CDC Testimonials
Everyone at the CDC is very helpful—they really want to make sure you are doing everything correctly and successfully. I have used the CDC for resume critiques and cover letter critiques, but what I have found most useful are their panels regarding various topics. For example, I have attended panels regarding graduate school, interview tips, networking skills, resume writing, and anything else that is relevant to me at the time. The important thing is to get ahead and to make sure you are using the CDC as your primary resource. If you are just starting out your career search I would recommend a few things:
- Create a JobFinder account—this will be very useful throughout your college career.
- Pick up a yearly plan at the CDC for your current year to make sure you’re on track or can get caught up.
- Schedule a one-on-one for more specific questions!
- Keep a document of major accomplishments through academics, internships and extracurricular activities so you can choose what’s most important and relevant when you are writing your resume and you won’t forget little details.
Bhavika Shah
Class of 2011
Biomedical Engineering
The CDC is chock full of people willing and able to help you any way they can. Whether it be creating a resume or helping you decide what kind of career you want after graduation, it is clear that their priority is helping you be the best you can be.
Danica Rili
Class of 2011
Biology & Biotechnology
"The CDC has been of immense help to me as an undergraduate. Whether it was choosing my career path in freshman year, or critiquing my resume and job finding (sophomore year onwards), the CDC has been an amazing resource. Thanks to it, I already have a year’s worth of job experience even before I graduate! During my sophomore year, I found this coop position on the Job Finder that I was really interested in, and with the right kind of guidance and help, I ended up getting it. After completing my junior year, I started my second coop at another company which I also found through the Job Finder. I feel like both of these work experiences will add a lot of weight to my undergraduate degree, and I’m hopeful that the CDC would present me with ample opportunities once again when I start looking for full-time positions this fall. Moreover, I feel like the Career Fair and other on-campus recruiting events are very important for all students, and we should always keep an eye out for their dates/times."
Mairaj Aftab Malik
Class of 2011
Electrical & Computer Engineering
"Junior year, I decided to go to the CDC to get advice on obtaining a summer internship that would narrow down my career path after I graduate. After a half hour meeting, I came out confident in how to approach my job search. I felt more comfortable using job finder and other websites to get me in contact with employers. The following week, I got my resume critiqued and was all set to apply to a variety of summer internships thanks to the help of the CDC."
Nina Bass
Class of 2011
Chemical Engineering
"Before applying for computer science internships my sophomore year I knew I needed a lot of help coming up with a respectable resume. The staff at the CDC worked closely with me to adapt a template to my specific needs. They helped me identify the personal strengths and experiences I should highlight and how to show my potential employer that I would be good for the job. They also gave me some career search tips and taught me a few things about interviewing. Thanks to the CDC, my polished resume landed me a great internship last summer, and I've got an offer from the same employer to return this coming summer and as a full-time employee after graduation. I couldn't be happier with the results—thanks for your help!"
Skyler Whorton
Class 2011
Computer Science
The CDC has been such an amazing resource for me over the last few years. They are the ones that helped me build my resume, get a summer internship, and ultimately get a job. Without their help and guidance it would have been difficult to get both a summer internship and a full time job. Between walk-in’s, appointments, workshops, and Job Finder there are so many services to take advantage. Use every service that you can because the staff at the CDC really does want to help and see you succeed.
Jenny Lund
Class of 2010
Civil Engineering
Getting involved with the CDC from freshman year is very helpful. Visiting companies as a freshman will prepare you for the future. In addition, attending the different services and workshops they offer will help enhance your chances of getting a job.
I was a lab technician at Abbott. My task was to generate a new hybridoma cell line that would target the IL-23 receptor to find a cure for Chron’s Disease.
I obtained this internship after talking to my professor. I prepared for my interview by reading about hybridoma cells and about Chron’s Disease. Showing my boss that I made an effort to read ahead to learn about the project helped me stand out.
Networking is one of the key ways to get head in life. Getting to know people in and out of school is very important. After getting an internship, it is important to get close to your supervisors for they may be the one’s writing your future recommendations. Also, the connections you make during your internship may help you get a full-time job. As a college student, it is always beneficial to have an updated resume with you at all times for you never know who you will meet.
Utilize the CDC; they are here to help you. Don’t feel intimidated by the CDC. Also, attending the various sessions that the CDC has to offer is very helpful.
Jyotsna Vinayak
Class of 2010
Biology & Biotechnology
"I really enjoyed attending the Computer Science Panel. I learned a great deal about the wide variety as well as number of opportunities available to me as a Computer Science major not only after I graduate but in form of internships as well. The panelists were interesting and informative. I definitely look forward to attending future similar sessions."
Jason Codding
WPI Class of 2010
The CDC provides a lot of helpful services to WPI students. I first went to the CDC to get help with building my resume and making it more professional. I also found my internships through the JobFinder website and the Career Fairs hosted by the CDC.
Over the past four years I have revisited the CDC on numerous occasions to make sure my resume stays up to date and to get advice regarding my job search. My one on one meetings with the career counselors have empowered me with a lot of unique tips and methods on how to find a job. The workshops and company visits hosted by the CDC are also really helpful and enable you to network with company representatives.
Try and complete an internship or two and network with professionals in areas that interest you, to get an idea of what it would be like to work in that field. Take advantage of the services provided by the CDC, right from your freshman year, so that you can build a great and meaningful career for yourself.
Divya Mathew
Class of 2010
Management Information Systems
“The CDC gave me clear senses of what companies at the career fair were looking for. The career fair had a bunch of companies there, with interest in my major. It will be a good resource in the coming years when I look for a job.”
Philip Davidson
Class of 2010
CS/BIO
Activities: Band
“The CDC provided me a template to build my resume!”
Tom Coletta
Class of 2010
Mechanical Engineering
“The CDC has helped me in various ways. For example, the resume critiques and the Job Finder have helped prepare me to find a job. The graduate career panel gave me information on attending graduate school in the near future.”
Ron Turba
Class of 2009
Areospace Engineering, Physics
Activities: WPI Football
"As an intern [at Pratt and Whitney] ….I put engine data into usable formats, created graphs for use in final certification documents, monitored critical instrumentation on the engine, and oversaw testing. I received this opportunity by applying online and going to the career fair here at WPI. To prepare for my interview, I talked with others who had done phone interviews before, read more about the area of the company I’d be working for, reviewed my resume with the CDC, and went to an Overview of good interviewing techniques hosted by EMC. Due to networking in my internship, I have received an excellent job offer to come back and work in that same department. I would suggest that students take the time to get to know fellow employees during their experience at a company. Ask them what they like about their job, and what they don’t like. Definitely be sure to get business cards if a job a fellow employee does looks interesting. You may get an opportunity to work there, and having the name of someone who knows you and can vouch for your abilities is very good to management. I contacted the CDC my sophomore year to get help with my resume. I have utilized that and the career fair opportunities. Go to the career fairs. Talk to people and get employers opinions on what to do to get into a certain company. Even if they can’t hire you that year, if you show up next year they will remember you. Try new things. Ask lots of questions. College is the last time in your life where you’ll get so many opportunities…, so take advantage."
Amanda Pollack
Class of 2009
Aerospace Engineering
"I first contacted the CDC in August of my freshman year for help regarding job-search and resume writing. As a result, today I am student with a year’s worth of practical work experience in my field of study by completion of one eight-month co-op and a summer internship. Both the companies are leaders in their industry … I found an internship opportunity with Otis Elevators (a United Technologies Company) on the CDC [Job Finder]….At Otis… I led a product development/benchmarking project… (testing and development processes for a cost-saving product),…. was a test engineer and performed mechanical and various highly accelerated life testing (stress, corrosion, traction, tensile strength, etc),…[and] used my knowledge in CAD to… design…a critical product while communicating with relevant suppliers/manufacturers from around the globe.When you are at a company for an internship, get to know everyone!! Talk to them and learn their field of work and show an interest in what they do. Once you leave your internship, you will be amazed at how many people will remember you if you performed exceptional work and continuing to keep in touch with such connections are always helpful in your future career. Contact your supervisors once every six months to inform them of what you are doing at school so they remember you. You may get a full-time position well before graduation as long as they are in touch with you and as long as you performed meaningful work for them."
Indraneel Sircar
Class of 2009
Mechanical Engineering
"As a sophomore, I had my resume critiqued at the CDC which helped me obtain my first summer internship.
Apply for internships early in your college career. Because I had interned for two years at two different companies, I had an idea of what I wanted to focus my studies on and what were the most beneficial classes to take during my junior and senior year. Aside from practical experience, you also learn about company culture, benefits, etc. so that when you apply for full-time jobs, you know what you are looking for."
Alexandra Kulinkina
Class of 2009
Civil and Environmental Engineering
“The CDC has helped me to strengthen my resume. Also, being a humanities major here is tough, but Job Finder helped me to find options that fit my career goals.”
Rachel Pennellatore
Class of 2008
HUA
Activities:SGA, Student Support Network, Alpha XI Delta
"The CDC was the link that helped me find an internship early in my educational career. This experience has taught me how engineering applies to real world situations, which has further developed my desire to succeed as a student here at WPI."
Morgan Carpenter
Class of 2008
Mechanical Engineering
Activities: 3 year GE Intern, Society of Women Engineers, Publicity Chair SWE, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Public Relations Chair ASME, Executive Board Member, Core Group Leader, Sunshine Committee, Co-chair of General Electric Intern Community Service Committee, National Honor Society, Vice President for Class of 2004, Student Ambassador to MA Stephen Baddour (State Senator)
"Thanks to the CDC's resume critiques, I developed and improved my resume during my freshman year, right on time for the Fall Career Fair during my sophomore year. Through the Fall Career Fair, I got my first summer internship at GE Aviation, working in the Heat Transfer division. I learned so much from that first summer that I decided to go back for another summer internship, this time in Stress Analysis. During this summer, GE Aviation interviewed and hired me into their Edison Engineering Development Program (EEDP), a two-year leadership program designed to accelerate my career as an aircraft engineer. Without the help of the CDC during my early years at WPI, I would not have gotten my dream job. Invest in your future - register with the CDC today!"
Sanjayan Manivannan
Class of 2007
Mechanical Engineering
Activities:Resident Advisor, Student Government Association Chair, Peer Learning Assistant for Calculus, M*A*S*H (Math and Science Help) Leader, One of two undergraduate voting members in the Campus Hearing Board, Pi Mu Epsilon (National mathematics honor society), President of WPI chapter Crimson Key, Volunteer Tour Guide.
“The CDC resume services are great. You can walk in, email, set-up appointments, and get continuous help. Their career fairs have lots of interdisciplinary companies and are very understanding of the WPI experience. They know how to sell WPI students!”
Keeley Stevens
Class of 2007
Physics
Activities: Ballroom Dance, Society of Physics, Sigma Pi Sigma
“I think the CDC is a valuable resource for all students. My personal experience is that they critiqued my resume so I could put it on Job Finder to try and find a job before I graduate.”
Huendy Espinal
Class of 2007
Management Information Systems
Activities: Varsity football, Boxing, Lambde Chi Alpha Fraternity
“The CDC was amazing for helping me find a job. I started my search early and gained a lot of leads at the career fair. But what helped the most was having my resume on Job Finder and all of the interviews I obtained by searching companies around this area. Since transportation was somewhat of an issue for me, it was great to have the interviews on campus. Also being heavily involved it was hard to leave campus during the day and having employers come to you and having the opportunity to interview on your home turf was amazing”
Ashley Mossa
Class of 2007
Mechanical Engineering
Activities: SGA Treasurer, Chair of Appropriations, Phi Sigma Sigma Sorority, Vice President RHO Lambda Panhellenic Honor Society, Alpine Ski Team, Orientation Leader/Peer Advisor
Maintained by webmaster@wpi.eduLast modified: May 10, 2011 15:06:00