Choice Theory and Job-seeking

William Glasser, an American psychiatrist who was known for the creation of Reality Therapy and Choice Theory, believed that all behavior is purposeful.  Whether it is to satisfy our basic needs of survival or our desire for freedom, fun, love, belonging, or power, we act for a reason.  We can control these behaviors by acting in certain ways that help people and our relationships (e.g. being supportive, encouraging, listening, accepting, or trusting) or hurt our relationships with others (e.g. criticizing, blaming, complaining, nagging, or punishing).

Our behavior is under our control; what is not under our control, are the behaviors of others.  So for example, if an employer does not respond right away or does not show you the respect of replying to your follow-up email, do not fret.  Employers are very busy people and sometimes they will take days to respond to an email or phone call.  As long as you keep your composure and relax (do not email them a million times waiting for their response), everything will work out. 

And if that employer does not respond back, it is not the end of the world.  Perhaps they found an in-house option for the position or they found a better fit with another candidate.  Do not be hard on yourself and do not lash out at the employer; your time will come.  If you burn bridges with a potential employer you ruin any chance that you can have with them in the future.

Do not be your own worst enemy.

Scott Davidson
Graduate Asst., Hofstra Career Center

Preparing for a Career Fair is Like Planning a Birthday Party…

I know, it doesn’t sound like there are many similarities between getting ready for a career fair and planning a birthday celebration, but if there’s anything I learned from celebrating my birthday this past weekend, there are definitely some overlaps that you can take into consideration:

1. Planning the right outfit is key: Whether you’re looking for a cute dress, matching shoes, and that perfect hint of detail from a statement necklace; it’s important to dress your best, but still professional, when meeting employers. You want to dress to impress, but also remember that you’ll be moving around from table to table—so same for a night out in the city, it’s probably best to ditch those 6-inch heels.
2. Do your research: Similarly to researching and finding a good restaurant everyone will enjoy, it’s important to do the research on employers to learn if it’s the right fit for you. You’ll also dazzle employers by your extensive knowledge and avoid the “deer-caught-in-the-headlights” look when you’re asked a question you don’t know the answer to.
3. Make a plan and prepare beforehand: You generally want to have an action plan of where you’re going and what events you’ll attend beforehand. You may need to call ahead and make reservations or set up a game plan for travelling. Similarly, you want to make a plan of which employers you want to visit before going to the career fair so you can utilize your time wisely and print out an appropriate number of resumes to hand out. Be sure to get your resume critiqued before the day of the event and print out extra in case you come across an employer you weren’t expecting to be interested in!
4. Follow up with people after the event: Whether it’s giving thanks to a guest for being a part of your celebration or sending some love for a birthday present you received, you want to follow up with recruiters with a thank-you letter to express gratitude for taking their time to meet with you. This leaves a positive impression on the employer and makes you more likely to get an interview! 

So, next time you’re planning a birthday celebration or looking to attend an upcoming career fair, be sure to keep these tips in mind so you’ll be prepared and ready to have a great time—or score that interview!

Anne Monique Concepcion,
Graduate Assistant

When to Be Modern (and When to Go Old School) in Your Job Hunt

With the emergence of new technologies, software, and social media sites, there are many different ways to search and apply for jobs. That being said, when you are in the midst of searching for a job, it is important to find a balance between old and new job search methods. Although your application may look or sound different depending on the industry and organization (i.e. startup vs large corporation), there are a few solid job search and application rules to follow regardless of industry. This article from TheMuse.com provides a quick but useful overview of some tried and true "old school" job search habits to stick with and some more modern job search habits to be aware of. 

Kaitlyn Riley, Assistant Director 

Don't Think Holidays and Hiring Can Mix? Think Again!

Many people still hold the belief that the holiday season is a dead time for hiring. I believe this comes from the era when employees who were looking to leave their positions would stick around in hopes of receiving their holiday bonuses--and then would make the break in January.

While this may still hold true in some corporate sectors, there are many employees who do leave their jobs this time of the year for a variety of different reasons, and hiring is still happening.  This recent article published on US News & World Report's website provides some useful advice for those seeking jobs this holiday season: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/12/09/7-tips-for-job-searching-during-the-holidays

Are you looking for a job this winter? Don't sweat it! Keep your holiday spirit up--you never know what you may find!

Suzanne Dagger, Interim Executive Director

I want the IDEAL job

Being a prospective graduate this May, I have been diligently scouring the internet for potential employment opportunities. This experience has taught me a few lessons, but definitely a couple that stick out the most for me (and many of my fellow peers) are determining which jobs I’m qualified for and secondly, what type of position I ultimately want. 

All too often, many people, myself included, have constructed this idealistic job in their minds. Not only does this position pay considerably well, but it’s also located in the perfect region and aligns considerably well with previous professional experiences. Now I’m not saying this position doesn’t exist, but the truth is many entry-level jobs out of college aren’t necessarily going to meet all your expectations and maybe a bit of stretch given your current qualifications.

Although it is important never to be reckless when applying to jobs you may not be qualified for, there is some credibility in pursing positions that might be a bit of a reach. In this case, it is important to take into careful consideration “required” and “preferred” qualifications. Review the job description closely, and take some time to reflect. Think about your classes, volunteer experiences, internships, work experiences and campus involvement. Ask yourself, “have I done this before?"  If the answer is “yes,” fantastic! However, if the answer is “no,” ask yourself if there is a way for you to change that “no” into a “yes?” This might mean a little extra work on your part, whether it’s some extra reading/ research or asking to take initiative on a project from a professor or a supervisor. In the end it will be worth it, because you will be able to expand your knowledge and skill set, and ultimately utilize these experiences to build your resume, enhance your cover letter and discuss during an interview. 

Another suggestion is to carefully review your “wish list.” While it would be great to land that perfect public relations job in NYC and live on the Upper East Side, Gossip Girl style, it is important to carefully consider what is most important to you. Do you really need to work for a high-profile company right out of college? Although it is great to have goals and aspirations, it is important to realize that working for a smaller company might mean more opportunity to grow and take on a diverse number of responsibilities. My suggestion is to be open to the unexpected. Just because a position does not fulfill all the criteria on your “wish list” does not mean that it won’t be a good fit for you! 

Lastly, be persistent and hopeful! The job search process can be challenging. Just remember The Career Center is always here to help. Whether you need to figure out where to start or need help with resume, cover letter and/ interviews, we want to help! Stop by or give us a call at (516) 463-6060.

 ~Alison Charlebois, Graduate Assistant

Looking for a job or Internship? 

Look no further!  

Students contact The Career Center in search of job and internship opportunities on a daily basis.  Little do they know that they are only one click away from employers that want HOFSTRA STUDENTS and ALUMNI on their team!

The Career Center boasts a state of the art job posting board, Pride-Career Management System (Pride-CMS), where employers can post and monitor job and internship opportunities. The system is updates daily and you can log in from home through your portal!  

Let me tell you how:

1)        Log in to the Hofstra portal, My.Hofstra.edu

2)        Click on “my apps” at the top of the page.

3)        Select “pride career management system.”

To see a video on all the features watch our video on YouTube!

So when your chillin’ on your couch watching the game saying to yourself “I would love to intern for a sports team” or reading the hot new issue of Cosmo saying to yourself, “I totally would love to intern in fashion,” log into Pride-CMS and apply for that dream job or internship!

Factoid: 4,996 jobs and internships were posted in 2010-11 on Pride CMS!

~Joseph Gebbie, Assistant Director