Dating - Path to Pride

Why didn't they call?

I thought we hit it off...

Does this sound familiar…when it comes to your job search? Yes, getting a call back from your interview can feel a whole lot like trying to get a second date from that person you're really into. And just like dating, you need assistance to follow the steps to success.

1. Visit With a Career Counselor

When you're not sure what to do or need to vent, doesn't it always feel better when you have someone to hear you out? Making an appointment with a career counselor can provide that. You can express your concerns and figure out a game plan to get to the career you want.

2. Take a Career Assessment

When dating, you sometimes run into a dead end and have to self-reflect on what you really want. The same goes for figuring out the careers best suited for you. At The Career Center, you can "find yourself" by making an appointment to take a Career Assessment.

3. Research Careers

When you have figured yourself out and what you want in a significant other, the next step is to see who's available and if they fit your "type".  After you have narrowed down your career choices, you can start researching them by using the resources provided at The Career Center's website (Hofstra.edu/career).

4. Begin to Make Connections

Studies show that most people meet their significant other through a mutual friend. Networking is just as important in your career development. Put yourself out there and make connections by developing your LinkedIn profile, joining Hofstra clubs and attending campus events such as the Job Fair.

5. Develop Your Career Skills

Stepping into the dating world can seem daunting, so it's important that you have all your "tools" ready: clothes, hair, etc. The same goes for finding a job or internship; you want to make sure that your resume, cover letter and interview skills are all the best that they can be. The Career Center can help with one-on-one appointments and Mock Interviews.

6. Search and Apply for Internships

Once you are ready, going out on dates is a good way to figure out what you like and don't like. Figuring out the career that you want is a similar process. The best way to find out if a career is right for you is to get relevant experience through internships, part-time jobs and/or job shadowing.

7. Establish Post-Graduation Goals and Plans

After dating for a while, you will probably come at a crossroads where you have to decide what you want, which may include picking someone to be in an exclusive relationship with. At the end of your time at Hofstra, you will also have to make a decision. Will you start finding full-time work in your chosen career field or will you go to graduate school?

Lorraine Massiah

Assistant Director For Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives

Five Reasons to Join the Peace Corps After Graduation

Five Reasons to Join the Peace Corps After Graduation

As you cross holiday shopping off your list, this is also the season to help others by giving your time and energy to make a difference. I recently met Teckla Persons, a Peace Corps recruiter, and she shared some great service opportunities for motivated changemakers to immerse themselves in a community abroad, working side by side with local leaders to tackle the most pressing challenges of our generation. So as you think about wrapping up the semester, whether a December gradauate or upcoming May graduate, consider these five reasons Teckla shares below to join the Peace Corps after graduation. 

Wishing you happy holidays!

Hofstra Career Center and Jennifer Fragleasso, External Relations Coordinator

Five Reasons to Join the Peace Corps After Graduation

Serving in the Peace Corps is a unique opportunity to help a community overseas and build lasting relationships. It is also a way to launch your career and further your educational goals. This year, there are five alumni from Hofstra serving in Indonesia, Lesotho, Morocco, Senegal, and Tonga. Could you be next to join the more than 182 alumni who have already served?

 If you are considering joining the Peace Corps after graduation, here are 5 ways that you can expect to benefit:

1)    Make an impact in a community that needs someone with your skills. 

Peace Corps has open volunteer positions in more than 60 countries each year, and each of those positions has been requested by a community that identified a project that would benefit from the volunteer’s involvement. Do you have an interest in working with youth and experience with tutoring? Education is the program area that has the largest request for volunteers worldwide, and there are education positionsavailable to applicants from a wide variety of educational and professional backgrounds. If you have a green thumb, or small business experience, or a passion for community health outreach, we have plenty of opportunitiesfor you as well. Learn more about how your skills might fit a community’s needs by reading about What Volunteers Do. 

2)    Boost your resume with language and technical training. 

Once you arrive in your country of service, there are several months of training with other new volunteers before you move to your host community and begin working. Peace Corps training is intense: you learn a local language, technical skills for your new job, cultural norms to help you fit into your new community, and health and safety information. Trainees typically live with host families, so you will have the chance to start making local friends right away. And after pre-service training has ended and you begin service, there are opportunities to continue your professional development through in-service training and ongoing support from Peace Corps staff. Learn more about our training HERE. 

3)    Reduce your student loans.

Student loans do not have to prevent you from serving in the Peace Corps – in fact, service can make you eligible for deferment, partial cancellation, income-based repayment, or loan forgiveness.  Peace Corps service is also considered qualifying employment for the Department of Education’s Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which forgives the remainder of certain federal loans after 120 monthly payments are made under a qualifying repayment plan. Under a qualifying repayment plan, your payments could be $0 per month while volunteering. 

Benefits depend on the type of loans you have, so visit our websiteto learn how to get specific information.

4)    Get help paying for graduate school after service. 

If you are planning to go to graduate school and trying to decide whether to serve in the Peace Corps or apply right away, consider this: our Coverdell Fellows program offers graduate financial aid to returned Peace Corps volunteers, including tuition reduction, full scholarships, stipends and assistantships at over 120 participating universities around the country. In addition, as a Coverdell Fellow you will have the opportunity to build on the skills you learned as a volunteer and continue your service through internships in underserved communities. Learn more about the Coverdell Fellows program and see a list of participating schools HERE.

5)    Form lifelong friendships. 

If you ask returned volunteers about the best part of service, many will mention the close relationships they formed with host families, coworkers, students, and friends in the community. Peace Corps service lasts 27 months, but the friendships that are formed can last a lifetime. Visit the stories sectionof the Peace Corps website to read first-hand accounts from volunteers. . If you are interested in learning more about one volunteer’s bond with her host family, take a look at Clarice’s story. To gain insight into the support network that evolves between volunteers, check out this storyabout three women who grew close during their service after learning that they had all been members of the same sorority. And if you want read more about the relationship between volunteers and community members from the perspective of a local teacher who co-teaches with Peace Corps volunteers, check out Isabel’s story. 

To learn more about the benefits of service, or to find out what opportunities are available for you in the Peace Corps, join us at an upcoming event, or contact recruiter Teckla Persons at tpersons@peacecorps.gov. 

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

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 

Fall in Love With Your Career

It is officially Fall, a time of change and new opportunity. With the many meetings, classes, and events Hofstra has to offer, it can be challenging to take a few minutes to reflect on your job or internship search. As our Career Fairs are approaching, you may be wondering what employers to be targeting. The job or internship search can become overwhelming and frustrating, especially as our society places a large emphasis on “the dream job.” 

I am here to ease those anxieties. Not everyone’s dream job is attainable as soon as they graduate college. Things that are valuable and worthwhile take time and effort! And that is why you need to use all of your resources. The Career Center is here to help; we can give you the tools to develop career readiness and understand each person has a unique path.

As I graduate in December and begin my own job search process. I have been continuously reflecting on what has led people to their current roles today. Below are some of the answers the advisors at the Career Center were kind enough to share with me, and I would like to share with you.  

What did you study in college? 

“ I majored in psychology and minored in sociology. After that I had a series of jobs that I didn’t particularly love. Then, 7 years after getting my bachelor’s degree, I went back to school for a master’s in Career Development. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made!” 

-       Darlene London Johnson, Director of External Relations

What was your first job out of college?

“I worked at a non profit organization after college, where I managed an internship program and the communications work for the foundation.   I learned a great deal about professionalism and creating and maintaining professional relationships.  I also learned that the amount of preparation I did before a meeting was directly correlated to how confident I was in that meeting.”

-       Michelle Kyriakides, Executive Director 

What has led to your current role at The Career Center at Hofstra University?

“Networking! The previous Executive Director [of The Career Center] was also my spin instructor.  I told him how I was looking for a job and he suggested I apply for a job with him at the Career Center.” 

-       Lorraine Massiah, Assistant Director for Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives 

What do you love about your current role? 

“I love that no two days are alike, everyday is a new way to help students. My favorite part of my job is watching the light go off in a student’s mind when they discover their passion, whether in the classroom, on their internship, during a leadership opportunity, or just by exploring their interests in a one on one appointment.”

-       Sabeen Sheikh, Assistant Director of Outreach and Special Programs

With these answers in mind, I hope this provides a bit of clarity on how all career paths are diverse, even among those who are in the same organization.  If you find yourself struggling in your career path, make an appointment with us by calling 516-463-6060.

~Wishing you a wonderful semester~

Kristi Riecker

Graduate Assistant of Career Development