All posts by By Tatiana Rodriguez Almonte, Correspondent

News

Career Services at NECC

 

Northern Essex Community College offers students the opportunity to use the Career Services Department. The Career Services staff helps students with needs related to their educational goals and what they would like to do after they graduate from college. The Career Services Department helps students to find Internships that relate with their degree. They also help students to build their resume, to get prepared for a job interview and to find out what career they would like to pursue. They also assist in seeking out what opportunities they will need to find in a job related to their degree after they graduate. As students move on to the next stage in their career search, Career Services can assist them as they work to advance in the field.

Talking to the faculty of NECC Career Services, they claim students learn most of the steps they need to find the right career for them, along with the tools they will need to grow. Career Services helps students to find internships because they know that some students may struggle to find their right internship, while others find an internship quickly. It all depends on what type of internship students are looking for. This is why Career Services is there to support students and provide all the tools needed to find the specific job they are looking for. Or students may find the appropriate internship needed to earn job experience to help find that perfect place of employment.

Sandy Rochon has been working there for almost two years. Rochon works in the Careers Services Department. She is one of the people in charge of helping students find a good internship that fills their needs. But Rochon helps students find more than internships. She also seeks to find all the resources they will need to succeed in their educational goals.

Rochon states, “I highly recommend students use any resources and tools offered by Career Services because they can only help, it is never too early to start getting career information. This can make a very big difference in how prepared, confident, and successful students will be in their job search. This information can also help students prepare for and access internships and other experiential learning earlier. This is so helpful in identifying career interests and strengths, building your resume and references, professional networking and many  other things that relate to seeking the correct job for a student. Additionally, many resources are free. While a student at NECC, there would be no cost for these Career Services. If not a student, technical programs like LinkedIn Learning and our LinkedIn Workshop are offered at no cost, along with free professional profile photos. We also offer Handshake, an online job board with events, internships and job postings geared to students and new graduates.”

This writer, Kristal Rodriguez Almonte, is doing her internship in the Career Services Department at NECC. Rodriguez Almonte believes that it is beneficial for students to use career services because they find all the tools they will need to succeed in school. Rodriguez Almonte stated, “Career Services can be very beneficial for students with career exploration or for those who have not yet decided on their major or career goals. It also helps those people who know where they want to go but want to learn more about something or what steps it takes to get there. NECC Career Services can help students with developing tools like resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles. they can also assist with interviewing skills, practicing interviews, networking, and opportunities to connect with employers through Handshake or on-campus events. These are some of the areas NECC Career Services help with, but anything related to career and job searching are topics they can cover. Research has clearly shown that college students who connect with their career services offices receive more job offers than those who do not. We demonstrate the value of using the resources that are here for you- We are here to help!”

Many NECC Writing Tutors also recommend students to use Career Services because they believe that there are all pros and no cons! Many of the Tutors believe Katie and Sandy are working very hard to help students with their needs. They are in Career Services helping students by providing information and support, sharing resources, and helping students prepare for their careers and access opportunities.  There may be aspects of career development that students do not even realize they should be considering. They may not know that they can be prepared long before graduation. They set themselves up for success. Career Services is at NECC to help students avoid mistakes, learn how to be proactive in their career development and achieve their goals.

 Career Services is a great source to help NECC students succeed and know what to expect from their degree in the future. The Career Services faculty are there to help the students overcome their fears and to succeed in their future goals after they graduate. The good thing about Career Services is that students can use it as much as they want, and they do not need to pay at all. This is a benefit that the college offers to help students succeed in their careers.

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NECC Eclipse party

 
The eclipse is seen from NECC’s Haverhill campus on April 8.
The eclipse is seen from NECC’s Haverhill campus on April 8. Photo by Sports Editor Daniel Henrick

On April 8, Northern Essex Community College hosted an Eclipse Party for those who wanted to view the eclipse and spend time with friends and loved ones. The Career Services Staff at Northern Essex Community College also joined the Eclipse party, along with NECC staff and students. While I was fortunate enough to join the party as well, I also had the chance to interview a few people who also attended.

Talking to Olivia Ramirez, a Liberal Arts student, helped me understand more fully why people were so excited and anxious about the Eclipse. Ramirez stated, “This is my first time coming to NECC to join an Eclipse party and I must admit that I am excited about the experience. There are more people here than I ever expected. We are all gathered for a common reason and we’re extremely excited to see what an authentic eclipse looks like in real life.”

Gregory Mendoza, another student from Northern Essex Community College, also mentioned his excitement regarding this event. Mendoza stated, “I was reading an article on my phone and the article mentioned that in the United States, the eclipse is expected to cause a huge impact. One result mentioned was the possibility of an electricity shutdown, birds and wildlife were expected to escalate in behavior, and for a period almost complete darkness may occur. I was curious to see if any of these projections could be true. This is why I am so anxious to be here firsthand. I want to see what will occur before, during, and after this amazing celestial event.”

Sandra Smith, another student from NECC, mentioned her excitement about the event.  Smith mentioned, “I received an email to Northern Essex Community College students and staff inviting us to this party. At first, I thought my chance of attending such an event was very small. After reading the email and listening to all the excitement in the hallways, classrooms, and library, I must admit I was growing in curiosity to see what was going to happen. I decided to attend as my excitement grew. This is why I am here.”

While interviewing these three people for the college paper, I was able to learn more about how curiosity can catch people’s attention. All three people interviewed came to join the party looking for answers to different questions. Their common interest in the universe and humankind prompted them to ask what the results would be following this shared phenomenon. They wanted to see the results following something of such magnitude. They knew it would be an experience greater than themselves and many people were heard whispering about it being an “Aura from God,” but certainly from the heavens. Such an event occurs so seldom that to miss it would have been a tragic loss. For such an act of nature and the universe to engage the attention of so many people around the world, clearly grabbed the attention of millions. It was an awe-inspiring and spiritual event not to be missed.

The Eclipse Party had more than about 100 people watching. The students and staff joined the world with a human interest. They were happy and enjoying their time together and possibly even made some new friends. It was not the largest group convening to appreciate the eclipse around the country, But I can tell you it was one of the most excited and engaged groups I have seen. The spirit of the heavens tied a knot for humanity that day, and we all joined together in a common sense of awe and joy.

 

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Internships offer real-life experiences

 

Northern Essex Community College offers students the opportunity to do college internships on campus or off-site. 

The plus about students doing internships in general is that they have the opportunity to earn real-life experiences and apply all the knowledge that they learn during their internship to their future jobs. Internships are a valuable experience for college students ready to enter the work field. 

After completing  a degree programs that ready them academically, the Internship is a hands-on work experience that prepares them for the real world.

Talking to faculty who have been involved in internship courses, they claim students learn all the steps that students need, in order to do an internship on or off campus. Some students may struggle to find their internship, while others find an internship quickly. It all depends on what type of internship they are looking for.

Sandy Rochon, a faculty member at NECC, has been working there for almost two years. Rochon works in the Career Services Department. She is one of the people in charge of helping students find a good internship that fills their needs. 

Rochon stated, “I recommend students do an internship because it will provide students with real-life experience. 

Students will be able to know if this particular job is one they would like to work in for the future”. “I also recommend students do an internship because they help them discover if this is what they are looking for”, (Sandy Rochon).

Katie Yeaton-Hromada is a coordinator for the Career Services Department at NECC. Yeaton-Hromada works helping students to find job opportunities, and to find suitable internship opportunities as well. 

Yeaton-Hromada stated, “I totally recommend students do an internship because this is an awesome opportunity that will help them build up knowledge towards their degree. They will be able to bring all the knowledge they have earned during the internship to their future job.”

Professor Sheila Muller is the Chair of the Business Department at NECC. Professor Muller stated that the internship class is a course that students should take when they want to earn experience. According to Professor Muller, doing an internship is a good idea that provides students with real-life experiences. Professor Muller stated, “Not all programs at NECC offer the opportunity to do an internship, but some of them do. The number of hours for students to do their internship is around 8 hours per week, or 10 hours weekly as a maximum.”

 Professor Muller also stated, “Students who do an internship will learn how to behave in a business environment and will have an idea of what to expect in the future” (Professor Muller).

The greatest praise of the program comes from the NECC Internship Students.

In interviewing a variety of students who chose the Internship option, almost every one of them has excellent feedback from their experiences. 

The most widely stated comment is that students feel much more prepared for life in their chosen careers. 

They go on to say that their real-world learning experiences have been more than just a classroom experience. Learning is expanded to what it will be like as they enter the workforce. These NECC students contest that hands-on learning experiences are a preferred way of attaining knowledge.