Brian Creel, associate director for career planning at 麻豆原创 Career Services, leads the career planning team in providing career counseling and assessment, career education and employment readiness skills.

鈥淏e ready to talk about your professional self through storytelling, and overprepare through deep research on the employer.鈥� 鈥� Brian Creel, Associate Director at 麻豆原创 Career Services

鈥淒on鈥檛 forget that employers want to get to know the real you. Be authentic,鈥� Creel says. 鈥淏e ready to talk about your professional self through storytelling, and overprepare through deep research on the employer. Find your spots to showcase your knowledge.鈥�

Creel shares his advice on every stage of the job interview process as the 麻豆原创 community prepares for its spring semester Internship and Career Expo. The event, which will be held on March 10 at Addition Financial Arena, features more than 250 companies across a variety of industries from diverse fields including technology, finance, healthcare, engineering and more.

How can you make a strong impression on your job interview?

• Know your professional story/prepare your elevator pitch
• Offer a confident greeting, handshake and smile
• Think about two to three key selling points about your professional self. For 麻豆原创 students, start with your major/expected graduation and talk about related skills/experience including student clubs and class projects
• Research employers and showcase your knowledge in conversation
• Give examples to back up your answers. Storytelling is a big part of the interview experience.

You mentioned an elevator pitch. What is your method for crafting one?

Your elevator pitch introduces you to recruiters in 30-60 seconds. Follow the present-past-future format:

• Present: What are you currently studying? What鈥檚 your major or program?
• Past: Highlight a recent relevant experience (e.g., internship, research project, volunteer work).
• Future: State your career goals and explain why you鈥檙e excited to connect with this employer.

What are some ways you can make your resume stand out in a pile?

• A resume should be concise, organized marketing document highlighting your education, experiences and achievements; its purpose is to secure an interview and evolve with your professional growth.
• Keep formatting clean and consistent: 1-inch margins, 1 page (up to 2 max), standard 10- to 12-point fonts, professional appearance and easy-to-scan layout.
• Focus content on relevance: tailor to the position, connect transferable skills, emphasize contributions and quantify results whenever possible.
• Use strong writing mechanics: start bullets with action verbs, maintain consistent verb tense (present for current roles, past for previous) and keep statements concise.
• Include core sections as appropriate: Heading, objective (optional but tailored), education (reverse chronological order), summary of qualifications (skills-focused) and experience (employment, internships, research, projects).
• Add optional sections when relevant: Activities, leadership, honors/awards, publications or research.

What software or AI tools do you recommend in helping build your resume?

• is a fantastic tool available to all students by logging in with their NID credentials
• VMock is a 24/7 virtual career assistant that utilizes technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning and sophisticated analytics engine to deliver instant, personalized, and smart career guidance to students and professionals.
• Do not rely only on AI to write content for your resume. Double check wonky spelling/grammar and word choices to make sure it is your voice.
• Be aware that employers are now reviewing resumes and running them through plagiarism detection software to check for AI.
• Utilize AI (VMock can do this) to make sure your resume matches the language in the job description closely enough so that it will pass through applicant tracking systems successfully.

What are questions you recommend job candidates ask the interviewer?

Typically, it鈥檚 best to focus on two to three questions to have prepared to ask at the end of the interview.

• Ask about the company culture. What is it like to work there?
• Ask about the position or opportunity in a way that helps you learn more than what you have already learned on your own research. In your opinion, what qualities/traits do you look for in an ideal candidate to be successful in the role?
• Ask about what to expect in the interview process. What are next steps?

Are there any best practices you recommend for following up after an interview?

Within 24 hours, send personalized thank-you emails to the recruiters you spoke with that include:

• A brief recap of your conversation
• An expression of gratitude
• A question or statement to keep the dialogue going

Thanks to 鈥檚 dedicated support for STEM students, he had access to resources so he would not have to navigate that journey alone.

鈥淓ngineering is hands-down our most active liaison area,鈥� says Taylor Sandifer 鈥�23MA, assistant director of employer relations in Career Services who supports all STEM majors, including the College of Engineering and Computer Science. 鈥淐ECS students show up to everything. They鈥檙e really engaged, and they take advantage of every opportunity.鈥�

For Knights like Nguyen, that means access to employers through engineering-focused employer-led workshops, resume reviews, mock interviews, and the highly attended , which occurs annually in the fall at the Addition Financial Arena, where as many as 300 employers fill the venue.

Big Companies Recruit Knights

Before Expo, students can聽participate聽in the Career Readiness Program, a two-week series including industry-specific, employer-led sessions where recruiters host one-on-one resume reviews and mock interviews to help students prepare.

麻豆原创鈥檚 employer-relations model attracts major companies such as Google, Meta, Amazon, Siemens Energy, Lockheed Martin, L3Harris and Walmart directly to campus for tabling, information sessions,聽and networking events.

鈥淓mployers coming in to recruit STEM talent will work with us to get connected,鈥� Sandifer says. 鈥淲e help them get into the engineering atrium, set up information sessions, reach students through Handshake, and collaborate with CECS to spread the word.

鈥淲e want students to see a clear path from 麻豆原创 to a career.鈥濃�� Taylor Sandifer 鈥�23MA, assistant director of employer relations in Career Services

鈥淲e want students to see a clear path from 麻豆原创 to a career. When they put in the effort, and we can help make those connections, it all comes together.鈥�

Sandifer has seen firsthand how transformative this can be.

鈥淥ne computer science student (Nguyen) showed up on the wrong day 鈥� in a suit 鈥斅燽ut stayed anyway,鈥澛爏he recalls. 鈥淗e came back the next day, met with recruiters, and we聽connected him with Deloitte & Touche. He ended up getting the job. His hard work and willingness to show up made the difference.鈥�

Real World Ready

Nguyen credits the Dixon Career Development Center in helping him shape his career path.

鈥淚聽wasn鈥檛聽very prepared initially and had no idea where聽to even聽start. It was overwhelming just thinking about it,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 attended an event I found off Handshake and it turned into me getting resume reviews, mock interviews, and attending events that got me to meet employers I was passionate about joining.鈥�

He took advantage of summer appointments, interview strategies,聽and also聽printed business cards to hand out to the company representatives at the聽Internship and聽Career Expo. Those efforts paid off with an opportunity at Deloitte 鈥� a place he was drawn to for its culture and its constant flow of new challenges.

His biggest takeaway from his experience with the Career Center is to be persistent and open to every opportunity.

鈥淵ou never know what conversation you have with someone that could turn into a huge career opportunity,鈥� he says.

罢丑别听 will take place on Tuesday, March 10.

Hosted by the twice a year in the fall and spring semesters, the largest job fair on campus features 250+ companies across a variety of industries from diverse fields including technology, finance, healthcare, engineering and more.

This career fair is open to all 麻豆原创 students and alumni. It is your gateway to explore a wide range of career options, gain insider advice from industry experts, and stay ahead of the curve in today鈥檚 evolving job market.

It鈥檚 also a great opportunity to practice your networking skills and leave a lasting impression on potential employers.

This guide shares logistical information about the Internship and Career Expo itself, as well as tips and resources ahead of the event so you can make your best impression.

Internship and Career Expo

Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Time: 12:30 p.m. 鈥� 4:30 p.m.

• Fast Pass Entry at 12:30 p.m. (more below on ways to score a fast pass)
• General Entrance begins at 1 p.m.
• Doors close at 4 p.m.

Location: Addition Financial Arena (12777 Gemini Blvd N, Orlando, FL 32816)

Attire: Business casual attire encouraged; Pants or skirts paired with a dress shirt or blouse and dress shoes with socks or appropriate hosiery. Please avoid bringing large bags.

Security Check: The Addition Financial Arena is implementing enhanced security measures. Security procedures include, but are not limited to, performing body wand and bag checks at all arena entrances. before arriving. Guest should allow additional time to enter the gate, as these measures may delay entrance into the event.

Register: This career fair is open to all 麻豆原创 students and alumni. Reserve your spot on .

Ways and Resources to Prepare

• Virtual Career Guidance

麻豆原创 partners with , a 24/7 virtual career assistant, to help students create a powerful resume and practice their interview skills. VMock leverages technologies like data science, machine learning and natural language processing to provide instant personalized feedback on resumes, cover letters, elevator pitches and interview responses based on criteria gathered from employers and global best practices. Visit .

• Where to Print Your Resume

Students seeking to print copies of their resume or cover letter can do so for a small charge on main campus at the or in the John T. Washington Center (adjacent to the library).

If you are printing your resume or cover letter for a job or career fair, we recommend having at least one copy for each job/employer you are interested in, plus additional copies for unexpected opportunities or to replace damaged or lost copies.

• Professional Clothing Glow Up

鈥� In Person at the Florida Mall
Feb. 21, 11 a.m. 鈥� 2 p.m.

An exclusive in store shopping event for career apparel with exclusive discounts not available to the public. Students and alumni will be required to swipe their ID cards or provide their PID and check in via Handshake at the JCPenney Florida Mall location in order to receive their coupon.

This event is eligible for an EXPO Fast Pass which will grant early entry to the Spring 2026 Internship & Career EXPO. Pick up your Fast Pass Voucher at the check-in table.

鈥� In Person at Waterford Lakes
Feb. 28, noon 鈥� 2 p.m.

Students and alumni can enjoy a 30% discount on business and business casual attire during the shopping event. Students will be required to swipe their ID cards or provide their 麻豆原创 ID and check in via Handshake at Style Encore Waterford Lakes location the day of the event.

This event is eligible for an EXPO Fast Pass which will grant early entry to the Spring 2026 Internship & Career EXPO. Pick up your Fast Pass Voucher at the check-in table.

Knights Helping Knights Pantry 鈥� Main Campus
Drop in, 10 a.m. 鈥� 6 p.m.

A limited professional clothing section is available to all 麻豆原创 students, with valid 麻豆原创 ID, on a first-come, first-serve basis.

• Career Prep Events (Virtual and In-Person)

鈥� In Person at the Kenneth G. Dixon Career Development Center
Tuesdays, 2 鈥� 4 p.m. and Wednesdays, noon 鈥� 2 p.m.

Need fast feedback on your resume, cover letter or LinkedIn profile? Just drop-in to Career Services 鈥� no appointment required. If you鈥檙e unable to meet at these times, you can schedule an appointment on Handshake.

– Virtual
Fridays, 11 a.m. 鈥� 1 p.m.

Join Career Services virtually without appointment for career questions and support. Simply go to go.ucf.edu/CSpopin for the zoom registration. We will accept you into the Zoom once we have an available Career Counselor to assist you with your resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, or quick career questions.

鈥� In Person at KSC Visitor Complex
Feb. 21, 9 a.m.鈥�4 p.m.

Registration closes Feb. 20. Attendees will have opportunities to network one-on-one with employees of major aerospace and tech companies. They will be able to discover internships, apprenticeships, and professional roles, and gain insights from professionals working at the forefront of science, manufacturing, and innovation. Attendees will also have the opportunity to attend professional development workshops on networking mastery and becoming the ideal job candidate.

鈥� In Person
Feb. 24, 12:30 鈥� 1:30 p.m.

Take this time to learn about what to expect and ease your nerves by preparing your Elevator Pitch, Get ready to talk with Employers, and learn some tips to make your time at the event a success. Preference to attendees that register in advance as the room can only fit up to 60 people.

This event is eligible for an EXPO Fast Pass, which will grant early entry to the Spring 2026 Internship and Career EXPO. Limited quantities available. You must check in on time and attend the entire presentation.

鈥� In Person
Feb. 25, 10 a.m. 鈥� 2 p.m.

Registration via handshake is required to attend this event. Employer representatives will be on site to assist with one-on-one resume reviews and interview preparation sessions. Please bring an updated copy of your resume for recruiters to review. The session will be conducted on a first-come, first-served drop-in basis. As employer representatives become available, students will be paired one-to-one to conduct a 15-20-minute session of their choice and may leave after the session is complete.

This event is eligible for an EXPO Fast Pass, which will grant early entry to the Spring 2026 Internship and Career EXPO. Pick up your voucher on the way out of the session. Limited quantities available.

鈥� In Person & Virtual
Feb. 25, 2鈥�3 p.m.

Explore strategies for communicating your goals, setting boundaries and handling pressure or disagreements in healthy ways. Learn more at bit.ly/麻豆原创handshake.

鈥� In Person
Feb. 26, 10 a.m. 鈥� 2 p.m.

Registration via handshake is required to attend this event. Employer representatives will be on site to assist with one-on-one resume reviews and interview preparation sessions. Please bring an updated copy of your resume for recruiters to review. The session will be conducted on a first-come, first-served drop-in basis. As employer representatives become available, students will be paired one-to-one to conduct a 15-20-minute session of their choice and may leave after the session is complete.

This event is eligible for an EXPO Fast Pass, which will grant early entry to the Spring 2026 Internship and Career EXPO. Pick up your voucher on the way out of the session. Limited quantities available.

鈥� In Person
March 3, 10 a.m. 鈥� 2 p.m.

Registration via handshake is required to attend this event. Employer representatives will be on site to assist with one-on-one resume reviews and interview preparation sessions. Please bring an updated copy of your resume for recruiters to review. The session will be conducted on a first-come, first-served drop-in basis. As employer representatives become available, students will be paired one-to-one to conduct a 15-20-minute session of their choice and may leave after the session is complete.

This event is eligible for an EXPO Fast Pass, which will grant early entry to the Spring 2026 Internship and Career EXPO. Pick up your voucher on the way out of the session. Limited quantities available.

– In Person
March 4, 9 a.m. 鈥� noon and 1 鈥� 4 p.m.

Registration via handshake is required to attend this event. Employer representatives will be on site to assist with one-on-one resume reviews and interview preparation sessions. Please bring an updated copy of your resume for recruiters to review. The session will be conducted on a first-come, first-served drop-in basis. As employer representatives become available, students will be paired one-to-one to conduct a 15-20-minute session of their choice and may leave after the session is complete.

This event is eligible for an EXPO Fast Pass, which will grant early entry to the Spring 2026 Internship and Career EXPO. Pick up your voucher on the way out of the session. Limited quantities available.

鈥� In Person
March 4, 10:30 a.m. 鈥� 1:30 p.m.

This event is for Rosen College of Hospitality Management students only. A leadership workshop will be held from 10:30-11:45 a.m. in the Darden Auditorium, followed by opportunities to meet with recruiters from noon 鈥� 1:30 p.m. in the Rosen Courtyard. Registration for the leadership workshop is required.

– Virtual
March 5, 10 a.m. 鈥� 2 p.m.

Registration via handshake is required to attend this event. Employer representatives will be available to assist with one-on-one resume reviews and interview preparation sessions. Please bring an updated copy of your resume for recruiters to review. The session will be conducted on a first-come, first-served drop-in basis. As employer representatives become available, students will be paired one-to-one to conduct a 15-20-minute session of their choice and may leave after the session is complete.

This event is eligible for an EXPO Fast Pass, which will grant early entry to the Spring 2026 Internship and Career EXPO. Information regarding pick-up will be sent to attendees at the conclusion of the virtual session. Limited quantities available.

Castillo was only one of 40 students selected from more than 4,000 applicants for the . Interns from various academic backgrounds in the program are placed with teams and departments that stretch across the NASCAR industry, including 23XI Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, Daytona International Speedway and more.

鈥淚t absolutely means the world to me to be chosen out of 4,000 applicants,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 truly incredible to work alongside professionals and see the reality of what it鈥檚 like to actually be working in this exciting industry.鈥�

Castillo鈥檚 role within the content team gives her insight into the digital side of motorsports, where she helps the brand connect with new and existing fans.

鈥淢y department specifically works with influencers, inviting them to a track to spread awareness and create content that shares the love of the sport,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a great experience connecting and working with these influencers.鈥�

Having this internship opened new doors for Castillo and provided her with the opportunity to travel to Chicago and see her work come to life.

鈥淭raveling to Chicago for the first time and having the chance to work alongside talented professionals and help grow the sport through influencer outreach is fulfilling to see,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t showed me how hard work pays off.鈥�

Castillo says she鈥檚 always been a fan of motorsports, which encouraged her to apply when she made connections in the industry though 麻豆原创 student organizations and opportunities such as the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) and NSCM鈥檚 Intern Pursuit.

鈥淥ne of the people I met through networking opportunities on campus works in communications for NASCAR in Daytona,鈥� Catillo says. 鈥淚 connected with her to learn how to start in the industry. She was kind enough to share information about the NASCAR Next Internship Program.鈥�

As a first-generation college student, Castillo says her goals have been shaped by the hard work and devotedness she grew up surrounded by.

鈥淢y parents were very young when they moved to the United States and seeing their dedication has always inspired me to earn a degree,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so important to provide a space for communities to share their voice and be heard 鈥� and journalism has helped provide that pathway for me.鈥�

Castillo says she credits networking events and 麻豆原创鈥檚 student organizations for this incredible opportunity.

“If I didn鈥檛 go to these networking events or if I wasn鈥檛 part of student organizations here at 麻豆原创, I wouldn鈥檛 have made those important connections or even know that this internship exists,鈥� she says.

As an engaged journalism student, Castillo shares that she has earned priceless professional experience in many areas of media, including NPR鈥檚 Are We There Yet? podcast, reporting on 麻豆原创 Athletics with ESPN+, partaking in Spanish spoken news broadcasts with NAHJ, and contributing to , 麻豆原创鈥檚 student-run news organization.

鈥淭he journalism program does a fantastic job in helping students connect with professionals,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hose opportunities really prepared me for the real world and taught me how to communicate effectively, meet deadlines, and thrive in a fast-paced environment.鈥�

鈥淚 enjoy knowing when I get up and put on a suit, I鈥檓 going to be utilized, I鈥檓 going to be useful,鈥� he said.

Borges, a senior legal studies student at 麻豆原创, is one of 70 麻豆原创 student interns from the Legal Studies Department this summer 鈥� an increase from 66 student interns from summer 2016 through spring 2017.

Marc Consalo, the new internship coordinator for the department, is excited to see a growing interest in student internships.

鈥淲hen I took the program over, I wanted to expand the definition of what a legal studies internship meant,鈥� he said. 鈥淚n the past, people thought it meant that you were going to a law office, do some filing, maybe do some client interactions.鈥�

Student interns work at public and private law offices, the public defender鈥檚 office for Orange and Osceola counties, law firms, the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, and the Hispanic Bar Association of Central Florida, to name a few places.

All the students are not located in Central Florida during the summer either; some students intern in Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Collier counties, as well as in Coral Gables and Boca Raton.

As one of 12 interns with the public defender鈥檚 office, Borges gets ample opportunities to work on various law projects, meet with and interact with clients, and work side-by-side with other attorneys.

It was intimidating in the beginning, Borges said.

鈥淜nowing I鈥檝e never had any legal background, I knew I had to put my best foot forward,鈥� he said.

Thankfully, he hasn鈥檛 had to go on the journey alone; many attorneys and judges have been willing to share their wisdom with interns like Borges.

鈥淓verybody has been very helpful, especially when you are new and don鈥檛 understand the routines and the system,鈥� Borges said.

That is the key to success with internships, said Robert Wesley, public defender for Orange and Osceola counties.

鈥淲e want to give them an authentic experience in the legal system,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think anybody is here to just resume build; they are really here to gain insight and valuable knowledge.鈥�

The public defender鈥檚 office has worked with 麻豆原创 to get interns for several years, but this year has seen a stronger relationship between the school and the office.

鈥淚t never was as organized as this,鈥� he said. 鈥淗aving a university in the community is such a blessing in so many ways. It鈥檚 a benefit for us and I hope it鈥檚 a benefit for the students.鈥�

Sara Fogarty can attest to the benefits of gaining an internship through 麻豆原创.

A senior legal studies student, Fogarty is also spending the summer interning with the public defender鈥檚 office, which has helped her make up her mind on her career path in law school.

But she also recognizes the seriousness of what she does every day she passed through the courtroom doors.

鈥淢y first day here, and even now, it鈥檚 scary,鈥� Fogarty said. 鈥淚f you mess up in school, you get a few points off, but if you mess up here, you can jeopardize the case.鈥�

Fogarty said that interning this summer has given her plenty of opportunities to talk with judges and attorneys about their career paths and does not mind spending most of her day in the law offices.

鈥淚 absolutely love what I do here,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e supposed to do 12 hours a week, but I didn鈥檛 listen. I do 20 to 30 hours a week because I want to get as much out of it as possible.鈥�

The new Handshake service hosted by Career Services and Experiential Learning allows participants to apply for thousands of jobs, internships and other opportunities. Participants can use the system to store a resume, cover letter and other documents to use for each application.

Handshake also provides access to employer information and campus interviewing and recruiting events.

To sign up for the program, click .

Handshake is replacing KnightLink and Place Pro services. To help learn how to navigate the new system, workshops have been scheduled in Career Services and Experiential Learning Room 121. The workshops will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 21; 1 p.m. Thursday, June 22; and 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 27.

Employers who want to be included in the program also can check the link to register.

All 麻豆原创 students and alumni can take advantage of this new system that is replacing KnightLink and Place Pro to serve the 麻豆原创 community. Handshake is cutting-edge technology career development platform that helps students and alumni connect with employers and campus partners to find jobs and internships. Users will be able to log in to Handshake with their NID and password and begin searching.

Over 120,000 employers are already using Handshake, including 93 percent of the nation鈥檚 Fortune 500 companies. This opens up more opportunities for students and alumni to find more jobs and internships than ever before.

By the end of the next summer, Handshake is on track to be the sole career development platform used by all of Florida鈥檚 major universities and colleges, opening up 麻豆原创 to more collaboration opportunities across the State of Florida.

New features and functionalities will continue to be introduced that include posting all SDES on-campus student positions in the system, operating the 麻豆原创 Job Shadow Program through Handshake, and many more.

Tori Walsh, student assistant for Career Services, stated, 鈥楬andshake is going to be such a valuable tool for students to take advantage of. Having Internships and Jobs all in one system is super easy for career planning.鈥�

For more information, students can visit or contact either Career Services or directly.

In addition to meeting employers, students could visit the Career Fair Ready Room to get advice from 麻豆原创 alumni, check their appearance, practice their elevator speech and take a professional photo for LinkedIn.

Rosen College students plan and execute the Career Fair every semester as part of a class project, handling every aspect of the event, including the theme, decor, marketing, promotion and lunch menu. The Fall 2015 Career Fair theme was inspired by The Beatles, anchored by the tagline, 鈥淚magine All the Possibilities,鈥� encouraging students to dream big about their futures and pursue their career goals.

Employers who participated in the Fall 2015 Career Fair include:

Learn more about participating in Rosen College鈥檚 next Career Fair.

The presenters were joined by twenty industry partners and thirty current PSM students who will complete their internships in the future and hoped to learn more about the possibilities. This event was a first for the 麻豆原创 College of Graduate Studies and provided an opportunity for the students in this career-oriented degree to showcase their abilities to potential employers and network with those in their chosen field. The industry partners represented a variety of scientific companies around central Florida with most attendees at the Director, CEO, or Company President level. With such strong support from industry, it was a resounding success and the winners were the students.

Following presentations, students networked with the industry partners regarding future internships, job placements, and their thoughts on the current and future trends in the field. This was a unique opportunity for graduate students and many commented how beneficial they felt the experience was. A PSM degree is designed to create opportunities to link industry with education to create a feedback loop to improve both. While many degrees in graduate education focus on research experiences, PSM degrees are designed for students who want to go directly into industry upon graduation and benefit from the hands-on internships. While the introduction of PSM degrees into higher education is a recent movement, it has grown exponentially to over 340 programs at almost 160 institutions (cite). This growth signals a student and industry-driven desire for more applied graduate education options and PSM degrees aim to meet that need.

PSM Day is an annual event that occurred on Sept 10, 2015. The tentative date for next year鈥檚 event is Sept 8, 2016 and all 麻豆原创 students, faculty, and staff are invited to attend. For more information on PSM Programs please visit:www.graduatecatalog.ucf.edu and search for PSM or email GradPSM@ucf.edu.

鈥淓very meltdown, every slice of pizza and every soda I had in that newsroom is so fondly remembered,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he countless times we all looked at each other and asked, 鈥榃hy are we doing this?!鈥� Totally worth it.鈥�

Although it was challenging at the time, she thanks her experience in the RTV broadcast journalism track for her success.

Shortly after she graduated, Moll-Ramirez started working as an assignment editor at WKMG-Local 6 News Orlando, where she had previously interned. She left WKMG in 2011 after being the first 麻豆原创 alumna chosen for the NBC News Associate Program in New York City. Out of more than 1,500 applicants she was one of seven chosen for the prestigious program.

In 2012, NBC News promoted her to bureau coordinator of its Miami office. At NBC, she helped generate content for all of their platforms, including NBCNews.com, 鈥淭he Today Show,鈥� 鈥淣BC Nightly News,鈥� MSNBC and NBCLatino.com.

After an incredible three years at NBC News, she moved on to become a cross-platform associate producer at CNN, which is based out of Atlanta.

Moll-Ramirez answered some questions about her time at 麻豆原创, the difficulties and rewards of being in the news industry, and shared advice for students and alumni.

Q&A in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1鈥�

Q. Why did you choose to attend 麻豆原创?

A. It鈥檚 going to sound a little silly, but the reason I chose 麻豆原创 is because it was the university that sent me the most promotional mail. One day I just thought to myself, 鈥淲ell, if these people want me so bad, let me check this out.鈥�

Q. How has your 麻豆原创 degree helped you in your career?

A. My 麻豆原创 degree has been essential in my career. All of my jobs have required a degree in journalism. Over time, I鈥檝e also realized how great the RTV broadcast journalism program was. I鈥檝e had colleagues who went to Columbia, Northwestern, USC, Berkeley, you name it. Not once have I ever felt like I fell behind.

Q. Favorite thing about your job?

A. No two days are ever the same 鈥� coming into work every day and not knowing what鈥檚 going to happen. Not realizing the moment you walk in through those doors, you may be a few moments away from informing the world about a certain historical event, good or bad, is invaluable.

Q. Most memorable experience on the job?

A. I鈥檇 have to say it was the 10th anniversary of September 11th. I was working for NBC at the time in New York City and got to be a part of the team that covered it. When the names of the fallen were being called and I looked at my colleagues, many of whom covered the actual attacks, with tears down their cheeks, it was so real. Seeing the fountains from high up and knowing that鈥檚 where so many lives were lost 鈥� the hurt was palpable.

Q. What piece of advice would you give to current 麻豆原创 students, as well as fellow Knights?

A. To current students, 麻豆原创 is becoming a bigger and bigger name. Don鈥檛 underestimate it. A degree is what you make of it. Not having a degree is a lot tougher than having one. Be proud, always. Oh, and INTERN! INTERN, INTERN, INTERN! It鈥檚 more important than most of your classes!

For alumni, let鈥檚 be friends! I love 麻豆原创 for all the doors it opened for me. A strong alumni association makes a huge difference.

Now, for some fun questions. Moll-Ramirez shared some personal info to help us get to know her better:

Q. Do you have any special/hidden talents?

A. When in top cardio shape, I鈥檓 pretty great at jumping rope. Bizarre, I know. But I actually became obsessed with it while at 麻豆原创. They used to have a half-hour class at the recreation center and I started taking it. The rest is history.

Q. What do you do for fun?

A. I love trivia nights and playing kickball. Yes, kickball 鈥� don鈥檛 judge. I also listen to Pitbull and Romeo Santos (a Spanish language singer) way too much. Also, the regular stuff like hanging out with friends, traveling and watching the news.

Q. What鈥檚 the most generous or thoughtful gift you鈥檝e ever received?

A. The most thoughtful gift I ever received was really more like a gesture. On my last day at NBC News, my colleagues threw a huge surprise party for me. My desk was decorated 鈥� with pictures of Sanjay Gupta and Wolf Blitzer included 鈥� there were balloons, they made posters with pictures of all of my favorite things, they ordered food, I got flowers and even a crown! It was like my Quincea帽era all over again! I didn鈥檛 expect it and it was above and beyond anything I could鈥檝e ever imagined.

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