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Career Assistants

Career Assistants are comprised of sophomores, juniors, and seniors with ties to all four colleges at Villanova. They undergo extensive training on resume writing, major selection, job search strategies, interviewing techniques as well as graduate/professional school information. Career Assistants work cohesively with the Career Center professional staff and strive to assist students with the transition between college life and the professional world.

Career Assistants will help you with:

  • Critique resumes
  • Answer career questions
  • Suggest resources
  • Explain placement procedures and on-line services
  • Discuss majors and career decision making strategies.

 

Career Assistant 2012 Spring Semester Office Hours

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Jacqueline Coffey
11 - 12
Dave Marx
11:30 - 12:30
Abby Hiza
12 - 1
  Erica Slater
12 - 1
Nicole Palazzolo
11:30 - 12:30
Claire Corsey
12 - 1
Megan Michienzi
1 - 2
Meghan McElroy
1 - 2
Emily Sloan
1 - 2
Erin Malone
1:00 - 2:00
 
Kara Scannell
2 - 3
Mark Thompson
2:30 - 3:30
Chris DeMarco
1:45 - 2:45
Kate Campbell
2:30 - 3:30
 

Career Assistants

 

Kate Campbell, Junior, Marketing, Southborough, MA
VU Highlights: Being a Career Assistant of course! In addition to working at the CC, my favorite VU moments are the basketball games, my service break trip to Myrtle Beach freshman year, and my involvement with the Villanova Habitat for Humanity Campus Chapter.

Career Aspirations: To be a marketing executive at a company where I believe in the product and the message that they are spreading to consumers.

 

Most unusual job: One of the little girls I used to babysit for had not just make-believe friends, but make-believe pets. One time she claimed that I was the owner and she was the pet dog. When I wasn't paying attention, she licked my leg - like an actual dog! I freaked out, and needless to say, it was the last time I babysat for them.

Advice for peers:
It's never too early to start preparing for your career. Whether that means drafting a resume, talking about major/minor options, or practice interviews - you can never be overly prepared for your future!

Favorite career resource: Practice Interviews! Call the Career Center to set up a practice interview with any of the full-time staff. You can provide your interviewer with information on the company you are applying for a job with and they can tailor the questions to be about that job description or field. The interviews are videotaped, and you review the tape back with the interviewer to look at what you can do to improve on your interviewing skills.

Jacqueline Coffey, Junior, Accounting, West Chester, PA 

VU highlights: Kappa Delta Sorority, Equity Society, Habitat for Humanity, Study Abroad (Denmark), Summer 2011 Internship (SEI), RUIBAL

Career Aspirations: Public Accounting

Most unusual job: Fish caretaker

Advice for peers: Networking, Networking, Networking!!! (it's how I got my summer internship at SEI)

Favorite Career Resources: GoNova, Clay Center (for VSB students), CA!! (of course, but I do think it provides a great opportunity for peer-to-peer advice


Claire Corsey, Junior, Environmental Science,  Monroeville, NJ

VU Highlights:  Student Musical Theatre, Student Theatre, Supernovas A Cappella, President’s Environmental Sustainability Committee Pre-law Society

Career Aspirations:  To be an environmental lawyer working for the EPA or my own practice

Most unusual Job:  errand girl for law firm

Advice for Peers:  Never be afraid to introduce yourself to a  potential employer

Favorite career resource:  GoNOVA


Chris DeMarco, Senior, Economics/Political Science, Belle Mead, NJ

VU Highlights: North Light Community Center Volunteer tutor, Ambassadors, New Student Orientation, Study Abroad (Rome)

Career Aspirations: To secure a position in financial services

Most unusual job: Bank Teller, got to play with money all day long and held a hundred thousand dollars in my hand.
Advice for peers: Get an early start…remember the early bird gets the worm!

Favorite career resource: GoNOVA

Abby Hiza, Senior, Management, Lafayette, NY

VU Highlights: Internal VP of the Blue Key Society; VP:Member Education for Delta Gamma; four Habitat for Humanity trips (Arkansas, South Carolina, Mississippi x 2); Global Citizens Program: freshman study abroad in London; internship at Options Group, an executive search firm, in London; Human Resources internship for Enterprise Rent-a-Car

Career Aspirations: I want to go on to a career in Human Resources!

Most unusual job: I was a Banquet Server at a Doubletree Hotel. I've been to more weddings than I can count. For New Year's Eve, they had me dress up like Marilyn Monroe; I had to carry huge trays of dirty dishes in a white dress and blonde wig.

Advice for peers: As someone who spent a chunk of both her internships sifting through resumes, I can't stress enough the importance of yours being thorough and professional! Small grammatical or formatting errors can tarnish a perfectly beautiful resume. Proofread, proofread, proofread!

And for the younger students - get involved and get involved early! That way, you'll discover your favorite activities sooner and can devote more time to them - maybe even becoming a leader in that organization. Devotion and leadership look great to future employers, and you'll be able to do something you love doing.

Favorite Career Resource: FREE COFFEE! No, the best resources at the Career Center are the counselors who work there. They know everything! Questions are never left unanswered with the Career Center staff, and they're your ticket to the right direction, the perfect resume, and a stellar interview. (But seriously, free coffee every day. Come visit!)


Erin Malone, Junior, Communication,  Sydney, Australia

VU Highlights:  Varsity Swim Team, Blue Key, ICE Caps mentor, Emerging Leaders Institute, Social Justice Documentary

Career Aspirations:  Own my own boutique:  PR Events Management Agency

Most unusual job:  My first day at Sold Out Events, after a quick tour of the premises, I was given my first project:  design a 20 meter long mobile sushi train that could be transported daily in a truck.

Advice for Peers:  Start early, keep your resume up to date, and NEVER burn your bridges. You never know when or how your paths will cross again.

Favorite career resource:  GoNOVA


Dave Marx, Sophomore, Marketing/Psychology, Manhasset, NY

VU Highlights: Supernovas, VU Singers, Beta Theta Pi

Career Aspirations: Fortune 500 CEO

Most Unusual Job: balloon artist at children’s birthday parties

Advice for Peers: Get involved in relevant activities early
Favorite career Resource: Career Center

Meghan McElroy, Junior, Economics, Chicago, IL

VU Highlights: Chi Omega, Bigs and Littles, Equity Society, VSB Peer Advisors, Study Abroad (London)

Career Aspirations: To become an expert in economic policy and work with the President…and be an Interior Decorator in my spare time.
Most Unusual Job: Working in an ice cream store…where you can’t eat the ice cream.

Advice for Peers: Be persistent, don’t be afraid to look for jobs in non traditional ways

Favorite career resource: Just being in the Career Center…all of the talk about jobs and internships really rub off on you!

Tommy McJoynt-Griffith, Junior, Finance/Accounting, Columbus, OH

VU Highlights: VSB Peer Advisor, Club Soccer team, Special Olympics, Study Abroad (Ireland, spring 2012)

Career Aspirations: To be an analyst on Wall Street

Most unusual job: Selling Cutco knives via home visits
Advice for peers: Get “it” done early. Turn in your applications first…don’t wait until the deadline

Favorite career resource: Career Center staff

Megan Michienzi, Senior, Communication, Parkland, FL

VU Highlights: Club Lacrosse, Delta Gamma, Studied abroad (National University of Ireland-Galway)

Career Aspirations: PR in Chicago…Go Cubs!

Most unusual job: Retail position at a mall

Advice for Peers: practice, practice, practice Interviews!
Favorite career Resource: 1 credit courses for interviewing, resumes and branding yourself to employers

Nicole Palazzolo, Senior, Comprehensive Science, Garden City, NY

VU Highlights: Kappa Delta, Pre-med Club, Alpha Episolon Delta, Order of Omega, Omicron Delta Kappa, Habitat for Humanity, Chemistry Teaching Assistant, NYU Langone Medical Center Pharmacy Intern.

Career Aspirations: to attend Pharmacy school and become a clinical pharmacist working somewhere on the east coast
Most unusual Job: making egg sandwiches and slicing cold cuts at a bagel store


Advice for Peers: It’s never too late to change your major/plans if you are not enjoying yourself.

Favorite Career Resource: videotaped practice interviews offered at the Career Center are a great way to see yourself and improve on your interviewing techniques.


  Kara Scannell, Junior, Communication/Honors, Tinley Park, IL

Highlight Reel: Besides working in the Student Development Office (yes you do recognize me from somewhere) and my dedication to the Career Center, I am a writer for the Villanovan, a CRS Ambassador for Peacebuilding, and a participant in the ICE and IGR Programs. I interned with the Garrubbo Guide last year, and I will be spending the first semester of my junior year on the back of a camel as I am studying abroad in Morocco.
Career aspirations: I am working towards PR and Media Production specializations so I really want to work in a job that is creative and people-oriented. I would love to organize layouts for a magazine or website, or develop ad campaigns. I would also love a job that allowed for international travel. If that doesn't work out I want Dave Leibig's job.

Most unusual job: Working part-time in a dry cleaners-- the things you would find in people's pockets were a constant source of amusement.

Advice for peers:
When in doubt, go for it. Shoot e-mails, ask a family friend about their job, listen for opportunities. Be persistent and show people that if you will work this hard just to interview you would be an asset to their company. Also, always try to help other people find success-- it never hurts to get a few bonus karma points.

Favorite career resource (website, etc.):
I am a huge fan of GoNova. That is how I found my internship and some local babysitting jobs. I also love the advice I received about setting up a LinkedIn profile. It's nice to have a professional representation of myself and my skills online.

Erica Slater, Senior, Marketing/International Business, Altadena, CA

VU Highlights: Study Abroad (Brazil), Rays of Sunshine

Career Aspirations: Marketing/management position

Most unusual job: Working at a smoothie shop where we had to sing whenever we got tips
Advice for peers: If you want to do co-ops or internships, make sure you plan your curriculum schedule correctly so you don’t fall behind


Favorite career resource: practice interviews with employers


Emily Sloan, Sophomore, VSB, Redwood City, CA

VU highlights: Local Program Host with Special Olympics, Delta Gamma

Career aspirations: Own a Real Estate firm

Most unusual job: camp counselor for kids age 4-10. Had to change 15+ kids in 15 minutes from wet bathing suits to dry clothes.

Advice for peers: Plan ahead, get organized early, get involved in as many activities as you can handle.


Favorite career resource:
Clay Center

 

Mark Thompson, Senior, Finance/Accounting, Acton, MA

VU highlights: Executive Board of Equity Society, Study Abroad (London), Internships (3) with Fidelity Investments (2 in London), internship with Battery Ventures

Career Aspirations: Equity research for an asset manager, mutual fund CO, eventual portfolio manager

 

Most unusual job: Coffee shop. Manager/owner insisted on having fresh baked muffins so I had to teach myself how to bake muffins. Spent lots of time throwing out moldy food as the owner wasn’t organized with inventory management

Advice for peers:
start early and go to Career Center events (even if you’re not sure what you want to do). Talk to employers, ask questions, get business cards, and stay connected. Networking is key to career success.

Favorite career resource: Letters of Reciprocity (utilizing services of other schools).