5 Reasons to Work for the Career Center

Welcome back, everyone! With spring break behind us, we are in that final stretch of the 2016-2017 academic year - and less than two months away from Commencement 2017.

While I'm so incredibly excited to graduate and enter the workforce and undertake a whole new adventure, there are a few loose ends that still need to be addressed before I can leave. One of the biggest is finding my replacement(s) for the role that allows me to type up my career-oriented thoughts every week in this digestible blog format. The Career Center is currently recruiting for Social Media Interns. The applications are due 4/14, so time is running out to apply! The Career Center is also hiring fall student assistants.

While I will maintain a deep state of denial towards my upcoming departure from the Career Center for a few more weeks, I do want to share why I've stayed here for the past three years. Here are (only) five reasons why I love working for the Career Center:

1. Get connected with the Tufts community. As a Career Fellow, I've been able to co-host events with RAs, Greek life organizations, and on-campus clubs. I've held drop-ins in dorms and several of the Group of Six houses, I've spoken at campus-wide Career Center events, and overall I have met, emailed, or interacted with countless members of the Tufts community. My blog posts have (hopefully) reached hundreds of Jumbos, and I still get the occasional recognition from a friend who comes across our blog. It's a really great feeling not only to be able to ingrain yourself into a unique space like a college campus, but also to be able to become an active member within that space. If you're searching for ways to get involved, I highly recommend connecting with the Career Center.

2. Apply what you do to your own life. You'll go through some serious training if you become a Career Fellow. Through workshops on resumes, cover letters, internship searches and resources, and choosing a major, you'll quickly become an expert on personal career development. While this will definitely prepare you for one-on-one meetings with students, you can also apply your knowledge to your own resume, cover letter, or internship search. One of the proudest moments of my life happened a few weeks ago, when during a job interview, a recruiter complimented me on how "impressively formatted" my resume was. For a resume nerd like myself, this was the equivalent of her telling me my child was adorable.

3. Join a collaborative and creative team. The Career Center is filled with some pretty incredible people. I cannot stress enough how much I've enjoyed working with and getting to know my co-workers, both adult and fellow student (an important distinction to make, in my opinion, since I still do not consider myself a real adult). Not only have I gotten some great career and life advice from my colleagues, but I've also been able to work alongside some supportive, friendly, and caring humans.

4. Utilize and refine your existing skills. I joined the Career Center back in 2014 because I wanted another avenue to pursue writing, something I've always been passionate about. My work has allowed me to maintain this passion while strengthening my skills as a writer - all while getting paid to do it. But don't limit yourself to the job description - if you have a certain skill set, don't be afraid to mention it on your Career Fellow application. We've had Career Fellows use their graphic design skills to strengthen our marketing materials, even though this was never something a Career Fellow was expected to do. There's always room for what you can bring to the table!

In this metaphor, "girls" is really "The Career Center," and "boyfriends" is "student workers".

5. Support your fellow Jumbos. At the end of the day, meetings with students are the bread and butter of a Career Fellow's job. Truthfully, I've found this part of the work to be the most rewarding. Since resume/cover letter writing isn't exactly a subject taught in school, almost every student is starting from scratch when they apply for their first internship. It's so gratifying to be able to help a first- or second-year student get that internship they have their heart set on, or to be able to see the relief a student feels after they've gone through a resume critique and finally know that they're on the right track. Not to mention that the skills you'll gain in interpersonal communication and rapport-building will assist you in any future career field.

In case you didn't get the message, I really, really, really love my job, and think that any student would feel the same. With the fast-approaching deadlines, don't miss out on your chance to enhance your Tufts experience and further your career journey.

Until next time,
Sean Boyden
Class of 2017

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Internship Resources Every Tufts Student Should Know About

Last week, the Career Center hosted an internship workshop, which I co-facilitated as a Career Fellow. Although these events are always popular, last week's workshop had over 130 students in attendance, which according to our staff shatters any past record. Because of the high interest level, I'm beginning to think that driven, motivated Tufts students really want to know about internships, and the internship resources available to them. So, I present here a few of the resources we walked through during the internship workshop (along with advice from a senior who's actually used most of them!):

April Ludgate: most relatable college intern ever.

JumboJobs: This should be the first stop for any Tufts student looking for an internship. JumboJobs is a database filled with job and internship listings from employers specifically looking to hire Tufts students. You can scan through listings using a variety of search criteria (location, field of interest, position type), upload a resume/cover letter, and even apply for interviews or on-campus recruiting events. Another great aspect of JumboJobs is access to recruiters' contact information, usually listed in the job description. Another Career Fellow, Shivani, told a story about how she emailed an employer after finding their email address on JumboJobs, and ended up getting an internship. There are so many ways to use this site - be sure to advantage of them all!

Tufts Internship Profiles (TIP): The TIP books are put together by the Career Center every year because we know that one of the best resources for Tufts students is other Tufts students. TIP books are databases of your fellow Jumbos' past summer internships: each listing includes the student's roles/responsibilities, how they found their internship, and (most importantly) - every student whose name is included in the TIP book has agreed to be contacted by any other student. So don't be afraid to reach out to someone who's had an internship you want.

Jumbos help each other out.

Liberal Arts Career Network (LACN): Jim, a Career Center Assistant Director and the facilitator of the internship workshop, described LACN as "JumboJobs on steroids". This database is a lot like JumboJobs, except that it's shared between Tufts and many other universities in the US. By pooling resources, liberal arts colleges are trying to provide their students with as many internship opportunities as possible in a wide variety of fields and geographical locations.

Networking: Arguably, networking is one of the most valuable resources in your internship search arsenal. While combing databases is a great way to find internships, a lot of postings never make their way to these databases. Shivani, Jim, and I all recounted anecdotes from our professional lives in which networking landed us a job/internship. If you're unsure about what networking means, be sure to check out our website, or attend some networking events on or off campus (I just attended one of these last week - read about my experience here).

You may be thinking that November is a little early to start looking for summer internships. Truthfully, it is early - but that's a good thing. The sooner you start thinking about it, the sooner you'll start searching, the sooner you'll apply, and the sooner you'll find a meaningful experience that will further your career journey.

Until next time,
Sean Boyden
Class of 2017

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Introducing the 2016-2017 Career Fellows

Now in its second year, the Career Fellows program is once again bringing "by-students, for-students" service to the Tufts community! Career Fellows are professionally-trained students who have been hired by the Career Center to increase awareness of and participation in the programs and services offered by the Career Center. Fellows can meet one-on-one with students by appointment or during daily drop-in hours to discuss finding internships, resume/cover letter writing, and navigating Career Center resources. Career Fellows are an entry-point for Tufts students into the Career Center, and can provide guidance from a peer's perspective - they've been in your shoes before, meaning they can combine their personal experiences as a Tufts student with their professional training to provide unique and high-quality advice on your career journey! Here's a look at the Career Fellows team this year:

Drop-ins schedule:

Tufts Career Center, Dowling 740
Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday: 12-2pm
Wednesday: 5-7pm

Name: Jorge Antón García

Class Year: 2017

Major: Computer Engineering

What’s the most exciting thing about being a Career Fellow?

Being able to talk to students about the awesome things they have been part of and have accomplished. I love digging into their experiences and listening to their amazing stories about what makes them passionate. In doing this, I begin to get to know them and they can also appreciate what they have achieved.

If you could give any advice to a Tufts Student, what would it be?

Have a good mix of classes within your major and some outside of it. Try out new things by joining clubs and realizing what work you like and do not like. This experience is very valuable personally when looking for jobs as you can get a clearer idea of what type of jobs you may be interested in. At the same time, within clubs you gain valuable work experience.

Name: Sean Boyden

Class Year: 2017

Major: Biopsychology, Community Health

What’s the most exciting thing about being a Career Fellow?

I love being able to spread awareness about the Career Center and its wealth of resources and services throughout the Tufts community.

If you could give any advice to a Tufts Student, what would it be?

You’ve only got four years here, and it goes by too fast. Take advantage of every opportunity, savor every moment, and make sure you leave here with no regrets.

Name: Sabrina Chishti

Class Year: 2017

Major: Biology and Political Science

What’s the most exciting thing about being a Career Fellow?

I’m really excited to meet and talk with so many different people!

If you could give any advice to a Tufts Student, what would it be?

Take advantage of everything that Tufts has to offer. From cool clubs, to interesting classes, to fun events—there is always something new and different happening on campus, and participating in them leads to a better Tufts experience.

Name: Anna Linton

Class Year: Senior, Class of 2017

Major: English, Psychology, Judaic Studies

What’s the most exciting thing about being a Career Fellow?

I am thrilled to have the chance to play even a small part in my peers’ professional journeys. Venturing outside the world of Tufts into the world of the professional can seem daunting, and totally overwhelming; but, as students set goals, make important career decisions, and take risks, I feel so lucky to have the resources and opportunity to help provide them with an approachable support system that can help break down intimidating goals into practical, manageable, steps.

If you could give any advice to a Tufts Student, what would it be?

It is so important that students know that we are here for them! No matter where someone is on his or her career journey, from prepping for a second round interview, to taking a first stab at putting together a resume, students should never hesitate to ask for help. Both at the Career Center and beyond, there is no pressure in asking for help, no expectations, and it is so critical to remember that no matter where you are, there are people who are willing and able to help out. There’s really nothing to lose!

Name: Shivani Shendye

Class Year: Senior

Major: International Relations and Economics

What’s the most exciting thing about being a Career Fellow?

I love that being a Career Fellow allows me to meet students that I may have never met before, and to offer them advice that helps demystify the internship or job search process. I truly believe in the importance of fostering student-to-student relationships especially in the realm of career planning because we have much that we can learn from each other.

If you could give any advice to a Tufts Student, what would it be?

My advice to a Tufts student would be to be a sponge. Not in the literal sense of course, but make it your goal to absorb as much as you can during your four years here. Take a class that you are curious about even if it has nothing to do with your major. Make it your goal to get to know all of your professors. Join as many student organizations as you can handle. Your experience here will truly shape what you decide to do after you graduate.

Be sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter (@TuftsCareer), and check our e-News and Calendar to stay up-to-date on what the Fellows are up to this semester!

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11 Companies Hiring Paid Fall Interns Right Now

Are you still looking for a Fall Internship that fits your interests? Looking for one that pays? Jumbo Jobs has a wide variety of paid Fall internships available for Tufts AS&E students, ranging from interior design to business development. Here are 11 great opportunities. 

1. Kadence International- Marketing/Research Intern
Location: Boston, MA   

Source 

Kadence International is a market research and Insight agency with over 300 employees and 8 offices around the world, offering qualitative and quantitative solutions. Their Downtown Boston office is looking to add to its team of passionate and dedicated professionals with a Marketing/Research intern who can work with them on first-hand on the entire market research process from drafting questionnaires to managing fieldwork. Apply here: Jumbo Jobs 



2. VentureApp- Engineering Intern 
Location: Boston, MA 

Source 

VentureApp is a marketplace that saves businesses time and money by connecting them with the top solution providers or experts they need. They are currently hiring an Engineering Intern to help build their product development and homegrown systems, participate in agile framework, and investigate and test any reported issues. Apply here: Jumbo Jobs 



3. Wellist- Patient Resource Specialist 
Location: Boston, MA 

Source 

Wellist gives healthcare clients the insights and tools they need to address actual human needs, resulting in improved patient satisfaction, outcomes and loyalty. They are seeking a detail-oriented individual, whose responsibilities would include creating a patient resource network through receiving raw data about local vendors and confirming that information through phone calls and e-mails, as well as collecting other patient-relevant data. Apply here: Jumbo Jobs 



4. Kate Maloney Interior Design- Interior Design Intern 
Location: Somerville, MA 

Source 

KMID is a full service design firm specializing in high end residential interiors. They are looking for a hard-working, detail-oriented intern with a love of design, who can help with office organization and small projects. Responsibilities include organizing the sample library and office, filing, inventory and many other projects as they arise. Apply here: Jumbo Jobs 



5. Atlas Workshops- Global Education Intern
Location: Cambridge, MA 

 Source                                                     Source 

Atlas Workshops leads international research and design trips for students. They are hiring a Global Education Intern who can handle a diverse set of responsibilities that include writing for their blog, researching and documenting travel details around the world, and helping build and maintain our private travel logistics database. Apply here: Jumbo Jobs 



6. Energysage- Data Analytics Intern 
Location: Boston, MA 

Source 

EnergySage is the only independent comparison-shopping website for solar energy systems and financing options in the country. Their fast-growing online marketplace matches thousands of homeowners per month with a rapidly growing list of 350+ pre-screened solar installers. EnergySage is looking for a Data Analytics Intern that can support their engineering & marketing teams in building out their marketplace analytics engine, and then go on to leverage this tool to unearth a wide range of business insights for the company. Apply here: Jumbo Jobs 



7. Ironwood Pharmaceuticals- Corporate Communications Intern 
Location: Cambridge, MA 

Source 

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals is growing consumer biotech company that transforms knowledge into medicines that make a difference for patients and creates value that will inspire the continued support of our fellow shareholders. They are looking to add a Tufts student to their vibrant communications team whose responsibilities include monitoring and developing content for social media channels and aggregating and summarizing media relating to the company. Apply here: Jumbo Jobs 



8. Museum of Science- Tech Studio Intern 
Location: Boston, MA 

 Source 

The Tech Studio develops and facilitates staffed programs for visitors introducing them to the engineering design process, computational thinking, and "maker" skills and processes for the Museum of Science. The Tech Studio Intern will work alongside Tech Studio staff and museum volunteers to facilitate and develop design challenges engineering activities, and technology investigations focusing on digital technology and computational thinking. Apply Here: Jumbo Jobs 



9. Axcella Health- Research Associate 
Location: Cambridge, MA 

Source 

Axcella Health is pioneering revolutionary new medicines with a focus on amino acid homeostasis and has developed a systems pharmacology approach to restore health at the cellular level. The Analytical Sciences team is looking for a Research Associate skilled in protein characterization methods and can be responsible for upstream and downstream process support and product characterization, as well as, executing analytical assays to support research and development. Apply here: Jumbo Jobs 



10. Tulip Interfaces- Software Quality Assurance Intern 
Location: Somerville, MA 

Source 

Curious about the tech startup world? Tulip, an MIT startup near Union square is looking for help improving the quality of their product. The Software Quality Assurance intern would be have a multitude of responsibilities that range from ensuring end-to-end testing for their product to documenting quality assurance standards, processes and best practices. Apply here: Jumbo Jobs 



11. Liberty Mutual- Partnership Operations Intern 
Location: Boston, MA 

Source 

Liberty Mutual's internship program gives you the chance to work on a variety of critical business assignments. Liberty Mutual is looking for an addition to their Strategic Partnerships team, which focuses on developing and maintaining relationships with partners to offer their products. The Partnership Operations Intern will be able to participate in real work every day and gain insight into the operations side of supporting a variety of different types of partnerships. Apply here: Jumbo Jobs 


Authors: 
Hewot Getachew, Tufts '17
Kristin Casasanto, Assistant Director, Tufts Career Center

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What I learned in a week as a Wintern (illustrated through the season of Winter)

Hello, everybody! This is Nina back for semester two of career story telling and somewhat-sage advice!

I hope everyone had a great winter break with a lot of rest. As for me, I spent all but five days sitting on my couch recharging from the horrors that were finals.

For five days and five days only, I swapped my sweatpants for slacks, wedged myself onto the morning NYC subways, and hustled through Time Square for my Winternship at WNET.

Me transforming into "Intern-Mode" (source)

What's a Wintern?

Working during the wintertime is rough... (source)

If you're wondering, "What? Wintern? That's not a word!" You may be right--but it still exists!

The Winternship Program is a week-long internship run by the Tufts Film and Media Studies department. Interns apply and are selected for a role with a specific company where they are assigned a mentor - a vast majority being Tufts Alumni - and if you're savvy, some Winternships can turn into summer internships!

A Whole New Wintern-Wonderland!

Me going to my Winternship :) (source)

My Winternship was my first exposure to public broadcast media. As a print media gal, I hadn't considered the possibilities and intrigue of broadcast. It was a whole new way of storytelling that I had never considered.

But now, I'm looking into broadcast media for my summer internship--it's a new world of opportunities that I wouldn't be open to if I hadn't had my Winternship.

Of course, if things had gone the opposite direction where I end up not enjoying this industry . . . well, that's the beauty of a Winternship! It's a week-long experience - just enough to get a taste, but not long enough to have to make a major commitment.

Alumni Connections

Don't be afraid to introduce yourself (source)

My Winternship at WNET was very "Tufts-y" since I was working around THREE Tufts alums! Not only that, but CEO/Founder Neil Shapiro is also a Jumbo! This is a company that has a lot of Jumbo Pride, and it was great to hear how these successful alumni used their Tufts education to get to where they are today.

Wintern Highlights

Just embrace the wonderfulness of Winternships! (source)

I don't think I would have gotten as interested in broadcast and public media during my five days at WNET if it wasn't for the awesome professionals who took the time to talk to me and answer all my questions.

In the span of five days, I got to work with a new person every day. I was meeting people in sound production, editing, social media, reporting and producing. It was great to hear from all the different voices that contribute to the success of a program.

While the Winternship Program gives you the opportunity to get involved with great organizations, it's up to you to make the most of it. Ask questions, volunteer for new experiences, introduce yourself to people.

It's kind of like being a tourist in a new place: Pretend like this is the only time you'll see these people and be in this place. Be eager, intrigued, and exercise your right to ask lots of questions--make the most of it! You may find that such a mentality will make you want to come back again...

Thanks for reading!
Nina Joung
Class of 2018

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Why you should start interning at a startup

I know what you're imagining: open spaces with fun gadgets lying around, people in their sweatpants standing over mobile desks, and an office that looks more like a living room.

And that's pretty much what I saw everyday as the elevator door opened up into SeamlessDocs. (Except for the sweatpants, because we're talking about New York City, here. Come on now.)

Working at a tech startup in the Soho/Tribeca neighborhood of New York City was exactly as it sounds in a lot of ways. I was surrounded by young professionals--some recent college graduates--whose job was to be tech savvy. (Compared to my friend interning at an accounting firm where she had to help them find the computer mouse on the screen...) The attire was whatever you felt comfortable in, and during breaks, people would play each other in foosball.

But before this starts to sound like vacation with time to practice ping pong skills (oh yeah! There was also a ping pong table), I want to highlight the aspects of interning at a startup that make it a great place to beginning your internship experience.

The sheer number

It's now a joke that anyone can start a startup. They're coming up everywhere - especially on the college campus - and now larger corporations, governments, and even colleges are open to supporting their creativity.

Due to their smaller staff and developing activity, startups can always use an intern to lessen the load. And with the multitude of startups in the biz looking for (usually unpaid) help, it's a relatively easier way to gain experience working in a field that you're interested in. 

An open space

The CEO isn't sitting in a glass office with a beautiful view while everyone else works down the hall in their cubicles. Everyone works in the same space. Everyday, I could hear the sales team giving their pitches to clients; I could learn about projects other team members were working on; or I could peer over my desk to ask if anyone needed help with something. 

Beyond the physical setup of the office, everyone was just really open to answering our questions or to creating projects for us. We were freely helping out different people and working on projects that ranged from e-mail marketing, to making infographics for targeted marketing projects, to working on projects for the staff.

A good/bad thing from this open arrangement of the office meant that I couldn't goof off a lot. (Well, I honestly didn't WANT to goof off while everyone was working hard on calls, deals, and projects all around me!) Regardless, the office setup and staff encouraged me to learn, to ask for work, and to feel more like a part of the team.

Creating a useful experience

The most value aspect of working at SeamlessDocs is the interest they had in our success. From the moment I walked in the door of SeamlessDocs to my last day on the job, the CEO wanted us to gain something from the experience.

SeamlessDocs' original goal for its interns was to teach us a different aspect of marketing or assign us a project each week. In the beginning of the internship, this involved learning sessions with employees and targeted marketing assignments that were implemented with their clients. Even as the summer became more hectic and the structured plan began to break down, my fellow interns and I always had something to do. Our amazing immediate supervisor always made sure that we were busy and doing well.

Also, I'm proud to announce that I did not go on one lunch/coffee run during the three months that I was at SeamlessDocs. Any "intern" task I did, I volunteered to do myself, which is what happens when people treat you well - you want to return the favor. 

Helping us beyond

What amazed me even further was when during his minuscule moments of a semblance of free time, the CEO would gather the interns for a mini lesson or project. These mini lessons were lessons he'd learned from his experiences in business and ranged from a successful mindset ("Focus + Persistence = Anything you want") and marketing/business concepts (having frameworks to build on, attention to detail, etc.) The startup environment is probably one of the only places where the CEO will take time to talk to you more than just at the beginning or end of the internship.

My favorite part, though, was our last day on the job. The team at SeamlessDocs didn't let us leave with a few words of wisdom (granted, it was after we made fools of ourselves doing skits. I think they wanted to exercise just a liiiittle bit of power before we left...). Their experience ranged from just graduated to working for many years, but they all had something valuable to say.

Afterwards, our immediate supervisor worked with us to create recommendation letters and compile all the projects we had worked on to use for future career purposes. (Want to see a video we scripted? Click here!)

Overall, the amount of engagement, guidance, and support I received from my internship at SeamlessDocs is something that I'm extremely grateful for. Even though I know that my future internships probably won't be like this, (unless I go back to SeamlessDocs..!) the experience taught how to be a good intern, how to be a better one, and what I should do with the experiences I had. 


Thanks for reading!
Nina Joung
Class of 2018

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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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Sophomores: Don't Fear Uncertainty - Explore It!

Hello! My name is Nina Joung, and I am one of the Social Media/Blogger Interns for the Career Center. I’m a sophomore in the School of Arts and Sciences with an undecided major. (Shout out to indecisive people! Whoo!) When I’m not thinking about ways to bring the professional world a little closer to Tufts students, I’m editing the features section of the Tufts Daily, tutoring rowdy 4th graders at the Medford Boys and Girls’ Club, or looking out for my residents as an RA in Haskell.

Me at last year's Tuftonia's Day (Yes, I always look this fabulous)

Returning to Tufts as a sophomore, I feel an exciting mix of familiarity and confusion. While I've become acquainted with the campus, its resources, and the students that make it special, there are so many people, places, and decisions that are unknown to me. (For example, I've never been to the MFA, which is ridiculous because it's free for Tufts students!!) My undecided major is one example of the uncertainty in my life, and the pressure to make a decision is a definitive part of sophomore year.

Apparently, these contrasting feelings are already described in the word "sophomore." The etymology of the word “sophomore” breaks down to mean “wise fool.” Basically, a sophomore is someone who is overconfident in their level of intelligence but still immature.

After one year of college (theodysseyonline.com)

I mean, in my defense, I learned a lot after a year at Tufts: I’ve learned about the ins and outs of campus (most notably: the hidden ice cream bin at Carm!!) and became acquainted with the multiple resources offered on campus. The Tufts Career Center stands out as a resource that most first years don't utilize but one that helped me immensely. Without the Tufts Career Center, I wouldn't have gotten my summer internship at the NYC tech startup SeamlessDocs. Thanks to the tips, guidance, and databases at the Career Center, I spent my summer practicing content marketing, email marketing research, and web design - all while working closely with the company CEO. Additionally, I got to work alongside the most creative, hard-working, and friendly group of young professionals I’ve ever met whilst experiencing the casual yet intense startup environment.

However, that doesn't mean I'm going to follow the "sophomore" definition of naïve overconfidence. On the contrary, I know that while my experiences and knowledge are limited, the questions and the unknowns are infinite. This fact will probably keep me up some nights (or most nights), but it also encourages me to seek answers.

If only uncertainty looked this good on all of us *sigh*
Source

So what can a “wise fool” bring to this blog? Well, oddly enough, I plan to live up to both parts of my "sophomore" title. I hope my past experiences and familiarity with the Career Center and student life will give me the tools to answer the questions I've had, currently have, and will experience.

"Maturity is the capability to endure uncertainty" ~John Finley

Uncertainty isn't something we should fear - it's something we should explore. That's how we learn and grow into the mature adults we strive to be. I look forward to learning and growing in the professional world alongside you all.

Thanks for reading! Nina Joung
Class of 2018

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This Is It (Sort of)

I hate to reminisce. Really, I do. I’ve had some great memories, but looking back on them always makes me more sad than anything else. Bittersweet has always tasted just a little too bitter for me.

But, when I sat down to write this, my last post for the academic year, I couldn’t help but click back in time to the first post that I ever wrote for the Career Center. In that post, I wrote about the trials and tribulations that faced me and my fellow 2017-ers, from declaring a major to fighting the sophomore slump. I said that although I thought (for a long time) that I knew what I wanted to do, I was questioning my life plan, and hoped that I’d be able to solidify a career (or at least a career field) by the year’s end. I spoke of the “utter confusion” that young college students must wade through during these dangerous transitional years.

And, for the first time, reminiscing made me so, so happy. I thought back to who I was last September, and who I am now, and I am so proud of the progress I’ve made. I (finally) declared my major; I did some serious soul-searching, and came out the other side a much more self-assessed person; and I have a *very* tentative idea of what I want to do for a career.

I was fortunate enough to cover a lot of ground with my posts this year. I was able to attend and write about the Etiquette Lunch, the Fall Career Fair, the Spring SciTech Fair, the Sophomore Career Seminar, and more. I reviewed some common resources the Career Center offers, like tips on writing a resume, tools for finding internships and volunteer experiences, and suggestions for navigating the application process. Through it all, my career (and personal) journey was a common theme, from my posts about declaring a major, the sophomore slump, and the quarter-life crisis. And, with the Career Center’s help, I’ve made some pretty big discoveries and decisions. I've learned that although I can be introverted, I want to work with people and make a difference. I’ve learned about all the possible career fields that are available to me, and since choosing the health field, I’ve discovered the near-infinite ways I can enter it. I’ve developed my written communication skills and ability to work independently and in a team. But most of all, working for the Career Center has allowed me to utilize my passions and skills in a job that I love and look forward to doing – what more can one want?

The Career Center has helped me immensely with my personal career development. With their guidance, I’ve been able to find some incredible summer opportunities. This summer, I’ll be a clinical research intern at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, working with patients who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis to determine the root cause of their pain. I’ll also be working in an animal behavior research lab here on campus, helping a graduate student with her study on the effects of invasive bee species on local bee populations. For so long, I’ve wondered whether I want to go into human or animal medicine; hopefully, my experiences this summer will shed light on what it really means to work with patients in a clinical setting, and I’ll be able to determine whether it’s the right environment for me. Either way, I am so grateful for these opportunities, and the people at the Career Center – especially my supervisor, Nicole Anderson –  who have not only helped me secure these positions, but have been incredible role models and sources of guidance all year.

Right about now, you might be thinking, "Wow, this kid certainly has a lot to say about himself. But how is this relevant to me or the Career Center?" Well, this is one of those "if he can do it, anyone can" scenarios. I hope that from my experiences with and writings on the Career Center, I have inspired students - especially first-years and sophomores - to seek out the Career Center and all it has to offer. Your future doesn't have to be this big scary idea that you'll worry about once you graduate - with the Career Center, you can come in at any point in your own career development story, and find support, advice, and guidance from a qualified professional. The Career Center shouldn't be a place that you only go to during your senior spring when you're trying to apply for jobs or field offers - you should utilize its resources to the greatest possible extent. And, as my story (the first part of it anyways) proves, if you do, you will not be disappointed.

Well, here we are. The end of my last blog post.

Just kidding! Did you really think the Career Center could shake me that easily? The summer will be fun, but I’ll be back with more TV references than ever next fall, continuing my post as a Career Center Social Media Intern. I’ll also be working even more with the Career Center as a Career Fellow, a new program being launched that will feature students (like me!) helping other students with their personal career development, both through one-on-one meetings and group presentations. So although I may be leaving a me-shaped hole in your hearts for a few months, fear not, readers! I won’t be gone for long, and I’m so incredibly excited to continue this project that has already done so much for me as a budding professional and person. So it’s not a goodbye, but a “see you later”. Good luck to all with your summer plans (whatever they may be), and I’ll see you soon.

Until next time (and there will be one),

Sean Boyden

Class of 2017

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