Sophomore year is the ideal time to start thinking about and applying your talents, values, interests, and classroom learnings to your future after Holy Cross. We will help you explore career paths and identify the steps you can take towards achieving your professional, academic and personal goals.
• Take the Strong Interest Inventory: The Strong is a widely-used career assessment tool that measures career interest and suggests fields and occupations. To take the Strong, you must first consult with a Career Counselor. Stop by the Center for Career Development during drop-in hours (Monday-Friday 1-4pm & Wednesday 10 am - 12 pm) or make an appointment by visiting Hogan 203, emailing careers@holycross.edu or calling 508-793-3880.
• Research careers: The Center for Career Development has a wealth of online resources available to students both on and off campus.
• Create a resume: It’s important to build your resume early, so that you can easily add to it as you become involved on campus. Create a first draft of your resume and bring it to the Center for Career Development for editing. Review Career Development self-help guides to help you get started.
• Attend Career Development Workshops: The Center for Career Development puts on a variety of programs specifically for sophomores throughout the year. Keep an eye on the Calendar for upcoming workshops and events.
• Participate in the Alumni Job Shadowing Program: The Alumni Job Shadowing Program is open to all class years and provides you with an opportunity to shadow an alumna/us in your career field of interest. Students are matched with Holy Cross alumni and spend ½-1 day shadowing during one of the four major academic breaks. For more information on how to participate in the program contact Career Development at careers@holycross.edu
• Apply to the Alumni Mentoring Program: The Alumni Mentoring Program matches students with alumni based on careers/industries of interest. As part of the program, students connect with their alumni mentor via phone, email or video throughout the academic year. Alumni mentors provide their mentees with guidance and support as students navigate their individual career exploration at Holy Cross. This program is open to students from all class years. To learn more about the Alumni Mentoring Program contact the Center for Career Development at careers@holycross.edu or 508-793-3880.
• Network with Alumni: Find alumni through the HC Network or LinkedIn to conduct informational interviews. Meet with a Career Counselor to discuss how to use these tools and networking strategies.
• Attend Information Sessions: The Center for Career Development coordinates events throughout the year that are hosted by employers, alumni and academic departments. You’re lucky that these professionals come to YOU, so take advantage of their visit and benefit from their wisdom. See the Calendar for dates.
• Read the Sunday Newsletter: On Sunday afternoons during the academic year, the Center for Career Development issues the Sunday Newsletter to all students. The Sunday Newsletter highlights the latest internship opportunities that have been posted, approaching deadlines, as well as upcoming events both on and off-campus. Keep an eye on your email inbox, as this is one email you won’t want to miss!
• Join a Career Community: Explore career paths, identify opportunities and cultivate professional relationships that will shape your lifelong career journey. Get specific industry information such as alumni or student interviews, internship listings that are in that field, and most of all be a part of community of similarly interested students. Join by logging in to Handshake and updating your preferences.
Liberal arts students find fulfilling careers in just about every field due to their diverse coursework, flexibility and adaptability to succeed anywhere.
• Attend the 2YO Academic Extravaganza in the evening on the first day of classes in the Hogan Ballroom
• Speak with professors, academic advisors and upper class students
• Meet with advisors in the pre-health, pre-business or pre-law programs, as appropriate
• Take classes that interest you, try new subject areas, and make sure you fulfill pre-requisites
• Attend academic department career nights (see Calendar)
• Attend study abroad, Washington Semester, Summer Research and Academic Internship information sessions
Employers look for extra-curricular activities, athletics and/or leadership involvement in desirable candidates. Sophomores strengthen and develop the skills employers look for by getting involved in the Holy Cross and Worcester communities.
• Assume leadership roles and/or join a campus activity, group or team that allows you to explore your interests
• Develop your leadership skills
• Search for Internships: The Center for Career Development posts hundreds of internship opportunities to all students through Handshake. You’ll find a variety of internships to which you can apply. For a complete overview on how to find an internship, attend the Internship Search Workshops we will be conducting throughout the year. Visit the Calendar for a complete list of workshops.
• Apply to the Washington Semester, Academic Internship or Junior Year Abroad Programs: Studying Abroad allow our students to participate in transformative experiences as part of their Holy Cross journey. If you are considering studying abroad it is important to begin your research early and get connected with the Study Abroad Office. Students interested in the Washington Semester or completing an Academic Internship should be connecting with the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies.
• Career Kick Off: The Career Kick Off takes place on the first day of classes in the Hogan courtyard. This is a low-key way to meet the Center for Career Development staff and find out what the Center for Career Development has to offer for you.
• Summer Research Symposium and Internship EXPO: Be sure to attend the Summer Internship EXPO in the fall to see how Holy Cross interns spent their summer, and apply for the Crusader Internship Fund which provides stipends for unpaid internships.
• Internship Search Workshops: Landing an internship is often a competitive process. Attending the Internship Search Workshop (see Calendar) will teach you everything that you need to know in order to successfully land an internship.
• Career Fair: Mid-September in the Hogan Ballroom. The Career Fair introduces sophomores to the types of internship and job opportunities that will be open to them in future years. The organizations who attend love to speak with underclassmen about their company and learn what you’re interested in. Dress is business casual, so put on something nice and stop by to look around.
• Departmental Career Panels: Throughout the academic year the Center for Career Development partners with academic departments to host alumni career panels. Alumni speak about how their major prepared them for the work they do now. For those who are still undeclared, it’s a wonderful way to learn about different majors and see what fellow Crusaders have made of their education. See the Calendar for dates.