Success Stories: Cooper

The Career Center was instrumental in my selection for two internships at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, for a Fulbright Research Fellowship in Switzerland, and for admittance into several top-ranked graduate aerospace programs.

How have you benefited from using the Career Center services?

Career Center services have played a substantial role in my future opportunities, whether that be internships, post-grad fellowships, or graduate school. Gabriela, my Career Consultant’s endless knowledge and selfless attitude contributed greatly to my success as she guided me through resume development and provided postgraduate resources.

How did working with the Career Center impact your internship/job search?

Above all, working with the Career Center opened doors with regards to my internship/job search. The advice shared with me allowed me to finetune my “self-marketing” skills while simultaneously optimizing my experiences for my future goals. The Career Center was instrumental in my selection for two internships at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, for a Fulbright Research Fellowship in Switzerland, and for admittance into several top-ranked graduate aerospace programs.

What was the most helpful advice given to you by the Career Center?

While Gabriela’s advice seemed to span all facets of career development, the most impactful guidance came with regards to optimizing resume content. With the help of the Career Center, I was not only able to prioritize the display of my resume points (what I should include in my resume, what I shouldn’t), but I was also provided insight into areas where I could improve in order to achieve my goals.

What challenges were you facing and how did the Career Center help you solve them or motivate you to solve them?

Likely the biggest challenge I faced with regards to career development came early on in my tenure at TCU where, like most underclassmen, my resume was underdeveloped in my technical field of interest. The Career Center helped me overcome this by 1) explaining the experience I did have that was relevant to my resume and 2) encouraging me to pursue additional opportunities in order build my experience (such as encouraging me to get an internship after sophomore year, which I did).

What advice would you give others facing the same challenges you did?

I would advise students to use the Career Center because it added immense value to my educational experience at TCU. The Career Center Consultants can provide general advice (such as resume formatting) while also aiding with specific requests, such as GRE prep, graduate school essay review, or even the proof-reading of important emails. The breadth and depth of Career Center Consultants make them extremely valuable when it comes to pursuing opportunities within, and beyond, the realm of TCU.

Where there any specific events you went to that were beneficial? If so which one and why was it helpful?

I found my involvement in the College of Science & Engineering Career Fair – whether from a volunteer position or from an applicant position – to be tremendously beneficial for my future success. Both provided opportunities to meet directly with interested companies while simultaneously encouraging preparatory classes beforehand, such as resume or elevator pitch workshops.