Lauren Berger, ‘The Intern Queen,’ to speak at Quinnipiac Oct. 9

Lauren Berger, the CEO of InternQueen.com, addresses the audience at a previous visit to Quinnipiac University.

Lauren Berger, the CEO of InternQueen.com, will speak to students about finding internships and career opportunities on Tuesday, Oct. 9, from 9:15-10 p.m. at Burt Kahn Court on Quinnipiac’s Mount Carmel Campus. This event, part of the School of Business dean’s distinguished speaker series, is free and open to the public.

Berger will discuss how to find and apply for internships, offer resume review tips and discuss career-building skills. She will also discuss how she successfully secured internships and developed her popular website, InternQueen.com, in 2008.

Berger, who earned a bachelor’s degree in organizational business communications at the University of Central Florida, held 15 internships while she was an undergraduate. She completed internships at various companies, including NBC, Fox, MTV and BWR Public Relations.

Berger is number five on “Business Week’s” annual list of the 25 Best Young Entrepreneurs Under 25. She has spoken at 50 colleges and universities. Mobile Youth placed her in the top 10 Youth Marketing Minds of 2010.  She has also published the book, “All Work, No Pay: Building Your Resume, Making Connections and Gaining Job Experience,” in January 2012.

For more information, call 203-582-8652.

School of Business and Engineering students prepare for internships, careers

Hundreds of our students took advantage of a special School of Business and Engineering career services boot camp offered in Burt Kahn Court on Sept. 6. Each of our colleges and schools offer different opportunities to best prepare our students for life after graduation. (Photo by Kyle Gravitte ’13.)

School of Business and Engineering students converged on Burt Kahn Court on Sept. 6 for career services boot camp.

• Please click here to see more photos from the event.

The students were presented with opportunities that included professional resume review, interview practice, appearance presentation advice, information about on-campus organizations, LinkedIn workshops and other tools to help our students find and  secure internships and future employment.

Our career services professionals work with our students throughout the year to help prepare them for internships and careers beyond Quinnipiac. Each of our schools and colleges have dedicated personnel to give our students the most targeted and relevant advice.

Students work with Hamden, North Haven town governments as part of fellowship

Hamden Mayor Scott Jackson, left, Tori Rice, of Wappingers Falls, N.Y.; Ashley Hartle, of Bellefonte, Penn.; Jenna Pederson, of Wilton, Maine; Kristen Daniels, of Shelton; Susan Riello, of Hamden; and Scott McLean, professor of political science at Quinnipiac University. Back row from left: Evangelos Milas, of Woodbridge, Conn.; Amy Maciejowski, of Woodbridge, N.J.; Catherine Tobin of Bogota, N.J.; John Muzzy, of Greenville, Maine; and Tyler Yanosy, of Hamden.

Ten students are gaining valuable hands-on experience in local government.

The university awarded Presidential Public Service Fellowships to juniors and seniors to help them gain a clear understanding of how town governments operate.

• Please click here to watch a video of the fellows discussing their experiences.

“The mission of the fellowship is both educational and civic,” said Scott McLean, professor of political science in the College of Arts and Sciences and director of the program. “The fellowship seeks to expose fellows to the workings of municipal government, the history of the community and issues of economic development.”

Fellows go through an extensive orientation program and bi-weekly seminar/dinners with guest public servants who help them reflect on their experiences in the town, he said. The program began on June 4 and wraps on August 3.

“The fellowship is an excellent opportunity for Quinnipiac students to immerse themselves in the Hamden community,” said Hamden Mayor Scott Jackson. “They bring a fresh perspective to our municipal environment, creating a mutually beneficial relationship. These are the best and the brightest that Quinnipiac has to offer and we are very fortunate to have them with us each summer.”

Quinnipiac has placed students throughout the Hamden government since the fellowship’s inception, and have expanded its presence in North Haven over the past two years.

“The program provides a wonderful opportunity for the students to experience local government and exposes them to the challenges and rewards of day to day management and operations,” said North Haven First Selectman Michael J. Freda. “It is certainly a wonderful growth experience for the students while providing a value to the Town of North Haven.”

John Muzzy, of Greenville, Maine, worked in the North Haven first selectman’s office.

“What you learn in the classroom is very important but it can only do so much for you,” Muzzy said. “Certain skills can only be ascertained and further developed by getting genuine experience. This fellowship has made me take varying information I’ve learned from multiple classes and apply it in a real-world instance.”

The civic benefits to the community of Hamden and North Haven is to have fully subsidized, full-time fellows who can offer their technical skills and energy to specific programs and projects identified by town department heads, McLean said.

“The program has helped me better understand and realize how the various functions of government work, the great interconnectedness and interdepartment reliability necessary in order for governments to function efficiently and effectively, as well as how necessary governments actually are to communities and large groups of people in terms of improving the town for the better in all aspects as well as the lives of the residents through the various commissions and boards that focus on certain problems and complaints and seek to fix them,” said Tyler Yanosy, of Hamden, who worked in Hamden’s finance/risk management office. “This program has given me first-hand experience and a better understanding of government functions in relation to serving the public, not only from a financial standpoint, but also from a community-focused standpoint, which, for me, really hits home being from and living in Hamden.”

This year’s recipients are: Kristen Daniels, of Shelton; Ashley Hartle, of Bellefonte, Penn.; Amy Maciejowski, of Woodbridge, N.J.; Evangelos Milas, of Woodbridge, Conn.; John Muzzy, of Greenville, Maine; Jenna Pederson, of Wilton, Maine; Tori Rice, of Wappingers Falls, N.Y.; Susan Riello, of Hamden; Catherine Tobin of Bogota, N.J. and Tyler Yanosy, of Hamden.

Internship at Budapest law firm gives business student international perspective

Quinnipiac University senior Kendall Hodgkins has always been interested in doing a semester abroad, but couldn’t find time in her academic schedule. So when her adviser told her about a summer internship at a Chinese law firm based in Budapest, Hungary, she jumped at the chance.

“It’s the best experience I’ve ever had. Everyone is really great,” said Hodgkins, an economics major.

Hodgkins is spending her summer as an intern for the Yingke Varnai Law Firm, which was established in September 2010 through the partnership between the Beijing-based Yingke Law Firm and the Hungarian Varnai & Partners Law Firm. The Budapest office serves as the European headquarters. Hodgkins is the firm’s first international intern.

Christopher Ball, the István Széchenyi Chair in International Economics in the Quinnipiac University School of Business, arranged the internship at the firm, where Quinnipiac alumna Stefanie Sauska is head of international development. Sauska is leading the firm’s expansion by searching for and working with potential partners in the surrounding countries and help with the development of the network at large. The firm is planning to open numerous branches across Europe in the coming years. Sauska is Hodgkins’ supervisor and mentor at the firm.

For Hodgkins, it’s a chance to experience living a foreign city, meet students from around the world and learn new skills. One of her main projects at the firm is to proofread and edit contracts written by Hungarian attorneys in English. She’s excited to be working on serious projects and enjoys collaborating with attorneys at the firm. “I’m really involved – it’s great,” she says.

It’s a unique opportunity for an undergraduate student. “Travelling abroad to work in a foreign country where you don’t speak the language is extremely challenging for anyone. The personal development one gets from doing this as an undergraduate pays hugely over time in terms of self-confidence and independence. It really opens their eyes to how wide open the world is to them,” said Ball.

“I deeply respect Kendall for taking on this challenge and I have no doubt that it’ll benefit her greatly, both personally and professionally,” Ball added.

Outside of work, Hodgkins has been able to travel to Vienna and to the countryside outside Budapest. Living in a college dorm that converts to a youth hostel in the summer months, she’s met students from around the globe.

Of course, living abroad also has its challenges. When she first arrived, navigating the public transportation system presented a major obstacle. On her first day of work, she took the wrong train, a mistake which turned a 45-minute commute into three hours. “Getting lost helps you understand where you are better,” Hodgkins explains. “Now it’s second nature to me.”

Hodgkins says working at the firm has increased her interest in pursuing law school after she graduates from Quinnipiac in May.

Bruins’ victory a win for intern, too

By Heidi Nichols ’13
Boston Bruins intern 

This summer, I am interning with the Boston Bruins Foundation, the non-profit within the Bruins organization that distributes money to New England charities and helps Boston communities.

I am a public relations major and sports studies minor at Quinnipiac, and have worked hard to secure an internship that is essentially my dream job.

I’ve been a die-hard Bruins fan my whole life, so this experience is unreal, and the B’s winning the STANLEY CUP a few days ago has yet to sink in. Being in the office the past couple of days has been amazing. Mountains of congratulatory desserts have been pouring into the office, and players have been coming in and out throughout the day, champagne very often in hand.

Friday, after I took advantage of my employee discount and raided the Pro Shop, I took the initiative to call both the Chicago Blackhawks and the Pittsburgh Penguins’ respective foundations to see what they did in the months following their Stanley Cup wins to raise more money for their foundations.

I received a lot of great feedback and ideas, like raffling off a championship ring throughout the year. I also made some great contacts for the future.

I’ve always wanted to work in the NHL, and my internship has helped me further realize that a non-profit may be a great sector to work in because I get to combine three of my favorite things: hockey, helping others and meeting awesome people.

Needless to say, I am loving every second of my internship! The city of Boston is such an amazing place to be right now. I got to attend every home playoff game, where the foundation sold raffle tickets and Bruins gear, and the atmosphere in the Garden was electric.

This summer, that post-win energy is going to continue.

The Boston Bruins Foundation has a lot of big events lined up, like their annual golf tournament, a Boston Harbor cruise, the Falmouth Road Race and the Pan-Mass Challenge. The Cup will be appearing at as many of our events as possible.

No Quinnipiac student should neglect applying for a certain internship because they think it may be an unattainable position.

A few months ago, I was sitting in the Arnold Bernhard Library writing my cover letter and resume, and here I am now, part of an epic Stanley Cup win in Boston!

If you aren’t afraid of some hard work and dedication, you may find yourself having one of the best experiences of your life.