The Last Events of the Year!

Pride Shadowing Program
The PRIDE Shadowing Program is an opportunity for students to explore possible career fields and gain exposure to the professional work environment. Participants will visit a host organization for one day and learn first hand how classroom learning can be linked to career choices and further educational goals. Shadowing can help students obtain knowledge that comes only from being in the job setting.

Department of Education (DOE) Information session
At this event student will be able to get assistance updating their online applications and ask questions about the Department of Education.
Student Center Greenhouse
Friday, May 5, 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm 

Don't miss the last events for the 2017 Spring Semester!

Pride Shadowing Program
The PRIDE Shadowing Program is an opportunity for students to explore possible career fields and gain exposure to the professional work environment. Participants will visit a host organization for one day and learn first hand how classroom learning can be linked to career choices and further educational goals. Shadowing can help students obtain knowledge that comes only from being in the job setting.

Seeking Purpose Series: Dr. Preeti Gupta
Come hear Dr. Preeti Gupta speak about her experiences as Director for Youth Learning and Research at the American Museum of Natural History. Dr. Preeti Gupta is responsible for strategic planning, program development and research and evaluation for out of school time youth initiatives at the American Museum of Natural History. Her portfolio also includes leading the summer museum residency components of the newly initiated Masters of Arts in Teaching program for Earth Science teachers. Her research interests are focused on the trajectories of youth’s experiences with science in and out of school settings, the role that museums play in motivation and deepening engagement with STEM and STEM careers, youth employment and workforce development and the factors that mediate how youth identify with the scientific enterprise.
Wednesday, April 26, 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
SC Plaza Rooms - Student Center

Job Search and Dating – A Parallel Universe

Often times when I meet with students, I use analogies to simplify concepts. This approach ensures that we are on the same page.  My favorite analogy is comparing dating and job searching... They are essentially the same.

Why?

What is your resume? A profile picture...you are putting your best foot forward and presenting the best PICTURE of yourself both on paper and in a photograph.

Why are you called for an interview? Based on the “picture” you sent and the content you provided... you were selected for “a date".

How should you dress?  Both for a date and interview.... you must look presentable base on location or industry.

What does a first date look like?  Maybe coffee or a quick bite at Starbucks... the 1st interview usually is a “screening”  and if you did well in either you will be called back.

Why didn’t you hear back from the date or the interviewer?  No chemistry or not a good fit....Have you ever gone out with someone and you just did no like them, for no reason at all? Same with an interview, sometimes they just liked someone better.  

Second interview to "meet the team”! This is the equivalent to taking the new partner to a family wedding or holiday dinner to meet DAD or THE BOSS....  You (1st interviewer) is  hoping the team/family like the pick as much as you do.  It’s your job in both cases to impress them (don’t be fake) with your charm.  Know your industry and stay away from hot topics like race, religion and politics in both cases.

Job offer aka the proposal – this is evaluation time! Are you ready to make this level of commitment? Is this a right fit for you?....  If the stars are not aligned, let the person know and this way they can find someone who wants to be that relationship or company.  Don’t make decisions based on not wanting to “be alone” or unemployed.  

So my words of advice in both scenarios Don’t be a desperate dater or job seeker.

Lorraine Massiah

Assistant Director, Career Center

“I went to the Spring Career Fair, now what?”

It was great seeing so many of you at the Spring 2017 Career Fair! This was our largest fair to date, with over 700 students attending, and we hope that you had a positive experience. For some of you, it might be clear what your next steps are, and not so much for others. Either way is completely okay! Hopefully these scenarios and suggestions can help.

* Met with great companies, but they don’t have positions of interest: In this scenario, you have the advantage of having connected with some recruiters, and this is the first step of the relationship building process. One suggestion is to message the recruiter periodically (maybe start with once a semester) and keep him or her informed with your updates and what you are interested in pursuing; the updates will help keep your name and story top of mind for when opportunities of interest do open up within the company. Another suggestion is to use the insights that you gathered from the conversations to help you gain more clarity around what attributes you are looking for in a company and then you can articulate that in conversations with other companies as part of your reason for why you want to work with them. 

* Met with great companies, and they have positions of interest, but you don’t qualify for them: In this scenario, you have connected with recruiters, which is important. The next step would be to do some introspective reflection and assess why you don’t qualify for the positions of interest. Is it because the position requires a certain class year? GPA? Other experience? Have no fear, you are not the first person to encounter these obstacles, nor will you be the last. If you weren’t able to address these perceived barriers in your initial conversation, we would encourage you to follow-up with the recruiter and share with them your value proposition for why you are a great candidate for the position, even if you don’t check off all the boxes they are looking for in an ideal candidate. This scenario is all about selling your story, hustling hard (see post "It's ALL about Hustle"), and applying anyway. Feel free to schedule an appointment with a Career Counselor to help you develop and sell your story.

* Didn’t see any companies of interest: We thank you for coming to the Career Fair anyway and hope that you were able to have some good conversations even if they didn’t pique your interest. Although this scenario can be frustrating, it can also help you gain some more clarity around what it is that you are looking for in a company; sometimes the best way to figure out what you want is by knowing what you don’t want. We recommend that you schedule an appointment with at Career Counselor to debrief on your Career Fair experience and what your strategy should be moving forward.

We at the Career Center are here to help you throughout your different scenarios, so don’t hesitate to come in for our drop-in hours (between 10-11am and 2-4pm every day the university is open) or schedule an appointment with a counselor. 

Happy Spring!

Ava Danville, MBA

Assistant Director

The Career Center, Hofstra University

P.s. As a reminder, if you have not yet sent follow-up thank you emails to any recruiters you spoke with, we recommend that you do that as soon as possible and include some information about your conversation to refresh their memory.

It’s ALL about Hustle!

“Am I too late?”

It’s a question that we often hear in the Career Center. And the answer is always, “no!” You’re never too late to start working toward a summer internship, even if it’s the last week in May. It’s all about how much hustle you have.

There are two types of internships:

Posted internships: These have a job description, a deadline, a start date, and they are posted online. You can find posted internships by searching on Handshake, using online job boards like indeed.com, or by visiting company websites directly. You’ll follow the instructions to apply for these internships, and yes, they have application deadlines. These deadlines vary though, so stay on the search!

Not-posted internships: these are the internships that you have to use hustle to find, but they’re worth it! The great thing about internships is that, unlike full-time positions, they are easy for organizations to create on the fly for the right person. You just have to show that you are the right person! Not-posted internship positions can be started at any time, so you’re never too late.

How do you find a not-posted internship? It’s all about hustle!

* Talk with friends, family, and professors to ask for advice on where to look

* Identify organizations in which you are interested (the Career Center can help you search!)

* Utilize LinkedIn to find connections with Hofstra alumni

* Contact organizations and professionals directly via phone or email (or drop by!)

* Be prepared to talk about what you have to offer (the Career Center can help you tell your story!)

* Ask open-ended questions that start conversations with contacts

As long as you have hustle, it’s not too late to get that summer internship, even if it’s the last week in May! 

And, don’t forget to drop by the Hofstra Career Fair on Wednesday, April 5th from 11am-2pm in the Mack Arena.

 

     Lisa Tandan, M.Ed, NCC 

     Director of Career Development and Assessment

The Career Center's Upcoming March Events

Spring 2017 Career Fair
Lots of employers will be at the fair offering both amazing internship and job opportunities that you just can't miss!! This event is for undergraduates, graduates AND alumni! Make great connections and put your personal brand to the test! Register on Handshake!
Wednesday, April 5, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex, Hofstra University

Health and Helping Professions Career Fair
Over 30+ employers will be at the fair offering internship and job opportunities in the health and helping professions fields. This event is for undergraduates, graduates AND alumni! Register on Handshake to attend!
Tuesday, Apr 11 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Hofstra University, MultiPurpose Room

Career Snapshot
Students will participate in small group discussions and have the opportunity to network with and receive advice from Hofstra Alumni and other Industry Professionals representing various Careers in Sports Media, Music and Entertainment, News, Technology and New Media and Non-Profit
Wednesday, March 15, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Green Room #211 - Herbert School of Communications

Project Management Information Session
Introduction to Project Management
Learn how you can use project management skills in any profession, plus gain inside information on the profession of project management itself.
You will also be introduced to the Project Management Institute and PMILIC (Long Island Chapter), associations that can help students with scholarships and certification assistance. RSVP is suggested.
Wednesday, March 15, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Brower Hall, Room 0102

For more events, check out Handshake at hofstra.edu/careerhub.

Starting Your Spring Internship on the Right Foot

This past semester you have spent researching, prepping, and interviewing to land an internship. For some of you it may be the perfect internship and you could not be more excited, for others you may be dreading this unpaid graduation requirement. For all of you, however, congrats are in order. Landing an internship is not easy, and takes time and resources to do so. Here are seven tips to get the most out of it.

1. Dress the part. Before you show up in an inappropriate outfit make sure to ask your supervisor the dress code. We at the career center recommend that if you are uncertain of what that means to please contact a career counselor, or at the very least over dress. Better to be overdressed than to be underdressed and embarrassed.

2. Be put together. Do not show up on your first day looking sloppy. Studies have shown that people are more likely to put positive attributes to a person that is physically attractive, also known as the halo effect. And while this is grossly wrong, it always helps to make a good first impression.

3. Plan ahead. If you have never been to the site before, look it up. Figure out the proper route. Do not decide the night before is the perfect night to celebrate being 21. Staggering in on your first day is a mistake you do not want to make. It may seem like overkill for some of you doing menial tasks, but sometimes a little sacrifice is necessary.

4. Arrive early. With many internships, employers will be looking at their interns to see if they are right for their company. This means that they want to see good work ethic. If waking up is not your thing, you need to go to bed early and set as many alarm clocks as

you need. I once had a professor who always said “If you’re early, you’re on time. if you’re on time, you’re late. And if you’re late, you’re embarrassed.”

5. Be professional. This means being respectful to your fellow interns and employees. This includes social media, peeps. You need to be aware that your social media is a part of your marketing. If you google yourself and do not like what you see, then things need to change.

6. Don’t blow off this internship. If you’re internship is not one to lead to a job, that is okay! This is all a part of experiential learning, and it will be helpful whether you get a job or not. This internship can lead to a glowing reference, an opportunity for networking, or a better understanding of what you want to do in your career. You never know the opportunities or skills that can arise simply from being in a workplace.

7. Make friends. You don’t know what kind of people you will meet on site. It is important to keep an open mind when meeting people. This internship can either fly by or drag on for months all depending on your co-workers. Some of the best people in my life I would never have met if it were not for the places I have worked.

Wishing you all the best of luck!!

Kristi Riecker

Career Fellow 

WHY you should do an internship...

As the 2016 Fall Career Fair is fast approaching, we at the Career Center encourage you to seek out all the wonderful internship opportunities that will be presenting themselves on campus November 2nd! With over 100 employers attending, the possibilities are endless! Internships are a great way to gain experience and explore a field of interest while you’re pursuing a degree. At the Career Center, we’re happy to talk with you about all of the benefits of having an internship experience along with getting you prepared for your dream opportunity! Here are a few very important reasons why you should intern...

First, internships allow you to work hands-on with professionals in the field! If you’ve always wondered what it’s like to work in your industry of choice, internships give you a front-row seat! While interning up close and personal, you're better able to figure out what you like and what you don't like about a given position or field of study! 

Second, internships both improve old skills and cultivate new ones! The skills you’ve gained from your classwork and co-curricular activities will be strengthened by the professional experiences you have, while new skills will be acquired as you meet unique people, execute new and challenging tasks and take on different responsibilities. 

Third, as an intern you can make great connections that will benefit you in many ways throughout your professional career – you never know who you might meet along the way that can help you take that next BIG step in the future! 

If we can help you, schedule an appointment with us at any time online at Hofstra.edu/careerhub or by calling 516-463-6060.  

Don’t forget to register for the 2016 Fall Career Fair and check out all the employers attending! Click the link provided to view all the event information!

https://hofstra.joinhandshake.com/career_fairs/562

We can’t wait to see you there! 

Some important ways to maintain self-care and remember to make time for fun!

Can you believe it’s already October? Now, if you’re a Libra like me whose birthday falls this month, you understand the annual excitement that is your birthday, but also the stress of balancing midterms and class assignments that usually pile up around this time. Throw in some career fairs, job searching, or an internship, and you’ve got yourself a perfect storm to forget about the fun side of life! Whether you have something to celebrate or not, it’s important to maintain your self-care and bring your best self forward. Here are some ways I try to maintain self-care and remember to make time for fun:

* Carry a planner and write EVERYTHING down – this helps you keep track of tests, assignment due dates, club meetings, and any other commitments you may have that could sneak up on you.

* Meal time is for meals, and not work! – First of all, make time for meals. But secondly, let this time be time you listen to music and unwind, read a book, or eat with friends you haven’t seen lately because of all your commitments.

* Try out deep breathing exercises – Breathing exercises are a very easy way to relieve stress because you can do them anywhere! Next time you’re feeling stressed while walking to your next meeting, do some deep-belly-breathing exercises to regulate your air intake.

* Try out grounding techniques – This is helpful to relieve any anxiety you may be feeling and can also be done anywhere. Look around you identify (5) things you’re seeing, (4) things you’re hearing, (3) things you’re smelling, (2) things you can touch, and (1) thing you can taste.

* Always have something to look forward to – Find and schedule time to celebrate big and little things (and write them in your planner)! Whether it’s a birthday or submitting in your midterm assignment, reward yourself with your favorite treat or plan a bigger celebration for the important events, and make a countdown! Having something to look forward to makes your busy days go by faster!

And remember, if you feel The Career Center can support you, don’t hesitate to reach out! Give us a call at (516) 463-6060 or stop by M. Robert Lowe Hall to set up an appointment!