#WorkdayWindow provides BU students and alumni with first-hand exposure to what it’s like to work in a specific position or for a certain organization. BU’s Center for Career Development is working with recruiters and alumni to provide this sneak peak into a variety of roles, organizations, and industries on Twitter. Follow @BUCCDExperience on Twitter and join the conversation at #WorkdayWindow.
To kick things off, BU alum and current City Year Boston Corps Member, Angela Rodriguez (SED’12) will tweet throughout the day on Monday, April 22, about what it’s like to be in her role at the education nonprofit.
Follow her work day at @BUCCDExperience on Twitter and join the conversation at #WorkdayWindow.
Eric Kashdan
CAS’14 | Major: International Relations
Legislative Intern, United States House of Representatives for Congressman John Tierney
This spring, Eric Kashdan is a legislative intern at the United States House of Representatives for Congressman John Tierney, representing the sixth Congressional District of Massachusetts. Eric found this opportunity online, with the knowledge that he wanted to work in the federal government to gain policymaking experience. It also didn’t hurt that his hometown’s representative is Congressman Tierney.
CCD: Tell us about your duties at the U.S. House of Representatives.
Eric: My job is to provide both administrative and policy support to the office, as they go about the business of policymaking and constituent service. This means that I do just about anything and everything, including entering names from a public petition into a database, booking and giving tours of the U.S. Capitol building to sixth district residents in D.C., attending briefings and hearings on issues of legislative importance, and conducting policy research as requested by the office staff.
The topics of my work so far have been incredibly diverse, from compiling constituent demands for a raise of the minimum wage to researching diplomatic security conditions at the U.S. embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan.
CCD: What is the hardest part of your internship?
Eric: Probably the incredible demands of the job! I work full time, four days a week on top of a full schedule of night classes. There is an amazing amount to see and do, and it can become almost too much to absorb at times.
CCD: What’s the best part?
Eric: The best thing about my internship by far is the amazing people and the events going on in the Capitol every day. There are so many interesting political figures to meet and so much to learn about all the time.
CCD: What is one thing that you will take away that will be most beneficial in your future?
Eric: The most useful thing I’ve learned for future internships is really just the skills of networking and the knowledge that you need to be proactive about experiencing what’s out there. I’ve made many great connections and had some awesome experiences, and they all happened naturally as I went about trying to get the most out of every day in Washington, D.C.
CCD: What has this internship taught you?
Eric: This internship has enlightened me on what public service in American politics truly is. Because of it, I’m more confident than ever that this is what I want to do, and it has therefore provided me with the confidence I need to pursue professional plans in this field that were only tentative before.
CCD: What’s next? Has this experience changed your future plans?
Eric: After this semester in Washington, I plan to stay for the summer. After that, it’s back to BU for my senior year, and time to begin my search for life after graduation. Right now, I am leaning towards enlisting in Officer Training in the U.S. Navy!
Want to work for the federal or state government? Get your foot in the door on Thursday, April 18 during our Government Day (#GovtDay) series.
CCCOB Government Careers Information Forum (1:00-3:00pm)
100 Bay State Road, Sixth Floor
Network with representatives from various local, state, and federal government agencies including the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, and the MA Department of Environmental Protection.
Webinar: What Happens After My Federal Application is Submitted? (4:00-5:00pm)
100 Bay State Road, Fifth Floor
The federal application process does end when you press submit on USAJOBS.gov. Learn what to expect during the federal job application process.
Real World Careers: Alumni Panel on Government, International Relations & Law (6:00-7:00pm)
100 Bay State Road, Room 101
Learn about the career paths several BU alums have taken in these industries.
Summer is coming soon. Do you know what you’ll be doing after school is out? Join us for Catapult Your Career on Wednesday, April 10, your chance to speak with employers at the Career Fair and attend career-related workshops, sponsored by the career offices of Boston University.
11:00am-3:00pm: Career Fair
Employers looking to fill both internship and full-time job positions are coming to BU to recruit students like you. Login to BU CareerLink to register to attend, browse the list of employers, and learn about the opportunities they are recruiting for. Some of the employers attending the fair will be selecting students to interview that same afternoon. Be sure to bring your resume, have your elevator pitch ready, research the employers and the positions that interest you, and dress professionally. You just might land an interview and be on your way to an internship or full-time job.
3:00pm-5:00pm: Workshops and Interviews
Attend career prep workshops and interview for positions if selected. Some of the employers attending the career fair will be interviewing the same day. If you’ve prepared, you just might make the short list.
This event is sponsored by the career offices of Boston University and will feature employers from a variety of sectors.
Do you use the Evernote apps? They will be at BU on April 9 for an Interactive Meet & Greet from 2:30pm to 4:30pm. See our calendar for more information and registration.
Evernote’s goal is to help the world remember everything, communicate effectively, and get things done. From saving thoughts and ideas to preserving experiences to working efficiently with others, Evernote’s collection of apps make it easy to stay organized and productive. Learn more about working for Evernote
The following people will be in attendance:
Brittony Keller, University Recruiter
Jason Terk, CAS ‘05, Web Service Tech Lead
Emerick Rogul, CAS ‘93, Sr. Software Engineer (Evernote for Windows)
Andrew McGeachie, GRS ’96,CAS ‘96, Sr. Software Engineer (Mac Tech Lead)
Max Karolinskiy, Sr. Software Engineer (Evernote for Windows)
Space is limited. Registration is strongly encouraged.
Refreshments will also be served
Zoe Kabelac
SMG’14 | Major: Business Administration
Collaboration and Social Media Intern, Boston Scientific
During the summer of 2012, Zoe Kabelac was the Collaboration and Social Media Intern at Boston Scientific. Zoe found this opportunity by taking advantage of an alumni presentation through the MIS Society. She applied for the position through BU CareerLink and the rest, as they say, is history.
CCD: Tell us about your experience this past summer at Boston Scientific?
Zoe: My role was to drive the direction of a training site that would help educate employees on how to use Microsoft SharePoint. My boss gave me overarching goals we wanted to achieve, but it was my job to gather user requirements, then to design, and ultimately construct the site.
CCD: It seems like you were able to gain a lot of new skills.
Zoe: I really got to be a part of the action and help direct the project. It was definitely a great learning opportunity. Being able to play such a large role, as an intern, gave me a lot of real world experience and on the job learning that you don’t find in classes.
CCD: What were some other things you were able to accomplish during your internship?
Zoe: Some of my day-to-day activities included prototyping and creating step-by-step instructional videos and tutorials. I also helped brand and manage Facebook and Twitter accounts. On top of just learning through experience, I was also able to attend a Lean Business Process course, and I even got to go to Minnesota for a SharePoint training with other members of my team.
CCD: What was the hardest part of your internship?
Zoe: Working on my main project in the early phases was a little difficult and sometimes I was unsure of what I should have been doing. However, I think learning how to manage yourself and your time and really set milestones for a project is all part of the intern learning process.
CCD: What is one thing that you took away that will be most beneficial in your future?
Zoe: I learned how to manage a project, work with team members across the country, and use new software applications I had never been exposed to before.
CCD: What’s next? How has this experience changed your future plans?
Zoe: I will be interning at Boston Scientific again this summer!
Astronaut of Art Director? Baker or Broadcast Journalist? There are so many choices that it can often seem overwhelming. Questioning your future? Try an internship.
Internships aren’t just for the summer. They are also available during the academic semesters and can be part- or full-time, paid or unpaid. Internships are also offered by numerous organizations – from fortune 500 companies to local nonprofits. The best part? You may do an internship at any point while you’re at BU.
Nervous about midterms? Having a stressful time studying? Come to Midterm Mashup at the Educational Resource Center this week, March 5-7, for a mishmash of workshops on exam prep, stress management, multiple choice tests, and more. Meet Student Ambassadors from Wellness & Prevention Services as well as Sargent Choice Nutrition Center nutritionists.
Check the ERC calendar for a list of Midterm Mashup workshops.
Did you know that there are some things that employers CAN’T ask you during an interview? It’s illegal for employers to ask you questions related to your age, race, marital status, and more.
See our interactive interviewing guide for more examples and tips on how to answer.
