Success Stories: Nafi

How have you benefited from using the Career Center services?

The Career Center helped me mature as a future young professional while providing me with some indispensable tools that would allow me to better picture my post-graduation options. I sincerely believe that the Career Center is one of the most resourceful places to go to for proactive students seeking ways to line up their goals whether they are short-term or long-term. I have acquired knowledge and expertise on how to use my assets to my best interest. I have also come to understand that there is nothing wrong with changing the order of my plans. On the contrary, making such adjustments is oftentimes necessary.

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

Working with the Career Center impacted me tremendously in a lot of different areas. Within the scope of internship/job search, I have received training on how to properly format my resume, elaborate and customize my cover letters, prepare for interviews, and follow up with potential hiring managers. My Career Consultant gave me a great deal of tips to stack the odds in my favor while addressing employers. Better equipped, I was then able to progressively develop more structure, confidence and autonomy in my undertakings.

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

One of the most helpful pieces of advice given to me by the Career Center concerns the interviewing process. It is important to anticipate the questions that the employer is likely to ask. Anticipation enables the applicant to be better prepared. Therefore, before each interview, I have learned to do my “homework,” consisting of researching the company, writing down a series of questions the employer may have, meticulously responding to each of them, and reflecting on some questions intended for the employer. I would then rehearse while keeping in mind that other questions might be asked during the real interview.

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

One can easily get overwhelmed and stressed during a search process especially when he/she has to balance it with school. It is even more challenging when one is an international student. One of the challenges I faced was dealing with rejections. It can be discouraging to apply without hearing back from employers or to interview for a position and be told that another candidate has been selected. The hardest part is not knowing what justifies the employer’s decision. At times, I wondered if my international status was not a handicap. In these moments, my Career Consultant would always remind me of my assets and encourage me to move forward by embracing new opportunities instead of lingering over outcomes I could not control.

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

I would encourage them to reach out to their Career Consultants as much as possible. They always support students to the best of their ability both through good and bad times. Ultimately, I would say that overall the Career Center is the very place for students to grow and prepare for the writing of a new narrative that is, “The Post-Undergrad Chapter.” I am ever grateful for all the help that I received from the persons working there.

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

I attended several times the Career and Intern Expo on campus. Doing so was beneficial because it allowed me to be in direct contact with professionals, to pass on my resume, and to collect business cards. Although, I did not find a lot of offers related to my discipline, the event was a good practice exercise. Ultimately, we never know who knows who. Hence it is always important to extend one’s network even though the opportunities may not always seem visible.