NSU Horizons Spring 2016

48 NSU HORIZONS learned about a property management internship at Castle Group, he was not sure if he should pursue it. “It wasn’t exactly what I was looking for. I didn’t know anything about the industry and I was hesitant,” Prem said. Lorenzo encouraged Prem to apply. Prem not only got the internship, but also received a job offer to stay on as a quality assurance coordinator. The company is flexible so Prem, who plans to get his M.B.A., can continue his studies at NSU. In addition, Castle Group provides tuition assistance to their employees who are undergraduate and graduate students at NSU. “Without Emilio helping me and getting me to take a chance, I can’t imagine where I’d be,” Prem said. He also pointed out that the job has helped him learn to apply what he has learned in the classroom; and conversely, it has made some of his classes easier to understand because he has had the “real-life experience” of the concept. But the most important benefit, Prem said, is his own personal growth. “This job and being in a corporate setting has taught me a lot about myself. I’ve learned time management, responsibil- ity, and how to step up to a challenge when it presents itself,” he said. An internship working on brand image at Kaplan Test Prep has given NSU student Desiree Jasmine Casanova a strong network of contacts. The internship has “enhanced my skills such as teamwork, communication, and leader- ship and definitely has helped guide me with my future plans and goals,” said Casanova, who will graduate in May 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology from NSU’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Networking 101 For Amanda Leavitt, who graduated in December 2015, one of the most challenging pieces of advice she got from the advisers at the NSU Office of Career Development was that she should network and build relationships. “It’s scary to put yourself out there,” said Leavitt, who earned a bachelor’s degree in marine biology from NSU’s Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography. “But the more I kept going to the Office of Career Develop- ment, the more I felt myself coming out of my shell. Emilio helped me learn the importance of being comfortable with myself and making connections with people.’’ Leavitt was looking for an internship when she learned the value of networking. She was hosting a table for her student organization at an Earth Day event when she decided to talk to other people. She met an alumnus who used to be a member of the same student organization and now worked at the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Leavitt ended up getting hired at the USGS as a student contractor working on the Everglades Restora- tion Project. She began in summer 2015 and has been asked to stay on at least through the end of 2017. “It was the perfect time and the perfect internship,” Leavitt said. “It shows you the importance of having your resume ready and making connections with people. You never know who you’re going to meet.” According to Leavitt, she loves being part of the research project and feels like she is making a difference and learning a lot. She is processing samples of rocks and cuttings from an exploratory drill site in Virginia Key, doing data processing, and creating reports. “I feel it’s going to be a gateway to other projects and possibly lead to a full-time position,” she said. Like others, she credits Lorenzo and the NSU Office of Career Development with getting her to this place. “They helped me so much and got my career moving forward for sure. I want to let other people know that it’s not so scary and that they can do it too,’’ Leavitt said. “Talk to everyone, even your professors, about your goals and where you want to go. You never know who can help you.” For more information, visit nova.edu/career . n “Competition is high in the job market, and you need to stand out as a candidate. That’s what we groom here. We give them a competitive edge.” —Diane Klein