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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Tufts University Musical 3: Senior Year

Welcome back to campus everyone! Summer has flown by once again, and I'm truly sad to see this one go. Between concerts and comedy shows, 4 AM wasp collections and 2 AM laughs with old friends, a trip to LA and a trip to NYC, and countless days of reading, sleeping, running, and beach-going, summer 2016 was one of the best of my life. With the bar set high, I'm planning on an unforgettable school year.

Me on Hollywood Boulevard, during a family vacation to Los Angeles in July. As you can see, I fit right in.

For some of us - myself included - it's our last time around the carousel, which feels surreal. It's hard to believe that this is my last year at Tufts, and in nine short months I'll be leaving the campus I've come to call home. At the same time, though, I'm craving new experiences in new places, and some days I can't wait until Commencement 2017.

These conflicting feelings, combined with a healthy dose of procrastinatory tendencies, are embodied by an acronym that I've come to embrace in the past few weeks: SWUG. If you ask the internet, 'SWUG' stands for 'Senior Washed-Up Girl' (or guy, or whatever noun you choose to identify with; if college has taught me anything, it is most certainly that gender is a social construct). Essentially, a SWUG is basically someone who's lost the motivation to be the typical high-achieving, high-energy college student that he or she was as an underlcassman; social outings lack the appeal they once held, and even the most basic homework seems impossible to complete. The days of being a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed freshman are far behind us, and now we pretty much just walk around the quad like zombies until the next time we can be home in bed again.

Our SWUG crew - we've come a long way since Hill Hall 2013.

But for me, the SWUG life doesn't mean washing up or losing drive. It means living in the moment, not caring about other people's expectations of you, and above all, doing what makes you happy. Whether it's joining the burlesque dance team or running through campus in a banana suit (both of which are items on my college bucket list), being a SWUG is about having the best senior year I can, before I leave an environment where society expects me to be ridiculous and irresponsible.

This summer, my friend Helen and I bought matching "Lettuce Be Friends" shirts and held a photoshoot throughout the Tufts campus. This is how SWUGs spend their free time.

Now, here comes the million-dollar question: how can we balance our in-the-moment, non-commital SWUG identities with the overriding need to have a plan after the caps are thrown? I'm not going to be unreasonable and suggest that you spontaneously critique your resume or change out of your sweatpants for a half-hour interview, but I do have a few ideas about what a SWUG can do in between naps and on-campus events that provide free food to start career planning:

Attend the Career Fair. Every year it seems to sneak up on us, but the Fall Career Fair is THIS FRIDAY, 11:30-2:30 in GANTCHER. There will be over 180 employers there looking specifically to recruit Tufts seniors for post-grad jobs. It's a few hours out of your Friday - you can do this. Even if you don't find the perfect job for you, attending the fair will give you an idea of what is out there, and what you can look for.

Explore your options. This goes hand in hand with attending the Career Fair. Before entering the workforce, you should try to inform yourself about the different paths you can take with your degree. This can be done simply by browsing the Internet, or by meeting with a Career Advisor. 

Me, looking for (a mind at) work. (I kind of got obsessed with Hamilton this summer. And I couldn't post a picture of LA and snub NYC, which in Angelica Schuyler's and my opinion is the greatest city in the world.)

Talk to people. Another great way to explore job opportunities is to put yourself out there and talk to professionals with careers that interest you. It can be anyone - your professor, your friend's mom, your mom's friend, your professor's mom... the list goes on.

Apply, apply, apply. One of my clearest memories from the college application process is something my best friend told me after her tour at a highly prestigious university. When she asked the tour guide what she could do to increase her chances of getting in, the tour guide responded, "Apply." This is true of the job search as well: by applying to as many positions as you can, you'll increase your chances of finding a great opportunity.

I know I just threw a lot of information at you, and for my fellow seniors currently reading this, it's okay to be completely overwhelmed (that's sort of how I feel all the time lately). But if you just start by doing one of these suggestions, you'll already be making progress towards your career goals,

It's going to be an amazing year, and before we know it, it's going to be over. Let's look out for each other, and make sure we all have a next step after we walk off the stage in May.

Until next time,
Sean Boyden
Class of 2017

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Be Prepared: Winter Break Tips (for Seniors)

Happy Wednesday, readers!

As you can guess from the title of this blog post, today's topic is the mysterious world of job interviews [insert fearful shrieks from the entire Class of 2015, myself included]. Whenever I talk to people my age about job interviews, one theme is always present -- feelings of anxiety and confusion.

Me right now. Just taking another opportunity to compare myself to Hermione.
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Most of my peers have difficulty figuring out how to prepare for an interview and what they should do/wear/ask/etc. It can be daunting, especially when you're a senior who feels like everyone is on their way to securing a job but you.

Yeah, I just threw a Coldplay reference at you. It works, admit it.
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Since I've (finally) decided that I'm taking time off before law school, finding something to do for the next year or two is my top priority. Interviews are part of that process. Even though I've interviewed for jobs before (including this job at the Career Center), it's still a real challenge. Thankfully, I've accumulated a fair number of tips that I will now share with you.

INTERVIEW TIPS & TRICKS

Use the (little) free time you have to RESEARCH. Since this blog post will be published before Winter Break, I'll use this opportunity to remind seniors that this month can be used to get yourselves together. Over break you can compile a list of employers you're interested in and commit time to researching each of them. Look at each company's website and find out any information that could help you during an interview. You should know the basics of the company, who is in charge, and things like recent projects. Expressing interest in what the company is currently working on will definitely impress an employer.

An interview shouldn't be a mystery. A lot of people my age go into interviews thinking that they're not allowed to ask questions. This just isn't the case. If you're going into an interview, you have the right to know what you should be prepared for. Don't be afraid to ask what kind of interview it will be (group, skype, phone, one-on-one, etc.), who will be interviewing you, or any other questions you might have. This is especially important if the interview will be non-traditional, like a virtual interview. Asking questions won't make you look incompetent - if anything, it will show just how interested in the job you are.

Prepare stories that you can tell during the interview. At their core, interviews are meant to demonstrate how you'll act on the job. Often, you'll be asked to do something like "describe a time you overcame a challenge" or "talk about a time you worked with a team". Questions like these are inviting you to tell a story about your past work. Coming up with a narrative on the spot can be really difficult, so it's a great idea to have stories in mind before the interview. Come up with 5 or 10 stories that demonstrate your skills, work ethic, professional skills, and anything else you think an employer might want to know. It might even help to look at the job description and match up stories with the different skills the employer listed. Remember, a good story can make you stand out in a sea of applicants.

Don't leave your personality at the door - SMILE! Something I really struggle with during interviews is loosening up and acting like myself. Being professional during an interview is vital, but that doesn't mean you should transform into an emotionless robot. Interviewers are people, just like you, and they want to get to know you on a personal level as well as a professional one. If you were the one hiring, wouldn't you look for people who were pleasant to be around? When I did a mock interview during the Job Search Boot Camp, career advisor Chris Di Fronzo said that one of the biggest mistakes people make during interviews is forgetting to smile. Smiling not only makes you look more friendly, it can also show that you actually want the job and are excited about it!

This is where mock interviews at the Career Center come in. You can practice telling your stories and acting like a living human at the same time (which is harder than you'd think for some). FYI: the Career Center is still open over Winter Break, so take advantage if you're around!

Just don't pull a Robin and you'll be fine!
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These are only some of the things you can do during Winter Break to get yourself on track to acing interviews in the spring. I'd also suggest organizing your job search, fixing up your LinkedIn, and doing some informational interviews if you can. You have a whole month with no schoolwork, so use that time wisely!

Be prepared!
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Of course, don't forget to treat yourself to an actual break too. You deserve it.

Signing off,

Kelly Vieira
Class of 2015

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Job Search Boot Camp

Hope you enjoyed your Halloweekend!

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, so I definitely made sure to have both merriment and candy. Besides that, I managed to start off the weekend with something productive -- a Job Search Boot Camp!

Halloween + Jobs = Skeleton Taxi Driver?
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This half-day Boot Camp held by the Career Center was meant to give seniors a hands-on, intensive lesson in job search skills. The day consisted of various workshops on everything from cover letters to resumes to interviewing. Workshops are a really great opportunity for anyone who is trying to navigate the often intimidating job search.

I started this blog post before the boot camp, but by the time this is posted I will have attended and added my thoughts on the experience.

PRE-BOOT CAMP THOUGHTS

I'm looking forward to the resume critique, since every time I update my resume I find things that could change. Writing a perfect resume is definitely an art form, and it often takes another set of eyes to fully gauge all the improvements that could be made. (If you couldn't make the boot camp, you can schedule an appointment with the Career Center and have someone critique your resume any time.)

The one thing I'm most nervous about is the mock interview. As I'm sure you all know, interviews can be quite nerve-wrecking. I'm always worried about portraying myself calmly and eloquently, all while having good posture and maintaining eye contact. However, I know that this is just practice! The purpose of the boot camp is to train us on interviewing skills, so if I don't do perfectly it'll be a learning experience.

This is especially true since the mock interview will be in a small group rather than one-on-one. I've never done a group interview in real life, so I have a lot to learn.

Overall, I'm excited to see what this boot camp has to offer!

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POST-BOOT CAMP THOUGHTS

The Job Search Boot Camp was a total success! I had a great time learning about all the different steps involved in the job search. Though the program was several hours long, time flew by. We were learning so much at such a rapid pace that it felt like we were done in no time. Kudos to the Career Center for a well-organized day.

Some of the highlights included networking practice, resume critiques, a guide to online resources, and the mock interview. Every part of the program was really informative, and they all lent themselves to a different facet of the job search. One of my favorite portions was the guide to web resources, since the Career Center site is filled to the brim with awesome links. It's a lot more efficient than aimlessly googling. A great place to start is Career A-Z, which organizes job resources by profession.

The interview ended up being a lot less scary than I thought it would be. Chris, the Career Counselor assigned to our group of three interviewees, gave us a lot of great advice and let us critique each other. One thing he emphasized was the importance of telling a story during an interview. A good story can be the difference between making an impression and being forgotten the moment you walk out of the room. Always brainstorm a few stories before any interview, so you have an arsenal to choose from.

All the information packed into the boot camp was a lot to take in, but it was also comforting to come away with a "toolbox" of sorts. I learned so much that I'm actually excited to pass on tips to my senior friends. Thanks to the boot camp, I feel like I have all the knowledge I need to tackle the job search and finally figure my life out (or just the first part, at least).

If you think you're missing that toolbox, make an appointment with a Career Counselor! They'll help you find your way.

Signing off,

Kelly Vieira
Class of 2015

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Welcome to the Real World

My name is Kelly Vieira, and I am a senior Political Science major with unofficial interests in English and Psychology.  I spend my free time geeking out over fictional characters, internet browsing, and making art. Currently, I find myself at a crossroads. The “real world” looms its ugly head as I try to navigate the so-called best years of my life.

As a senior, I feel like I should be filled to the brim with wisdom. In reality, it’s more a mixture of new knowledge, confusion, excitement, fear, and a sprinkle of stress on top for extra flavor. The past few years have included some of the best moments in my life so far, and some of the worst. These highs and lows have allowed me to learn a lot about myself and the world around me – something I guarantee will happen to every one of you in time.  Reality can be super overwhelming, but I’ve managed to get by and I’m excited for the future.

Pictured: Kelly being a "Real Adult".
Bonus nerd points if you can identify all three characters!

Before concentrating on that bright future, I’ll spend a moment on the past.

This past summer, I spent the majority of my time at home with my family in Pawtucket, Rhode Island (for Family Guy fans: yes it’s a real place, no there is no brewery). My hometown isn’t the most exciting place on Earth, but it has its own peculiar charm. Historically, it’s the home of the first textile mill in America. As the birthplace of the U.S. Industrial Revolution, I like to think of Pawtucket as a very small place with very big potential.  Insider tip: no one who lives in Pawtucket actually pronounces the “w”. It’s PAH-tucket, not PAW-tucket. The more you know!

While not wasting time on Tumblr, I actually held two different jobs during the summer months. The first was a virtual internship that I did with an amazing youth mobilization group called Americans for Informed Democracy (AIDemocracy.org). I helped out with their social media accounts, which was great preparation for blogging. If you’re wondering what in the world a “virtual internship” is, have no fear! That post is on its way.

My other job was in the wondrous world of retail. What can I say about retail? Well, everything you’ve heard about it is true. I will leave it at that for now.

So, what exactly am I bringing to the table with this blog? My perspective will be multi-faceted to say the least. I will be writing as a senior, a first generation college student and child of immigrants, an eldest sibling, a minority, a budding adult, and an aspiring lawyer. That list makes me sound way more impressive than I actually am.

Adulthood and all its trappings are both exciting and terrifying. Maybe reading my trials and tribulations will make you feel better about it. At least you won’t feel as bad when you have a miniature nervous breakdown. Underclassmen or upperclassmen, we can all get through it. All aboard the struggle bus!

Welcome to my journey through senior year/life. I hope you join me on this adventure full of fear, wonder, discovery, and magic*! At the end of it all, I’ll leave this campus and officially start my life in the “real world”.



*actual magic not guaranteed!


Or, in the wise words of John Mayer, maybe “there’s no such thing as a real world” after all. The best years are yet to come.

Signing off,
Kelly Vieira
Class of 2015

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My Experience with the Job Hunt: Part 2

The fateful day of the final interview, it was pouring rain, of course. To save my direction-clueless self the trouble of navigating the city, I opted for a cab, which skidded on the flooding roads too many times for comfort. But when I arrived, dripping from head to toe, I immediately relaxed. A hiring coordinator—who I had met through Skype last week—greeted me and gave me a tour of their brightly-walled offices, featuring sprawling couches, a fitness center, and the latest modern décor.

I first spoke with a department head, who asked me to expand on my resume, explain how I measure “marketing success”, and show how I’d contribute to the firm’s campaigns. I then met with a human resources manager, who mainly asked about my background, including my abroad experience and hobbies, even touching on my long-forgotten piano days. Finally, I met once more with the hiring coordinator, who encouraged me to ask any additional questions before she led me out.

Ahhh, the questions. I’d have to say this was my one stumbling-block. I met with this same coordinator in-between each round, who encouraged me to ask any and all questions I had about the company. I’d already fired away my long question list on Skype the week before, when we had a similar question-answer session. I struggled to come up with something—anything---to ask her about, hoping to reinforce my interest. I wondered if I was being too repetitive, or if it was better to keep picking her brain rather than admit I was all set.

As it turns out, I still don’t have the answer. But what I did learn is that the tricky question-game isn’t so black and white; we just have to somehow strive to find that good balance. It’s important to have some intelligent questions on-hand, as well as follow-up with questions specific to the conversation. But at the same time, don’t force it. If you feel like you’re asking just to add to your precious question-count, your employer might sense it, too.

The hiring coordinator told me that she would have a decision for me by the following Monday. Turns out, I didn’t hear until that Wednesday afternoon, leading me to frantically check my phone each day until then, my heart racing as I saw the familiar red-blink in the corner---only to realize it was spam mail, or a friendly email from my grandpa.

As it turns out, I didn’t get the position. The hiring coordinator politely informed me that the company had decided to move forward with other candidates. She reinforced that it was a highly competitive program, and that I should continue to check out any available job openings on their website.

Predictably, I was bummed. But I had prepped myself for this likely possibility, and I bounced back fairly quickly. And of course, my friends and family helped. They told me something that should help all of us combat the feeling of rejection: if we don’t get the job, it probably wasn’t meant for us. Yes, we’re awesome, talented, intelligent, and totally competent. But, not every job is for us. If we get rejected, it’s not because we’re unqualified or unsuitable but because, for some reason or other, a hiring manager thought another candidate would be a better match. The dreaded rejection says nothing about us as job-competitors.

And, most importantly, these experiences---yes, even the rejections---are incredible learning experiences. The jittery nerves, the tricky questions, those awkward pauses—they all help in the long-run. Every experience pushes us to sharpen our interview skills and gain confidence in our professional interactions. And the more we practice, the better we get. We’ll look back on these rejections as necessary stepping stones in the job hunt, critical to landing the job truly right for us.

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My Experience with the Job Hunt: Part 1

I might seem like some slick career-expert, but I had entered this academic year—warned as the year for job-prowling and networking—entirely clueless. I had gone through the charade of internship-hunting before, but considering every position was for 2-3 months, it all felt much simpler. This was the first time I had experienced the full job process---the 6-person interviews, the carefully worded follows ups, the agonizing waiting game, and the constant ups and downs.

I thought I’d take the time to share a personal job-applying saga. Like so many, the experience was both exhilarating and nerve-wrecking, both inspiring and draining. And it was challenging, every step of the way. But more than anything, it was a tremendous learning experience, one that undoubtedly boosted my confidence and prepared me for what’s left to come.

This particular opportunity---an entry-level position at an online marketing company---came rather unexpectedly. The story harks back to the October Tufts Career Fair, where I had casually handed my resume to a number of attending employers. Eying the piles of resumes stacked on each booth, I hadn’t thought much of it. A few weeks later, I received a surprising email on my phone; my resume had been passed on to the marketing department, and I seemed like a good fit for its two-year rotational program. The hiring process started now.

This particular instance was rare in the sense that I didn’t technically apply. In an unexpected twist, my resume was sent out first, and the opportunity seemed to magically materialize right after. But it goes to show the benefits of just getting your name and resume out there, to as many people as possible. Somebody might just come upon your accomplishment list and present you with an opportunity.

The first step of this process was to complete an analytical exercise, due the following week. It required thinking analytically about online marketing rates and organizing data through excel. It took some time—I think it was my first time using a calculator in four years, embarrassingly—but the exercise soon became less daunting. I filled it out to the best of my ability and emailed it to the HR coordinator.

Soon after, I was asked to have a Skype interview, which would take place in January over winter break. I would meet with two employers for 15 minutes each. As so wisely instructed by Career Services, I researched the company online, parsed through its website, and did some behind-the-scenes employer research on Linkedin. This was my first Skype interview, and I didn’t know what to expect. I was worried about staticky connections, video malfunctions, and my forgetful family barging into my room. I imagined the staff judging me for my green-and-pink flowered wallpaper and stuffed-animal filled bed. Most of all, I was concerned that the employer might not get the same sense of me over a flat, impersonal computer screen.

My first Skype interview—like so many anticipated experiences—was more relaxed than I’d expected. The second employer couldn’t make it, so I talked to just one representative for 20 minutes. He asked me no trick questions, but instead went over my resume, asking me about my experience, interests, and education. I expanded on my relevant work experiences, praying they sounded impressive, and even spoke briefly about my favorite and least favorite classes. Considering it was my first “real” interview in a while, I had no idea how it went. I was delightfully surprised when I received a prompt email a few days later, inviting me to Skype with three more company reps a week later.

By the time next Friday rolled around, I felt more confident sitting in front of my computer. I had further explored the company and its high-tech website, expecting this round to be more challenging and analytical. And it many ways, it was. Each interviewer dived deeper into my background, pushing me to not only describe my experiences, but offer specific examples and scenarios. They wanted to know how I worked, both independently and in a team, and how I thought—creatively, strategically, and analytically. They asked me how I deal with stress, to share my most challenging experience, and to tell of a time I didn’t agree with a partner. I was also asked, surprisingly more than once, to talk about the work experience I found least rewarding. I had prepared a few answers for some thornier questions (eg. tell me about a time you solved a conflict), but many required me to think on my feet.

When I thought I was actually getting this whole Skype-thing, my video malfunctioned on my second interview. But I forced myself not to flip out. After repeatedly apologizing to the hiring coordinator (who could only hear my voice at that point, thank god), I ran out to the living-room and snatched my friend’s computer. And all was fine from there. In fact, the whole thing oddly eased me up, and the two of us had something to joke about (hopelessly unpredictable technology is apparently a good icebreaker).

That night, I was invited into the office for the final-round of the interview process. I would finally meet employers face-to-face, rather through my slowly malfunctioning computer, and I could finally show hirers my real, off-screen personality. I was incredibly excited to have come this far.

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How to Land a Media Job: My Takeaways

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend “How to Land a Media Job: Tips for Seniors,” a media panel co-sponsored by Tufts Career Services and the Communications & Media Studies Department. The event featured five panelists, who represented five different media professions: children’s production, advertising, film production, local reporting, and public radio. For those who didn’t attend, I thought I’d share a brief overview the event, the who’s who in the panel, and what I gathered about the state of modern media.

Before I go on, let me introduce the five panelists. They were friendly and personable, combining the serious stuff with colorful anecdotes. And they were honest, unafraid to tell us, point-blank, who they would hire and what it takes to get in the door.

Carol Greenwald: Senior Executive Producer of Children’s Programs at Boston’s WGBH. She manages the production of popular kid’s shows like Arthur and Curious George. (Who doesn’t love Arthur?)

John Davidow: The Executive Editor of New Media at WBUR Radio (and a proud Tufts alum). He oversees the content of WBUR’s hip new website.

Molly Crean: A Junior Recruiter and Internship Coordinator at Arnold Worldwide, responsible for recruiting new and creative talent to the ad-world.
Richard Lodge: Editor-in-Chief of GateHouse Media West and Metro Units, a daily newspaper that covers local community news.

Evan Mark Rimer: Assistant to the President at Anschutz Film Group, a subsidiary of Walden Media. Evan recruits new film projects and oversees film development.

At first, I figured this would be yet another helpful albeit depressing panel about the hopelessness of media. This would be temporarily confirmed by a comical film clip, featuring two cartoon characters discussing journalism. “I want to work for the New York Times,” the first cartoon robotically said. “You will not work for the NY Times,” retorted its pessimistic counterpart. “You will report insignificant stories and get laid off and move to the middle of Kansas”. (Okay, totally not the real dialogue, but you get the jist.)

The ominous mood was set. But as the event went on, and as each panelist opened up about his or her colorful media jobs, we all relaxed. What I took away instead was a much more complicated view of the industry. Media is struggling, yes, but it’s also rapidly transforming, now more than ever looking to recruit new talent.

So, the question we all want to know: what does it take to land a media job? The panelists first emphasized the importance of relevant internship and work experience. Prior experience shows that you are capable of handling professional media tasks and can thrive in fast-paced work culture. Interestingly enough, Carol also stressed prior employment, whether at your local supermarket or DQ. As she put it bluntly, employers like seeing that you know what it means to have a job.

In the vein of digitalization, the panelists—Richard particularly—said they love those with a versatile skill set. They are always eager to fill, “what’s not there”. So if you have a penchant for say, photography or slide-show making, or perhaps HTML coding, make this clear! Even if you aren’t too comfortable with digital tools, there’s still plenty of time to learn. Also, it’s always a plus to be familiar with social media and online news sites. Yes, they’re ultra-experienced, but these media veterans want to learn too. As Richard said, “I want you to teach me something new.”

The employers also touted writing as the most important skill for media success. Even more than your GPA, your clips prove that you have knack for clearly and concisely relaying information. So what to do now? Write, write, write. Publish news stories. Blog (even if it’s about your love life). Tweet. Force your friends to follow you. As these panelists stressed, we should do all what we can to cultivate our writing voice and just publicize ourselves. And it’s good practice while we work towards the days when we’ll see our byline in some glossy magazine.

Of course, the panel couldn’t end without discussing the all-too-important networking process. Each panelist encouraged us to cultivate as many connections as possible—particularly key for breaking into media, which essentially thrives on networking. In this block of time before the actual job-applying season (most media jobs have a 2-3 week turnaround period) the best thing we can do is establish a large web of contacts, which we should continue to build and build. The larger our networking pool, the higher the likelihood of being nudged toward a job.

But say you don’t have a readily accessible pool of media contacts to schmooze with. The reporter attendees, particular Richard, encouraged the die-hard journalists to try cold-calling newsroom. Isn’t that what journalism is about, anyway? Of course, it’s important to do your research—to know who exactly you’re speaking with and to plan a smart, well-planned pitch. You never know where just one phone call could lead.

The final take-away - for me at least? If you love everything media, just go for it. The panelists were honest about some of the less-than-promising trends. But beyond this, they conveyed a rare passion for their current careers and a staunch dedication to exploring its exciting future. It’s this love for communicating information—the writing, the reading, the filming, the reporting—that makes these challenges and budget-cuts well-worth it. As proud members of this next online-savvy generation, we’re the ones media is depending on.

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Tips for New Grads

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.

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Make the Most of your Spring Break

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!

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Learning to Dine with Confidence

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!

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Student Spotlight - Tufts senior Aaron talks about his successful job search

I’ve had the opportunity to speak with senior Aaron Cannon, who landed a full-time consulting position at Monitor Group following his internship this past summer. Read on for his first-hand perspective on the not-that-scary search process--the steps he took to impressively wheedle his way into a top-notch profession in the field.

1. How did you first develop an interest in consulting?

My sophomore year of college, I decided that I wanted to go into the business world. I started looking at finance and consulting internships--the two fields go hand in hand in a lot of ways. I started reaching out to whoever I could in both of these fields. I quickly realized I would not enjoy finance. The more I talked to contacts about consulting, the more I realized I would love it. I love taking on a “zoomed-out” perspective to solving big problems, a crucial part of the consulting world. I also did research myself and looked at whatever resources I could find online. But narrowing down my interests really came down to talking to people.

2. What steps did you take to assure yourself professional experience in the field?

I used every network I possibly could. I contacted personal networks in consulting, which included family, family friends, and friends’ parents. I also used the Tufts alumni database. I wrote down alumni that worked at a company I cared about, put each name into a spreadsheet, and sent out emails to each contact expressing my interest. I talked to three or four different people [at Monitor] before I even ended up interviewing. The more people you talk to, the more will be your advocates. I talk extensively to two Tufts alumni at the firm, who advocated for me and helped me out however they could. As for the interviews, you just do your best. I prepared a lot for my consulting interview.

3. In what ways did you use Career Services and Tufts resources in your job search?

I’ve been meeting with my career counselor for the last year and a half. Career Services was a great way to get advice and find helpful resources. The alumni database the office provides was an essential part of contacting and establishing networks. I also utilized the office to practice case interviews--distinctive to the consulting field.

4. What was your internship experience at Monitor Group like? What kinds of tasks were you responsible for?

The Monitor internship in particular is a very awesome program. The professionals there really treat you well and are supportive in every way. They are a very connected, tight group of people. As for the work itself, as an intern I worked on a pretty big case study with a total of 15-20 consultants. We took on supporting roles for our managing directors, which felt like we were starting employees. I had the chance to go to higher-level meetings, where I got new insight into consulting ideas, perspectives, and strategies. I even got to travel to Chicago for an internal meeting. You could really tell that they are investing in you.

5. On-the-job, how did you take advantage of the experience? What steps did you take and/or attitude did you have to heighten your chances of getting an offer?

Most of all, it’s important to keep open communication with everyone involved. Always stay excited during your time there; you might be stressed, but don’t let it show. Continue to be happy and supportive. It’s also always important to double-check your work and make sure you’re handing in the best possible product. Never hesitate to ask for feedback--continuously be asking, How can I improve? It’s crucial to be self-aware with what you’re good at and where you might need improvement.

6. What advice do you have for your fellow underclassman currently engaged in the job search process?

1. Talk to as many people as possible.

2. Learn from each person you talk to, and use what you’ve learned in the next conversation you have. The more you talk to people, the more comfortable you get and the more perspective you develop.

3. Always stay excited when you’re talking to people. Act as if it’s the most important thing in your life. The same goes for interviews. Frame yourself as a whole person, whose past experiences and opportunities have all led to this particular company. Whenever talking to someone in consulting, I made sure to prove three qualities about myself: my ability to collaborate, communicate, and analyze--incredibly important in the consulting world. It’s always important to funnel your skills down into what’s important for success in your field.

Overall, while hard work, I really enjoyed the job search process. You are always interacting with new people. It’s fast and it’s moving.

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How to Survive on an AmeriCorps Salary – Thoughts from Citizen Schools and City Year Reps

Citizen Schools and City Year are two organizations with great opportunities for seniors interested in short-term work experiences after graduation. Both nonprofits have locations in Boston and a number of other cities across the U.S. In addition, both have high rates of retention and are concerned with participants’ professional development during their programs. A few weeks ago, representatives from Citizen Schools and City Year visited the Tufts campus to chat about their organizations and give advice for making the most of a year (or two) of service, including stretching a living stipend to cover one’s expenses (totally do-able, by the way!)

First, some quick facts about both organizations:

Citizen Schools – National Teaching Fellowship
Fellows spend two years pursuing three intensive educational professional development opportunities, gaining hands-on experience at middle schools, work experience with community organizations, and academic training through pursuit of a Master's degree.

Deadlines
Apply by January 7; Notification by February 25
Apply by March 11; Notification by April 29

Benefits

• AmeriCorps educational award at the completion of your service (can be used for existing or future loans)
• Fellows receive the largest stipend allowed by AmeriCorps (~$22,800)
• Health Insurance
• Student loan forbearance
• 3 weeks vacation
• 403B retirement benefits
• Transportation allowance
• Laptop for use during program

City Year – Corps Members
As a City Year corps member, you will serve full-time as a tutor and mentor in schools, running after-school programs, leading and developing youth leadership programs, and vacation camps to make a difference in the lives of children and their communities. Although most of your corps experience will be working with kids, you will also help rebuild neighborhoods and perform a variety of transformative physical service projects.

Deadlines
Apply by November 15; Notification by December 17
Apply by February 1; Notification by March 1
Apply by April 1; Notification by May 1
Apply by May 15; Notification by June 15

They typically receive about 850 applications for 170 positions
Applying early is always better for ensuring a spot in the Corps, though there will still be spots for those who apply at later deadlines

Benefits

• AmeriCorps educational award at the completion of your service (can be used for existing or future loans)
• Bi-weekly living stipend
• Cell phone provided by T-Mobile
• Health Insurance
• Student Loan forbearance
• Networking sessions and professional development
• Leadership development trainings
• Uniform provided by The Timberland Company and ARAMARK
• Online community where accepted Corps Members can discuss housing

Recommendations for making the most of your living stipend:

• Plan ahead – think about your expenses (necessities vs. areas where you might be able to cut back)
• Leverage your resources – this may include applying for federal assistance programs like food stamps and making sure your student loans are in forbearance
• Collaborate with co-workers – find an inexpensive apartment, share grocery and other common expenses
• Consider part-time work if your time allows – for example, some Corps Members with City Year have found part-time weekend jobs to supplement their stipends
• Remember why you’re there – you’ll certainly face some tough times during a year of service, and remembering your reasons for wanting to serve will help you face those challenges and emerge a stronger person
  

For questions about Citizen Schools or City Year, contact our Tufts liaisons:

Sheldon Johnson
Campus Recruitment Manager
Citizen Schools
617.695.2300 ext. 1104
sheldonj@citizenschools.org

Jamaal Williams
Recruitment Manager
City Year Boston
617.927.2511
JWilliams@cityyear.org

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