Tufts Blogs

I came into Tufts incredibly stressed about my future career. The first question I asked my pre-orientation peer leader was about getting a job after Tufts, to which she replied, like any sensible person, “don’t worry, you have time.” She was right, but I was adamant on ensuring that I had something to do after college. Looking back, I see my worries as valid yet extremely premature. Luckily, however, no one in the Tufts community tried to belittle or silence me. After asking my academic advisers and first-year assistants about possible career options, they directed me to the Tufts Career Center, which I can turn to for everything from different resume templates to free, personal career consultations to spreadsheets of available volunteer, internship, and job opportunities. 

During my first trip to the Career Center in September, I sat down with Chris Di Fronzo, a career adviser, to learn about the proper structure of a resume and how to start making my own, even as a first-semester freshman. I found that meeting to be really helpful because of where I was in my educational career: I was too old to include high school accomplishments, yet too young to have done anything really notable in college. Chris taught me the basic structure of a resume and reassured me that I have lots of time to work on mine. I left that meeting with a resume that would remain ever-growing and developing over the course of the year.

Two months later, to my surprise, I was able to secure an internship with the help of the Career Center and the pre-health advising team. I was ecstatic to finally have an opportunity that could potentially lead to a career, but above all I was relieved to see the help and security that I could receive from the Career Center.

As my first-semester came to an end and I began thinking about summer internships, I decided to have another meeting with an adviser from the Career Center. I was not sure if this would even be possible because I was on winter break and doubted that anyone on vacation would bother talking about resumes and applications with me. I was very wrong— if anyone dreams in Times New Roman and 0.5 margins, then it’s the advisers at the Career Center.

They were very accommodating and offered phone or Skype calls to help students prepare for upcoming application deadlines. I once again updated my resume and talked about my interests and what I plan on expressing through my applications. A few weeks later, I received an offer from an internship program that I am very excited to pursue this summer.

I am thankful and humbled to have received some offers this year, but the opportunities I have gotten are not why I like the Career Center so much. I love the Career Center and all the advisers who are a part of it because they take me seriously— I came in as a first-semester freshman worried about my career and they listened to me. I was given time, patience, and resources, all of which have made me realize that, by the time I graduate from Tufts and complete my studies, I will definitely have something to do.