Start Living Your Best College Life Now!

If you’re just going back and forth between class and your dorm/house, chances are you are not going to have a great college experience.  College is the perfect time to expand your horizons and try new things: build relationships, make friends, have fun, and leave your mark on the campus.  You can widen the circle of human beings who know you and care about you while building your skills, confidence, and resume.

And when it comes to making the most of your college experience, “Better late than never” is not the best way to roll.   You can’t get back lost time so don’t wait until senior year to realize that you’ve missed out on doing lots of cool stuff.  So here are some optimal ways to experience, socialize, pick up skills integral to any career and help ensure fulfillment now and success later.

Get involved in a group or organization on campus.Check out the Hofstra club database (GetInvolvedHU) which includes over 200 clubs and organizations with descriptions, contact and event information.  Go to: hofstra.collegiatelink.netand click on “organizations” .

Volunteer!  Not only does it feel good to do good, but it’s a great way to gain experience, meet people, and try out different types of jobs and work environments. Whether you’re interested in Health Care, the Arts, Education, Advocacy, Tech ….  there are volunteer opportunities that will engage you. Devote as little or as much time as you want to.  Here are two great websites to find and secure volunteer opportunities:  volunteermatch.org, idealist.org

Build Relationships - About 80% of today’s jobs and internships are landed through networking.  Networking starts with building relationships and building relationships takes time.  People in your network can support you in many ways: providing advice about and majors and careers, suggesting  things you can do now to prepare, introducing you to other people.  So start building relationships with your peers, classmates, professors, advisors, other staff members.  Here are a few ways you can get started:

•   Go to Office hours – Get to know your professors and stay in touch. 

•   Form study groups-Collaborate with your peers and share common goals.

•   Get involved!Join a club or organization on campus.  Volunteer on campus or in the community.

•   Attend events! Lectures, workshops, career fairs (visit handshake for event info.)

•   Talk to people- You don’t know who knows who!  This includes family members, neighbors, friend’s parents, co-workers, managers, etc.

 

Create a LinkedIn profile and start building your professional network. 

LinkedIn is your resume on steroids!  Mange all your contacts in one place and get the power of your connections’ connections.  Stay visible to hiring managers and connect with vast numbers of professionals who are experts in the field you are pursuing.  Find and reach out directly to Hofstra Alum in the jobs/companies you would like to learn more about.

Visit the Career Center during freshman year.   We can help you with all of this and much more!  Some of the services we provide are: 

·      Career and major exploration

·      Answers to “What can I do with this major?”

·      LinkedIn profile creation and networking

·      Resumes and cover letter reviews

·      Internship and job search guidance

·      Practice interviews

·      Graduate school assistance 

You can schedule an appointment with a Career Counselor by calling our office (516-463-6060) or online via Connect (from the portal).   

Hope to see you soon!

Lisa Kornberg