Look your Best in your Next Interview!

You always hear that for an interview, you should dress for success--but what does that really mean? Here are some tid-bits about personal grooming to keep in mind as you prepare for your next mock or real interview:

1. Do not wear too much fragrance. If you have been told in the past, "I smell you when you leave the room," YES that is too much.
2. Brush your teeth (and make sure you check for bagel seeds in-between!) 
3. Wear clothes that fit. If they are too tight, you will look uncomfortable and feel uncomfortable as well.
4. Wear comfortable shoes; for ladies, make sure your heel height is appropriate.
5. Ladies, keep a shorter nail length and wear neutral nail polish.
6. Minimal jewelry overall; for the men, NO earrings.
7. Hair should be neat and clean (keep in mind, there are MANY old school interviewers, know the work culture of the company!)
8. Makeup – less is best!
9. For clothing, men should wear a dark suit and ladies may want to consider wearing stockings with your skirt suit (better to safe than sorry!)
10. No matter your look, bring your BEST you.

Have you come into the Career Center for a Mock Interview? If you haven't, you should! Schedule one by calling us at 516-463-6060 or using our online scheduler at hofstra.edu/career!

Lorraine Massiah,
Assistant Director

Keep On Keeping On...

Dear Students, 

You are in the home stretch of the semester. Do not give up! I know you are tired, and if you went home for Thanksgiving, you probably want to be back with the family you have missed and just check out of school. But I am cautioning you not to do that! You have worked hard all semester and the end is finally near. Soon, you will be home for the holiday and enjoying your family again with all the love, hugs, and good food they have to offer. Once you have gotten that all done and you find yourself wondering how to get your mind wrapped around the next semester, be sure to have on your radar, "What am I going to do for the summer?" Yes, summer is coming and whether you are a planner or not, we at the Career Center are here for you during your down time. This is a perfect opportunity for you to get your resume updated, meet with a Career Counselor in an appointment (via phone if necessary), and maybe practice with a mock interview. Career development is like a good home cooked meal: IT TAKES TIME and PREPARATION.

Give us a call at (516) 463-6060 or visit our website to schedule an appointment!

Lorraine Massiah, Assistant Director

 

Figuring Out Your Major

Welcome back Hofstra students!

Hopefully you enjoyed your summer and are back in the swing of things. Many of you have not yet picked a major, are looking to change your major, or are not sure what to do with your major. Let us at the Career Center help you. We have an array of personality and career assessment tools that can help guide you through this process. You can see another resource provided by the Department of Labor that may assist you in deciding to whether take an assessment or not.

Lastly, don't forget you can also book appointments online to meet with a counselor to discuss these options and help you on your Path of Pride.

Lorraine Massiah, Assistant Director

Growing up is hard...

A lot of growing up happens in college. For many students, it is the first time away from their parents. When asked, one of our student workers' expressed concern about the fact that parents consistently call on behalf of their student. Sometimes it is just to inquire about a thing or two, while other times they ask questions that should be being asked by the student. Regardless, at this point most students should be calling on their own instead of the parent.  So, as much as you love and appreciate mom and dad and even if they have good intentions, make a point of handling your career and academic affairs on your own. Taking initiative now and becoming less dependent on your parents will only have a positive effect in the future.  

Lorraine Massiah, Assistant Director 

Tips From a Hiring Manager

Even after the work day is over, being a career counselor never stops. Sometimes when I am home and looking at my personal Facebook page, I come across posts with job tips and career advice. Most recently, I noticed that a Facebook friend of mine, who is an Assistant Principal, is looking for a teacher. She had posted some tips for prospective teachers based on her hiring experiences and I thought I would share them with you. Please note that these tips are applicable to all job seekers. 

Tips for Job Hunters:

1.     When you apply for a job, you should KNOW what position in which you are applying for and be prepared to ask intelligent questions about the position.

2.      If a potential employer contacts you to invite you in to visit the work site and shadow a current employee, do not ask why it is necessary.

3.     When the potential employer asks if you know anything about the job site or company, the answer should not be "I don't know." Make sure you do your research. 

4.     During an interview, pay attention to the questions that are being asked and make sure you answer all parts of the question.

5.     Also while interviewing, if you are given the questions to look at and have the opportunity to take notes, do it! 

6.     If you are asked what you struggle with, please take a moment to think and be reflective about the answer before you respond. Do not respond with nothing. There is always room for improvement. 

Employers want qualified candidates to fill open positions and the interview is to see how well you will fit into their organization. Always remember, first impressions count!

Lorraine Massiah,
Assistant Director

Job Interview Blunders

As graduation approaches, many students will be interviewing for upcoming positions.  Here are ten interview blunders, adapted from this article.

1.  When thinking about what you are going to wear to an interview, you not only want to look good but you want to be comfortable.  This includes comfortable shoes.  Ladies, if the high heels are hurting your toes so much that you can barely walk, consider a more comfortable option.  Gentlemen, if that top button on the shirt is a hint too tight, you may also want to consider a different shirt.  Try on your outfit prior to the day of the interview to make sure it still fits and you will be comfortable in it.

2.  Research the company or agency you will be interviewing with.  You may be asked, "What do you know about our company?"  You should be able to answer with something specific and concrete.  

3.  SALARY; when is the right time to bring it up? This is tricky, if you are offered the position and the salary is not included, you should ask at that point.  However, if you are flying to California for an interview you may want to talk salary soon to make sure it is worth the move.  Be careful and plan when you ask, there is no right answer.

4.  NEVER be late.  You must account for your travel time.  If your directions say it takes 35 minutes for travel time, add on at least an extra 20 minutes for unforeseen tie-ups like traffic or roadwork.  Don't forget to take into account looking for parking, especially in an area that may not have parking lots.  If you haven't traveled to the destination prior to the day of the interview, give yourself extra time in case you do get lost!

5.  DO NOT LIE or misrepresent the truth.  EVER.

6.  The world is a very small place. Do not speak badly about a former employer, even if you have a bad experience with them.  Think about what you have learned from the experience and how it makes you a better employee.

7.  If you have been told in the past that you wear too much cologne or perfume, consider toning it down for an interview. Be very careful; you want to leave a positive impact with the prospective employer because of your experiences, not the scent of your fragrance.

8.  Don't fidget, just relax! You have already been called in for an interview; they have already picked your "profile," now it is time for the "first date".  The employer wants to get to know you. JUST RELAX and be your best self.

9.  Listen to the questions being asked by the employer. We see many times during mock interviews that though students give good answers, they don't answer the question asked.  Take time to make sure you heard the question and then take a  deep breath and answer the question properly.

10.  Sean  "Puffy" Combs, during his show Making the Band, told a contestant, "I want to know that you are hungry, not desperate".  There is a very fine line between the two--an employer wants you to be eager but they do not want a doormat!

Good luck on all your upcoming interviews! If you would like to schedule a mock interview for some practice, call our office at 516-463-6060 to schedule an appointment.

Lorraine Massiah

Assistant Director

Dear Students...

Ask yourself; Why are you at Hofstra?

Did you love the first campus tour you took?

Is the major of your dreams offered here?

Was a college education expected of you?

You got a great scholarship?

Is your significant other here?

Was location a major factor?

Maybe you wanted to be in close NYC but not directly in it?

Whatever the reason you may have for being here, statistics say a college graduate will earn more over the course of their lifetime than someone who only holds a high school diploma.  You are here at Hofstra to increase your earning potential, so why not gain a return on that investment by visiting The Career Center and seeing what services we offer?

This article outlines six ways any student can make the most of their Career Services on campus: http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/twice-the-college-advice/2013/02/26/6-ways-students-can-make-the-most-of-college-career-services To get started, visit us, either online or in person. Build a resume, cover letter or attend a workshop to see what we have to help.

No matter what brought you to Hofstra, you are here, and we are here for you!

Lorraine Massiah, Assistant Director

Sometimes, it's OK to Brag -- Share your Career Center Story!

Gossip, Gossip, Gossip – we all love to hear about what is going on with whom and what they are doing.  So why not gossip about all the great things going on at The Career Center? 

Here's how you can share your journey:

•  Spread the word that having your resume and cover letter critiqued during Quick Question Hours lead to being selected job interview.  
• You then went back and scheduled an appointment with a career counselor to have a Mock Interview. This better prepared you for your "real interview", and gave you the confidence you needed to rock it! 
• Now, if you land the job, shout it from the roof top so everyone can hear! But remember to mention that The Career Center is/was your first step to getting #Hire(d)WithPRIDE! :)

You never know who your story may influence! Another Hofstra student may not have known all the valuable resources The Career Center has to offer. So get out there and start gossiping! 

Lorraine Massiah, Assistant Director

Are you a student who would like to share your success story? Let us know and you may be featured on our page as a Student Blogger!