Keep Your Friends Close and Your Alumni Connections Closer

As the old saying goes, “it’s not always what you know, but who you know”. Especially in these virtual times, it is imperative to focus on expanding your professional network. These connections could be amongst colleagues, family, friends, professors, administrators and other professionals within your target industry. Some of the most profound connections that you can make during these times and beyond are with fellow Hofstra alumni.

In your attempts to remain active on LinkedIn, be sure to check out the Hofstra homepage. Here, you will be able to search through Hofstra graduates that may be working in a field that you aspire to be part of. Connect with those who have experiences that most directly relate your goals in an effort to make a name for yourself within your target industry. These connections will point you in the right direction in terms of companies and professional associations to look into!

You may also come across alumni who have previously graduated with the same major as you and are now working in the professional world. If you are unsure about how to best utilize your degree post-grad, talking to alumni and hearing their experiences is an awesome way for you to gain insight and ideas about where you see your professional self in the years to come.

The Hofstra network is constantly active and forever growing. Alumni, world-wide, are always looking to lend an extra hand to help a fellow Hofstra graduate. Having Hofstra as a common ground provides you with a foot in the door as you start to expand your network. Don’t hesitate to ask for an informational interview or any pro tips to propel you forward as a professional. Remember - once a part of the Pride, always a part of the Pride!

For more information about how to leverage your Hofstra network and request an information interview with an alumni, schedule an appointment with a Career Advisor today!

Best,
Sabrina Iaria
Career Advisor

From the Classroom to the Community

Do you want to travel the country, meet new people, create lifelong friendships, and give back to your community?

If the answer is yes, AmeriCorps is a way you can dedicate your time and skills to serve. According to AmeriCorps Youth Outreach Specialist for the NorthEast Region, Jessica Brown, each year more than 80,000 American’s enroll in AmeriCorps between the ages of 18-24. With more than one million alumni, AmeriCorps has provided life-changing experiences for members to jumpstart their career path. As a member of AmeriCorps, you can travel the country, earn money for school, and meet the critical needs in your community in 10 to 12 months!

AmeriCorps members are committed to getting things done by tackling different projects with non-profits, public agencies, institutions, and community based organizations. Here are just some of the ways you can help serve through AmeriCorps:

·       Filling and placing sandbags in local communities to mitigate the impact of natural disasters like flooding

·       Educating citizens on sustainability and energy conservation practices

·       Constructing or repairing hiking trails in local and national parks

·       Removing exotic vegetation and planting new trees

·       Assisting veterans, homeless and senior citizen populations

·       Constructing and rehabilitating low-income housing

The advantages of becoming a member allow you to receive money for college, student loan repayment assistance, living allowances, health benefits, and potential job opportunities. At AmeriCorps, you can gain professional skills, network, and begin living your dreams with no prior experience necessary!

If you’re ready to begin creating your future and want to find out more information, please visit www.corps.vet.

Here’s to making a difference!

Hofstra Career Center and Jennifer Fragleasso, External Relations Coordinator

From Hofstra to South Africa: The Journey of a Liberal Arts Student

As a global studies major, I often get asked what I can do with a liberal arts major like mine. My answer: anything! More and more organizations are looking for well-rounded employees who can work in a fast, interdisciplinary environment and having a major in the liberal arts can prepare you for just that. In fact, my experiences in liberal arts helped me to get an internship this past summer.

Through a joint program with Hofstra’s Zarb School of Business and the Geneen Charitable Trust, I was able to get my dream internship. Thanks to the Trust, the program was fully funded! I interned in Johannesburg, South Africa at a branch of AstraZeneca, a multinational pharmaceutical company. I worked on their corporate social responsibility initiative (CSR) called Phakamisa, which means “to uplift” in Zulu. This CSR helps to increase education, access, and capacity surrounding breast and prostate cancer in South Africa, an issue of increasing concern in the country. I met with a variety of healthcare workers, patients, and NGOs to help grow the CSR and make sure that Phakamisa’s mission was achieved. 

Even though I was working full-time, I still managed to find time to explore Johannesburg, play with lions (not even joking!), see the beautiful clear blue ocean in Cape Town, and spend time with my new South African friends. I learned so much during my time in South Africa – about the country, about corporate social responsibility, about healthcare, and about myself. I feel more prepared than ever for a job in my field and for starting life after college.

Here are four suggestions I have which helped me get my internship:

1. Network, network, network

If you’re anything like me you cringe at this word. It always made me so nervous to think about! But the truth is that networking is crucialif you want to get your dream job or internship. I wouldn’t have even known about the internship I had this summer if my professor and boss hadn’t told me about it and put me in contact with the right people. Plus, now that I am graduating soon and looking for jobs in the “real world”, I am reaching out to all the people I networked with over the summer to help me find a job.

2. Take risks

Applying to internships and jobs can be nerve-wracking, especially if they are going to be very challenging experiences. But it is alwaysbetter to take the risk and apply for the ones that you really want. I came close to not applying for the internship in South Africa because I was so nervous, but submitting that application turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life.

3. Get involved in something you’re passionate about

I think it’s a myth that you have to get involved in a lotof activities. Choose a couple qualityactivities that you are passionateabout. These activities will prepare you for a job in the future and you can use them as a speaking point during an interview. It’s much easier to talk to potential employers about something you are passionate about and had a really meaningful experience doing, rather than a bunch of activities that you did just because you thought you had to.

4. Pair your major with a minor

I’ve found that it’s better to have a diverse mix of skills and one way to develop this is to add a minor. In addition to my global studies major, I have minors in community health, geography, and management. This makes it easier for me to make the case to employers on why I am prepared for and can succeed in any field, whether it be business or healthcare. Choose something you have always wanted to study and you may be surprised where it will take you!

Hopefully this has helped inspire you to go out there and get your dream internship or job! Good luck!!

Julianna Cirafesi

Senior Global Students Student 

Networking Doesn't Have to be Scary!

The weather’s chilly, it’s getting dark early, you’re watching Hocus Pocus for the 463^rdtime (or is that just me?) – Halloween is in the air! But, when the sun comes up on November 1^stand you’re coming to terms with how many fun-size Snickers you ate (again, maybe just me…), it’s time to start thinking about how you’ll make the most of what time remains in the Fall semester.

Networking is an invaluable resource and an easy way to improve your connections and prospects while your time is just as crunched as the leaves under your feet. Here are some tips that will help you keep networking from being a skill you just sweep under the rug – save that broom for flying! 😉

1.     Don’t say “Boo!” It’s easy to brush away a potential networking contact because they don’t fit what your exact goals are at the time. This mindset makes sense, in theory, since we tend to seek out the best option for what’s right in front of us. But, take those blinders off! Set the foundation now; you never know when that contact might come across something you are interested in – and they’ll think of you first.

2.     Carve out your niche:What sets you apart from other students? Think about how you can present this to new people, whether it’s your “elevator pitch” at events, the messages you send, or the brand you create for yourself on social media. Your strategy is just that – yours!

3.     No ghosting!Keep connections alive, even if there’s not much to report. Reaching out to a contact with an article you’ve seen or a comment on something you saw them post on LinkedIn shows them that they are top-of-mind – and, in turn, you become top-of-mind to them, too!

Want to practice your newfound tricks? We have two more Career Fairs coming up this semester where you can treat yo’self!

·      Communication Career & Internship Fair:
November 7^thfrom 11am-2pm in Studio A of the Herbert School

·      Engineering & Computer Science Career Fair:
November 14^thfrom 11am-2pm in Hofstra USA

Happy Halloween!

Amy Smith 

Associate Director of External Relations and Internship Coordinator 

The Career Center 

Tips for Choosing a Career Path

Choosing a career path can be stressful, there's no doubt about it! There are many people throughout your college career who will help guide you. Keeping an open mind is one of the most important factors in choosing a career. You never know where you may land! The Career Center and the Division of Student Affairs at Hofstra are here to help! In honor of Careers in Student Affairs Month, a month dedicated to the celebration of Higher Education and Student Affairs professionals, the DSA has provided some career tips! 

"Make your potential future employer feel special! Connect the dots for the person reading your application – use your cover letter to show how you fulfill their specific needs as outlined in the job description, or preempt any questions the hiring manager may have about the application. Pay attention to keywords in the position descriptions and use bold font to draw the reader’s eye! Brevity is also key – chances are a recruiter or hiring manager is pouring over lots of applications, so make their job easier by hitting your points in an organized, succinct fashion!"
-Denise Campos, Assistant Director, Student Leadership and Engagement 

"I have learned that by saying yes to opportunities that present themselves despite my own fears, the experiences and rewards have far outweighed the negatives. Some of these opportunities have opened up new avenues for personal and professional growth. The exposure to show my talents to colleagues whom I generally do not interact with gives me a level of visibility that opens new doors and the ability to participate in new endeavors within Student Affairs."
-Novia Ramsay, Director of Operations, Office of Residence Life 

“Most people don’t go to college thinking they will end up working in a college – I sure didn’t!  But, I’m so happy that I found out about this career along the way.  Ask a student affairs pro what they love about their job, and you may discover a whole new path that you hadn’t thought about previously.”
-Michelle Kyriakides, Executive Director, The Career Center

With these in mind, remember to keep your options open and to always keep learning. Challenge yourself to explore new opportunities and to work outside of your comfort zone. Every experience you have while in college will help lead your career path, so make the most out of each! 

Searching for a Job, Finding Myself

For many of you, the door is closing on your semester, your college career, or your time on Long Island. In my case, all of the above are true; but, my adventure is just beginning. As a graduate student finishing up on my time here at Hofstra, I began my job search back in December. Being a student in a Liberal Arts program, I was fully aware that I was not going to be able to go into LinkedIn or Indeed and type in my major and jobs just appear (No lie - I did that and it said “no results”). Instead, I had to figure out which skills I wanted to carry with me into my career and find the best path for myself. However, this experience has been a roller coaster ride full of trial and error.

Back in February, I was selected to go through the interview process to be a Crime Analyst with a law enforcement agency. Since beginning at Hofstra, this is what I said I wanted to do and it seemed to be too good to be true when I got the email inviting me to come down to Virginia to participate in interviews.  Unfortunately, this was much easier said than done, but by way of planes, trains, and automobiles I worked my way down there to take a skills test and participate in a panel interview. I almost let my nerves get the best of me, but through talking to counselors at the Career Center, I felt confident in my preparation for both components of the process. After completing the interview, I walked out feeling a tremendous sense of relief. I felt the odds were against me (as they were interviewing 25 people for 2 spots) but was so proud that I made myself go through the experience and learn more about what the interview process for such a role looks like. 

 

Fast forward three weeks later and I received a call being offered one of the two spots, pending background investigation. I was over the moon and felt so accomplished in what I did. This was my dream! However, this job search did not end in a fairytale ending. The further along I got in the hiring process, the more quickly I realized this career with this organization was not an ideal fit for me. It was an agonizing realization after I had spent so much time, energy, and money to get to this point. Being able to take a step back and assess the situation for what it is and how it would help or hurt me in the long run was invaluable to my own personal growth. After consulting with my friends and family, I made the call to turn down the offer. I felt guilt about turning down an offer others in my program would have loved to have, panicked about if something else would come along, but also relief that I had made a decision for myself. I channeled the positive energy that I had and the life skills I had obtained from my Hofstra experience to propel me forward in my future endeavors.

And just like cosmic bliss, the next week I had two phone screens for two very different roles. One I have continued on with in the interview process and one that I have not heard back from at all. Being open and flexible to different opportunities is so important when beginning the job hunt, but at the same time, realizing what is important to you in a future employer should not be swept under the rug. When speaking to your interviewers, think about if you can see yourself working for or alongside this person every day. One aspect that was important to me was being around people who are creative or support creativity. Speaking with interviewers who I could get a sense by the questions I asked that this was not important or even a piece of what they do, made the decision to remove myself from the hiring process that much easier.

Think about it in terms of pursuing a new relationship. Whether it is a friend or romantic interest, it is important that you see eye to eye on some things and have similar values. We have all had that toxic friend who makes us the worst version of ourselves because we have a hard time distinguishing what makes that person good for our lives. So prioritize what is most important to you in an employer just as you would when deciding to let someone into your social circle. You want to be surrounded by people who appreciate who you are just as much as you appreciate them! And the best way to figure this out? Ask lots of questions! Discover what is valuable to you and the company and inquire about it. Even if it is an organization that you have not interviewed with for a position, if you believe it to be a place where you could see yourself working, cold connect on LinkedIn and inquire about what the culture of that organization is like.

So whether you are throwing a cap off into the air or throwing the last of your packed up boxes into the car, remember that you have a say in your future happiness. Do not settle for something you think is going to make you miserable, rise up and work tirelessly and confidently to make your dreams become a reality.  

 

Happy Graduation Day!    

Maggie Tardif
Graduate Marketing Assistant, Hofstra Career Center
Hofstra MALFL - Class of 2018

New Semester, New opportunities to say YES!

Syllabus week is over, events on campus are picking up again, you’re looking at the weather report wondering about the next chance for a snow day… yup, we’re back in the swing of the Spring Semester! Coming back after the Winter Break gives us a chance to hit the reset button, too. Fall Semester can be hectic, and taking a few weeks to recharge is key in approaching the new semester (and the new year) with a different perspective and open mind. This also may leave you thinking about opportunities in front of you that, for whatever reason, you didn’t take advantage of. Why was that? What were the things that stopped you? Now that you get to reflect, were there things you would have done differently? Would you have said YES, rather than no?

This is something that I was thinking about quite a bit over the break, myself; I was reading an article about what we can learn from saying YES to these chances, even if we are unsure, scared, or afraid of failure. When we say YES, we are opening ourselves up to the possibility of learning more, growing more, and finding new things that we’d never thought possible. In a time where our attention is drawn in multiple directions to all the different priorities we have, it may seem like saying YES is something that punches you a one-way ticket to being overwhelmed. But what if that thing you say YES to leads you to discover something else, and gives you the key to opening another door? If you say no, you’ll never know.

Here at the Career Center, we’ve been doing just that. Towards the end of the Fall Semester, we were approached by students in Theta Tau, Hofstra’s Engineering fraternity, who asked us to work with them to create an event connecting students interested in positions in Engineering and Computer Science with employers in those fields. We, of course, said YES – and that led to our first-ever Engineering and Computer Science Career Fair, which will be held on Wednesday, February 21^st from 11-1 in Hofstra USA! We have over 30 employers registered as of today, seeking students for internship, co-op, part-time, and full-time positions (If you’re interested in seeing the companies that will be attending, check out the fair on Handshake!)

What will YOU say YES to in Spring 2018? It might be joining a new club, taking on a new role, changing your major, or pursuing an opportunity that looks great for you – the possibilities are endless! And, of course, if we at the Career Center can help you, let us know.

Happy YES-ing!

Amy