Careernival: Everything You Need to Know

The Careernival is coming up next Wednesday, May 6^th, 2015 and will take place at the Intramural Fields on Hofstra University’s north campus from 12pm-4pm. Since this is the first Careernival EVER, this is your personal guide on what to expect. If you have any further questions, always feel free to call the Career Center at 516-463-6060 or visit the Careernival Event Page!

Also, there will be an atrium table on Monday May 4^th starting at 10 AM where the Career Center will be giving out FREE COTTON CANDY in the student center and entering students for a chance to win a Hofstra Gift Basket! Stop by on May 4^th to learn how to enter!

See everything you need to know below and we hope to see you at the Careernival on Wednesday, May 6th!

1. What is the Careernival?

The Careernival is a fun way to learn about internship opportunities and companies without the formality of a traditional Career Fair. This event in particular is designed to educate students on internship opportunities for next semester in a casual environment so students and employers can really get to know each other.

2. What if I don’t need an internship?

Come anyway! The Careernival will host many employers that will be able to teach you more about their companies.

3. Can anyone attend?

The Careernival is open to all current students at Hofstra University. If you are enrolled in the Spring 2015 semester at Hofstra, you’re more than welcome to come!

4. What employers are going to be there?

To see the full list of employers, log onto PrideCMS, click on the events tab, click Career Fairs, then click Careernival or log into PrideCMS and follow this link.

5. What do I wear?

This is a casual event so wear whatever you would like. Just remember, you will be speaking to employers so be sure that your attire is appropriate.

6. What do I bring?

Nothing! Employers are not expecting to collect resumes or other materials from students, but instead they will be giving information to you about their companies and internship opportunities. This will require you to follow up after the event to learn more and apply for internships!

7. What will there be to do?

Games

• Cornhole sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers
• Inflatable Twister
• Alien Invasion: shoot a foam arrow into a target crater!
• Boom Blaster: Race to see who can pump up and pop their balloon faster!
• Froggy Flinger: Contestants use their hand to launch and land the frog on a lily pad!
• Tip-a-Troll: Throw beanbags and knock down as many troll dolls as possible!

Free Food

• Cotton Candy
• Hot Dogs
• Popcorn

Entertainment will be brought to you by WBLI-FM

Taking a Weakness and Making it Into a Strength!

I don't consider myself the creative type. I find that I struggle with coming up with new, innovative ideas sometimes. I have artistic abilities, but that doesn't always necessarily lead to creativity. I find my strengths to lie in support and implementation, and not so much on the "start-from-nothing-and-get-creative-type".

Do I consider that a weakness of mine? Yes.
Is that something I have made strides to work on? Definitely!

Recently, I had the opportunity to work on my creative skills and make something my own. Thanks to Deanna Rodin (the Career Center Associate Director) I was able to take over our recent #HUInternSelfie Challenge and make it my very own. I worked with Deanna and brainstormed a ton of ideas (from very practical to wild and outrageous--think riding an elephant) to use throughout the entire process. This included ways to advertise and get the challenge out there, how to logistically manage the event, which platform was optimal to host the challenge, what challenges would students participate each week, what can we use for the future, and what would be some of the post-event activities with our winner. Although I worked within certain guidelines, it really was a great opportunity to make an event completely my own and have fun with it! I also learned a lot along the way about the process of putting on event and how things work on the Hofstra campus. In the end, I felt we had a great participation (of 10 diverse student interns) and I'm truly proud of the end product (and excited for our winner of the $250 Nordstrom Gift Card!).

Overall, I view weaknesses as future strengths that haven't been worked on yet. The steps I took to work on this particular weakness were:

• Admit to myself and to another person that this is a quality I want to work on. This made me accountable to actually take the steps towards improvement.
• Find an opportunity to work said-quality, big or small. This will give you the freedom and space to work on that skill--remember, practice does make perfect!
• Have fun with it! Not succeeding doesn't always mean failure, this could be one of your first attempts at working on this quality. Give yourself the space to have fun and you'll continue progressing in the future.

With the support of the Career Center staff, I felt encouraged to continue moving forward with my creativity and come up with a fun event, and I hope participants enjoyed it too! If you have a weakness you want to work on, the Career Center is here to support you make it into a strength! Maybe communication isn't your forte and you have a big interview coming up--we'll practice with a mock interview to transform it into a strength. Maybe you're writing skill isn't where you want it to be and you're struggling with a cover letter--the Career Center is here to help you through that process too! All you have to do is reach out and we'll be here!

Anne Monique Concepcion,
Graduate Assistant

The myth of the “creative type”

If you go to your favorite job search aggregator, such as linkup.com or indeed.com, and type in the words “creativity” or “innovation,” you will be inundated with results. More than 70,000 positions are given on a search of “creativity” and more than 170,000 are produced by searching on “innovation.” That’s a lot of opportunity! But, there are a lot of myths around those words, as well.

What are the stereotypes that come to mind if I ask you think about the “creative type?” Maybe you thought of someone who is artistically inclined? Maybe a painter or a musician? Or maybe you thought of someone who is an impractical dreamer or someone who can’t quite fit into the confines of traditional societal norms. But, here is the truth about creativity in the workplace – you are all capable of being a creative employee or contributing to a creative environment. One of my favorite business books is titled “Ten Faces of Innovation,” written by Tom Kelley of IDEO.  This book talks about how many different work styles are important to create and maintain an innovative workplace.

When you leave Hofstra for full-time work, or even when you head off to your internship, volunteer site, research lab or field placement, I want you to think about how you can contribute to making the environment more creative and innovative. Are you someone who pays very close attention to how people (i.e. customers, clients, students, or whomever is being served) behave? Perhaps you are the “anthropologist” that Tom Kelley describes in his book. Or maybe you are someone who pays attention to the physical space in which the work is being done. Perhaps you are the “set designer” of which he speaks. Could it be that you can see something happening in one context, like maybe a retail store, and see how it could be applied in another setting, like a hospital? Then maybe you are what Kelley calls a “cross-pollinator.”

The important take away is that creativity and innovation are certainly buzzwords in the world of work. That’s true because these skills are needed for most workplace settings. So, when you see them appear in a job or internship description, don’t say to yourself, “I’m not a creative type.” Instead, say, “I can contribute to a creative environment in my own ways.” But, it takes reflection and self-understanding to do that. If we can help you do this kind of reflection, come see any of our career counselors. And, if you are in a student group that would be interested in learning more about innovation types, we have a group assessment experience we could do with you. Just get in touch!

Gary Alan Miller,
Executive Director

Opportunities with Amazon

Today, The Career Center had the pleasure of hosting representatives from Amazon. If you are like me, you are very familiar with Amazon. I am proud to say that the UPS truck makes many stops at my house to drop off the familiar brown boxes. 

Did you ever wonder how Amazon goes from showing you a product online, to having it arrive at your doorstep? And who are the people responsible for that process?

Our new friends at Amazon have been speaking to students about their available area manager positions. As an area manager, you can be supervising anywhere from 30-80 people right out of college! Amazon has an extensive training program where they teach managers the ins-and-outs of this growing and international business, while providing mentorship for anything from leadership skills to navigating the company pension program.

So, the next time you open a package from Amazon, take a moment to think about all of the people who have worked to get that package to you, and consider becoming one of them!

Check out Amazon’s posting on PrideCMS for more information.

Darlene Johnson,
Director of External Relations

May The Force Be With You

We celebrated one of our staff member’s birthdays yesterday, Star Wars style! There was cake and lots of other goodies because our office loves to eat and celebrate. One of the best parts about enjoying what you do and where you work is that one day a group of your coworkers will wear Yoda hats and make R2-D2 cookies for you.  Don’t underestimate the importance of finding a place to work where you can be yourself and have fun too!  

Happy Birthday, Darlene Johnson! 

Deanna Rodin,
Associate Director

Can You Believe It…Spring is Upon Us

Everything is just better when it is Spring! Everyone is in better moods, those around you are smiling, and everyone is willing to try new things.

But speaking of trying new things or attending new programs, we have a program just for you!

Hofstra University’s Career Center is hosting its first Internship Careernival! The Careernival is an event in which students can engage and interact with employers who will share opportunities about internships in fun environment. Come join us for some carnival games, music, food, prizes, and great internship information! It is open to all years and all majors. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!

It will take place on Wednesday, May 6^th 12pm-4pm on the Intramural Athletic Fields. Hope to see you there! If you are interested in more events and services provided by the Career Center, please check out our weekly newsletter.

"Spring is when life’s alive in everything." -Christina Rossetti

Tiffanee J. Charles,
External Relations Graduate Intern

Events for Week of 4/3/15

Events for Week of April 13th! General On-Campus Recruiting: On-Campus Recruiting are opportunities brought right to the Hofstra campus! Employers post job and internship opportunities that students are eligible to apply to; and if selected, first-round interviews occur right on campus at the Career Center. All positions are listed on PrideCMS and require resume submission by the respective application deadlines listed below: GEICO: Tuesday, March 14th at 11:59 PM OCR Position for Management Development Program. See listing on PrideCMS for details and desires majors/class years. St. Francis College Annual Bridge to Your Dreams Career Fair Wednesday, April 15, 10-2PM, 180 Remsen Street in Brooklyn Heights, NY, 4th Floor in the Genovesi Center Hofstra students are invited to the St. Francis Annual Career Fair in Brooklyn to meet with over 140 diverse companies from all industries who are looking to recruit from various majors. Resumes and professional dress are required, but students do NOT need to register in advance. The final list of company attendees will be posted on  http://www.sfc.edu  a few days before the event. *This is not a Hofstra University sponsored event, for any questions please contact the St. Francis College Career Center at (718) 489-5360. Save the Date! Amazon Day: Lunch Meet & Greet Wednesday, April 22, 2015, Common Hour (11:15-12:45PM), Career Center Workshop Room Amazon.com, the largest internet-based retailer in the United States will be holding a meet-and-greet at the Career Center to discuss Operations and Area Manager positions! This event is open only to undergraduate students. Lunch will be served. RSVP on PrideCMS is strongly encouraged. Amazon Day: Amazon in Residence Wednesday, April 22, 2015, 9:30-3:45PM, The Career Center Meet one-on-one with a representative to discuss available career opportunities! Students must reserve a time-slot appointment on PrideCMS accessed through the 'MyApps' folder in the Portal website. All majors are welcome to schedule a pre-interview with an Amazon representative.  Amazon Day: Cookies with Amazon Information Session Wednesday, April 22, 2015, 4:30-6:30PM, The Career Center Lab Amazon.com, the largest internet-based retailer in the United States will be holding an information session at The Career Center to discuss career opportunities and what it's like to work for the company! This event is open only to undergraduate students. Refreshments will be served. RSVP on PrideCMS is strongly encouraged.  Amazon Day: Tabling On-Campus Wednesday, April 22, 2015, 10-4PM, CV Starr Lobby and Student Center Atrium Amazon representatives will be tabling at CV Starr Lobby and at the Student Center Atrium to meet with students and provide more information on available opportunities and what it's like to work for the company! Internship Careernival Wednesday, May 6, 12-4PM, Intramural Athletic Fields Step right up! Come one, come all! Fun for all majors and all years! Grab your popcorn and cotton candy. Have your fortune told and learn what your future holds for you. Play some of your favorite carnival games with employers and find out about their available internships for Summer or Fall! We've got it all: games, prizes, food, music, opportunities, and more!

Events for Week of 4/6/15

Events for Week of April 6th!

St. Francis College Annual Bridge to Your Dreams Career Fair

Wednesday, April 15, 10-2PM, 180 Remsen Street in Brooklyn Heights, NY, 4^thFloor in the Genovesi Center

Hofstra students are invited to the St. Francis Annual Career Fair in Brooklyn to meet with over 140 diverse companies from all industries who are looking to recruit from various majors. Resumes and professional dress are required, but students do NOT need to register in advance. The final list of company attendees will be posted on http://www.sfc.edu a few days before the event.

*This is not a Hofstra University sponsored event, for any questions please contact the St. Francis College Career Center at (718) 489-5360.

Save the Date!

Criminology Afternoon of Service at the INN

Friday, April 24, 1-5PM, The INN

Criminology majors are invited to an afternoon of service at The INN in Hempstead. The INN is a soup kitchen servicing the Hofstra Community. Join The Career Center and employers from the field of criminology for lunch at 1:00 at The Career Center. Then, we are off to The INN to assist them in sorting donations, stocking the food pantry, and getting them ready for the next day's guests.  This is an opportunity to not only provide much-needed service to a local charity, but to engage with employers in your industry, who will share their stories and insight with you.

Reservations are required and are taken while space is available. Registration is available through your PrideCMS account. Please contact Darlene Johnson in The Career Center at 516-463-5833 with any questions.

Internship Careernival

Wednesday, May 6, 12-4PM, Intramural Athletic Fields

Step right up! Come one, come all! Fun for all majors and all years! Grab your popcorn and cotton candy. Have your fortune told and learn what your future holds for you. Play some of your favorite carnival games with employers and find out about their available internships! We've got it all: games, prizes, food, music, opportunities, and more!

Definition of Success

How do YOU define success?

Now call me intrigued, but I’m the kind of person that likes to get to know the inner workings of the people around me. I’m always interested to hear what their past experiences are, find out what their goals are for the future, and learn what it is that is unique to them.

So this brings me to an interesting question that I find really says a lot about a person: What is success to you?

If I’m answering, success is a variety of things:

• Learning something new or developing new skills as a result of taking on new projects—and being happy with your outcomes!
• Reaching those little goals that bring you a step closer to your big picture goals.
• I’m the kind of person who fears becoming stagnant in life, so a big indicator of success for me, is moving forward in anything you do!

Success is different for every person. Maybe you define success as catching up on your readings for class, getting married and having a family, or even starting your own T-Shirt company! Either way, success is personal and cannot be defined by anyone other than you. So don’t let anybody get you down if you see others succeeding in their own lives because you can’t compare your Step 1 to their Step 22. They’re working on their personal success and so can you. Whatever actions you need to do to start moving forward, go with it! And if you need some support getting started on your Step 1, know that the Career Center is here waiting to help!

Anne Monique Concepcion,
Graduate Assistant