From Girl Scouts to Goldman Sachs, Marist junior Nicole Doyle has built quite the resume. Prior to studying at Marist, Nicole participated in Row New York, a non-profit organization that helps young people develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to succeed on and off the water. She is currently transitioning from interning in the non-profit sector to a for-profit corporation. At an event hosted by the Marist College Center for Career Services on Nov. 20 Nicole discussed her experience in communications and gave tips on the internship application process. After the presentation I caught up with Nicole to talk about how her career goals and aspirations have evolved as well as her future plans. How did you become interested in communications? I’ve always known that I wanted to go into communications. In my freshman year of high school I wanted to go into investigative journalism and go to the Middle East, but there were a lot of scary things happening to journalists in that area at the time. Especially if you were female. I looked up all the different communications concentrations and public relations ended up being the one that I felt best aligned with what I wanted to do. I always made it a point to connect with people whether it seems like we have things in common or not. Once you really start to talk to somebody you’re bound to find something in common. That’s what started it for me. I thought I could really connect with people and talk to them. At some point I think communications will be a big part of our future after people realize that we can’t use technology for everything. How have your previous internships shaped your current goals? The summer after my freshman year I interned for Youth Inc., which is a non-profit that helps other non-profits grow, and I learned about all the behind the scenes work that goes into running a non-profit. There is so much that goes into it with fundraising, public relations, and working with board members, so when I got to Youth Inc. I was able to learn about all those aspects and starting my own non-profit seemed like a great idea. From there I started to connect with a lot of people who served on different non-profit boards who also have a finance background. After I had a conversation with each person I researched who they were and what their company did. The more I read the news I became interested in how global affairs affected the economy. That’s when the wheels started turning and I met my current mentor, Leland, who had interned and is now working for Goldman Sachs. She told me about the company and culture and I saw myself being there. I really liked the energy at Goldman Sachs. Everyone is very smart and driven and they all want to work together to accomplish their goals. When I applied for an internship during my sophomore year and didn’t get it I started doubting myself. I went back to interning at a non-profit where I was more comfortable. While interning with Girl Scouts of the USA I still felt like I was pushing the envelope because it was still a way bigger organization than I thought. I found that I still loved non-profit work and always wanted to be involved in it in some way, shape, or form for the rest of my life. My boss, who was on the executive team of Girl Scouts of the USA, had also worked at IBM for 20 years before moving into non-profit work, so I saw that you can move into different areas. Now I’m looking forward to interning at Goldman Sachs and learning new skills. The expectations are really high and there is good competition so I’m hoping I walk away learning a lot.
What are some positions you hope to hold in the future?
I’m going to Madrid for the spring semester and then I’ll be interning for Goldman Sachs for the summer so I’m just hoping 2018 will be a great year! I’m hoping to get a job offer at Goldman Sachs at the end of the summer, and hopefully when I graduate that’s where I’ll be. This summer I’ll be interning with the operations division, but once I start I can see if I want to explore other areas also. I want to be able to grow there and move up the chain. Is there any other advice that you wanted to give to the audience in your presentation that you didn’t mention? I would tell current students to always give back to their previous organizations after they graduate. They need to help out others who are very dedicated and hard-working, but just need that one person to get their foot in the door. Don’t forget about where you came from because as much as my mentors have helped me, I’ve also helped them in a way. Also remember that you will end up where you’re meant to be. Even if you don’t have a major or know what you want to do right now, things will fall into place. You just have to work hard in all of your classes and be involved in clubs and you’ll figure it all out. Nicole is double majoring in Communications and Spanish with a minor in political science at Marist College. Photos are courtesy of Nicole Doyle.
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If you lie on your resume it’s more than likely that you’ll miss out on job opportunities.
There is no doubt that lying on your resume is tempting. To say you’ve worked at lofty companies in big-name industries is enticing, especially when you speculate how often employers really research your past experience. But while you think you and your lie (or lies) are invincible, neither are. In fact, more often than not, an employer can spot fibs on your resume in seconds. The Facts According to a survey by Career Builder, 75 percent of human resource managers spot inaccuracies on a resume. These inaccuracies include half-truths, omission, past employers and embellishments. Most common untruths such as education level, employment dates, job titles, and technical skills, are uncovered with quick and basic detective work. High-profile employees such as former Yahoo CEO Scott Thompson, former Notre Dame Football Head Coach George O’Leary, and celebrity chef Robert Irvine made headlines when they were found to have provided false background information to their employers during the application process. Why Lie? During the job application process for certain positions, applicants feel the need to overcompensate for their inadequate qualifications. Dan Schawbel, author of Promote Yourself: The New Rules for Career Success, notes that a skills gap exists and while the economy is performing well there are millions of open jobs employers can’t seem to fill. The issue may lie in the expectations employers demand of candidates, ranging from experience to level of education. If candidates lack or fall short of these credentials they may feel compelled to falsify information in their resume. How To Spot A Truth Teller Hiring managers are trained to determine fact from fiction in all applications. Thanks to the Internet, background checks, and other vetting tools such as HireRight.com they can verify your information with a few clicks. Your personal life is open on the Internet through social media profiles and so are your professional credentials. Dealing With The Consequences Dishonest candidates are often ruled out from the next steps in the application process right from the get-go. If you do end up getting a job, then you get caught in a lie on your resume you’ll probably face immediate dismissal or worse, a tarnished reputation. At that point you may never be able to escape from your lies, which will affect your mobility within an organization and limit your job search. What You Can Do Fortunately, you really don’t have to lie to get a job. There are ways to secure a position without having to exaggerate and dig yourself into a hole you can’t get out of: Focus on your current accomplishments: Maybe you don’t have certain required skills, but you can show how your previous positions, hobbies, and experiences demonstrate similar abilities. Expand and utilize your existing network: Look for opportunities from your previous positions as well as chances to help people with their tasks or projects. Even if you land freelance work or a temporary position, your former supervisors may return the favor down the line. Build your credentials: Take classes, apply for different positions in your areas of expertise, and, ultimately, spend your free time expanding your skill set. Don’t sell yourself short: Focus on soft skills or those that can’t necessarily be taught such as organization, time management, working individually and as a member of a team. Showcase your problem-solving abilities and have anecdotes prepared to describe your unique traits and background. Your experiences are valuable, even when they don’t necessarily directly coincide with the job description. Name: Nicole Souza
Class Year: 2017 Marist College Degree: Communications - Advertising/Sports Communication Current Location: New York City What was your first job out of college and what is your current job (if they’re different)? Associate on the Integrated Investment team on the Coach account at UM, a global advertising agency (my current job). What do you miss most about Marist? Being close to all of my friends. Living away from everyone has made me realize how lucky you are at college to be in such close proximity to everyone. Tell us a little about your current job and how Marist prepared you for it. It's nothing that I expected it to be like actually, but it challenges me to think differently and to become a fast learner. I think that's how Marist prepared me for this: being involved in so many different things at school helped me learn how to multitask and be organized. I think what you learn in the classroom is extremely important, but you have to be able to learn how to handle everything else at the same time, and that is what will help you succeed. What is your favorite part of your job now? Learning about the media industry. There's so much that I didn't know about the advertising world and being able to actually contribute to help a brand like Coach succeed is something I'm really happy about. What’s the best part about life after college? The worst? Being on your own is the best because you have all of the freedom you could want. I moved out of my house, which is super liberating. But the worst part I would say is not having enough time to do everything you wanted to before. One of my favorite things to do is work out. I have to wake up at 5:30 a.m. now on weekdays to work out before I commute to work, then I usually always have errands to run after work, and same on weekends. You have so many new responsibilities when you're on your own which can be such a pain. What’s one thing you wish someone had told you about post-grad life? What’s something surprising? I wish someone told me that the working world isn't what you imagine it to be. It's different from when you're an intern because people treat you like much more than that. You have duties and responsibilities that, if they don't get done, it falls on you. Your first job isn't just for three months. If you work hard you could end up being there for years! Something surprising I would say is just how fast time goes. I thought time flew when I was at school, but now it seems like I just had the fastest four months at my new job! Christmas is in one and a half months already. That's crazy! Do you have anything you’d like to tell current seniors as they prepare to graduate? Enjoy your last year! Make sure you spend time with your friends and socialize as much as possible. It's hard being able to get together with each other once you move away from each other, so take advantage while you can. What’s your dream job? Working in the advertising industry right now is so amazing. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. CNBC premiered its new reality television show, The Job Interview, at 10 p.m. Wednesday, November 8. The series’ concept is quite simple: employers screen candidates who come prepared, eager, and/or anxious for an interview for a position within a small business at a designated office location. Once the cameras come on in both the interview and waiting rooms, viewers get a glimpse of the interview experience from the candidate and employer perspectives.
The show’s mission is to broadcast the unscripted interview process and, in turn, provide viewers with an understanding of how to approach a job interview. In the series premiere the high stakes, drama, and pressure put on the employers and interviewers are front and center. The candidates have nowhere to hide when they are asked to perform duties and tasks that would be expected of them while on the job. For example, during one of the interviews for a position with an accounting office the candidate must analyze an expense report and find discrepancies in the data. More importantly though, The Job Interview effectively highlights the do’s and don’ts of interviewing. In each episode it is clear which candidates came prepared, didn’t do background research on the organization, or had nerves seriously get in their way. The series offers a visual, real-life representation of how job candidates are screened and provides viewers with insights that go beyond articles outlining tips and tricks. The show also displays the conflicts employers face with the hiring process. In last night's premiere episode the two interviewers are stuck deciding between two candidates for a brand ambassador position with their winemaking company. For an employer the hiring decision is both exciting and harrowing, and viewers get a glimpse of both in the process and aftermath. The series portrays reality while still incorporating entertaining and dramatic elements. You can watch new episodes of The Job Interview every Wednesday at 10 p.m. on CNBC. To learn more about The Job Interview, click here. |
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