The New Girl/The New Guy

Starting a new job or internship is nerve-wrecking and exciting all at the same time. You were able to lock down the position you were aiming for, and as thrilled as you are, you are now entering into unchartered territory. You will be the “new girl or guy,” in the company.  As you try to learn the company’s culture and everyone’s name and job title, there are a few key factors to always keep in mind:

• Be Confident. Don’t underestimate yourself, you were able to land your dream position and here is your chance to prove yourself.
• Be Willing to Learn. There will be a lot of new work for you to take on, so have your pen, note pad, and an open-mind ready to learn.
• Be Friendly. Be open to meeting everyone, keep a smile on your face and introduce yourself.
• Be Prepared. Be ready for whatever may be thrown at you, whether it is a heavy work load, adjusting to new personalities or navigating yourself around the facility.

Being the new person at work is never easy, but keep in mind that everyone has been the new person at some point. Everyone has experienced those same butterflies. 

Nalani Goonetilleke,
External Relations Intern

The Power of Meeting People

You walk in suited up, shoes shined, and with your pad folio at hand. Another career fair. 

Last week, as I met with a student, he asked, "What's the point of a career fair anyways? They always just tell you to apply online." I smiled and said, "Yeah... That's annoying, right?" I meant it. However, I believe in the power of meeting people.

Think about this: if you worked as a recruiter, and your internship posting received over 100 applications, what would you do? Chances are, next to your pile of 100+ applications you will find a smaller pile of 5-10. This smaller pile probably came to you from people you know and trust (i.e., referrals). If you worked as a recruiter, which would you review first? 

That's the power of meeting people. 

Do know that not every interaction at a career fair will result in an interview or offer. However, I strongly encourage you to believe in the power of meeting people. If you do attend a career fair, meet with a recruiter, and he/she asks you to apply online - go ahead. They may refer your application to the hiring manager, moving your application from the bigger pile to the smaller pile. Or, they may remember you down the line, in a few semesters or a few years, perhaps when you find yourself back on the market. You never know, so stand up straight, smile, and go meet people. 

Stefano Verdesoto,
External Relations Assistant Director

What Did You Do Over The Summer?

Well, it’s officially Fall! There is a slight chill in the air and you can get just about anything pumpkin-flavored that you could possibly want. But let’s not forget so quickly about this past summer! How did you spend your time off? Did you travel extensively? Were you working? Volunteering? Learning a new computer skill? Any of these things can now be put on your resume.

Never underestimate the value of any part-time job. Say, for example, you are a Public Relations major and you were a lifeguard one day a week over the summer. You may think that putting this position on your resume doesn’t make sense because it’s not related to your major and because it was only one day a week. However, there is no requirement on the number of hours that you need to do a job in order to put it on your resume. Also, while the position itself may not be related to your career goal, the transferable skills learned and used at that job would be relevant to any position. As a lifeguard you have a serious amount of responsibility and must work under pressure.  You also must pay attention to what is going on around you and respond when needed. Maybe you also trained new lifeguards, supervised others, or were given responsibility to open and close the pool area. All of those job duties would fit in quite nicely on a resume!

The Career Center is here to help you take those summer experiences and put them on a resume or practice talking about them in an interview. Make an appointment with us before those summer memories fade away like your tan lines.

Darlene Johnson,
Director of External Relations

Why didn't that employer call?

The two things that we often neglect to pay attention to when applying for jobs is our E-Mail address and the outgoing message on our cell phone. Be mindful of what employers will assume about you based on those things. If your outgoing message on the phone has music with curse words and inappropriate language, you my want to consider switching to the default outgoing message. And if your email address is something like phatgurlzrock69@email.com or bigballover69@email.com, please know it is time for something that is more workplace appropriate. When employers are going through hundreds of potential applicants don't let your email address or outgoing message prevent you from advancing to the next round. Think smart, make appropriate changes, and land that next opportunity!

Lorraine Massiah,
Assistant Director

The Story of the Black Blazer

Yesterday, one of our Career Center team members came into the office having just spilled coffee on her shirt whilst driving to work. As we talked about how to best hide the stain for her meetings throughout the day, I remembered that hanging in my office was a black blazer that I keep in my office “just-in-case.” She threw on the blazer, and it covered up the stains so she could go about her day looking polished and professional (and, might I add, it fit perfectly!).

This blazer was one which I had long ago left in The Career Center one day, but decided to keep there after a conversation with another colleague about a tie that I found in an office drawer. The tie, I found out, was used by a previous tenant of my office during our On-Campus Recruiting programs in the event that someone came in for an interview without a tie, or needed to learn how to tie one in preparation for an interview of their own. I looked at the black blazer hanging in my office (which I had consistently forgotten to bring home with me each day… oops) and I knew that if it stayed hanging there, its time of necessity would come… and it did!

The age-old motto of the Boy Scouts is “Be Prepared,” and I think that saying holds true for most, if not all, aspects of our lives—especially our careers! Whether you keep a few printed resumes in a portfolio during a meeting with your advisor, or business cards in your pocket at a networking event, you can keep yourself ready for any opportunity that may present itself to you. Of course, we never know what can happen over the course of a semester, a week, or even a day. Sometimes, we find ourselves in a very different position at the end of the day than when we woke up! Similarly, you never know when something will pop up that affects a friend, family member, or colleague, and your preparation or quick-thinking could be the thing that not only gets them through, but shows them they have your support. Our best weapon against uncertainty is to expect the unexpected, and when we see an opportunity to prepare ourselves for whatever may arise (like keeping a black blazer at the ready), we should do so!

Happy Prepping!

Amy Smith,
Assistant Director

It's Almost Career Fair Season!

It’s that time of year again, when we start to say farewell to summer and to say hello to a new season… career fair season! If you just groaned, I apologize. I understand that career fairs are perhaps produce a bit of anxiety.  But, they really are a great opportunity to meet people and explore possible jobs and internships.  So, here are three good ways to prepare for any of the upcoming fairs (and if you don’t know when they are, log into Handshake via the Career Hub).

Tip 1: Research the companies in advance.  By logging into Handshake and clicking on the “fairs” link on the left, you can browse each fair and see what employers are attending.  Once you’ve identified those of interest (and don’t let the company name be your only guide – look at the actual positions for which they are recruiting), then be sure to research both the positions and the companies so you can be well prepared when you meet them.

Tip 2: Practice introducing yourself.  You’ll be interacting with a lot of people at the fair, and each of them will want to hear some basic information about you when you first approach their table.  So, prepare a short overview that sounds something like this:  “My name is Gary Miller, and I’m a senior here at Hofstra studying Philosophy and Psychology.  I’m interested in positions that involve critical thinking and analysis and have had some great opportunities to develop those skills in some past internships and campus opportunities.  I understand you’re here to recruit for (position name here), and I’d love to hear more about what you’re seeking.”

Tip 3: Freshen up your resume and have plenty of copies on hand.  Not every company accepts resumes on the spot, so don’t be offended if they ask you to apply online.  But, most organizations at the fair will want to take a copy of your resume.  So, make sure you update it and make sure it’s telling the narrative you really want to tell.  If you need help with that, please come see us at an appointment or in our Quick Questions service.

We look forward to seeing you at any of the upcoming fairs this fall and are excited to see you present yourself with confidence!  You never know who you might meet at the fair – it’s might just change your life!

Gary Alan Miller, Executive Director

Comfort can be a dangerous thing...

Now don't get me wrong, I'm all for snuggling in a blanket after a long day with a warm cup of hot cocoa, but the kind of comfort I'm talking about is the kind that stops you from learning something new. Opportunities arise every day to learn something or to move you in a new direction, and sometimes it opens an entirely new path that you never thought possible. Take my story of how I even got to the Career Center in first place:

When I was an undergraduate at SUNY New Paltz I studed Psychology, Art, and Disaster Studies (so pretty much nothing career-process-related). I became a Resident Assistant and in my second year, I chose to take on a new paraprofessional role as a 'Peer Career Assistant', where I acted as a liaison between my residence hall and the Career Center. I learned how to write resumes and cover letters, develop better interviewing skills, and gained a better awareness of the etiquette of the career application process. Fast forward to applying for Hofstra's Mental Health Counseling program, my position at the Career Center was brought to my attention by my interviewer (thanks, Dr. Seirup!) because of my previous experience as the PCA, and it's been a whirlwind ever since! I've learned so much more about the career process, and although there was definitely a learning curve, I was able to roll with the discomfort and begin expanding my knowledge about the ins and out of career centers and external relations--things I never thought I'd learn being a Psychology major in undergrad!

Working as the Career Center GA has really opened my eyes to the world of Student Affairs and Higher Education and I believe if I stayed in my comfort zone of what I was already learning, I wouldn't have gained such a valuable experience here. My time here has also supplemented the things I can put on my resume, which definitely opens up opportunities for career paths...and that's all because of a chain of events starting with taking on a new role that I knew very little about!

So, the next time a new opportunity arises (someone invites you to a new club meeting, a new class opens up, etc.), take advantage of it! Many things come up in a day, and it's all about how you navigate and make the most of these moments! And as always, The Career Center is here to support you. Give us a call at (516) 463-6060 to get started!

Anne Monique Concepcion,
Graduate Assistant