C A R E E R A N D S U M M E R I N T E R N S H I P F A I R

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C A R E E R C O N N E C T I O N S C A R E E R S E R V I C E S N E W S L E T T E R

I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

C A R E E R A N D

I N T E R N S H I P F A I R

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B O S T O N

N E T W O R K I N G

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C O N S O R T I U M

C A R E E R F A I R

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J O B S E A R C H

R O U N D T A B L E S

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S P R I N G B R E A K :

G H A N A

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M O C K T R I A L 3

F I R S T Y E A R O N

T H E J O B

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U P C O M I N G

E V E N T S

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M U S E U M C A R E E R

N I G H T

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N Y C

N E T W O R K I N G 2

TMTMTMTM

This year’s Career and Summer Internship Fair hosted

by Career Services offered students the chance to meet

with 28 employers from around New England to learn

about a wide variety of job and internship opportuni-

ties. The event, which took place on February 4 in

Tilton Hall, was attended by over 320 students, ranging

from first years to graduate students.

Present at the fair were companies from a variety of

fields and industries, including arts and entertainment,

consulting, education, accounting and finance, govern-

ment, sales and marketing, and science and research.

While some students were in attendance to see what

internship opportunities are available in Worcester,

others were looking to make key contacts in hopes

of securing full time employment come the end of

the academic year. Elyse Robertson MSPC ’09

distributed her resume to many of the nonprofit

organizations that were present in hopes of jump-

starting her career in the nonprofit world. Overall,

employers were very satisfied with both the turn

out of Clark students and the enthusiasm, knowl-

edge, and skills they possessed.

Partial list of companies in attendance:

ACLU The Barton Center for Diabetes Education

The Bridge of Central Massachusetts Citizen Schools City Year Boston

Crossroads for Kids The Federal Bureau of Investigation

Hanover Theater for the Performing Arts The Key Program Language Corps The May Institute

Public Consulting Group Seven Hills Foundation

Tighe and Bond

After the panel concluded, students put the

lessons they just learned into practice by talking

with the panelists and other alumni from a vari-

ety of disciplines. Alumni in attendance in-

cluded Mark Bilotta MBA ’91 – Chief Execu-

tive Officer of the Colleges of the Worcester

Consortium; Joyce Greenleaf ’85 – Regional

Inspector General of the Massachusetts Depart-

ment of Health and Human Services; and

Charles Wickles ’87 – Senior VP, Relationship

Manager of Citizens Bank. The event served as

a great educational opportunity for all – whether

a first year or graduate student. For example,

while some students, such as Ying Phung ’12,

attended to experience what a networking event

was like, others, like Olu Ibrahim ’09, were

looking to make connections that would help

them land their first job.

This annual Boston Networking Event took

place on February 12, with over 100 under-

graduates, graduate students and alumni in at-

tendance. The event was hosted at the offices of

Silver Bridge Advisors, through the generosity

of Clark alumnus R. Thomas Manning, Jr.

‘89, Chief Investment Officer. The evening

began with a panel entitled “New Ideas on Net-

working,” which was moderated by David

McDonough, Director of Career Services. Pan-

elists included alumni Jonathan Freedman,

MBA ’89, Daniel Kilgore ’74, R. Thomas

Manning, Jr. ’89, and Diane Stokes MBA ’96.

B O S T O N N E T W O R K I N G E V E N T

Mark Bilotta MBA ‘91 talks with Ying Phung ‘12

C A R E E R C O N N E C T I O N S Page 2

In March a group of 30 Clark students went to

New York City to participate in a special net-

working event by Robert J. Stevenish II ‘86 at

The Friar’s Club. Coordinated by the Graduate

School of Management, Alumni Affairs, and

Career Services, the event consisted of a panel

titled “New Ideas on Networking” followed by

a networking session. The panel aimed to edu-

cate students on ways to effectively network in

the constantly evolving professional environ-

ment.

Panelists included:

Over 100 Clark students attended the Colleges of the Worcester Consortium Career Fair held

on Wednesday, March 25 at the DCU Center in downtown Worcester. Students were able to

visit with 73 employers and learn about jobs and internships in the Worcester area. Companies

in attendance included: Amica Mutual Insurance Company, IPG Photonics Corporation, John

Hancock, MEDITECH, Peace Corps, Staples, Tar-

get, UMASS Medical School, UPS, Y.O.U. Inc., and

many more. To find information on these and other

opportunities click on the Clark Recruiter logo on

the Career Services homepage:

www.clarku.edu/offices/career

WO R C E S T E R

C O N S O R T I U M C A R E E R F A I R

5 TIPS FOR JOB HUNTING IN A

RECESSION

1. Stay positive: Staying optimistic during

difficult times is important. Hiring manag-

ers can sense in an interview what your atti-

tude is.

2. Network, network, network: Never un-

derestimate the power of your connections,

no matter how big or small.

3. Be flexible: Be flexible to freelance and

temporary work as it could expose you to

new skills, experiences, and potentially, a

full-time position.

4. Do your homework: Research organiza-

tions and positions that interest you and are

within your skill level. Then create an action

plan to pursue positions at your desired or-

ganizations.

5. Be persistent: Persistence, preparation

and patience are essential in the job hunting

process. If you are creative and stick to your

plan you will land a job.

This semester Career Services sponsored three

Job Search Roundtable discussions. The first

featured Scott Zoback ‘04, MPA ‘05, Editor of

Worcester Magazine. The second was facili-

tated by James Muiruri, HR Recruiter for the

Seven Hills Foundation. The third, taking place

in the beginning of April, will focus on careers

in education with Mark Brophy, Staffing Co-

ordinator with the Worcester Public Schools.

The Job Search Roundtable discussion featuring

Scott Zoback focused on careers in communica-

tions. Zoback talked about exploring his interest

in the field and how his internships and aca-

demic work at Clark prepared him for his cur-

rent position. He advised students on ways to

enter the field and what to expect from their

first job or internship. He also supplied the stu-

dents in attendance with a list of organizations

and professional associations to contact.

The Roundtable discussion featuring James

Muiruri focused on careers in human/social

service organizations. Muiruri talked about

what Human Resources Recruiters look for in

applicants. He also targeted specific ways in

which students could make themselves more

attractive candidates for any position in the

human/social services field.

The Job Search Roundtable discussions are

great forums for students to learn more about

career and

internship op-

portunities in

specific fields.

Students can

get expert advice on what they should do to

secure an internship or full-time job and what

employers are looking for in candidates.

Equally important, these discussions provide

students with the opportunity to practice net-

working with professionals in their field of

interest.

J O B S E A R C H R O U N D T A B L E S

N Y C N E T W O R K I N G E V E N T

Ingrid Busson ‘96 – Associate General Counsel at Calyon Corporate Investment

Bank

Mark Fishman ‘82 – Clark University Trustee and Head of Fixed Income at Dia-

mondback Capital

Dr. Jill Greenbaum ‘78 – Coach, Instruc-

tional Designer and Trainer at icoachdesign

Robert Stevenish II ‘86 – Clark University

Trustee and Managing Director at Citigroup

With over 80 alumni in attendance, students

gained helpful career advice and sugges-

tions to pursue their future careers.

Page 3 S P R I N G 2 0 0 9

S T U D E N T S S P E N D S P R I N G B R E A K I N G H A N A

churches, and hosted a very successful banquet

with a fashion show, great Ghanaian food, and

other entertainment.

What started as a project became a course for

academic credit, and consequently the Social

Entrepreneurship Club was formed. The

shared vision of the original members is to

expand the project to include Sierra Leone and

Kenya next year. Through this expansion, the

members hope that their work goes beyond an

alternative spring break trip and serves as a

cultural exchange and opportunity for future

members to get real world experience.

This year a group of eight Clark students en-

gaged in a unique alternative spring break trip

to Ghana. The group, comprised of all women,

had a passion to gain hands-on experience in

social entrepreneurship. Working with Dr.

David Jordan, CEO of Seven Hills Founda-

tion and Clark’s Social Entrepreneur in Resi-

dence, as well as Seven Hills Foundation’s

new subsidiary, Seven Hills Global Outreach,

the group raised over $13,000 to fund their trip

to Ghana and work at the New Horizon Spe-

cial School for adults and children with devel-

opmental disabilities. To do this, the group

sold bracelets, held bake sales, appealed to

friends, family, and local businesses and

M O C K T R I A L

On Wednesday, February 11, the Worcester Art

Museum opened its doors for its annual Career

Night, an event aimed at college students think-

ing about a career in a museum environment.

The evening included a panel presentation by

local artists and arts administrators followed by

breakout sessions during which students could

speak with panelists in small groups to discuss

career paths within the museum industry. Panel-

ists included:

Kate Egnaczac, a Graphic Designer at Worces-

ter Art Museum

Andy Fish, a Commercial Artist and Graphic

Novelist

The Mock Trial Team display their achievements at the

Boston Regional Tournament

Robin Starr, an Auctioneer at Skinner Auction

House

Helen Ronan, an Art Editor at Pearson Educa-

tion

Janis DesMarais, the Visual Resources Coor-

dinator at the College of the Holy Cross

Winnie Murray, an Art Conservator at the

Worcester Art Museum

Brian Barlow, Director of Advancement at the

Worcester Art Museum

The evening was well attended and Bonnie

Unger, a senior Communication and Culture

major commented that “it was helpful to see

the variety of career paths in the Arts and Mu-

seum industry.”

Members of the Social Entrepreneurship Club pose with

staff at the New Horizon Special School

UMass-Amherst (2-0) and tied with B.U. A (1-

1). The B.U. A team ended the tournament in

fourth place. A Clark alumnus, attorney Steve

Kennedy '88, is the mock trial coach. Team

members are Sam Reznik (Co-Captain), Lind-

say Gemmell (Co-Captain), Sylvie Lepeltier

(All-Region Attorney Award Winner), Amanda

McLoughlin (All-Region Witness Award Win-

ner), Hattie Krakow (All-Region Witness

Award Winner), Kristin Bokhan (All-Region

Witness Award Winner), Nora Feely, Andy

Peace and Minh Mai.

In early February the Mock Trial team par-

ticipated in the Boston Regional Tourna-

ment. The Clark A team finished 7-1 at their

regional tournament giving them an auto-

matic bid to the national tournament in Mem-

phis in late March. This was the best re-

gional tournament finish for Clark in many

years. The team was third at the regional

tournament, finishing behind Harvard A at 8-

0 and Harvard B at 8-0. In addition, they

won three best witness awards and one best

attorney award for the tournament. Clark

beat Brown (2-0), Suffolk, (2-0),

WO R C E S T E R A R T M U S E U M C A R E E R N I G H T

C A R E E R S E R V I C E S U P C O M I N G

E V E N T S A N D I N F O R M A T I O N

ATTENTION

CLASS OF 2009!

Career Services has new re-

sources just for you! Be sure to

go onto the Career Services web-

site (www.clarku.edu/offices/

career) and click on the special

section for the class of 2009 to

get job search tips, helpful infor-

mation for your first year on the

job, and register for the Job

Digest.

TAKE A SLICE

Friday, April 17, 11a.m.-1p.m.

Grace & Lurie Conference Rm.

Higgins University Center

Join Clark staff from several

offices including Financial Aid,

Career Services, Alumni Affairs,

and more to obtain all the infor-

mation you need to make the

transition from Clark to the real

world. Pizza will be served!

INTERNSHIP

DEADLINES

If you are interested in receiving

academic credit for a Summer or

Fall internship you must submit

your completed application to the

Career Services office by June 12,

2009 for Summer internships and

September 4, 2009 at noon for

Fall internships. If you have any

questions regarding obtaining an

internship, or getting credit for an

internship, contact Sharon Hanna at

shanna@clarku.edu

Making the transition from college to the work-

place can often be difficult, stressful, and confus-

ing. By following our tips, you will be sure to

make a smooth transition to any working environ-

ment. Be sure to check out the expanded version

of this list in the special Class of ’09 section on

the Career Services homepage:

www.clarku.edu/offices/career

Clark Career ServicesClark Career ServicesClark Career ServicesClark Career Services

122 Woodland St., Floors

2&3

Alumni/Career Services

House

Phone: (508) 793(508) 793(508) 793(508) 793----7258725872587258

Fax: (508) 793-7189

careers@clarku.educareers@clarku.educareers@clarku.educareers@clarku.edu

www.clarku.edu/offices/career

General Hours:

9a.m.- 5p.m., Monday-Friday

Drop-In Advising Hours

1p.m. - 3p.m., Monday-Friday

For more information on any of these events please

email : careers@clarku.edu or call (508) 793-7258

Newsletter Design:

Anna Goldblatt and Joel Kolkmann

Contributors: CS staff

1. Learn everything you can about the com-

pany. The more you know about the organization – what they do and how they do it – the better equipped you will be to fulfill the duties of your

role.

2. Ask questions; be an active listener. Your fellow colleagues and bosses alike understand that you are transitioning from a student to a profes-sional and will be more than willing to help you

when needed.

3. Develop time management skills. Make sure to set deadlines, giving yourself sufficient time

to not only complete the task, but complete it well.

4. Seek opportunities for professional and

personal development. Participating in trainings shows your commitment, while also giving you the skills, resources, and competencies to excel and

advance in the organization.

5. Accept responsibility when appropriate. It is important that you accept responsibility for your own blunders. This will keep your conscience clear, while also strengthening your reputation for

being honest and forthright.

MEET OUR STAFF:

(from left to right)

David McDonough—Director

Meaghan Stein—Assistant Director,

Coordinator of Employer Relations

Madelyn Priestley—Office Manager

Alexis Bazoukas—Program Assistant/

Receptionist

Sharon Hanna—Assistant Director,

Internship Coordinator/CCEP Adviser

Vickie Cox-Lanyon—Assistant

Director, Graduate School Adviser

1 0 T I P S F O R Y O U R F I R S T Y E A R O N T H E J O B

6. Be ready to work extra hours. During your first year, you will learn what works, and what doesn’t. Unfortunately, you will do this at

the expense of working extra hours.

7. Be prepared for meetings. Meetings are often a forum for many of your colleagues to get to know you and assess your capabilities. When in meetings, have something to contribute, address your comments to the entire group, and listen to

others’ questions, comments, and concerns.

8. Find a mentor. Seeking out a mentor in an organization is a great way to receive meaningful encouragement, constructive criticism, and feed-

back.

9. Be nice and get to know your colleagues. Avoid office politics and be nice to all staff, rang-

ing from the custodians to the CEO.

10. Be careful of email communication. Emails should always be written in a professional style with correct grammar and spelling. Before you put anything in writing ask yourself whether it would cause a problem if it was posted on the

company bulletin board.