1. Home ›
  2. Winter Session Projects with the Center for Career Development

Winter Session Projects with the Center for Career Development

The staff of the Meruelo Family Center for Career Development (CCD) is committed to continual improvement.  We exist to support master's and PhD students in Graduate School programs, as well as all undergraduate students pursuing any career path.  Our students' ideas and suggestions are important to us, and we are using Notre Dame's Winter Session experience to offer dozens of projects which will transform how we improve our services.

The CCD has established the following goals for these opportunities:

  • Supplement the hundreds of existing Winter Session projects to provide students an opportunity to develop their professional skills and advance their career development.
  • List to our most important customers, our students, and act on recommendations for how the CCD can refine its services to better support students and other stakeholders.
  • Create new services to support our students.
  • Learn about best practices developed by other university career centers.
  • Identify future talent for student positions in the CCD as we continue to scale our services.

119 students have been hired and assigned to these short-term projects which will be completed in January. 

Project Snapshots

Each project is provided a reference number to easily identify and apply for a particular project. Click on the link to learn more about each project or simply scroll through this page.

 

 

Project 101 - Alumni Networking to Plan "Career Path Networking Night" Event

The CCD will be hosting a virtual networking event in March where students will be able to meet with alumni from a wide range of career paths to learn about the many opportunities students can pursue for professional careers. Students will plan this event and make networking connections to secure participation from alumni.

  • Project components: Research alumni and invite them to participate in the networking event. Help plan the event.
  • Deliverable:  Secure participation from alumni for the event

 

 

Project 202 - Proposal to Support Students Interested in Energy Careers

The CCD is using Winter Session to provide students an opportunity to research what other top universities do to support students pursuing careers in the energy industry and propose refinements on how the CCD can better serve students.

  • Project components: Evaluate current resources at ND; Research resources at other top universities; Conduct interviews with recent alumni; Provide recommendations via a typed report.
  • Deliverable:  Typed report with recommendations; presentation to CCD staff

 

Project 203 - Proposal to Support Students Interested in Fashion Careers

The CCD is using Winter Session to provide students an opportunity to research what other top universities do to support students pursuing careers in the fashion industry and propose refinements on how the CCD can better serve students.

  • Project components: Evaluate current resources at ND; Research resources at other top universities; Conduct interviews with recent alumni; Provide recommendations via a typed report.
  • Deliverable:  Typed report with recommendations; presentation to CCD staff

 

Project 205 - Proposal to Support Students Interested in Industrial Design Careers

The CCD is using Winter Session to provide students an opportunity to research what other top universities do to support students pursuing careers in industrial design and propose refinements on how the CCD can better serve students.

  • Project components: Evaluate current resources at ND; Research resources at other top universities; Conduct interviews with recent alumni; Provide recommendations via a typed report.
  • Deliverable:  Typed report with recommendations; presentation to CCD staff

 

Project 206 - Proposal to Support Students Interested in Marketing Careers

The CCD is using Winter Session to provide students an opportunity to research what other top universities do to support students pursuing careers in marketing and propose refinements on how the CCD can better serve students.

  • Project components: Evaluate current resources at ND; Research resources at other top universities; Conduct interviews with recent alumni; Provide recommendations via a typed report.
  • Deliverable:  Typed report with recommendations; presentation to CCD staff

 

Project 207 - Proposal to Support Students Interested in Careers in Pharmaceutical/Biotechnology

The CCD is using Winter Session to provide students an opportunity to research what other top universities do to support students pursuing careers in biotech and pharmaceuticals and propose refinements on how the CCD can better serve students.

  • Project components: Evaluate current resources at ND; Research resources at other top universities; Conduct interviews with recent alumni; Provide recommendations via a typed report.
  • Deliverable:  Typed report with recommendations; presentation to CCD staff

 

Project 208 - Proposal to Support Students Interested in Software Engineering Careers

The CCD is using Winter Session to provide students an opportunity to research what other top universities do to support students pursuing careers in software engineering and propose refinements on how the CCD can better serve students.

  • Project components: Evaluate current resources at ND; Research resources at other top universities; Conduct interviews with recent alumni; Provide recommendations via a typed report.
  • Deliverable:  Typed report with recommendations; presentation to CCD staff

 

 

Project 301 - Proposal to Engage More First Year Students in Career Development

This project provides recommendations on how the CCD can scale our services to engage more first year students to begin the career development process beyond two weeks of content in the Moreau First Year Experience course.

  • Project components: Evaluate current resources and engagement model at ND; Research approaches at other universities; Conduct interviews with students; Provide recommendations via a typed report.
  • Deliverable:  Typed report with recommendations; presentation to CCD staff

 

Project 302 - Proposal to Create New Services to Support First Generation Students

This project provides recommendations on what innovative services and programs the CCD could implement to better serve our first generation students. 

  • Project components: Evaluate current resources and engagement model at ND; Research approaches at other universities; Conduct interviews with students; Provide recommendations via a typed report.
  • Deliverable:  Typed report with recommendations; presentation to CCD staff

 

Project 303 - Proposal to Create New Services to Support International Students

This project provides recommendations on what innovative services and programs the CCD could implement to better serve our international students. 

  • Project components: Evaluate current resources and engagement model at ND; Research approaches at other universities; Conduct interviews with students; Provide recommendations via a typed report.
  • Deliverable:  Typed report with recommendations; presentation to CCD staff

 

 

Project 310 - Proposal to Support Students Studying American Studies

This project provides recommendations on what innovative services and programs the CCD could implement to better serve undergraduate students studying American Studies as a major.

  • Project components: Evaluate current resources and engagement model at ND; Conduct interviews with alumni; Conduct interviews with students; Provide recommendations via a typed report.
  • Deliverable:  Typed report with recommendations; presentation to CCD staff

 

Project 312 - Proposal to Support Students Studying Film, Television, and Theatre

This project provides recommendations on what innovative services and programs the CCD could implement to better serve undergraduate students studying FTT as a major.

  • Project components: Evaluate current resources and engagement model at ND; Conduct interviews with alumni; Conduct interviews with students; Provide recommendations via a typed report.
  • Deliverable:  Typed report with recommendations; presentation to CCD staff

 

Project 313 - Proposal to Support Students Studying Philosophy

This project provides recommendations on what innovative services and programs the CCD could implement to better serve undergraduate students studying Philosophy as a major.

  • Project components: Evaluate current resources and engagement model at ND; Conduct interviews with alumni; Conduct interviews with students; Provide recommendations via a typed report.
  • Deliverable:  Typed report with recommendations; presentation to CCD staff
     

Project 314 - Proposal to Support Students Studying Sociology

This project provides recommendations on what innovative services and programs the CCD could implement to better serve undergraduate students studying Sociology as a major.

  • Project components: Evaluate current resources and engagement model at ND; Conduct interviews with alumni; Conduct interviews with students; Provide recommendations via a typed report.
  • Deliverable:  Typed report with recommendations; presentation to CCD staff

 

Project 315 - Proposal to Support Students Studying Environmental Engineering

This project provides recommendations on what innovative services and programs the CCD could implement to better serve undergraduate students studying Environmental Engineering as a major.

  • Project components: Evaluate current resources and engagement model at ND; Conduct interviews with alumni; Conduct interviews with students; Provide recommendations via a typed report.
  • Deliverable:  Typed report with recommendations; presentation to CCD staff

 

 

Project 401 - Researching Career Plans of 2020 ND Graduates

This project will entail researching and contacting 2020 Notre Dame graduates to learn about their career paths. Results will be used to inform the University's First Destination reports.

  • Project components: Review list of graduates (provided), research students online, contact via email (as necessary), record results.
  • Deliverable:  Update Google Sheet with details.

 

 

Project 410 - Researching Alumni Connections at Top Energy Companies

This project will help the CCD identify Notre Dame alumni connections at top energy companies to build networking relationships and identify opportunities to advance recruiting.

  • Project components: Research companies; Identify ND alumni connections using LinkedIn; record results in a Google Sheet.
  • Deliverable:  Update Google Sheet with details.

Project 411 - Researching Alumni Connections at Top Financial Services Companies

This project will help the CCD identify Notre Dame alumni connections at top financial services companies to build networking relationships and identify opportunities to advance recruiting.

  • Project components: Research companies; Identify ND alumni connections using LinkedIn; record results in a Google Sheet.
  • Deliverable:  Update Google Sheet with details.

Project 412 - Researching Alumni Connections at Top Healthcare Companies

This project will help the CCD identify Notre Dame alumni connections at top healthcare companies to build networking relationships and identify opportunities to advance recruiting.

  • Project components: Research companies; Identify ND alumni connections using LinkedIn; record results in a Google Sheet.
  • Deliverable:  Update Google Sheet with details.

Project 413 - Researching Alumni Connections at Technology Companies

This project will help the CCD identify Notre Dame alumni connections at top TMT (technology / media / telecommunications) companies to build networking relationships and identify opportunities to advance recruiting. 

  • Project components: Research companies; Identify ND alumni connections using LinkedIn; record results in a Google Sheet.
  • Deliverable:  Update Google Sheet with details.

Project 414 - Researching Alumni Connections at Consulting Companies

This project will help the CCD identify Notre Dame alumni connections at top consulting companies to build networking relationships and identify opportunities to advance recruiting.

  • Project components: Research companies; Identify ND alumni connections using LinkedIn; record results in a Google Sheet.
  • Deliverable:  Update Google Sheet with details.

Project 415 - Researching Alumni Connections at Industrial Companies

This project will help the CCD identify Notre Dame alumni connections at top industrial companies to build networking relationships and identify opportunities to advance recruiting.

  • Project components: Research companies; Identify ND alumni connections using LinkedIn; record results in a Google Sheet.
  • Deliverable:  Update Google Sheet with details.

Project 416 - Researching Alumni Connections at Consumer Product Companies

This project will help the CCD identify Notre Dame alumni connections at top consumer product companies to build networking relationships and identify opportunities to advance recruiting.

  • Project components: Research companies; Identify ND alumni connections using LinkedIn; record results in a Google Sheet.
  • Deliverable:  Update Google Sheet with details.

Project 417 - Researching Alumni Connections at Wall Street and Real Estate Companies

This project will help the CCD identify Notre Dame alumni connections at top Wall Street and real estate companies to build networking relationships and identify opportunities to advance recruiting.

  • Project components: Research companies; Identify ND alumni connections using LinkedIn; record results in a Google Sheet.
  • Deliverable:  Update Google Sheet with details.
     

 

Project 501 - CCD Communications Market Research

The CCD is looking for students interested in market research to help formulate strategic communication initiatives, enhance promotional programs, and develop metrics for measuring and improving overall department outreach to key stakeholders.  

The Marketing Research internship position includes three key functions:

  1. Working with the CCD's Marketing Manager to understand and evaluate current brand/marketing strategies.
  2. Developing marketing and brand strategies through assessment of stakeholders aspirations and the analysis of other top universities.
  3. Developing metrics to continually measure and help improve department outreach to key stakeholders.

Project 502 - Podcast 

The CCD is seeking a student with experience in producing podcasts to pilot the production of a podcast which would educate ND students about various career development topics. This student would be in charge of taking existing recorded content and editing it into a podcast format. Existing content includes conversations with alumni and recruiters, student panels, and other career development events. The student would be in charge of creating and hosting the podcast. This podcast has the potential to continue on for the semester, becoming an opportunity to engage with employers and alumni. Responsibilities include:

  • Generating content ideas
  • Hosting the podcast
  • Editing and producing the podcast
  • Managing episode content and flow
  • Writing, editing, and publishing episode notes and/or summary

Project 601 - Employer Career Webpage Research

The CCD is creating a new resource to easily connect students to hundreds of career pages on employer websites from around the world. This project will catalog job and internship websites for top companies.

  • Project components: Identify and record URLs of webpages from 1,000+ employer websites; organize multiple lists.
  • Deliverable:  Update Google Sheet with content.

Project 701 - Career Development Information for Prospective ND Students 

The CCD will be updating the content on our "information for prospective students" webpage to educate students evaluating Notre Dame through the undergraduate admissions process. 

  • Project components: Research content on peer university webpages; Gather advice and insight from admissions counselors on refinements; Recommend refinements to content.
  • Deliverable: Typed report with recommendations; presentation to CCD staff

 

Project 702 - Career Development Information for Parents and Families of ND Students

The CCD will be updating the content on our "information for parents and families" webpage to educate parents about career services offered by Notre Dame, as well as insight into the career development process. 

  • Project components: Research content on peer university webpages; Gather advice and insight from parents and family members; Recommend refinements to content.
  • Deliverable: Typed report with recommendations; presentation to CCD staff

 

 

Project 801 - Benchmark Research on First Destination Reports

The CCD is interested in updating how "first destination" information is shared with students and other stakeholders.  This project consists of website research of peer universities to evaluate how they are sharing first destination information in creative ways. This project will provide recommendations for how the CCD can provide best-in-class resources related to first destination data.

  • Project components: Research content on peer university webpages;  Recommend refinements to Notre Dame's approach to sharing first destination information.
  • Deliverable: Typed report with recommendations; presentation to CCD staff

 

Project 802 - Market Research and Analysis of Employer Engagement Opportunities

One of the functions of the CCD is to offer an unsurpassed recruiting experience for employers. Every career center across the country competes for the attention of top employers to hire their students. This project will entail a competitive analysis and market research on other peer institutions and how they advance employer relations.  Results are used to inform the CCD Employer Engagement team of innovative ways to advance recruiting relationships with employers to benefit student career development.

  • Project components: Research content on peer university webpages; Provide recommendations to 
  • Deliverable: Typed report with recommendations; presentation to CCD staff

 

Project 803 - Career Path Page Consultation

The CCD launched a new feature to our website -- Career Path pages. This collection of pages is intended to help students explore a variety of careers and learn about topics including top employers, advice regarding where to find opportunities, how to prepare, etc. Students assigned to this project will evaluate this new feature to improve its usability.  

  • Project components: Review content on the CCD's career path pages; Research content on peer university career path pages; Provide recommendations for refinements. 
  • Deliverable: Typed report with recommendations; presentation to CCD staff

 

Project 804 - CCD Website Consultation

The CCD makes continual refinements to content on websites we manage.  We are interested in receiving feedback and recommendations on how to improve the functionality of our student-facing websites.  (note: this is not a web design project -- this is a consultation).  

  • Project components: Review content on the CCD's websites;  Research content on peer university websites; Provide recommendations for refinements. 
  • Deliverable: Typed report with recommendations; presentation to CCD staff