Career Services

The Job Ahead

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 18:48:13 +0000

The Job Ahead BBENSON@bridgew.edu Mon, 09/18/2023 - 14:48

Meet new director of Career Services and the Internship Program Office

September 19, 2023

Brian Benson, G’23

Growing up in Hong Kong, Dr. Gerald Tang attended schools where test scores played an outsized role in dictating a student’s future. After immigrating to America, he discovered a higher education system focused more on helping students discover their passions.

Tang embraced that sense of exploration as a student and professional.

“My true calling is helping people understand their skillsets and interest in what they want to do,” said Tang, who immigrated to the U.S. with his family as a teenager.

Tang sees ��ؿ��Ƶ State University as a great place to continue that mission as the first executive director of Career Services and the Internship Program Office. He looks forward to uniting the two in order to enhance support for students and alumni.

“The community cares about student success,” Tang said of an initial observation of BSU. “��ؿ��Ƶ is a great institution.”

Tang comes to BSU with more than 15 years of experience in higher education, including most recently serving as the inaugural assistant dean for career integration at St. Francis College in New York City.

As a first-generation student, Tang found supportive mentors during his undergraduate years who shaped his educational and career journey. Even back then, he served his peers as an orientation leader, resident assistant and career development intern.

“I now understand what it takes to help students be successful in their college experience and professional experience as well,” he said.

Tang is excited to work for a university with strong academic programs that is committed to innovation and social justice. He looks forward to larger conversations with employers about what comprises a living wage and ways to achieve a more diverse workforce.

“Our work isn’t just about short-term change,” he said. “Our hope is (to create) systemic changes across society at large.”

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

My true calling is helping people understand their skillsets and interest in what they want to do.

Dr. Gerald Tang

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��ؿ��Ƶ

Internships

Career Services

Photo by Mackenzie Rubitschung, '21

Job Pursuit

HHARRIS@bridgew.edu — Wed, 26 Aug 2020 15:37:49 +0000

Job Pursuit HHARRIS@bridgew.edu Wed, 08/26/2020 - 11:37

New platform expands possibilities for internship- and career-seeking students, alumni

August 27, 2020

Heather Harris Michonski

Anyone who has ever looked for a job knows it can be a daunting and overwhelming experience.

��ؿ��Ƶ State University recently made it easier for students and alumni to find the career they want through Handshake, the largest career-development platform in the country.

In January, the Career Services and Internship Program Office transitioned from the Hire BSU system to the Handshake platform. With more than 400,000 employers and a network of more than 700 schools, Handshake offers 3.5 million jobs and internships across all industries for students and alumni to explore.

“This gives us more access to employers and internships that maybe we didn’t have access to before,” said Laurent Troland, Career Services assistant director.

Senior marketing major Francis Raboy registered with Handshake and likes how streamlined and easy it is to use.

“It feels more professional and is up to current tech standards, it’s not as clunky,” he said.

Francis likes that employers use the platform to recruit college students. He’s also found it helps fine tune his skill set.

“I hope to get a better understanding of what employers in the industry are looking for so I can tailor what I’m doing in school,” he said.

The program is free to all BSU students and alumni. Upon visiting the site, users are asked to create an account and are then prompted to answer questions to curate a homepage specific to each user.

From there, students can look for jobs and internships and network with students at other universities and colleges also enrolled in Handshake.

The platform can also be used to sign up for campus programs such as the BSU to Boston program or Ocean Spray site visit.

“It really will help to integrate everything in one place,” Troland said.

Ultimately, Handshake’s ability to provide more opportunities is what excites him the most.

“It will give students access to companies and organizations that didn’t necessarily target ��ؿ��Ƶ before,” he said.

It also shines a light on the quality of students that come through BSU, which will encourage companies and businesses to take a closer look at the school.

To date, 1,600 BSU students and alumni have signed up for the platform, but Troland said his office is pushing for more.

All current students are already in Handshake and can log in using their full @student.bridgew.edu email address as their username and the corresponding password.

Faculty and staff wanting access can use their bridgew.edu email address and create an account as an alumni. Visit: https://bridgew.joinhandshake.com/login and click on “No Account? Sign Up Here" in the upper right-hand corner.

For more info contact BSU Career Services or the Internship Program Office at 508-531-1328.

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu

This gives us more access to employers and internships that maybe we didn’t have access to before.

Laurent Troland, Career Services assistant director

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Career Services

Photo by Madison Barboza, ’21

Food for Thought

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 15:35:58 +0000

Food for Thought Anonymous Thu, 01/09/2020 - 10:35

Etiquette dinners teach students how to put their best fork forward

December 6, 2019

Heather Harris Michonski

Story Series

News Feature

Knowing the proper fork to use, the correct way to pass a basket of rolls, or which entrée to order can sometimes make a difference when trying to land a new job.

For the past sixteen years, ��ؿ��Ƶ State University has offered an etiquette dinner to teach students manners appropriate to a professional setting, particularly if they find themselves sitting down to break bread with someone they’re trying to impress.

The event, hosted by BSU Career Services, includes a free, four-course meal and fills up quickly every year, with a waitlist to boot.

The experience helps students shed their reservations about what can be a high-pressure situation.

“The majority of the students that participate in this program really walk away learning something new, whether it be what fork to use, what knife to use, how to engage in conversations with professionals, how to network, really how to present themselves,” said Katie Vagen, BSU Career Services assistant director. “This is a program that we run year-to-year because students continually like to attend,”

More than 50 students registered for this year’s etiquette dinner to learn about place settings, how to use a spoon when eating a bowl of soup (hint, don’t slurp), the importance of solid handshake, and that a cloth napkin should never, under any circumstance, be used as a tissue.

A group of alumni were also present, each positioned at a table where they networked and talked with students.

As an undergraduate six years ago, Stephen Wahome, ’13, attended the event and said the information he gained has remained applicable.

“In my line of work as a financial advisor a lot of meetings are done to make the client feel comfortable, so a meeting may be held in a house, a coffee shop, or at a big dinner,” Wahome said. “It’s always good to present yourself in the right light. How to use a fork or the proper etiquette at a formal event is good to know.”

While the free dinner was certainly a motivator to register, Madalyn Maloney, ’19, said she was also excited to learn.

“I believe manners are very important,” she said. “It makes a difference when you are talking to someone.”

For BSU to offer opportunities like this is exciting, added Beyonnie Whitaker, ’22.

“I personally feel that etiquette is a dying art because this generation doesn’t take manners very seriously,” she said. “I feel we need to learn manners because most of our interviews will be with someone older, that you need to respect.”

Instilling confidence in students so they can find success is why BSU continues to offer the dinner.

“Students really learn what to expect, how to prepare, and how to succeed,” Vagen said. “It allows them to move forward after ��ؿ��Ƶ with that confidence right in their back pocket.”

Or, in a doggie bag.

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu

Tags

Career Services

Capital Idea

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 15:35:58 +0000

Capital Idea Anonymous Thu, 01/09/2020 - 10:35

Internships in Washington pay off for alumni and current students

October 21, 2019

Heather Harris Michonski

Story Series

News Feature

After graduating from ��ؿ��Ƶ State University, many alumni have jobs lined up due in part to their participation in various internship programs.

One such program is the Washington Center for Internship and Academic Seminars, an independent non-profit organization that provides academic and professional opportunities for college students and recent graduates from all over the world.

Heidi Belanger, ’15, took part in the program as an undergraduate and speaks highly of the experience.

“It’s a great program that not a lot of students know about. It’s a great alternative to studying abroad,” she said.

Through the TWC internship, students travel and live in Washington, D.C., to work in a field that interests them within government, nonprofit and private sectors.

Destiny Ihenacho, ’16, interned with Jubilee USA, a nonprofit dedicated to global debt relief, where he interacted with high-profile individuals like Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

“It was eye opening,” he said. “My job as an operational intern included recruiting interns. I also represented Jubilee USA at conferences, the White House, World Bank, International Monetary Fund and Capitol Hill.”

Stephanie Janeczek, ’18, lived in D.C. in the summer of 2017, while she interned as a graphic designer with STEMconnector.

STEMconnector’s mission is to strengthen the STEM pipeline from elementary school to the workforce and ensure what students learn in school is still relevant when they seek employment.

“This internship definitely helped put my career into perspective. I learned a lot about the work environment I was in. It was extremely fast paced,” Janeczek said. “It made me realize I wanted to be in a more relaxed work atmosphere.”

Internships in general help build a network, which is paramount in exploring career opportunities.

“Quite frankly, everything after graduation is networking,” Ihenacho said. “My internship taught me to be innovative and to always be looking out for myself. Nothing is ever handed to you unless your hand is up.”

Current BSU student and political science major Chris Connelly participated in the D.C. internship program this past spring at Grant Thornton, an accounting and advisory organization, and offers up these three tips to future interns.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Try to problem solve on your own before going to other team members.
Be open minded. You’re going to meet a lot of people with varying opinions. I learned to put my own feelings aside for the betterment of the company.

For more information about internship program at The Washington Center contact Internship Program Director Diane Bell in the Rondileau Campus Center, room 204, or by calling 508-531-2632.

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu

My internship taught me to be innovative and to always be looking out for myself. Nothing is ever handed to you unless your hand is up.

Destiny Ihenacho, ’16

Tags

Internships

Career Services

Campus Center Renovation Underway

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 15:35:58 +0000

Campus Center Renovation Underway Anonymous Thu, 01/09/2020 - 10:35

Project enhances use of space and energy efficiency

September 6, 2019

Heather Harris Michonski

Story Series

News Feature

��ؿ��Ƶ State University students returning to campus this fall should find lots to cheer about inside the newly renovated Rondileau Campus Center.

“All of the changes we are making are in line with strategic priorities of the school, each can be tied back to student success,” said Thomas O’Connor, director of capital planning for operations.

As a building gets older, sometimes a facelift is necessary to not only maintain the structure but to also make it more energy efficient and to better utilize the space, O’Connor said.

Changes to the building will be done in phases and include converting the former ��ؿ��Ƶ Dining Room into a new suite for the career services internship program, as well as offices for student government.

Senior and elementary education major Brianna Audette of Somerset said the changes are “awesome.”

“It’s really great that BSU is making these upgrades and creating new work spaces and environments for both workers and students to enjoy,” she said.

The windows, which date back to the 1960’s, will be replaced in three phases and a new central air system will be installed.

Also included in the renovation are a litany of communication technology repairs and upgrades, as well as an ongoing introduction of sprinklers throughout the building.

One of the biggest but less obvious changes involves taking the building off of the central steam system and installing a stand-alone heat plant within the campus center.

“It will be more efficient and a cost savings for the institution,” O’Connor said.

The state is covering the cost of the project.

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu

All of the changes we are making are in line with strategic priorities of the school, each can be tied back to student success.

Thomas O’Connor, director of capital planning for operations

Tags

Internships

Career Services

Ready to Work

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 15:35:58 +0000

Ready to Work Anonymous Thu, 01/09/2020 - 10:35

Employers at Job and Internship Fair praise BSU and its students

April 12, 2019

Brian Benson

Story Series

News Feature

Here at ��ؿ��Ƶ State University, we know our students are shining stars set for success in whatever career they choose. But don’t just take our word for it.

Representatives of some of the more than 120 employers at BSU’s recent Job and Internship Fair heaped praise on the university for producing a steady stream of strong candidates.

Here’s what these recruiters – and fellow Bears – had to say:

“I think students here are great and the science department is really growing. …They’re super smart. (BSU) sets them up well, especially for kids who are looking to come out of the lab here at ��ؿ��Ƶ and get into a lab like at Boston Children’s Hospital.” – Jeff Motta, ’95 (education), senior recruiter, research, Boston Children’s Hospital

“This fair is probably one of the best that we do throughout the year. The students actually come prepared. They come dressed for the parts that they want to interview for. Probably the best thing about ��ؿ��Ƶ is the Career Services Office. (Students) come to us ready and a lot more prepared for interviews even though they maybe have never interviewed before.” – Eric Newcomb, ’07 (criminal justice), human resources business partner, HarborOne Bank

“��ؿ��Ƶ really makes you work for your grade. They really make you work for the things you want in life, so when I went into my own job, I was working really hard all the time.” – Nalya McFarlane, ’18 (management and marketing), marketing coordinator, Cox Engineering

“I feel like the Accounting Department really sets you up for a strong background in accounting and you really see that through our firm and how ��ؿ��Ƶ alums progress through our firm.” – Katherine Hartnett, ’14 (accounting and finance), supervising senior auditor, Daniel Dennis & Company

“I think the students who come here, they take their studies seriously. I was a night learner, so it’s great that they offer that to students. It’s flexible.” – Daniela Colley, ’18 (general business management), human resources assistant, Brockton Neighborhood Health Center

“We have a strong representation of ��ؿ��Ƶ alums and they’re all in management roles. ... I think it’s the openness to fields, to positions, to jobs, the willingness to learn and the willingness to embrace change. And they just come out well-rounded students.” – Nick Marotta, ’18 (business management), global operations improvement manager, TBR Global Chauffeuring

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

We have a strong representation of ��ؿ��Ƶ alums and they’re all in management roles. ... I think it’s the openness to fields, to positions, to jobs, the willingness to learn and the willingness to embrace change. And they just come out well-rounded students.

Nick Marotta, ’18, of TBR Global Chauffeuring

Tags

Career Services