Hello Again: I'm a "fourth year"

Hello everyone! Long time no see, or long time no read?

I hope you had a great summer and that you're enjoying the lingering summer temperatures.  Shout outs to members of the Tufts Class of 2016! We're seniors now, so that means we are the most experienced and mature trailblazers on campus getting ready to enter the real world. It's all so bittersweet. But graduation is still far away so we have plenty of time to catch up and prepare!

I kicked off this summer traveling with my mom and grandmother throughout Italy for 10 days. It was so beautiful and amazing, and little did I know that it would actually help me with my internship. That we will get to later. We started in Rome, went to Sorrento, Florence and later flew out of Rome. I love to travel and haven't gone on a trip with my family in a long time, so it was super nostalgic. When I was little we spent time at resorts, and my family would drop me off at the kid's club. It's great now to be able to share more of the traveling experience. (Sorry for getting so anxious about missing trains and flights, Mom)

My Mom, Me, and Grandmother. Three generations on a mission at Pompeii!

In June I started as an Account Coordinator Intern for SapientNitro's NYC office. SapientNitro is a global marketing/advertising and consulting agency, which is headquartered in Boston, that focuses on the integration of technology and storytelling to engage consumers in a constantly changing world. SapientNitro mainly focuses on creating digital marketing campaigns for clients, while also integrating strategy insights to tell a story in both the physical and virtual spheres.

Now you might ask, what exactly is an Account Coordinator? An Account Coordinator role serves as a liaison between an agency and their client. They help to bridge the gap of communication to the client during the inception and creation of projects, while also working and overseeing internal departments (strategy, program management, experience designers, creatives, etc.) to make sure the work is addressing the client's concerns.

Looking at Nutella all day and not eating it is an acquired skill

So going back to my earlier hint - this past summer I worked with the Nutella USA team!  Who doesn't love Nutella?! It's an Italian spread which has quickly taken over the world, and several college campuses. What was great about my internship was the flexibility to work within domains outside of the Account Coordinator role with the Nutella brand. I learned about social media analytics, marketing, and presenting. The result? A more thorough understanding of how the advertising world works.

The internship program was especially great because I was able to talk with others in different domains, ask questions, and understand their roles at SapientNitro. The work culture is definitely a place where I felt comfortable (as I was able to rock sneakers everyday, perfect for the Westchester to NYC commute). It is an open, focused and fun space where talented and smart people thrive together. I was really excited about being able to experience the creative side of advertising through helping conceptualize new content for different social media platforms, attending Nutella photo shoots, and working with a spectacular group of innovative people. Merging analytical knowledge with creative was extremely interesting to me and is a great strength for SapientNitro. All I can say is: SapientNitro, you guys are the "bee's knees!"

2015 SapientNitro NYC Summer Interns accidentally color coordinating on the last day

Throughout the summer I also attended keynote speeches and business events with my Mom at the Harvard Business School Club in NYC. It was interesting to meet so many different people pushing the boundaries of business and marketing in various capacities. So maybe there's grad school in my future? Eventually.  I guess that calls for a later blog post.

After having to say grazie and arrivederci to SapientNitro and all my fellow summer interns, I returned to campus as a pre-orientation leader for the Tufts F.I.T Program. Shout outs to Group #4 "F.I.T of the Wrist!" I enjoyed greeting the incoming class of 2019 while trying to get some of their youth to rub off on me. Being a mentor is really awesome - you are not only giving advice to incoming first years, but you also learn from your mentees and co-leaders. My group was awesome!

F.I.T Pre-Orientation Group #4: "F.I.T of Da Wrist"

I'm so excited to be back on campus and to see new and old faces. Our blogger team this year is looking to take up right where we left off and provide our readers with amazing posts! We will explore our own career development as well as spotlight resources and topics that can help college students during their journey to graduation and beyond. And of course, there will be great jokes and classic gifs sprinkled in between.

Welcome back everyone!

Carpe Diem,

Nicole Brooks
Class of 2016

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Really? The Career Center is open during the summer? It sure is!

Yes, the Tufts Career Center is OPEN during the summer!

(C) Michele Valentinuz for OPENPHOTO.NET 

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As we transition into the summer months, I want to remind students that the Tufts Career Center is open 9am-5pm throughout the summer.  (Yes, we do work; I always find it amusing when students come back to campus in the fall and ask about my summer break.)

Summer appointments: If you're not in the area, you can schedule a telephone, Skype or email appointment with a career counselor.

How to make the most of your summer: Check out the tips on the front page of our website for how to make the most of your summer.  We've tailored our tips by class year.  Here are just a few of the options we suggest:

• Didn't find an internship? One idea is to conduct a series of informational interviews with alumni.  For more on that tip, check out our Networking handout and the Career Spot video on informational interviewing posted on our Facebook page.

• Still looking for a job? Submit your resume to the 2014 Resume Books.

• Rising sophomore or first year (if you're a first year, welcome to Tufts, and kudos for checking out our blog before you even start!!) and wondering where Tufts students intern?  Browse our TIP (Tufts Internship Profiles) Book. 

• The Career Center website is packed with so many phenomenal resources that many students don't have time to go through everything during the school year.  So, it makes sense to dive in during the summer months.  Here are my personal favorites for resources that are often overlooked (this would make a great blog post!):
• O*Net Online: essentially a careerapedia, otherwise known as an occupational database, but that's a dull descriptor
• What can I do with this major?:  great for the "choosing a major" phase, but also extremely useful after you've chosen your major and when you're thinking to yourself: "OK, now what, exactly, can I do with this major after I graduate?"
• Candid Career Videos: so many videos, so little time . . . but most videos are under 4 mins! Here's what you can learn if you have 15 mins to spare:
• Profile of Janis Hirsch, TV writer/producer at Cherry Hill Productions in LA (2 mins, 44 secs)
• You and Your Web Presence (4 mins, 18 secs)
• Profile of Ben Rosenfeld, stand-up comedian (3 mins, 40 secs)
• Career Fair Advice (3 mins, 40 secs)

Untitled © Heather for OPENPHOTO.NET CC: Attribution-ShareAlike

Enjoy your summer,

Nicole Anderson

Assistant Director/Career Counselor
Tufts Career Center

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An Insider's Guide to the Career Center

As the Career Center’s Summer Assistant, I witness individuals following their career paths each day. In the midst of career-related success stories, resources, and new-found knowledge, I can’t help but contemplate my own career trajectory. Being inspired is an unexpected perk of the job.

Admittedly, I never visited the Career Center prior to being hired. Take it from a fellow student who has now seen the light: you’ll want to get to know the Career Center. Planning for your professional future is a daunting task, and the steps along the way can be stressful and confusing. Having a place that cares about your career goals and assists in outlining a course of action is invaluable, and that’s exactly what the Career Center is here for. As gatekeeper to Dowling Hall Suite 740 for a little over one month now, I’m here to share my discoveries thus far about career guidance at Tufts.

If getting “career counseling” sounds like biting off more than you can chew, I assure you that all steps along the career path, from deciding a major to negotiating a salary, are important concerns. Our counselors offer assistance at any stage, and many students I’ve talked to since starting work here are surprised to learn the extent of the Career Center’s services. Some specific areas where we can help include:

Resume and Cover Letter Review. Get your resume or cover letter critiqued and ready for applications.
Internship Search. Not sure where to start when it comes to getting an internship? We can help create a plan for your internship search.
Mock Interviews. If you have an interview coming up that you would like to practice for (or if you don't), we offer mock interviews. We can even film it, if you'd like.
Choosing a Major. The Career Center is especially useful if you’re unsure about your future options relating to the world of work. Talking about your major is a good place to start.
Personality and Interest Assessments. Self-assessment is an important part of career exploration. The Career Center has tools to aid you.

To see more ways you can benefit from Tufts Career Center, visit our website at careers.tufts.edu. Our online tools are a great way for all students to stay connected to career objectives. For the undecided underclassmen, check out the interest checklists and the “Choosing a Major Guide.” Instructional how-to guides for creating a resume and cover letter are beneficial to anyone looking to get hired. Additional resources for job and internships search, networking, and more can be found on our website, including the login page for Jumbo Jobs.

A day in the life at the Career Center

Because I see dozens of opportunities made accessible to students and alumni each day via this resource, I’m giving it a special plug. Available online at any time of year, Jumbo Jobs is a Tufts-specific database of jobs and internship positions posted by employers. Even now, companies still seeking summer interns post in Jumbo Jobs several times a week. Take a moment to log in (you already have an account as a Tufts student), update your profile, and familiarize yourself with this great tool for getting hired.

Beyond using the web, let the timing of this post inform you: the Career Center is open over the summer! This time of year is ideal to acquaint yourself with our office. Not only do our counselors have greater availability, but you may have more free time to dedicate to career exploration than during the academic year. If you need further convincing, our facilities are fully air-conditioned. Making an appointment is easy; see the instructions at the bottom of this post. Please note that phone or Skype appointments are an option for off-campus students.

Don’t have time for an appointment or website exploration? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest on job and internship opportunities and upcoming events.

If there’s one message I could deliver to students about the Career Center, it’s that we have resources to help no matter where you are on your career or academic path. Connect with us in person, online, and via the exciting programming planned for fall 2013. If you have any questions about this post or the Career Center, please call or email the office; we would love to hear from you.

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To arrange an appointment with a career counselor, please call our office at 617-627-3299. Appointments are scheduled for half an hour. If you would like to stop by, we are located at the back of Dowling Hall in Suite 740. Our hours are Monday-Friday, 9-5. Email us at careercenter@tufts.edu or visit our website at careers.tufts.edu.

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