careers. Please take advantage of this valuable networking event.

Where are all the applicants?

2011-10-17T11:49:00.005-04:00

Over here in Career Services were feeling a bit baffled. Despite high turnout at employer events and information sessions, and the fact that the number of employers interviewing students on-campus is up this year by 8%, Tufts students have applied for the positions posted on Tufts Career Connect (TCC) in unusually low numbers. Employers across a wide variety of industries, from education to environmental consulting to finance have struggled to fill their interview schedules with interested candidates. Many positions have received less than half the number of applications they’ve received in years past. One firm with a long tradition of hiring Tufts Seniors, which had more than 50 interested applicants in 2010, had only 19 this year!

So we’re turning to you, the students, to ask “why aren’t you applying?” Send your opinion about what’s going on to Career Services’ Associate Director of Employer Relations Robin Kahan.

LinkedIn 101: Learning the Basics

2011-10-06T16:35:00.018-04:00

As social-media-obsessed college students, we’ve probably at least heard of LinkedIn—the online platform centered on professional networking. But many of us aren’t sure what this site really does. What are the benefits of crafting a Linkedin account, and when should we start? And most importantly, does Linkedin really directly link us to elusive job opportunities, like everyone says it does?

The answer to the latter question is yes. This isn’t to say that you should depend on Linkedin to seize job openings, but as a business-centered platform, Linkedin can show you the door to opportunities, or at least connect you with the people who can. The site hinges on the concept of fostering “connections”, both direct—that is the people that you know and love—and indirect, found through other contacts. In turn, connecting with people unveils lists of other in-the-know people, making the process virtually limitless.

As prowling job-hunters, we could search for specific companies and choose to “follow” them—an in-status that links us to critical information like employment statistics, job titles, employer names, and even current openings. Whether you're looking to see if you know anyone at your top-choice firm, reading up on a firm before a big interview, or trying to affirm your interest in a given organization, the "companies" tab is an invaluable resource.

Also relevant for us job-scouring students are LinkedIn groups, outlets for cultivating new contacts, participating in discussion, and gleaning valuable inside scoop. The number of academic and corporate alumni groups currently totals a whopping 128,000. Along with company and industry-specific groups, keep your eye out for any and all Tufts-related groups—including but not limited to The Tufts Alumni Association, Tufts Engineering Alumni, Tufts University Graduate Community, Tufts International Relations Program, and The Tufts University Institute for Global Leadership Networking.

Now here’s where my own Linked-in saga comes in. Though it seems like I’m quite the expert right now, I hardly knew a thing about this online platform until this past summer. In fact, I probably wouldn’t have made one at all if it weren’t for my forward-thinking boss, who insisted I couldn’t leave without my own account to help with the job hunt. And so, hovering over my boss’s computer, I watched my then-blank Linked-in account materialize before my eyes. Eager to get me into the networking game, Linkedin alerted me to relevant contacts I should “connect” with, encompassing friends, family, acquaintances, and other familiar faces. I then searched for and “connected” with the entire Curtis Brown staff, a few of the authors I’d worked with, and, other prominent figures in the publishing industry who, along with being ever-so-impressive themselves, might open some professional doors down the line.

After my introduction to Linkedin this summer, I hadn’t revisited my page again until just last week. I’d receive email notifications alerting me to people I should reach out to, but bogged down by the stress of college-life, I decided to push all Linked-in matters aside for later. It wasn’t until I was in Shimrit’s office one day last week, chatting about ways to network and snatch jobs, that I learned how useful Linkedin could be even before recruitment hits by storm.

Among its limitless supply of professionals and resources, Linkedin allows us to connect to the Tufts Alumni Association group---an impressive motley of alumni from a mix of fields and professions. I searched the group for big-name publishers and saw that, to my surprise, many Tufts-veterans had in fact made headway in today’s most elite publishing firms. And so, with an encouraging nudge from Shimrit, I resolved to initiate contact with a few of these alumni, new sources of perspective, advice, guidance, and information about the field.

Yes it’s important to be prudent with how and how-often we initiate contact with these digitally minded alums. But because they’ve willingly inserted themselves into this networking world, they may in fact be happy to spare a few minutes for us undergrads. And in any case, we might as well try.

Given the increasingly digital nature of networking and job-hunting, having a Linkedin account is certainly a plus. But of course, when you make one—and how and how-often choose to utilize it—is entirely up to you. The most important thing you can do is just learn about the expansive resources and opportunities this media site has to offer. And years later, while telling the tale of how you snatched your first job, who knows? Maybe you’ll be talking about Linkedin.

Entry-Level Opportunities at Top Companies: Rotational Programs

2011-09-29T12:59:00.008-04:00

It’s hardly surprising that entry-level rotational programs (often called management trainee or leadership development programs) are so enticing to college grads. A rare opportunity to dabble in a variety of departments, they appeal to those who have chosen an industry, but haven’t pinpointed their specific career niche quite yet. What used to be limited to engineers-in-training has broadened to a smattering of industries and fields. The point is to offer employees three-dimensional insight into the company-at-large. And at the end, armed with a wide breadth of knowledge, employees must decide where they wish to spearhead their professional careers.

The length of rotational programs is both company and industry-specific—anywhere from 4 months to 2 years. Managers must determine how long it’ll take new employees to grasp each department’s job functions, as well as acquire the skills necessary to join full-time.

Many employees enter rotational programs with some idea of where they’ll wind up. I’ve heard friends begrudge months in less “exciting” departments, eager to lend their professional juices to the area they'd most prefer to work. But after exposure to various rotations, there’s always the chance you shy away from your original plan in favor of a less-expected sect. And that’s okay! The whole point of the rotational program is to learn--in the thrilling heat of it all---what a department entails, and whether or not it resonates with your skills and interests. For the most rewarding end-result, it’s important to fairly weigh every opportunity, to be perpetually open-minded.

Rotations are also appealing to those in the dark about their professional fortes. For all those with still-hazy aspirations, what could be better than an alternative to the stress of deciding right away? This is all good and true, but there’s also the slight fear that diversifying could be, in a sense, dizzying. With all these experiences under your belt, it might be hard to choose your next job move by the time the program ends.

While being open to the new and unexplored, it’s wise to enter the program with some sort of defined focus. Develop a set of markers for evaluating each rotation and determining its long-term career potential. From there, consider which aspects of the experience resonated with your blossoming interests and which felt less appealing. Do the perks outweigh the less-favorable tag-alongs? And don’t hesitate to raise those all-too-important questions that need to be honestly addressed. Were you excited to plop into your cozy cubicle and revisit yesterday's work, or were you subconsciously ticking off the days until the rotation ended? If it falls somewhere in-between, can you see yourself doing this full-time, without a designated endpoint?

As for me? I was pleasantly surprised to learn that rotational programs aren’t just limited to financial institutions and engineering conglomerates. In fact, they exist across a range of industries, including publishing. Simon and Schuster, one of the nation’s most prominent publishing houses, offers a 12-18 month Associates entry-level rotational program, which offers grads the opportunity to contribute to its various branches: editorial, managing editorial, marketing & publicity, sales, and contracts. My prime publishing experience (as I explored in my last post) lies in editorial---the meticulous reworking of the vibrant literature itself. But given my own evolving interests, and my open-mindedness when it comes to the job hunt, I realize that it might not in my best interest to settle on one specific branch quite yet. Publishing, as I’ve learned, isn’t a simple one-way relationship between editor and author, but an amalgamation of different creative forces, each integral to the production of that next bestseller. I’m realizing more and more that I’m eager to experience the ins and outs of the whole entire process.

And this isn’t just true of publishing. Within just about any field, having an eye for what other branches do cultivates a greater understanding of the entire company, allowing you to best contribute to your individual sector. Thus, rotational programs work in two ways. While funneling your career-interests into one specific path, this panoramic exposure to a company grants you the versatility and knowledge to create a solid foundation for any future career.

Interested in learning more about rotational programs? Read this article on how to succeed in a rotational program, get the scoop from the Vault College Career Bible, and then come hear a panel of employer reps talk about programs including HR, finance, technology, and more at Tips from Employers: Leadership Development/Rotational Programs, Tuesday, October 4th, 7:00-8:30pm in Dowling 745.

Part 2: Summer Internship Reflections

2011-09-27T09:00:00.001-04:00

This is the second part in my account of my summer internship. If you haven't already, read part 1.

There’s no question: I absolutely loved my time at Curtis Brown. Along with teaching me so much about the book industry, it reaffirmed that yes, this is what I want to do. While working on direct behalf of the author, joining them in this exhilarating process from beginning-to-end, agents forge truly intimate connections with author clients. I remember listening, squeezed into my office desk, to my boss engage in catch-ups and discuss wedding plans with her slew of client-turned-best-friends. By getting to so intimately know the author’s work—stubbornly pushing them toward maximizing their creative potential—you can’t help but personally connect to the creative forces behind the on-paper talent. I absolutely loved it. The entire industry just seemed so refreshingly personal

But, gnawing at me underneath my excitement is the reality that the publishing industry is transforming, entering into an unexplored terrain that it has yet to wrap its hands around. With the introduction of new digital outlets, the industry is temporarily struggling to reconcile its shifting role in today’s technology-centered society. E-books and new digital options have encouraged the determined-to-be-published to self-publish online, a process that entirely eliminates the traditional clout held by agent and publisher. And then there’s the tiny fact that, as so many speculate, online forums like e-book kindle could make hard-copy books an antique of the past. As the industry is struggling to locate an identifiable niche in our digitally minded society, entry-level jobs are become harder and harder to come by.

But even despite the slightly unnerving tabloids, and what I’ve personally gathered about the industry’s slippery state, I realized that this industry just makes me happy. No it’s future direction isn’t totally clear, and the initial pay isn’t great, but regardless of all these obstacles, this transforming field just happens to perfectly resonate with my long-held interests. And there’s also something exhilarating about joining an industry at the peak of a remarkable transition, when the future of publishing—and book reading—is embarking on a never-before-seen path.

I think this is an important message across any field. In the wake of today’s work climate, where job insecurity and layoffs are a frightening norm, certain industries feel a bit more daunting than others. But at the end of the day, the tangible rewards pale in comparison to the satisfaction that swells up inside you when you’re doing something you love. Sure, internship and job snatching have become trickier in recent years, but with a good dose of resilience, optimism, and yes, patience, you can meaningfully contribute to the field of your choice, even if you have to wait a bit longer to get there. So, I’ll end with this: once you find a career path that excites you, one that feels stimulating and just plain right, push away any lingering doubts and go for it. Once you get in the door, I’m confident you won’t look back.

So now, that I’ve told you my own internship-saga, come and hear about other summer experiences told through the lens of your very own Tufts peers. Today, Tuesday, September 27, from 4:30 to 6:00pm in Dowling Library, Summer 2011 internship grant recipients will recount their experiences and offer you their now-expert insight on the field. I hope to see you there!

Part 1: My Summer Internship at Curtis Brown

2011-09-26T09:00:00.004-04:00

Now that we’re back on campus, I’m sure we’re clued-in to our friends’ various summer adventures. Many of us dedicated time to summer internships, experiencing the 9-5 work-day far different from our all-over-the-place college lives. Me? From a walk-up East village apartment I leased in New York City, I woke to my 8 a.m. alarm, dressed in my business-casual wardrobe, and walked the five blocks over to the offices of Curtis Brown Ltd, the professional literary agency where I spent the duration of my summer.

I had some basic knowledge of what literary agents do, but it took really being there to understand the roles and responsibilities that “agenting”, as my co-workers affectionately call it, truly entails. Their main job is to “sell” that brilliant author manuscript to a publishing house editor. The agents of the firm directly represent aspiring authors; as experts on publishing lingo and the business of the industry, they protect their rights throughout the acquisition, editorial, and production process.

This isn’t to say that a business-savvy agent isn’t a key figure in the editorial process. Agents, well their interns really, in tons of forwarded-emails, receive at least 20 queries a day, consisting of the story proposal and the first 10 pages of their creation. If an agent is drawn in, he/she requests a larger portion of the manuscript and then the full. From here, he/she decides whether to represent the author’s work.

This, in large part, was my job. Each day I’d parse through queries detailing supernatural monsters at battle, goosebump-inducing ghost stories, Judy-Bloom-esque relationship sagas, and zillions of paranormal-romance-thrillers. And I learned that anyone and everyone wants to be a writer. The eager-to-be published were prior financiers, teachers, accountants, and doctors. My bossed received manuscripts from third-cousins and babysitter’s-daughter’s-neighbors that she didn’t even know existed. What flabbergasted me the most when I gawked at my filled-to-the-brim inbox wasn’t how many people wanted to be writers, but how many people actually sat down and did it.

At first, I sometimes found it challenging to separate my personal opinions from what I felt was objectively “marketable.” It was super tempting to think about what would, logistically speaking, end up on an editor’s table, or what would resonate most with trend-following crowds. But I soon realized that today’s “niche” genre was hardly a measure to go by. In fact, I would hear my boss remind her clients not to write to today’s fad genres, so as not to compromise their personal creative inclinations. Considering their thickening overload in the market, my boss was often hesitant to consider paranormal-romance novels for her list (which could be a good sign for us all).

My first-day on the job, I was immediately sent to “work” on a new young adult manuscript Pastureland, a story about talking horses living in a post-apocalyptic world. At some point between the horse-to-horse romance and climatic war-scene, the clock struck five, and my work for the day was over. I remember giddily thinking to myself on my way out the door: so this is work?

After the first day, predictably, my work schedule became a bit more occupied. As a literary agent’s sole assistant, I found myself responsible for anything and everything that cropped up in her busy work day. My main task was to write editorial letters to clients and lay out my criticisms: lapses in plot/character development, opportunities for layering and depth, and suggestions for strengthening and revising. This of course is highly subjective; there’s always the fear that what an agent feels hinders the story (or what their intern feels), could be the very factor that reels a publisher in. But throughout the summer, I learned to stop questioning myself and trust my literary-inclined gut. And nothing felt better than seeing the agent forward on my responses to talented authors and having them, gasp, actually agree with my suggestions.

Along with catalyzing the editorial process, the busy agent also must “sell” an author’s work once it’s perfected and ready-to-go. Another task involved crafting compelling, catchy submission letters to editors, in part resembling the teaser description you’d find on a book’s back cover.

And then there’s the rejection letters. Although significantly shorter, finding the least-painful way to reject someone’s heart-felt work was extremely difficult. As a writer myself, so personally invested in my own work, I couldn’t help but feel I was crushing dreams on the other side of the creative process. But what made it well worth it were the successful author clients, the ones who managed to claw through the slush piles, impress a picky panel of editors, and thrust their undiscovered gems into the public light. And the feeling of telling an author that his/her story has been loved by a big-name publishing house, and was en-route to being published? Pretty fantastic.

Crash Course in Marketing - To Prep You for Careers in Consulting

2011-09-22T16:00:00.000-04:00

Many students have a basic knowledge of marketing and the “marketing mix” or 4Ps (product, price, promotion/distribution, and place). Whether or not you’re interested in marketing as a career, this model offers a useful framework for your job search and, in particular, the networking aspect.

Promotion is the P we’re talking about here; it represents all the communications and channels that a marketer engages to create positive awareness of a product. Think broadly of “product.” It means more than a tangible entity like clothes or technology. Consider that marketing is used to promote services, ideas, and even people (a political campaign, for example).

Recognize a connection between marketing and job search? It’s all about what happens leading up to the deal itself.

Now, let’s think of you attending Careers in Consulting on Monday evening. Here we have a phenomenal marketing forum. Employers are marketing their brand to you, and vice versa. Think of this evening as a time to create positive awareness of yourself as a potential candidate.

One of the most common and grievous errors that job searchers make is to mistake a marketing opportunity for a sales pitch. Sales is more transactional; it happens only after an individual has been convinced to put money on the table or cast a vote in the polling booth or support a charity.

To move into sales mode when the situation calls for marketing is akin to a high school junior touring Tufts and trying to get a commitment from admissions. The timing’s not right. Remember this when you’re networking and focus instead on how to begin differentiating yourself (again, borrowing marketing techniques to build a “unique selling proposition”).

Employ multiple channels. Dress so you look like you’d easily fit into a corporate environment. Modulate your speech and adjust your language, from dorm quality to workplace. Most importantly, take a cue from consultants coming to campus who have offered their advice to you. Over and over, they offer you the key to your own differentiation.

“Do your homework,” they say.

Think of your own skills, knowledge, and experience and how it would be useful in a particular job and company. Then, set yourself apart with intelligent, well researched questions that demonstrate how thoroughly you’ve studied position requirements and a specific organization, from culture to practice areas.

Listen to Constantin von Wentzel, Director at Navigant and a Tufts alumnus: “Whatever job you’re pursuing, research it! “

And from Swati Shaw, an Analyst at Putnam Associates who graduated this past May: “Take your consulting firm research up a notch. Read through the company’s casework samples, research the CVs of the management team, understand how broader industry trends may impact their casework strategy, and research their type of clients to gain deeper understanding of the nature and value of the firm’s work.”

Good luck with your marketing campaign. See you Monday night.

Prepare For The Fair--Part 2: I'm Here! Now What?

2011-09-20T09:00:00.000-04:00

This is the second installment in our annual "Prepare for the Fair" series. If you haven't already, read "Part 1: Do your Homework."

At the Fair:

So you’re here, sleek and dressed-to-impress, ready to mingle in this colorful sea of job booths, employers, and eager-to-please students. You spot your first employer and slowly inch your way over to his/her booth, resume-in-hand. So…now what do you say?

1. Despite any hard-to-repress inner nerves, now’s the time to appear confident, enthusiastic, and totally-at-ease. Address your employer strongly and clearly, perform your confident but not-too-aggressive handshake, and always (always!) maintain eye-contact. Employers are evaluating not only your on-paper talents, but your interpersonal skills—your capacity to handle new interactions and master work-place social cues. But this isn’t meant to amp the nerves; just be your awesome-to-talk-to self, and you’ll do just fine!

2. Once you’ve made your confident first impression, here’s where the elevator pitch comes in. Similar to those all-too-cheesy openers designed to pick up that night’s crush, think of this as a “pick-up-line”. This is an opportunity for you (in a short 30-60 seconds) to compellingly convey who you are, why you’re interested, and how your skills and interests connect to the company-in-question. While being specific and thorough, this quick intro should be concise and to-the-point, absent of repetitions and extraneous life-details. It’s no question—crafting that concise, attention-grabbing elevator pitch isn’t easy. If you’re struggling with what to say, pay us a quick visit before the Fair and we’re happy to help!

3. After you’ve launched your 30 second intro and catalyzed the interaction, remain confident and proactive in conversation. Chances are, your employer will take some time to explain the company and reel us student crowds in. But when you see an opening, dip into your preparatory research and smartly engage in conversation. Trade the typical career questions for a thought-provoking question or pertinent, newsworthy topic, demonstrative of your preparation and savvy career know-how.

But much more than a showcase of your professional interests, these well-thought-out questions have the potential to most benefit you. Plan your questions wisely so that you come away with personalized career information, tips, and advice, the stuff that you can’t quite find scouring Google. More than anything, the Career Fair is an opportunity to intake career information, gather professional insight, and simply learn, a productive step forward toward reconciling our own hazy career goals.

After-the Fair

So you've survived the fair! But opportunities for career-development hardly end once we say our “nice-to-meet-yous” and exit Gancher’s doors. The way to make the most out of this mingling and networking crunch-time is to follow-up—start transforming this brief introductory meet-up into a consistent networking relationship. Once following up with an email or hand-written thank-you (a must!), we recommend that you craft an organized list of each employer who you encountered, indicating the date of your last encounter, plans to follow up, and other career events involving that company. Also, be sure to check out the Career Services website to learn when employers are visiting Tufts for on-campus interviews. I hope this Career Fair “how-to” has been helpful, and has more-or-less cleared up any bugging questions or concerns. As a senior slowly starting to grasp college’s expiration date, I’ll definitely be there somewhere in this eclectic, student-packed crowd—experiencing the same valuable take-aways the career fair has to offer. I hope to see you all there!

Prepare for the Fair--Part 1: Do your Homework

2011-09-15T15:09:00.016-04:00

Chances are, you’ve probably heard a thing or two about our Career Fair. To refresh your work-overloaded memories, more than 100 diverse organizations and recruiters will be flooding campus on Friday September 23rd, the echoing halls of Gancher to be exact, poised and ready to mingle with us career-aspiring Tufts students. It’s a tremendous opportunity for us job-prowling seniors, especially those with looming recruiting deadlines. But, regardless of your stage in the job-hunt, anyone and everyone can benefit from gaining career information, practicing networking skills, and forging face-to-face connections, which—lucky for us---are essentially timeless.

Some of you may already have an excited, red-inked note scribbled into your calendars. But others might be debating whether to add this to your busy college schedules, especially if you you don’t see a company that instantly piques your interest, or just don’t feel the job-search pressure quite yet. But despite the preparatory work and jittery day-of nerves, it’s worth it. If you find a connection to even just one employer, or want to learn about less familiar industries, why not hand out a few resumes and take in some insightful career banter? Plus, it never hurts to simply get your name out there.

Also, keep in mind that job opportunities aren’t rigidly divided by college major. Lucky for those of us with not-so-straightforward career goals, there’s no neon-yellow sign directing the English majors to the media booths and the economic-whizzes to the finance tables. So, as long as you demonstrate a thoughtful interest in the company-at-hand, you may as well broaden your horizons and chat with a range of employers. You never know where it could lead!

Preparing:

So you’ve decided to attend the Career fair. Now what?

1. Before you do anything, you need to know whose coming. Scout out our list of attending companies, research the job position, and craft a condensed list of the opportunities that resonate with your career-goals. You might even consider crafting a “top-priority” A-list of employers and a second “if-there’s time” B list. But don’t overextend yourself; if you’re feeling overwhelmed, try to minimize your list to 5-6 booths, so that you have sufficient, stress-free time to chat with the employers that topped your list.

2. To eliminate stressful booth-to-booth scrambling, try to map out your career-fair-plan---a basic schedule of the booths you’ll visit and the (expected) time you’ll spend at each. You may get reeled toward other attention-grabbing booths, but (if possible!), try to visit your priority companies before you wander towards others that catch your eye.

3. Once you’ve pinpointed and prioritized, take some time to carefully research the company and employer representatives you’ve chosen to explore---including typical candidate qualifications, demands of the position, and job locations. Along with the job position, familiarize yourself with the values and broader mission of the company itself, along with any newsworthy affair taking the industry by storm---a sure way to guarantee smart, stimulating conversation with each company representative.

4. Now that you’ve gotten the inside scoop, make sure that your own resume, fresh, fully updated, and ready for hiring-eyes. On September 19^th-21^st , Career Services commences its annual Resume Critique Days, a chance to pick apart your resume alongside an expert career professional. Consider tailoring your resume to each attending company you select, especially if you plan to visit a diverse range of employers. Be sure to have a number of copies on-hand, fresh and ready to pass on to each employer of interest. It can’t hurt to have access to plenty of extras too, in case you strike conversation with someone outside your original list.

5. To avoid conversation stumblers and messy resume wrinkles, we recommend that you carry a sleek, organized folder, a handy place to store your list of employers, company information, and resume copies. It’s also a convenient way to swiftly stow away all the pocket-size business cards, company information (and trinkets!) you collect.

** For an even more in-depth look at how to master the fair---networking advice, helpful hints, and more career-fair do-and-don’ts---be sure to attend our Prepare for the Fair event on Monday, September 19^th, 5-6 p.m. in Dowling 745A. And, check back tomorrow for the second part of our Prepare for the Fair series!

Interested in Consulting? Learn More at a Lively “Un-Panel”

2011-09-15T09:05:00.002-04:00

What’s an ‘un-panel’? Find out on Monday evening, Sept. 26, when we immerse you in the world of consulting without the formal structure that characterizes many career presentations. Instead, you can chat with consultants, ask what’s on your mind, and gain first-hand perspective to complement what you’ve learned from Vault, Spotlight on Careers, and other helpful resources. Some of our invited guests graduated in 2011 and 2010, so they understand where you are right now.

Register today to join more than 20 consultants and recruiters from 13 organizations, most of them hiring at Tufts right now. See list of participants.

Careers in Consulting: An Evening of Networking
Monday, Sept. 26. 6:30-8:30pm, Alumnae Lounge
Join employers and alumni for small group discussion about applying for jobs, interviewing, and consulting career paths.
Networking Workshop: 6-6:30pm, Remis Sculpture Court.
Get last-minute tips to help you make a great impression.

When we’ve offered consulting events in the past, we often heard from students that they didn’t get an opportunity to speak with someone in particular or couldn’t ask a specific question. That’s why we’ve created an un-panel for you: an evening of networking where you’re in control of your own agenda ~ who’s on it and what to address.

Eager? Curious? Intimidated? Wherever you are on the spectrum, Career Services can help. Please review our “must-do” steps to prepare and come early to get networking tips before the event.

Consulting is a broad term. Many students think it means strategy or management consulting; however, the industry is far more diverse. You’ll see this diversity when you study the backgrounds of the alumni and the firms who are coming to Careers in Consulting. Be open to this breadth, rather than limiting yourself. This advice comes directly from consultants themselves.

Consulting firms have distinctly different practice areas and clients. Do you enjoy quantitative work but have no interest in Wall Street? Take a look at Cambridge Associates which offers investment consulting for a range of clients from nonprofits to government agencies. Putnam Associates has branded itself as “consultants to the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.” For technology types, Exeter Group specializes in IT consulting (Pam Tarro, Recruiting Director, also stipulates that they’re open to liberal arts students and encourages all majors to review their postings).

There are dozens of opportunities posted at Tufts Career Connect. For a quick search, click on Campus Interviews and Resume Drops.

Stop by the Career Carnival, Monday 9/12

2011-09-09T08:30:00.000-04:00

12 - 2 pm, Monday, September 12
Tisch Library Patio (across from main library entrance)

Stop by your class table to gather helpful information, indulge in carnival snack food, enjoy the music and weather, and enter a raffle to win gift cards to the Tufts Bookstore or early admission into the Career Fair and a chance to be the first to speak with employers of your choice.

We look forward to seeing you on Monday!

Welcome Back!

2011-09-06T09:10:00.000-04:00

Welcome back to Tufts everyone! After a hopefully relaxing and memorable summer, it’s once again time to navigate new class schedules and--with the help of Tufts Career Services!---continue crafting our ambitious career paths. As a rising senior (wow that sounds weird), this summer left an especially unique take-away. By this time next year, I won’t be selecting courses or engaging in the annual charade of frantic last-minute packing, but (fingers crossed) preparing for a real-life job---or at least some sort of delineated career path. It’s sure daunting, terrifying to say the least, but there’s also something oddly exhilarating about this unpredictable next stage of our lives.

No matter our background, majors, or aspirations, we’re all probably starting to feel this idea of “real-life” creeping up on us. Whether we’re seniors looking for sleek, full-time jobs or underclassman eyeing summer internships, we’ll all be job scouring and career evaluating at some point this year. But rather than stressfully shuffling when an opportunity comes, there are plenty of ways to be on our job-hunting-game throughout the semester. Once we settle in and reclaim our comfortable college routines, here are some ways to help make this upcoming year feel as manageable and stress-free as possible.

1. Make Lists!
Without my smattering of bright post-its filled with to-do lists, I’d personally be at a total loss. You might craft lists of helpful contacts, job sites, open positions, HR email addresses, or whatever other information is pertinent to your career hunt. You might also consider creating a tidy excel spreadsheet of your networking contacts, listing the date you last spoke and when you plan to follow up. And if you aren’t an active contender in the job-hunt quite yet, why not list out your steps and/or goals for the months to come?

2. Perfect your Resume
While already on your organizational game, why not give the resume a quick look-over? It’ll be a huge stress-reliever to know its fresh and ready even before job recruitment hits by storm, to be quickly accessed the second an opportunity arises. Our advice? Avoid the stress of a frenzied last-minute office run and make an appointment as early as possible. Pay us a visit during our Resume Critique Week (September 19-21), where our expert staff will perfect your resume just in time for the upcoming Career Fair. Or receive one-on-one attention during our newly expanded drop-in hours (no appointment necessary)!

3. Check out Career Services online resources
And there are plenty of them! Check out Tufts Career Connect, a super helpful aggregator of Tufts-connected job listings across a variety of fields. And for seniors on the career-prowl, this is also a great time to set up a job agent, a resource that alerts you through email with new or updated job postings that match your job-search criteria. Also, start to scour through Tufts Career Network, a collection of 9,000 plus Tufts alums of all ages, interests, and fantastic professional stories, all willing to let us Tufts students pick their ultra-experienced brains.

4. Make a Note of Career Services Events
Whether in our “icals” or pocket-sized assignment pads, make a note of these important, super-informative Career Services sponsored events. From informational sessions to vibrant networking events filled with soon-to-be hirers, Career Services has organized a slew of events that cater to our burgeoning professional interests.

5. Talk, Talk, Talk
Yes--the number-one way to wheedle our way into this classy career world is to, simply enough, chat! Not only with our familiar everyday contacts, but those outside your carved-out comfort zone, brimming with fresh suggestions, perspectives, and insight. Ironically, I’ve found it’s those out-of-the-box people I’ve spontaneously conversed with who’ve managed to most impress and inspire me. Who knew that my dentist for instance, an expert on cavities and molars, would--thanks to a family of publishers---have such fresh insight on the rapidly changing book market?

6. Take Advantage of the Many Ways to Access Career Services
Even with our self-starter personas, tackling this career whirlwind is near impossible without real guidance and support. Lucky for us, Career Services offers just that. Whether for a mock interview, a bugging career question, or even for an inspiring chat, Career Service’s warm, welcoming staff is always here. Stop by our expanded drop-in hours to speak with a career counselor today. No appointment is necessary!

7. Lastly--and most importantly---relax and enjoy!
Whether you’re a Tufts newbie or a rising, been-there-done-that senior, there is so much offered on this eclectic, energetic campus that with just one year left, I’m scared I won’t get to it all. Trust me, college whizzes by--way too rapidly--and the best thing we can do is enjoy every second that we have.

Calling all Grammarphobes: Improve Your Communication Skills in Time for Applications

2011-06-23T19:04:00.000-04:00

Happy summer, everyone! You know what I think of when I reflect on fun summer activities?

That's right...improving my vocabulary and grammar usage!

haha...Okay, so maybe that's not quite at the top of the list, but it is a productive use of time. As an added bonus, a better grasp of language will help you communicate effectively with future employers (and anyone else, for that matter!)

Each year, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) conducts a survey asking employers to rank the top skills they look for in new college hires. What tops the list? You guessed it - communication. In fact, it's so important that verbal and written communication get seperate mentions on the list.

Why, then, do students come to Career Services with resumes and cover letters full of typos and grammatical errors? Aren't these "assignments" just as important as the ones given by professors?

While some errors can be attributed to carelessness (and fixed with a careful review of the draft), others may benefit from a better understanding of English grammar and usage - which rules should be obeyed and which ones can be broken.

I'll be the first to admit that I don't know all the rules; I use too many commas and wonder when it's okay to split an infinitive.

Enter a helpful resource that I'd like to recommend: Woe is I: The Grammarphobe's Guide to Better English in Plain English by Patricia T. O'Conner, now in its 3rd edition.

I often refer to this book in meetings with students. For instance, when reviewing a cover letter, I might draw attention to the use of unique (e.g. "My unique contributions to the class...") As O'Conner points out, "If it's unique, it's the one and only. There's nothing like it - anywhere. There are no degrees of uniqueness, because the unique is absolute." Thus, is a contribution unique or is another word more appropriate?

Sound nit-picky? Perhaps. But I can't tell you how many times I've heard an employer say, "Candidate X talks about being detail-oriented in her cover letter, but look how many errors it has!" (The same could be said of personal statements for graduate school.)

Even emails, while casual, offer a chance to make a good impression. Here's an excerpt from O'Conner's book regarding email etiquette:

This may come as a shock to some of you, but email (or other cyber-writing) is no excuse for lousy English. Yes, it's often informal, but informal doesn't (or shouldn't) mean incoherent.

The things we like about email - its speed and its breezy style - can lead to misunderstandings. So email unto others as you would have them email unto you. Here's how.

Be specific in the subject line. And be sure it doesn't sound like spam!
Get to the point. The guy at the other end doesn't have all day.
Watch your English. If you write to Aunt Agatha and she cares about grammar and spelling and such, then you should too.
Go easy on the cybertalk. Use emoticons and acronyms only if Dr. Chomsky will get them - and welcome them!
Don't forget to use the shift key. Writing that's ALL CAPITALS or all lowercase is hard to read.
Say what you're replying to. The reader might have a short memory.
Check your facts. The internet is full of misinformation, so don't spread it around.
Read it again before clicking send. You'll be surprised at what you find.

Thinking about brushing up on your grammar and vocab? Consider this book, and check out Patricia O'Conner's blog at http://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/.

Dress for Success: The Interview and Beyond

2011-06-13T18:36:00.000-04:00

You have an interview coming up...great! You'll read about the interview process, practice questions, and schedule a mock interview with Career Services. Once you're feeling ready to go, how do you choose an interview outfit that will match your confidence and professionalism?

According to Vault.com, 87% of employers have interacted wtih job applicants who dressed inappropriately for the interview. Sounds pretty high, huh? However, not every mistake is as blatant as wearing mismatched socks or a super-short skirt. I once had lunch with an employer who told me that he was distracted by a Tufts candidate's perfume, not only because the scent was overwhelming, but it made him think of an ex-girlfriend! In Career Services, we like to remind students that personal appearance, which includes anything from attire, shoes and jewelry to makeup, hair and perfume/cologne, should not distract from the goal of your interview - to make a great impression.

As you're preparing for your interview, here are some "Dress for Success" tips for both women and men:Dress for Success - Women
Dress for Success - Men

Ask the Career Counselor: Salary Expectations

2011-06-07T11:44:00.000-04:00

Okay, so you're filling out an application and you see a question asking about your salary expectations. Yikes! What now? Well, as you can imagine, you wouldn't want to address this question without doing some research. Your goal in providing an answer will be to give a reasonable range that allows for future discussion and negotiation with the employer.

Ideally, the employer will be the first to propose a salary range, usually toward the end of the intereview process. You'll then be able to use your research to determine how the employer's range compares with your estimate.

What about an online submission that requires a salary range as part of the application process? In this case, you may need to be prepared with your answer a little earlier. When given a blank text box, some candidates refrain from providing a specific number and instead say "competitive salary range." Still others provide a general statement such as "If selected for an interview, I would be glad to discuss my salary expections in person and would be eager to hear more about [name of organization]'s compensation package." Dodging the question may be a risky approach, however, so it's best to discuss your approach with a career advisor first.

Regardless of when salary enters the conversation, you'll need to be ready! What do you need to know to get started? You'll definitely want to be on the lookout for commonly used job titles for the positions that interest you. Whether it's "paralegal" and "legal assistant" or "account coordinator" and "assistant account manager," keep track of different titles when you're looking at employer websites or search engines. Check out this page - Where are Tufts graduates working? - to see survey data from recent Tufts grads, including employer name, location, position title, and more.

You can also take advantage of our subscription to The Vault Online Library for information about typical career paths and employers in the fields that interest you. For example, I might download the Vault Guide to Book Publishing to understand how career paths and job titles differ between the editorial, marketing, sales, and production areas within publishing. To access the Vault Guides, create an account with your Tufts email address, log in, and click "Guides" at the top of the page.

In addition to job titles commonly used by employers in your field of interest, know your geographic preferences and how those locations will impact salaries. You may not make as much as an entry-level consultant in Madison, WI as you would in NYC, but the cost of living is also much lower! Check out this post for resources that will help you create a budget that factors in your expected salary and cost of living.

Once you have a list of job titles and geographic locations, you can use the following websites to gather sample salary data:
Glassdoor.com
Conduct searches on Glassdoor using position titles (or organization names) and locations. To access all the info on Glassdoor, you'll need to join their community, which is pretty easy. If you've had a job or volunteer position, just provide salary information or a review of the organization or its interview process (all anonymous) and you're in!

Here are a few other sites to consider:
NACE Salary Caluculator
Salary.com

Estimating a reasonable salary range involves collecting multiple pieces of data, which could involve experimenting with different job titles, organizations, and locations. The goal of all your research is to come up with a 5K range that you'll keep in mind throughout the application process.
Remember: Career Services advisors are here to help you navigate the salary and negotiation process! Call 617.627.3299 to make an appointment (in-person, phone or email) with a career advisor.

Spotlight on Green Careers

2011-05-25T12:31:00.000-04:00

Did you know that recycling is a $238 billion industry employing more than 1 million people? While "going green" is often associated with recycling, there are many career fields worth exploring that didn't exist 5-10 years ago. For example, do you know any wind resource analysts? They're the people who assess potential wind farm projects using meteorological data. In their book Green Jobs: A Guide to Eco-Friendly Employment, Llewellyn, Hendrix and Golden dispel a common myth by pointing out that the job growth we’re seeing in this industry isn’t limited to “strictly green” jobs; rather, there are openings for environmentally conscious researchers, accountants, managers, and more.

Are you interested in finding organizations whose missions align with your environmentally-minded values? Consider researching employers using websites like http://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/, which lists companies that donate one percent of their profits to environmental causes, and The Carbon Disclosure Project, a site that allows users to track the progress of 2500+ companies that have chosen to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and corresponding climate change plans.

If these ideas sound good, you might also try...
http://www.fastcompany.com/mic/2010 - World’s Most Innovative Companies
http://www.inc.com/green/ - Scroll down to profiles of “The Green 50”
http://www.csrwire.com/directory - Good for searching organizations committed to social responsibility

Also, check out our subscription the Vault Online Library, featuring 90+ downloadable PDF career guides packed with useful info. Create an account with your Tufts email, log in, and click "Guides." In particular, you may want to look at the following:
- Guide to Environmental Careers
- Guide to Green Programs

Remember: Career advisors are prepared to discuss your field(s) of interest, whether it's green jobs or something completely different. Give us a call at 617.627.3299 to schedule an in-person, phone or email appointment.

Tips for New Grads

2011-05-19T10:29:00.000-04:00

There is a good reason they call these ceremonies "commencement exercises." Graduation is not the end; it's the beginning. ~Orrin Hatch

Congratulations, graduates! This Sunday marks the beginning of an exciting journey into your post-college life. You're probably feeling excited, nervous, and many other things all at once. You might be looking for a few ways to manage all the change to come. Well, you're in luck! Here are a few resources to check out:

Managing Contacts
LinkedIn - Maintain and develop new relationships with the largest professional networking tool online. For more info, check out these posts:
I Joined LinkedIn...Now What?
Clean Up Your Digital Dirt!
Grad Guide Videos - All You Need to Know about Using LinkedIn

Google Contacts - Yet another way to make sure you save valuable contact info

Managing Money
Loan Repayment Handout from Tufts Financial Aid - Read about repayment and consolidation options, deferment, forbearance and more

Mint.com - Free money mangement tools for budgeting, saving and investing

Managing Time
Remember the Milk - An online to-do list and task management tool with phone and email download options

Evernote - Save links, pictures, documents and more and organize your info by keyword for future searches

Google Calendar - Needless to say, Google has many useful tools, so here's yet another if you aren't already using it!

If you're like me and you like to exchange reading something on a screen for good ol' fashioned print once in a while, check out the following books:

Getting from College to Career: 90 Things to Do Before You Join the Real World by Lindsey Pollak

What Now? by Ann Patchett

Life After College: The Complete Guide to Getting What You Want by Jenny Blake

Don't Forget - Career Services is here to help you even after you graduate! We offer alumni career counseling appointments, web resources, webinars just for alumni and more. Call us at 617.627.3299 to learn more.

Networking: Who, What, When and How

2011-05-04T14:34:00.000-04:00

We all know the importance of networking. Apparently, some 70-80% of job seekers land positions through referrals, relying on their professional relationships to squeeze past a company’s doors. But how do we go about this seemingly enigmatic process of building rapport with employers? Where does relationship-building and information-exchanging all start?

1. Finding Networking Contacts

The first step, predictably, entails finding names connected to your field. But don’t limit yourself. You can stumble on a relatable story or eager-to-help hand in more places than you think. Craft a list of everyone you know: potential contacts in your field, along with people who can connect you with relevant names. Include career counselors, university deans and administrators, favorite professors, and your well-connected parents. Recall past work/internship experiences and the employees that housed neighboring offices and cubicles--by nature relevant career sources.

After laying out personal connections, peruse the Tufts Alumni Career Network, a database of more than 8500 names in a variety of fields. Each alumnus/a has made clear his/her willingness to chat with Tufts undergrads. Find a few names whose career destinations speak to your ambitions and initiate a correspondence. A common Tufts name is more than a catalyst of college reminiscing, but a crucial career-connector.

While the idea may scream intimidating, it also can’t hurt to reach out to a name you come across blindly, to who you have no common link. There’s s chance that if you phrase your outreach in a compelling, stand-out way, you might pique the recipient’s curiosity and elicit a promising response.

There’s no harm in bravely initiating connect with well-crafted correspondence. As your contact list grows, outlets for information and exploration grow with it.

2. The Informational Interview

After a welcoming response from your contact, ask to arrange a time to chat. Formally dubbed the informational interview, this encounter is a chance to inquire into the field and/or firm, and connect on a common career path. But, this setup isn’t meant to be a self-arranged interview. Rather, you assume the role of the interviewer, in a sense. It’s your job to direct the conversation, presumably fashioned around what you find most compelling and important. That’s where the informational part comes in. To assure this interaction is valuable not just for the employer, but for YOU, inquire into topics that aren’t so available with the click of a computer mouse. Instead of asking, “What does the field entail” or “What is the firm like?” for instance, use the opportunity to buttress your current knowledge and dive deeper.

This, of course, requires research--of the field, a particular company, and even of your big-shot networking contact. (If he/she is pioneering something important, or just reveled in a moment of glory, for instance, it’s important that you know!) Likewise, be up-to-date with the issues, dilemmas, and prospects currently facing the firm and overarching field. To prime your memory, it’s encouraged that you type up a thoughtful list of questions and topics. This evidences your preparedness, assures each point is covered, and best encourages a smooth, easy-flowing exchange.

As discussed, the informational interview allows students to absorb information from a savvy professional. But, at the same point, it’s not all a structured one-sided Q & A. Rather, the interview becomes an outlet for connection, shared interest, and mutual exchange. Be prepared to answer questions about yourself, casually chat, and ground yourself as a curious, invested personality. Contacts want to know who they’re imparting words or wisdom to, so chances are they’ll inquire into your background, interests, and curiosities. But relax, this isn’t a formal, sweat-inducing interview, but a genuine way of gauging who you are: as both a job candidate and a person. It’s just important to be on- your-professional-game, cognizant of how to admirably present yourself and leave your finest first impression.

When it comes to our career end-goal—actually getting a job--it’s often tricky to suppress that gnawing urge to inquire into open positions. But, as hard as it often is, keep in mind that a strong relationship—and incentive to help—is fostered through connecting on shared interests that surpass the job hunt. Employers would much prefer to talk to you if it’s their insight you crave, rather than their web of professional connections.

This isn’t to say you’re your job interest isn’t at stake, here. The informational interview involves a sort of “subtle self-marketing.” It’s something I like to term, “pitching by not pitching.” By evidencing your knowledge, initiating smart conversation, and reinforcing your genuine interest, you’re marketing yourself more than you know.

3. Sustaining Contact

As in any sort of professional encounter, it’s important to follow up with a thank-you email or handwritten note. But even if another meeting has yet to be arranged, your correspondence should be far from over. To nourish your connection and keep your name fresh in mind, it’s important to periodically initiate contact. Finding fresh “reasons” to follow up—subject lines more compelling than “Hi- just checking in!” – isn’t as tricky as it seems. Perhaps you’ll come across something online that piques your interest. Maybe there’ll be an interesting project your contact is heading, or something news-worthy taking shape at the company. Maybe you’ll have a relevant experience that rekindles a memorable part of your conversation. If you look for it, there are loads of smart “excuses” for reaching out and stimulating further conversation.

To put it all into perspective, keep in mind that your high-end networking contacts were once in your shoes. They too were frazzled, confused undergrads, struggling to land a job and find their career niche. For the most part, these people really want to help! As countless evidence has shown, taking a little initiative has the potential to make all the difference.

Want more networking advice? Check out these posts:
Ask the Career Counselor: First Impressions Count in Networking Emails
Ask the Career Counselor: Staying in Touch with Networking Contacts

Jumbo Spotlight: Alumna Finds Her Career Calling

2011-04-26T20:24:00.001-04:00

I had the chance to chat with Tufts alumna Dana Yoo, an engineer-turned toy-maker-turned teacher whose road to snagging her dream career is nothing short of admirable. After a few years at a Boston engineering company, Dana had an epiphany that teaching, instead, was her career calling. And so, following her tugging gut-feeling, Dana successfully changed routes, proving to us all that it’s never too late to pursue something you love.

How did you develop an interest in engineering? What kind of engineering did you study?
I went to Bronx Science, a high school geared toward math and science. When I applied to colleges, my my math and science scores were higher than my English scores. It just made sense to apply to engineering schools.

At Tufts, I started out with civil engineering because I thought I wanted to do architecture. But since civil engineering limited the scope of other engineering I could do, I decided to change to mechanical. More than drawing buildings and doing construction, I was drawn to a hands-on types of engineering.

How did you spend your summers? Did you land any internships or work experience related to engineering?
I was an intern at Fisher Price my sophomore summer. I designed toys usable for kids and safe by national requirements and laws. I would calculate how far the Sponge Bob toy could jump, for instance. I was definitely using a lot of physics.

I had wanted to apply to Fisher Price my senior year, but I didn’t end up applying because I wanted to keep exploring Boston. But it was one of the best internships I’ve had in my life. The crazy thing is that when I interned there, I was like, ‘I could see doing this for the rest of my life.’

What kind of teacher do you envision yourself becoming?
I definitely want to teach high school math, hopefully pre-calculus or calculus. I’d also want to be a high school volleyball coach. I’ve played volleyball since 7th grade and I still play in leagues. I just really believe in team settings. I think sports are another venue where students can excel and achieve.

In an ideal world, I would want to be involved in children’s lives. I have so much passion and compassion for kids, and I really believe in students. I am excited to learn because my background is engineering—it has nothing to do with child development. I’m really excited to learn how to become an effective teacher and teach a subject I’m good at and enjoy.

Did you have any prior experience teaching experience? Have you worked with kids before?
I always did online tutoring. I also always kept up with creating SAT books for companies. My junior year I got to work with Center for Engineering Outreach (CEEO), which helps students become aware of engineering education. I got to teach elementary school afterschool programs in Legos and robotics. My senior year, I did an independent study in which I created a classroom curriculum in robotics. I was always kinda like, ‘should I teach, or should I go into engineering?’

What was your experience like at Tufts? Any other classes or subjects that piqued your interest outside of engineering?
Tufts has a very intense engineering program. Mainly math and physics took up my engineering courses. I was very focused on engineering and that environment because you are always working with peers to do problem sets and projects. But I was also able to extend myself. I took sign language for three semesters and film classes. I also took classes in art and calligraphy. I was able to take classes I was interested in and knew I wouldn’t have a chance at again.

Where did you work post-college? What steps did you take to land the job?
I worked at Nuance Employment for the past four years. I had gone to Career Services my senior year. Donna was awesome--she was basically a savior. She helped me get my resume up to par and get active in networking. My manager, who was a Tufts alumnus, actually came into my human factors classroom. For my senior project in that class, I had created an application through which I used dragon software to link messages back with sign language. I used technology to make a concept a real application. When I interviewed with Nuance, I presented my project and they were impressed. They recognized I was up to par with knowledge in technology. Through networking, a decent resume, and several interviews, I landed this job. I got it the day I graduated. Up until May, I didn’t have anything lined up. It was definitely a roller-coaster of emotions.

What was working at Nuance Employment like?
Nuance designs things like IBR systems, cell phones, and cars. What I currently do is form and write applications for these programs. I helped out with Ford Sync, for example, which is the entertainment system in all cars. I love what I do. It’s a growing technology and I’ve experienced how to grow professionally. Culturally I was shocked about how different how different the corporate world was from internships and college. I grew tremendously from being in a corporate setting and experiencing different cultures and types of people.

What will you miss about the job?
I will miss being caught up with the latest growing technology. I worked with the latest i-Phones and i-Pads. Currently voice recognition devices are growing. I will miss that type of competitive learning environment. I hope that I can still keep up with technology and even bring it into the classroom.

Given you were overall content and inspired in your field, what motivated you to radically change gears and pursue teaching instead?
There was there was always this crazy pull to go back to education. It was something I was always passionate about and good at. Two years ago, I got rejected from Teach for America. That’s when I thought, ‘maybe it’s not the right time yet.’ This past year though, I thought I should pursue my dreams while still young. I couldn’t start right away because money was a big factor. But something kept telling me that everything would be okay. I got into the four schools I applied. It was crazy because I got offered full tuitions. To me, this meant that now was perfect timing; it’s meant to be.

What will your education master's program entail?
I finally got an offer to Boston College with full tuition plus extra scholarship money. I’m quitting Nuance the first week of May, and I start full time school in July. The program at Boston College is 12 months. I also got into its Urban Scholars program, which focuses on teaching in urban settings. I’ve done volunteer work in low income communities. I believe school is the place where student potential is brought to the highest possible.

What most draws you to teaching? What excites you most about your new profession?
Something that excites me is when kids are like, ‘Oh I get it now!’ It’s not always the ones that are studious, but more the ones that feel insecure but act out. Those are the ones that when they get the material and really care, you can see it in their change of attitudes, eyes, and postures. I know that kids are impressionable no matter what stage. I can’t wait for that moment where I’ll be able to connect to a student. I want to be part of giving kids open dreams.

I feel like I was also given unique opportunities as a student. Certain teachers I interacted with when I was younger inspired me to have my head on straight. I attended school everyday of my life, and I am here where I am now because of teachers.

Where do you see yourself 5-10 years down the line?
In the long run, I want to get a PHD in education leadership and become a principal someday. Down the line, I always want to go back to Fisher Price. I’m just taking it year by year. In high school and college, we can set all these goals and plans for your life. But for me, everything didn’t come into fruition until the right timing.

What advice can you give to undergrads/grads who are hesitant about the fields they’re currently in?
Students should definitely seek out career counselors at Tufts and talk to teachers and parents. And definitely network. Networking and talking to people who have gone through this process is extremely helpful and encouraging. And run with your heart. I know its so cliché when people say don’t go for a job because of the money, but after a while you get worn out. My job was intense and on the go, but at the end of the day I felt a sense of dissatisfaction. I feel like there is something else I’m called to do. At the end of the day you have to be happy. You have to just go with your gut feeling and enjoy life.

What advice can you give to undergraduates specifically about choosing a major/professional path?
I think there is a way to connect everything you enjoy to what you want to do. Seek out a career counselor and work on your resume together. Think about your skills, volunteer experiences, and hobbies. The core of who you are won’t change. What you study and what your interests are will inevitably lead to what you’re meant to do. I know there are many things I learned at my office that relate to teaching and leadership. I’m working with 30-40 personalities right now, which entirely relates back to the classroom. Everything you experience you can portray in your next career. Think outside of the box, be creative with life, and run with what you feel is best. And don’t give up and don’t quit and don’t settle.

Interested in talking to inspirational alumni like Dana? Visit the Tufts Alumni Career Network for a database of 8500+ alumni who have volunteered to speak with you!

The Art of Follow Up, Continued - After You Apply

2011-04-20T14:47:00.000-04:00

In my last post, I offered some hopefully useful guidelines for tackling the job hunt’s hazy waiting stages. But say you haven’t yet been conferred an interview date. Say in fact you haven’t even heard from your employer since anxiously sending off your application into the nebulous zones of human resources. What now?

1. Follow-up with a Call

Between their laborious work agendas, chances are employers aren’t going to alert us to the tricky application-parsing process before need be. For a sense of what’s going on, it’s often up to the candidate to reach out and unravel the murky behind-the-hiring-scenes. We recommend waiting at least a week to assure your application has been processed and filtered. Chances of eliciting concrete answers (and leaving an effective impact) are probably heightened via phone, offering the perks and potentials of a long, free-flowing conversation. (Plus email too often goes unanswered, especially if it’s a vague firm-wide address).

Once linked to the voice of an employer (or who knows—your potential hirer?), it’s important to phrase your questions smartly. You might consider retiring the classic, “Where does my application stand?” for inquiries just as information-eliciting but not quite as upfront. You might try asking something like, “What does your hiring timeline look like?”- a gentle probe into the hiring agenda not quite as embedded with “me-specific” implications.

But as in the jittery post-interview phone call, your motives are two-fold. Along with untangling the hiring agenda and reckoning your oh-so-hopeful chances, the first call-back is an opportunity to reinforce your interest. It’s a time to buttress your electronic application with an animated human voice and express your job compatibility in ways your paperwork can’t. Employers don’t want to hear you tick off your resume or gurgle out clichéd strings of excitement; instead, in this tricky-but-totally-doable manner, our goal is to articulate our capabilities and obvious match-up without having to blab it outright. As opposed to uttering the self-proclaimed, “I think I am the best person for this position,” let them infer this hollow statement by shrewdly proving it rings true. Ask intelligent questions that speak to your company knowledge or remark on something news-worthy that grabbed you; essentially, fortify your application by offering your employer a quick glimpse into your intelligent, in-the-know, totally-job-worthy persona.

2. Subsequent Follow-up

As I touched on in my last post, this follow-up—the potentially second or third over-the-phone encounters with your dream firm—highly depends on the quality and effectiveness of the first. If your hirer seems rushed or not overly inclined to chat with candidates (and no worries—it’s not personal!), then following up with another phone call might be more harmful than it’s worth. In this case, as hard as this is for our exponentially wired Tufts’ brains, waiting it out might be our only option. But let’s say your first call is progressing in a promising direction, that you’re employer seems more-or-less willing to expound on the hiring process and engage in some job banter. Asking something along the lines of, “Would you mind if I follow up in a week or two if I have any additional questions?” is an astute way to pave the way for another friendly chat session. Rather than awkwardly stuttering a reason for calling the next go-around, how great to confidently say, “You told me it would be alright to follow up with you the last time we spoke.” And here’s the best part: not only do you elicit employer-candidate bonding part-two, but you make it appear like (as the responsible student you are) you were dutifully staying true to your word.

Sure, the tricky hiring and candidate weed-out process is different at every firm. But, taking that one extra step—pitching yourself not just as a solid batch of paperwork but an invested voice—is sometimes just what it takes to highlight your name from your swarms of qualified competitors. If you materialize as more than a strong resume but a likeable person, it’s much more likely you’ll be requested at the office face-to-face--at which point you’ll know the applicant pool is down to its best slim pickings. In the face of today’s ultra-competitive, applicant-surging job market, it often comes down to that assertive extra step.

Whether it's follow-up after an application submission or follow-up after an interview, we know the process can be tricky! Let an advisor from Career Services help you navigate the process and showcase your professionalism to employers. Call to make an appointment or stop by our drop-in hours to chat!

The Art of Post-Interview Follow Up

2011-04-14T21:35:00.000-04:00

Walking out of the interview inspires the most cooling relief. Sure, we’ll start to analyze and nitpick, weigh our best answers against the hour’s few imperfections. But it’s over. Now for some celebratory food at the café next door.

And yet, the reliving-the-interview stage isn’t all a waiting-game. There are plenty of steps we can take to start deciphering the firm’s hiring agenda and, in the process, keep our names fresh, memorable and in-the-hiring-loop.

1. Send a Thank You Email!

While thank-yous were likely exchanged post-interview , it’s important to formalize your appreciation in a tangible email after the fact (within a span of 24 hours). Remember to send a well-crafted email to every employer you conversed with. It’s polite, conscientious, and--an interviewee perk—often stores your name in more than one employee mailbox. But rather than copy and paste, try to differentiate your emails according to each individual conversation. This shows you were tuned into the current of each encounter, personalizes your exchange, and of course avoids the humiliation of the revealed “mirror email.”

2. Follow up with an Email or Phone Call

Along with clarification of the hiring timeline, the interview follow-up is a way to reinforce your eagerness and curiosity. Use this brief contact, whether through email or via phone, not to gurgle out standard clichés, but to relate specific tidbits that attest to your fortified excitement (not just, well, uh, everyone needs a job…?). Reference an enlightening fact about the field, a conversation fragment from your interview---specific evidence why your one-hour introduction to the firm only heightened your interest.

Depending on your contact’s receptivity, the follow-up might also be a good opportunity to add any information you “missed” in the actual interview. Important: this isn’t ‘market yourself part two,’ an assertive “reminder” of what you related last week. That’s what your resume is for. Instead, phrase your additions as relevant and pertinent to them, particularly in light of information you gained about the firm’s values and ideals during your interview. If you briefly chatted about the blogging phenomenon, for instance, you might pass along any additional blogging stories inadvertently buried in the question-exchange.

3. Subsequent Follow Up

Contact after your initial follow-up is certainly case-dependent, relying on your past interactions and what you gauged from the first exchange. If you know the hiring deadline, for instance, it might be a bit pushy to contact your busy-at-work hirers with additional questions and assertions. Follow-up in this case is most successful if you are still in the dark a week or so after the proposed deadline, as opposed to any time before.

Say you aren’t as clued in to the hiring agenda, though, and you felt a warm, quasi-inviting vibe from your employer. You can plan for subsequent follow-up by alluding to the possibility in your first exchange. Asking something like “Would you mind if I contact you with any additional questions?” is a good way to leave the door open for future contact by getting permission from the employer in advance. If you do take advantage of an employer’s willingness to chat again, have a specific set of questions and/or conversation headers to assure the follow-up is productive and worthy of the employer’s time, as well as yours.

And then of course there’s the chance you can’t get in contact---the all-too-common unanswered emails and voicemails. It can be a tenuous line, but there are subtle ways to convey persistency and interest without coming across as too abrasive. One approach is to switch-up how you’ve been attempting contact. If an email goes unanswered, wait 5-7 days and follow-up with a friendly phone call, and vice versa. If you encountered an answering machine upon your first initiation attempts, why not see if email elicits better luck? Every firm is different, and the one way to see what mode of communication works best is to dabble in a few of them. And trust me, this totally beats 15 or so missed calls flashing up with your number.

Oh the job process. Just when it feels over, there’s always more to be navigated and done, especially during that scary in-between. Reinforcing your interest with sustained contact, when done well, can be the very thing that distinguishes your application and results in a more careful look. Of course, walking across that needle-thin tightrope of a fine line is tough. Every field, firm, and individual employer is a specific entity all its own, making it impossible to pin down a uniform method for tackling the post-interview battleground. Instead, regard this information as a guideline, a smattering of useful hints and strategies to parse through when you feel the timing is right.

As always, contact Career Services to talk with someone about the particulars of your follow-up strategy.

I Joined LinkedIn...Now What?

2011-04-11T14:01:00.000-04:00

You've probably heard about LinkedIn (the largest professional networking site online) and you may have even signed up, but what should you do to make the most of this tool?

Here are some LinkedIn reminders (some will be common sense) that we frequently share with students:

- Think before you link. Make sure you know the people you’re connected to on LinkedIn. Remember - this isn't like Facebook, and you don't want to "friend" everyone just because you're both at Tufts, went to the same high school, etc. On a related note, don't feel pressured to accept LinkedIn requests from people you don't know. Ask “Do I want this person to be a part of my professional network?” before you say 'yes' to a request.

- Construct your LinkedIn profile with care. This is often the first thing an employer will see when he/she Googles you. The LinkedIn Grads Guide (see below) offers samples of information to include in your profile.

- Join groups that interest you. There are many Tufts-affiliated groups on LinkedIn. The largest are the Tufts University Alumni Group and the Tufts University Professional Network. There are also smaller, niche groups like the Tufts Lawyers Association and the Tufts Entrepreneurial Network.

- Use LinkedIn for company research. Looking at company pages can provide you with great information, including Tufts graduates who work at the organization, typical career paths of employees, open positions, and more.

- Ask Career Services for networking advice. Whether in person, via phone, or through LinkedIn, we can help you make the most of your networking conversations. Before you send a note to someone, consider talking with us about the content of your networking request. A polished, well thought-out message will dramatically increase your chances of getting a response.

For more information, check out these sites:

LinkedIn Grads Guide
LinkedIn Company Pages (need to log in to access)

Interviews: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

2011-04-04T12:40:00.000-04:00

So here you are, plopped patiently in some marble-floored lobby, anxiously waiting to enter the palm-sweating realms of the job interview. You’ve done your preliminary research, rehearsed answers in the shower, perhaps even engaged in a mock interview or two. But when it comes to the fateful day-of, it’s nerve-wracking every time around. Despite our dress-to-impress attire and impeccably designed answers, who isn’t nervous of mind-blanks and silly slip-ups?

But just as much as those dazzling answers, I’ve found it helps to have an inkling of what NOT to say--the avoid-at-all-costs responses everyone fears might slip out unchecked. So, as a fun accompaniment to all those model self-help guides, I’ve designed an ‘interview gone bad,’ if you will. I’ve used applying to a publication as an example (the field in which I’ve encountered the most interview experience). But these all-too-common interview mistakes cross-sect just about any field and profession. Hopefully if you feel any of these sentences gurgling out of your throat, you’ll know to halt, change gears, and say something more indicative of your potential.

Question: Tell me about yourself.

Answer: Well, I grew up in New Jersey. I have two sisters and a dog. I like to play tennis, read, travel, and listen to music in my spare time...

While we all love personal fun-facts, the ‘tell me about yourself’ query should unearth traits that speak to the job-in-question. Before diving into extraneous details, it’s important to hone in on the facts that pitch you as a compelling job candidate. If applying to a publication, you might tout your love for writing, reporting, and people-interaction--crucial for a successful journalist. The same goes for any other professional position, each requiring specific interests and skills that quick-witted employers carefully track.

Question: Why do you want to work at our company?

Answer: I think your company would be the perfect place to develop my academic and personal interests. It would provide me opportunities for on-the-job reporting, article writing, and help me gauge the setting of a professional publication.

However true, this vague and too often heard answer says nothing about why, out of all the similarly reputable x number out there, you’re trying your bets at this particular firm. This company-specific question doesn’t ask why you’re pursuing a job in your overarching field. It asks what exactly about its own innovative job entity--its slew of distinctive missions, projects, and goals---particularly draws you in. This, of course, requires research. While the company’s homepage is a good starting point, don’t limit yourself; scour out the firm on resources such as Vault Library, online journals, and media sites. Once you’ve accessed the facts, analyze what specifically about this company makes it the best choice for YOU. If you’re a blog-junkie (like myself), citing the organization’s burgeoning shift toward online blogging venues, for instance, can add to your credibility and evidence your compatibility with the firm. Employers don’t only want to know that you’re a solid job candidate, but also how their professional ambient complements your professional interests and long-term goals.

Question: What has working on your campus publication been like?

Answer: It’s been a wonderful experience. As a news editor, I brainstorm topics, work with writers, and edit the articles in my section. It’s really helped me grow as a writer and editor and given me meaningful experience in the field.

There’s nothing technically wrong with this answer--no fateful errors or slip-ups. But at the same point, it just doesn’t really say much. The prime way to distinguish yourself from all other competitive candidates is to qualify your experiences with specific personal examples. Tell your employer about some of the articles you’ve headed, an especially knock-out story, a challenge you’ve overcome. Instead of saying “it helped me grow,” explain how it specifically helped you better master the field’s professional arena. Don’t be too long-winded, of course--one or two quick references that speak to your professional growth should function just fine.

Susannah says: I agree! We often hear our employers say that they would like students to come better prepared with a number of specific examples illustrating skills gained, lessons learned, and notable accomplishments, as opposed to speaking about experiences in generalities.

Question: What would you say your weaknesses are?

Answer: I can’t really think of any. But now that I think of it, I tend to be a perfectionist…

This one is always tough. Here you are, supposed to market yourself as the perfect job candidate, and you’re now being asked to reveal your faults? Won’t your employer slash your name off if you admit to messiness and morning crankiness? But this question isn’t designed to manipulatively weed you out, but to genuinely gauge your persona--beyond the on-paper perfection glimmering on their desks. Saying you don’t have any weaknesses, or that you happen to be “too perfect” then and again, comes off as ingenuous and a tad superficial. We all have weaknesses, even your intimidating employer sitting across from you. Be honest and forthright; convey your flaws not bashfully, but with confidence. Offer ways you’ve improved and gradually turned around your only-human weaknesses. Show your employer that you recognize your faults and can overcome them to achieve job success.

Susannah says: We often discuss 'the weakness question' and other challenging queries in appointments with students. C onsider scheduling a mock interview with a career counselor to give yourself the opportunity to practice your answers. When practiced, answers to these questions can illustrate your self-awareness, ability to overcome difficulties, and grace under pressure when answering tough questions.

Question: Why YOU (over all other candidates?)

Answer: My experience and skills cater well to the position and the demands of your firm. I am a strong writer, have meaningful publication experience, and work well in high-stress settings. I have become more comfortable with digging up stories and pitching clear, informative articles of all types.

This might all be impressively true. But how does your employer-to-be know you’re a strong writer, a self-starter, the company’s future portrait of success if you don’t unravel your assertions with evidence? To smartly tackle the mind-boggling ‘why you?’, as we've already said, think specific. Qualify your statements with solid, eye-opening proof. Talk about the time you juggled your publication’s looming high-stress deadlines with burdening school work, and like your deadline-meeting reporter, came out unscathed. Humor your employer with a creative story you contrived, an out-of-the-box interview you landed, a rewarding project you pioneered. Inject colorful life to your assertions; not only will your credibility increase, but you’ll start to materialize as an engaging personality behind the everyday candidate.

Want more information? Read our interviewing packet and schedule a meeting to chat about interviewing.

Make the Most of your Spring Break

2011-03-17T15:20:00.000-04:00

It’s just about spring break--finally. We’ve survived below-freezing temperatures, clobbering workloads, and near-death midterm weeks. Now here’s the chance bask in some glorious time off from grinding academia and the stresses of being the first-class students we are. But between sleep catch-ups and non-stop fiestas, it never hurts to allot some time off toward your career-finding agenda--whether it means solidifying summer plans or tackling the fateful job hunt. Here’s some ways to mesh your relaxing spring break with some helpful steps forward. They’re not too brain-jarring…I promise!

1.Update your resume: As we all know, internship and job application opportunities pop up “anytime anywhere.” So dedicate brief spans of time toward plumping up your resume and tweaking content, organization, and presentation. You never know when the next spontaneous job opening or resume request might be.

2. Discover a favorite job and/or internship site: While curled up in bed engaged in the art of the Facebook stalk, why not turn your mouse toward some career searching? This time off is a great chance to both scour the resources you know and locate fresh sites that haven’t crossed your screen. But before plunging into the realms of Google, try your bets with the office’s handcrafted career resources, especially catered to Tufts students. Accessible through the Career Services homepage, Tufts Career Connect is helpful because it connects you with field-specific opportunities and employers connected to the Tufts name. A common Tufts alma-mater gives some employers an added incentive to hear you out, explore your interests, and take you under their professional wing.

Next to the catchy Tufts Career Connect logo await other resources. Both the Liberal Arts Career NetWORK (LACN) and engIN (for engineering students) list positions (primarily internships) shared among groups of schools.

While you’re at it, try perusing some field-specific career sites; while not particular to Tufts, they offer tons of opportunities targeted to different career fields. When it comes to general search sites, job aggregators like SimplyHired.com that draw from multiple places are worth a visit.

3. Check out our Career Resources on WebCenter-- a useful compilation of all Tufts’ career search and networking resources designed to focus our chaotic search lens. Simply sign into WebCenter, select Career Services Web Resources from the drop-down menu, and ta-dah! You’re face-to-face with a splattering of career tools. The site includes an employer search database called CareerSearch, Spotlight on Careers, a liberal arts career research tool, and the Vault Online Library, featuring downloadable guides on various career arenas--just to name a few. Connecting you to job openings, internship listings, and employers in mere clicks, the Career Services Resources menu on WebCenter is a fantastic place to catalyze the search process.

* Especially for SENIORS: Along with the above online resources, try your bets at job sites like www.onedayonejob.com, which lists a slew of entry-level jobs, and Current Jobs for Graduates, one of the subscription resources in WebCenter. Checking sites like these regularly will alert you to what’s out there job-wise and help direct you on your post-grad path.

* Especially for JUNIORS AND SENIORS: Reach out to Employers. Now that class agendas are cleared, take the time to exchange smart dialogue with that admirable someone in your profession-to-be. It might be someone from around town, a friend-recommended contact, or even someone you hit it off with at our recent Internship Fair. We all love word-spitting about ourselves, so chances are you’ll be eagerly invited into the office or some sleek coffee shop nestled nearby. Networking, as it's professionally known, doesn’t have to be so formal or dryly official. Consider these phone calls or meet-ups not so much a way to robotically push out the resume, but to garner applicable advice, timely suggestions, and insight into what the job entails.
* FRESHMEN AND SOPHOMORES: Though you may not be thinking about your post-grad plans quite yet, you can still use the above tips and think about chatting with family friends and others who have interesting jobs while you're home for break.

5. Schedule an Appointment with a Career Services Staff Member: Whether to plump the resume, prep the interview, or jump-start the search process, schedule an appointment with someone who can expertly guide you at all stages of the career-hunt. Simply call our front desk at 617 627 3299 to snatch a half-hour slot.

Practice planning in advance - you may not think you need an appointment right now, but odds are you'll think of questions in the days or week leading up to the appointment!

For last-minute questions, Career Services offers a M/W/F drop-in hour from 12-1pm as well as daily 20-minute Quick Question appointments (booked by calling day-of in the morning). In any case, a friendly catch-up chat is a perfect way to move this process along. And, added bonus: staff (most-often) come equipped with candy.

6. Become our Fan on Facebook!: Not just because we’re techy and totally fan-worthy, but for the range of extra career tools and tidbits designed for student eyes. Brimming with internship listings, cool links, and upcoming career events, the page is a forum for our amassing resources we want to pass, or in Facebook lingo, post along.

The above advice applies to all ambitious undergrads pining their way through the career search. Of course, the specific steps and advice you may choose vary across the board-- depending (among other things) on your class year, self-set goals, and specific stage in the job hunt. But we thought we might as well lay it all out on the table--leave it up to you to see what best complements your personal career motives and snazzy spring break agendas. Most importantly of all, though, relax! Between depleting my kitchen of snack food and deafening my parents' ears with my favorite HBO shows, I certainly will be. So make some dents in the career search, but first and foremost, take advantage of this much-needed break from it all. We all deserve it.

Have a great spring break!

Learning to Dine with Confidence

2011-03-09T11:22:00.000-05:00

Let’s face it: we love to eat. We love it so much that when we engage in this scrumptious, feel-good hobby of ours, we rarely pause and think: how do I look right now? When it comes to food, we transform from poised, study-hard students into graceless, animalistic cavemen. We gobble, slurp, and swallow until every last morsel of food is down our throats or on our faces.

I’m the last to judge. Of all my friends, I’m always the one with leftover food smudged on my face. Rather than waiting for my food to come to me, I hunch over and graciously meet it halfway. Oh, and I’ll almost always steal off your plate.

But how we conduct ourselves over a meal is more important than we might think. It’s common for prospective employers to take a job candidate out for lunch--not explicitly to analyze fork and knife positions, but to get a feel for the person over what’s “supposed” to be a relaxed, out-of-the-work-zone environment. For quasi-animalistic eaters like me, this screams help. The gargly slurping, loud sipping, cow chewing of our natural habitats transferred to the critical eyes of our next boss? I think not.

That’s where Dining with Confidence comes in, a Career-Services sponsored program dedicated to reforming, and yes humanizing, our dining behavior. The vision of refined, lady-like eating herself, etiquette expert (and Career Services Director) Jean Papalia headed the event. She imparted her wise, worldly words of advice over a delicious four-course meal: butternut squash soup, salad, chicken, and a heavenly chocolate cake.

Jean started the program with true and false quiz, complete with clickers and fancy graphs detailing the room’s results. Then we applied our newly acquired etiquette techniques to the food itself. Here are some dining tidbits I learned throughout the afternoon:

1. Buttering the bread: oh, such a thorny one. When I see fresh, hot rolls plopped on a table, my first instinct is to grab one, slab on mounds of butter, and devour it in three bites. Tempting? Yes. Attractive to an employer? Not quite. To master the messy realms of the bread roll, break it apart in small pieces, butter ONLY one piece at a time, and eat slowly and in small bites. Also--a tidbit I didn’t know. When you pick up the bread-basket, the polite thing to do is offer it to your dining companion before you lunge for it yourself.

2. Never tell a host you’re not a fan of the food, even if you consider it borderline inedible. The purpose of the meal isn’t to soothe your taste palette, but to exchange conversation and impress with your words. So, if possible, try to hide your squeamish face and make a dent in the icky muck. Hey, from an etiquette patrol’s point of view, at least not-so-good food means not-so-big bites.

3. Don’t accept cocktail offers, however tempting it might be to join your prospective boss in a loopy daze. Rather than loose, impressive answers, the more likely scenario is silly blunders and awkward post-dinner stumbles. So save the champagne for the celebratory toast after you get the job. It’ll taste even better then.

4. Eat in small pieces! This may seem like an obvious one, but come that to-die-for steak and before long we’re engaged in a self-competition to the finish line. Approach your food slowly, and stick to the small, easy-to-swallow pieces. You’ll achieve fluid conversation without having to awkwardly motion “one-second” with your fingers.

5. Order a meal that is easy to eat--no matter how tempting other menu descriptions may be. We all love sauce-soaked chicken wings and stuffed-to-the-brim turkey clubs, but even the most ladylike of the pack can’t approach these savory wonders without a whole lotta mess. So unless you’ve mastered the art of the messy food, it’s probably best to save all that greasy, sloppy stuff for later.

6. Probably Jean’s most important piece of advice, underlying everything else she so expertly passed along: It’s not about the food! The point of elegantly dining with your prospective boss isn’t to restaurant hop and food explore, but to communicate and genuinely connect in conversation. Dining, and the oh-so-yummy food that comes with it, is the mere backdrop in which the employer-employee interaction transpires. No matter your locale, the aim is always the same: to position yourself as an impressive and likeable candidate for the job. It’s an opportunity to give your employer a feel for you: how you’ll contribute to the field, yes, but also what you’re like---how your persona will mesh into the job’s social and professional dynamics.

After two hours of etiquette training, I can’t exactly say I’m the world’s most delicate eater. But the dining tidbits I gathered will certainly help when the not-so-far-off time comes to start job hunting and impressing employers. And maybe after enough professional dining, we’ll come to apply some newfound grace and charm to our own everyday eating. That might take more time though…

Missed this semester's Dining with Confidence program? Be on the lookout for future opportunities to master the art of professional dining, small talk and more!

Resources from Law Day on the Hill 2011

2011-03-07T12:45:00.000-05:00

Bummed that you missed out on last Thursday's Law Day on the Hill? Fear not! We have some great resources for you...

If you're considering law as a career path or already planning to attend law school, here are some important web and print resources to add to your list: LawDay2011

Don't forget to connect with the law-related organizations at Tufts:
Tufts Lawyers Association - tuftslawyers.org
Pre-Law Society - ase.tufts.edu/prelaw
Mock Trial - tuftsmocktrial.org

The Office of Pre-Law Advising provides events and services for students interested in law school. Call 617.627.2000 to make an appointment with the pre-law advisor and visit the Pre-Law Advising website at http://uss.tufts.edu/pre-law. Log into WebCenter to sign up for the monthly pre-law newsletter.

Career Services offers web resources and counseling appointments for students considering law as a career path. Visit http://careers.tufts.edu/ and call 617.627.3299 to make an appointment.

Start off the Summer with a Career Services Internship Grant

2011-02-28T14:20:00.000-05:00

Scouring summer opportunities all-too-often spawns this very conundrum. We land on something cool, arousing, field-relevant--a.k.a. absolutely perfect. But, flashing yellow lights remind us of its fatal flaw: it’s unpaid. So we sigh, toss it aside, and resume perusing lists and lists of job openings, all-the-while wishing if only…

But not so fast. Lucky for us almost-broke college kids, Career Services offers ways to snatch up fantastic unpaid internships without worrying about the cost. Internship Grants cover funding for 39 internships in non-paid job sectors, from up-and-coming nonprofits to the pioneering grounds of research labs. This year’s grants encompass 25 non-profit and public sector internships, 10 diversity fund internships, and 4 start-up entrepreneurial opportunities. Eligible students are required to work a minimum of 350 hours (35 hours a week for 10 weeks).

Applying for one of these save-the-day grants? Not so bad. Application materials encompass an up-to-date resume, unofficial transcript, two teacher recommendations, and a set of short essays detailing motivations and goals. Completed materials must be submitted to the office by 5 p.m. April 1st--plenty of time to get your act together!

Take Josh Friedmann—a senior majoring in Political Science and Environmental Studies. After a semester abroad dabbling in Washington DC politics, Josh wasn’t ready to part with the climatic city just yet. So, thanks to a handy internship grant, he returned to our nation’s political hub last summer, where he lent his know-how to an internship at Governor Christine Gregoire’s office. Read on for Josh's experiences within DC’s heated political scene.

1. What motivated you to apply for a Career Services internship grant? How did the internship grant facilitate your experience?

After participating in a Washington semester program with Tufts, I knew I really wanted to go back and spend more time interning in Washington DC. I wouldn’t have been able to afford paying rent for the summer---DC is a very expensive city to live in. The grant helped me pay for rent and food for the summer, so I was able to not only be in D.C., but also devote my full attention to interning without having to take on a part-time job.

2. What was the application process like?

You have to write a detailed proposal of what you want to do and paint a coherent picture of this. I wrote about what I wanted to do, why I wanted to do it, and how it fit in with my long-term career plans. I emphasized it was full-time, unpaid, and that I wouldn’t be able to do it otherwise. I took it seriously and put time in to it. It was all totally worth it for me.

3. What inspired you to pursue an internship at the governor’s office?

I spent the summer interning for my governor’s federal liaison in Washington DC. I met him during an earlier D.C. experience interning at the US House [of Representatives] Energy and Commerce committee. [Interning with the Committee] was a great experience, but after that I wanted to spend some time in a smaller office, where I could do research and be involved in meetings that touched on the political process, rather than solely provide administrative services. This past summer, I worked right alongside him. It was closer to the action than I ever could have been anywhere else.

4. What were your main responsibilities as an intern?

My main long-term project was to create a database of when different federal programs would expire and need to be reauthorized. If [the governor’s liaison] had a database to refer to, he could look ahead two, three, four years about what’s coming up and could plan his legislative agenda. I also researched and wrote background memos for him about possible opportunities for our state in re-authorization bills. I took some of what I learned from political science, but I also had to do my homework in terms of figuring out what [legislative language in bills] meant. At first, it took me three days to write one memo, but by the end of the summer I was writing three in one day.

5. What was it like working with real-scale politicians? What were your daily interactions like?

I worked in very close proximity with the governor’s liaison, and we got to know each other quite well. I needed to spend the first few weeks proving myself, but the more I was there and the more I was able to prove competent, the more responsibility he gave me. By end of summer, he was bringing me to barbecues with White House staff.

In my experience, all the people I worked with genuinely care about issues they work on. What lobbyists try to do on a day-to-day basis is build coalitions with other groups that care about the same issues. That made it a lot of fun.

6. What kinds of political issues did you encounter on-the-job?

Governors deal with all kinds of issues--so I worked on basically everything. I worked on issues ranging from Medicare and child hunger to highway development and the environment. Some days, there were issues that had me really jumping out of bed, but other days I had to spend time on issues that I’d never given a second thought before. Environmental issues especially stuck out for me, especially policies surrounding government administration of public lands. For every issue that’s out there, though, there is a reason to care about it and there are a lot of people that do.

7. What did you take away from your experiences?

I developed research skills and writing skills. Mostly though, I learned how the process works and what staffers do to get things done for their organizations. I met awesome people who were interesting and very passionate about what they are doing. They are people I am looking forward to working with again.

8. Did your experience as an intern lend insight into what you can see yourself doing professionally?

My experience definitely confirmed that this is the field that I’m interested in starting out in. It gave me a great background in how the process works and prepared me to look for a job over there. Five years out, I’d ideally like to be working on a legislative committee staff for Congress. I’d love to take on environmental and public land issues down the line.

9.Can you recall a specific moment from your internship that most sticks out to you?

When [Governor Gregoire] came to Washington DC to do a press conference, I got to ride around in the back of the suburban with her. Because [the governor’s liaison] was staffing her all the time, I not only helped him with that, but I also took over some of his major tasks for the day. I got to take a state administrator around Capitol Hill to meet a bunch of staffers. Afterward, when all the staffers had specific questions, the governor asked me who asked what and what I thought they were getting at. What really stuck out for me though is that they were cracking jokes the whole time. The governor is the nicest person, and the state troopers riding in the front are really funny guys. We were riding to this press conference, and whole way there we are having a great time and laughing and talking about the news. I think what most people don’t realize about politicians is that they are really good at just chilling; they’re friendly people that everyone likes. It’s sometimes too bad to see someone get up there and stand at a podium. When someone’s doing the “official” side of politicking, you can miss the depth of who they are and how much they care about these things.

Meet Great Employers at the Tufts Internship Fair

2011-02-25T13:35:00.000-05:00

Internship season is sneaking up on us again—as it always seems to do. Friends left and right are perusing jam-packed websites, weighing their options, figuring out which opportunities validate time-consuming apps. But while often limited to our speedy laptops, the most expedient way to affirm you mesh with that spicy listing is to meet it face-to-face. In person. Looking your business-y finest.

Well, it’s happening, and we don’t even have to tread off campus. Wednesday, March 2nd, Career Services’ Internship Fair will recruit to Tufts a diverse set of internship opportunities and their representative employers, hailing from all over the Boston area. Rather than through slow-paced emails, we get to gauge the job and prospective employers face-to-face. It’s a perfect time to reveal our tangle of talents, practice some career chatter, and hand-off our finest, plumped up resumes.

But the Fair also caters to our curiosities. Through face-value interaction, we can immediately comprehend what the job offers us as undergrads, still trying to locate our “it” post-college path. We can decide off-the-bat if this is something that arouses us and speaks to our hazy long-term goals. Landing an internship position often times comes down to networking—that is, attaching impersonal emails to a recognizable name and face. It scrapes off some of those exhausting steps in-between. And let’s face it: we could all use some of that.

I asked a few of the Internship Fair employer reps to share their thoughts on a series of questions, designed to shed light on the great organizations who'll be there on Wednesday.

Here's what Cynthia Woo at Boston Center for the Arts had to say:

1. What does an ideal student candidate look like?

An ideal candidate is someone interested in learning more about careers in the arts. They may be art-makers themselves or art lovers and supporters. The ideal candidate will be enthusiastic and willing to learn!

2. What kinds of tasks encompass an internship at your organization? What would an intern's day look like?

Interns have the opportunity to assist the administrative office, work in the Mills Gallery, assist with outreach and work in the Development and Marketing Department. On any given day interns may be giving tours of the gallery, greeting BCA visitors, contacting colleges and local community organizations, researching future exhibiting artists or just simply enjoying the Mills Gallery.

3. What would student gain from an internship at your organization?

Students will learn what it is like to work in a non-profit art space. They will get to work closely with various BCA staff members and have a chance to network in the arts community.

Next, here's Eliza Levy from Rounder Records:

1. What does an ideal student candidate look like?

An ideal student candidate is hard-working, flexible, organized, takes initiative, and loves music! Knowledge of artists/bands/music in general is a plus but not necessarily required.

2. What kinds of tasks encompass an internship at your organization? What would an intern's day look like?

There are multiple different departments hiring. The product management department intern, for example, will be responsible for servicing venues with posters/CD's and other promotional materials to help build awareness of artists' upcoming performances, putting together a weekly tour update for the entire company, keeping the Rounder website updated with touring information, and fulfilling special requests for materials when they come in, etc. There will also be opportunities to go to shows and to help out at video shoots.

3. What would a student gain from an internship at your company?

There is always more to do and more to learn if the intern has the time and the desire. Any aspect of the industry they are interested in, they only need ask and we can veer the internship in that direction as long as basic duties are completed first.

Check out the list of employers attending the Fair this Wednesday - we'll look forward to seeing you there!

Tufts Internship Fair
Wednesday, March 2, 12:30-4pm
51 Winthrop Street