February 28, 2022
As the senior director for career development and strategic initiatives, I can share that the Career Development & Internship Center (CDIC) uniquely prepares students for life after college – whether it is professional employment, a year of service, or graduate school.
One of the most exciting aspects of the CDIC is working individually with students to prepare them for that transition. We don’t have a set procedure that we apply when we meet with students. We talk with them, discover their strengths, and help them think about how those skills could be applied to a meaningful career.
College students benefit from coaching in goal setting and internship and career exploration. Assumption’s CDIC staff assists students as they plan, prioritize, and begin to think about their post-graduate journeys. We encourage them to pursue internships early so that they have a chance to determine if the career path they had in mind matches their expectations. And if it doesn’t, we work with them to figure out why and help them to adjust their course. We also assist students as they apply to jobs and internships and connect them to a range of resources, from guidance developing effective LinkedIn profiles to online access to thousands of job and internship postings. Our office holds numerous career-focused events throughout the year such as the Dress for Success Fashion Show, Career Networking Night, and the Career & Internship Fair. We work diligently to make sure our students have access to as many opportunities as possible.
Students are encouraged to have their resumes, cover letters, and personal statements for graduate school reviewed by our career advisors. In fact, in the 2020-2021 academic year, we conducted over 800 individual appointments with students.
Our staff has extensive professional recruiting experience, providing real-world, current advice to students as they navigate the internship and job search process (like how to handle an interview or how to get their resume selected when the organization is using an applicant tracking system). We pride ourselves in connecting students with local, regional and national organizations who value Assumption graduates. Within six months of graduation, 91 percent of Assumption’s Class of 2021 were employed, enlisted in the military, pursuing additional education, or engaged in post-graduate service.
Assumption University sees the value in our students participating in experiential learning opportunities throughout their undergraduate experience. Experiential learning opportunities, whether in-person or virtual, provide students with skill-building experiences allowing them to apply what they have learned in the classroom to a professional setting and prepare them for rewarding careers. Worcester, New England’s second-largest city, provides a number of such opportunities for Assumption students including internships, service learning, academic volunteering, undergraduate research, and student teaching opportunities. In fact, 81% of the Class of 2021 participated in at least one experiential learning opportunity.
I look forward to welcoming you and your family!
Shannon Curtis
Senior Director for Career Development and Strategic Initiatives
Assumption University