Consider the Big Picture with Graphic Resumes

Spring semester is coming to an end, however job and internship interviews are still in the horizon! One trend I noticed as I was looking at the resumes coming into the office or circulating around the fairs was an increase in the number of graphic resumes, that incorporate some creative design or layout into the document. This doesn’t seem to be a trend specific to our world at Hofstra, either; I was talking with a close friend about his resume, and the updated version he sent me was a graphic one, a complete departure from the previous, more conservative layout.

So, should you take the plunge and create a graphic resume? Consider these points:

Be mindful of your industry. If you’re in a design field, using a platform like InDesign, Photoshop, Publisher, or Canva to create an eye-catching resume can show your expertise using that particular platform. In more traditional fields such as finance or law, where the chronological format and tried-and-true layouts reign supreme, a graphic resume may stand out – for the wrong reasons. Canva, in particular, has a great resume builder with templates that will get you started!

Don’t compromise your content. Resumes should always be as clear, concise, and consistent as possible – the 3 C’s we talk about here at the Career Center! Graphic resumes often end up having a nice, clean layout; take care to make sure that you aren’t sacrificing valuable accomplishments that the employer should know just to get a certain look. The last thing you want to do is under-sell your great experience!

Too much of a good thing? You may be thinking of adopting a graphic resume at some point, but not just yet. Color can help bring a fresh feel to the resume, and can make headings (or your name) pop. But, it’s definitely possible to go overboard and have it detract from the overall “first-glance” impact you’re going for. Try not to use more than one color, and always print your resume in black-and-white first before sending it out to see how the color turns out in grayscale, especially if applying online where you don’t know if or how the employer will print your resume.

Like most changes to the resume, the decision to use a graphic resume is a personal one. Think about your industry, the position and company to which you’re applying, and your own personality to determine what works best for you! And, of course, let us know how we can help.

Happy Designing!

Amy K. Smith 

Associate Director of External Relations 

The Career Center at Hofstra University 

Thanks for Giving Me the Opportunity (to interview)

The leaves are falling, pumpkin spice flavors are everywhere and people are planning their holiday menus. You know what this means: Thanksgiving is right around the corner! Like you, I am looking forward to a break and the opportunity to connect with friends and family over a good meal. As I reflect on this past year, I am thankful to be working here at Hofstra and that you are reading this blog post. What are you thankful for?

Around this time last year I was finishing up interviewing for my current position and navigating how to return to work with a three-month old baby at home (and throwing in starting a new job!) As I left campus last fall, the gratitude was pouring out of me. On my drive home I was already thinking about what to write in my thank you emails to the people I met that day. 

At this point in this blog post you are probably thinking “Thank you notes after an interview? What is this lady talking about?” In the past few weeks the topic of post-interview thank you notes has come up quite often in the Career Center. One such example: after participating in our Escape the Career Center contest where a clue referred to thank you notes after an interview, a student told me that “I didn’t know you were supposed to write a thank you note after an interview.” 

Yes, you are supposed to write a thank you note after an interview. Why, you ask? Let’s check in with another Liz, Forbes contributor Liz Ryan, and two short articles with some great, quick videos on the importance of writing thank you notes and how to make yours stand out.

After the Interview – Send the Perfect Thank you note

How to Write the Perfect Post Interview Thank you note

Sending a thank you note should not only be after an interview - write one any time you connect with a professional in an industry or job of interest. Examples include: after a career fair, networking event or professional panel. Networking and building connections is the #1 way to get a job or internship. Make sure you are remembered by following up, and do so in a prompt manner (within 24 hours). 

Hopefully after reading this you are ‘thankful’ for these tips on showing your gratitude to a prospective employer or networking connection by writing a thank you note. You don’t want to be the favorite candidate, but the one who didn’t follow-up. Thanks for reading!

Liz Sposato, Senior Associate Director of Career Development and Assessment

Career Center Success!

This past Wednesday, the Career Center hosted its Communication Career and Internship Fair in collaboration with the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication. The Fair was a great success, as we had the largest turnout ever for this Fair. Approximately 250 students attended the Fair and met with more than 20 employers in the field of communications. Employers in attendance included WABC-TV, Newsday, NBCUniversal, Fox News, Canon, and CBS News, just to name a few! The turnout was amazing! Here are what some had to say in response to the Fair…

“It was nice to be able to see a lot of well-known and prestigious companies come to our campus to meet the students."
-Jesse Lindell ’21, Journalism Major

“Watching our students interact with employers and advocate for themselves is what makes all the time spent planning and coordinating worth it; getting the chance to witness the very beginning of what could be life-changing conversations is exactly why I love coming to work every day. The feedback that I’m getting from our company representatives was that students were prepared, enthusiastic, and eager – and that’s exactly why they love coming to recruit at Hofstra!”

-Amy Smith, Associate Director of External Relations, The Career Center 

“The student turnout and enthusiasm at the fair were fantastic!  Students looked professional in their business attire and they came prepared with their “elevator” pitch and copies of their resume.  Many said that researching the companies coming to the fair in advance helped make talking to employers easier.  Now that the fair is over students can enhance the positive impression, they made by sending employers a brief “Thank You” email and including a reference to something specific they discussed."
-Lisa Kornberg, Career Advisor and Liaison to the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication, The Career Center 

Thank you to all who helped with and attended the Communication Career and Internship Fair! We could not have achieved these levels of success without the generous support we receive! 

The Career Center has one final career fair for the Fall 2018 semester! The Engineering and Computer Science Career Fair will be held Wednesday, November 14^th, from 11am-2pm in HofstraUSA. Students from all majors are welcomed and encouraged to attend! See you at the Fair! 

Best, 

The Career Center Team

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 

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! 

Dress to Impress- Making a Good First Impression!

You’ve just been called for an in-person interview for the job you have been dreaming of. After countless resume reviews, cover letters sent, and phone interviews, the company has asked you to interview in person. The day of the interview, you pull up to the office, resume in hand, feeling confident. As you walk in the front door, you ask for the interviewer, the receptionist asks you to sit while they come down. You look around the room, at the five other candidates applying for the position, and notice something. You think about it for a moment, and realize, you’re underdressed! The other candidates are dressed in professional suits, and you look down at your outfit, faded khaki pants and a short sleeve polo shirt. Sitting and waiting to be called for the interview, you wonder if this will be a deal breaker.

First impressions are one of the most important pieces of interviewing for a position. An employer will likely remember everything about your first impression. Work on making your first impression the best it can be. A first impression is a presentation of yourself and your work. Always dress your best when going for an interview. Suits and professional dress attire can never hurt because the more professional you look, the better. You can never be overdressed for an interview. Avoid looking too “casual;” wearing short sleeves, shorts, sweatshirts or leggings. Neutral colors are best, such as grey, brown, or black. A splash of color to show off your personality can look nice, too. Avoid bright colors that make a bold statement that hinder your professionalism. For example, a red, white and blue suit, while patriotic, is not appropriate for an interview. 

Looking to pick up some extra professional attire? JC Penney’s at Roosevelt Field Mall is offering Hofstra students an extra 40% off all professional wear! Suits, business-casual attire, shoes, watches and accessories are all included. This Dress to Impress event will take place Sunday, October 7^th, 6pm-9pm. Entrance to JC Penney’s will be through the Red Parking Garage at the mall. All students are encouraged to attend with their Hofstra ID.. Hope to see you there! 

Cheryl Posner 

Marketing Graduate Assistant 

The Career Center 

Welcome Back! New Opportunities Await!

If you are like me, you may be thinking, “How is it September already?”  Summer always has a way of passing too quickly, but with September comes the excitement of new beginnings, a fresh start, and a chance to do something different and exciting.  

This past weekend, I participated in an END trip to the Long Island Adventure Park with a group of 12 first year students.  Now, I’ve always been afraid of heights.  I even tried to conquer the fear a while back when I was on a high ropes course during a leadership training experience.  Long story short, my harness got tangled and I was lowered down to the safety net by the emergency staff.   I was terrified, not to mention, embarrassed.

I knew this trip would test my limits. I wasn’t sure if I could complete a course, but I said to myself “I have to at least try one…”  What’s the worst that could happen?  I have already been lowered to the ground using a harness, after all. 

As the first course began, I was nervous.  Even though I was trying hard to appear composed, a student asked if I was ok.  Throughout the course, we helped each other out with encouraging words and tips on how to get through the obstacles.  Before I knew it, we had both completed the course.  By the end of the day, I ended up completing 3 courses, including the new Grand Rapids course which had several ziplines. Who knew flying between the trees (while holding on for dear life) could be so fun and so exhilarating?  

As we debriefed the experience, I was inspired by the first-year students sharing their own experiences of growth during the few short hours we were at the park together. One student even said, “I feel like I can accomplish anything now.”   That students’ statement perfectly summed up my feelings at the end of the event.

With the start of a new semester, I encourage you to be open to all the opportunities and experiences available to you as part of the Hofstra community.  Get involved.  Meet and chat with your faculty outside of the classroom.  Attend events.  Explore a new interest.  Develop friendships.  Challenge yourself.  This is your time to discover who you are and who you want to be.  If you step out of your comfort zone, you will soon realize you can achieve more than you ever thought possible.

As you reflect and explore on each of these new experiences, the Career Center is here to help you design your path to a successful and satisfying future.   Our advisors are available for individual career counseling sessions and for quick questions.  You can schedule a time to meet with an advisor by logging into Connect on the portal, or by calling the office at 516-463-6060.  Our team has also been hard at work throughout the summer planning special events and site visits to help you network with professionals in a variety of fields.  I encourage you to attend these events – even if networking is outside of your comfort zone. (We can help with that too!)

Also, I encourage you to check out the opportunities and resources on the Career Hub (www.hofstra.edu/careerhub).   You can find jobs, internships, event information and more in Handshake, industry information on Vault, and so much more!

I look forward to seeing you all throughout the year.  And remember, "if you don’t challenge yourself, you will never realize what you can become.”

Best,

Michelle Kyriakides

Executive Director, Hofstra Career Center

Developing Your Circle of Influence – The Value of Varying Viewpoints

When you’ve spent most of your career giving people advice about their careers, folks often assume that you’ve got it all together yourself – and that you always have. But the truth is - through the years my career has taken several twists and turns, and there have been many times when I’ve felt lost, confused, and needed some help navigating decisions and challenging situations.  It’s normal to need to seek out help – so whether you call the people you connect with at these times your mentors, your tribe, your board of directors, or my personal favorite, your circle of influence, it’s important to seek out different perspectives. As a communications major in college, I originally wanted to have a career as a broadcast journalist.  So as a sophomore, I interned at a local station near my campus and had the opportunity to experience working on an assignment desk, covering local stories with reporters, and writing scripts for the evening news anchors.  It was a dream come true – but it also gave me a reality check about what life would really be like in this field.  

Twenty years later, I can pinpoint the exact conversation with a reporter that made me second guess my commitment to this field, and this lifestyle.  She made me think that this field was not what I had imagined for myself and did not align with my personal values.  I was angry, devastated and confused at the time.  I really felt that she had tried to discourage me from following my dream.  But that tough conversation really forced me to look at what was important to me, and what I wanted from my work and personal life.  At the time, I would not have considered that reporter to be a mentor – and she wasn’t in the traditional sense of the word.  But she certainly had a major influence on my career trajectory, and she asked the tough questions.  When I saw her on the news in the NYC market several years later, I smiled to myself knowing that she impacted my life in a truly positive way by forcing me to look at things from a different angle as she challenged my motivations.

Through additional career transitions, I’ve learned the value of seeking advice and insight from those who know me both personally and professionally, and balancing all of those viewpoints against each other to help guide my choices.  Your personal contacts may not necessarily know your field, but they know you and your values and your personality.  Current and former colleagues may be able to highlight strengths that you may not be able to see yourself, or as people who are knowledgeable about your field, they may be able to shed light on situations that you may not be able to see.

So, whether you are at the stage where you are choosing a major, interning, or starting your career after graduation, I urge you to be thoughtful about engaging multiple mentors, seeking out challenging conversations, and reflecting on the various viewpoints as your circle of influence guides you through your path.

Best,

Michelle Kyriakides

Executive Director, Hofstra Career Center

The Gradventures of Applying for Masters Degree Programs

Hi! My name is Maggie Addiego and I’m a senior Psychology major and Sociology/Music minor. I’ve been at Hofstra all four years of my college career and now it’s finally time to graduate! As a psychology student, I learned that there aren’t many job opportunities available in the psychology field that you can apply to with just a Bachelors.

I am the type of person that likes to have everything planned out ­— spontaneity isn’t necessarily my forte. This was the case when it came to determining how I wanted to proceed with my future career. I met with numerous psychology professors, a family friend who was a clinical therapist for over 30 years, and I even spoke to the director of Hofstra’s Mental Health Counseling program when I was a sophomore. I contemplated how I wanted to go about being a clinical therapist until I thought I had finally figured out my path: I was going to graduate, get my Masters in Mental Health Counseling, and get my PsyD as a Clinical Psychotherapist!

Working at the Career Center, I was surrounded by opinions from professionals on what possibilities I should be considering for my future. I (proudly) mentioned what the plan was to one of the counselors…to which she responded with an “what?!” facial expression. “Why would you spend 4 extra years of your life and $60,000 extra on something you can get for 2 years and less money?” she said. “Get your Masters and you’re good.” For what I wanted to do, I could get my Masters in Mental Health Counseling and have almost the same opportunities as I would with my PsyD; I’d be able to have my own practice and work with clients one-on-one. Knowing my path was just the first step, figuring out where I wanted to make my goals a reality was the next part of my plan.

Going through the process of picking out a graduate school is very similar to the process you went through picking out Hofstra as the place to spend your undergraduate career. The only difference is you have a better idea of what you want to be looking for when it comes to programs. So, I searched up the best MHC programs in the Long Island and New York City area, sent my application over, and waited. I applied to Hofstra, St. John’s University, and SUNY Baruch, heard back from them relatively quickly, and went in for interviews. On the spot, I had Hofstra and St. John’s tell me I was accepted into their program, but Baruch still hasn’t gotten back to me (my interview was March 26^th). Hofstra had given me a deadline as to when I would be able to accept their offer, so I was quickly approaching the end of the tunnel.

As every college student knows, finances can be an issue. For me, this was no exception. Colleges and universities are extremely expensive, and graduate school programs are even more so. My family had gone through a traumatic event that left us with a little less money than expected. Keeping this in mind, I had to juggle between the financial aspect of this already-difficult decision and finding the best program for me and my future. With time (and a lot of playing with numbers and sending in Graduate Assistantship Applications), I finally made the decision.

I decided that for the next 2.5 years, I will be spending more time here at Hofstra getting my Masters in Mental Health Counseling! Coming to this conclusion was super exciting (and anxiety-relieving) and made me even more ready to graduate with my Bachelor’s degree. It was not easy and nobody expected it to be, but knowing that I will be coming out with a degree that I want and that can benefit society is something that I very much look forward to!

So if you are looking to apply to graduate school, I honestly recommend going with your gut. Take a look at your financial situations, figure out what is realistic for you, and realize that selecting a graduate school is instinctual. Do your research on the schools you are interested in and make sure their program is accredited and has a good reputation. Once that’s all settled, apply and wait. If you plan ahead and organize effectively, you will get your acceptance letters and then it’s all up to you! Good luck with all your future endeavors, graduate school or otherwise!

Maggie Addiego
Student Assistant, Hofstra Career Center