Questions YOU Can Ask at an Interview!

I am excited to share this Thanksgiving with my new Hofstra family as I begin my role as the Director of Career Development and Assessment in the Career Center.

I have felt so welcomed in my first week and a half that I know I’ve made the right decision in coming to Hofstra. As you are contemplating potential positions be it internship, full time, or part-time work, you may wonder, even after you’ve accepted a position, if it was the right decision. The good news is that you can gather information during an interview to determine if the position is the right fit for you.

You already know to ask questions at the end of a job interview, but do you know why?  An interview is a two way street! The organization is interviewing you, but if you get the job offer, it’s you who gets to decide if you would like to work for them.

Here are a few questions that you can use in the interview process to help you determine if you would like to work at the place where you are interviewing:

1. How does the team (staff) work together at this organization? 
2. What do you like most about working here?
3. What is the culture of the organization?  
4. How does this organization invest in its people? 

Then, look for red flags. Once in an interview, I asked what the staff loved about working for that organization. There were 13 people around the table, and it was crickets, total silence, for over 30 seconds. A few people didn’t even look up from the table. No one was excited about working for that organization! Fortunately, at Hofstra, it was a different experience entirely.

As a recent interviewee candidate, I know how easy it is to only focus on our own performance. But remember, if you are offered and accept the position, you will be working with the people you interview with on a regular basis. Make sure it’s a place where you want to be, where you feel you will excel doing what you want to do!

I look forward to meeting you, our Hofstra students, around campus!

Lisa Tandan,
Director of Career Development
and Assessment

Myths of Career Fairs

There are two kinds of people:

1. Those who go to Career Fairs
2. Those who don't

And in my time at the Career Center I've heard many reasons why students do not attend, but I'm going to focus on the 3 main ones and bust those myths!

1. I can't go, I'm only a first-year student or Sophomore!

Yes, a lot of companies are looking for Juniors or Seniors for various internship and full-time opportunities. But that doesn't mean as a first-year student or Sophomore you're not eligible to attend! Attending career fairs is a skill that can be practiced, especially if you've never attended one before (it can be overwhelming at first!). By attending you can get comfortable with the process, as well as prepare for opportunities in the future. Let's say there is a company you KNOW you want to intern with, but unfortunately, they can only take Juniors. As a first-year student, you'd probably feel out of luck. But by attending the career fair and talking to the recruiter can help you gain insight on the types of experiences they want to see on your resume, so by the time you're a Junior, you will be the ideal candidate!

2. I'm not looking for a full-time job right now!

Yes, recruiters are looking to fill full-time opportunities, but a lot of recruiters are also looking to fill internship and volunteer opportunities as well! Similarly to the situation in the first myth, even if you attend just to get comfortable with the process, it gives you a pretty good idea of what types of opportunities there are and what you can do to prepare to be the ideal candidate when the time is right!

3. There are no companies coming for my major!

Totally a myth. Most companies are looking to fill a diverse number of positions, and the company name is not always a perfect representation of what those positions are. A real estate company is not always looking for real estate agents, they could be looking for an event management intern! The tip here is to be open to different companies and organizations, as well as do some research on the types of positions looking to be filled. When you attend a Hofstra Career Fair, we provide you with a booklet of all the employers and jobs to be filled. I suggest taking some time to review that book and see what companies are hiring for the types of position you want to apply, you might be surprised which company it could be!

In the end, a Career Fair can be a very rewarding experience in more ways than one. So be sure to stop by our Career Fair today, at the Mack Sports Exhibition Complex from 11-2, or to any of our upcoming Career Fairs (all can be found in the 'Events' section in Handshake). And if you feel you want some preparation for the fair, be sure to reach out to all the folks at The Career Center, we're here to help!

Anne Monique Concepcion,
Graduate Assistant

Never Never Never Give Up!

Nobody ever said life was easy.  Sometimes when you are looking for career opportunities you will hit a lot of dead ends.  You may feel frustrated and dejected; these are normal feelings to feel.  But what separates you from everyone else is how you respond to rejection.  Some will give up, stop looking, and retire to the comfort of their couch to watch the rest of that Netflix series they have wanted to finish.  But others will up the ante.  They will follow up on emails sent to employers and ask them where they stand in the application process.  They will explore other organizations and look for opportunities for which they can get involved in.  They will come to the Career Center to get their resume and cover letters checked to make sure they are what employers are looking for.  In the words of the famous film and television actor Kyle Chandler, “Opportunity does not knock, it presents itself when you beat down the door.”  The path to success may be full of obstacles and challenges but you are the only one who can walk it.  It starts and ends with you.

Scott Davidson, Career Fellow

Connect with The Career Center: Nalani Goonetilleke

1. What is your role at the Career Center?

I am the External Relations Intern here at the Career Center. The internship consists of working with employers in coordination of different activities and events involving students, such as the Career Fairs, PRIDE Shadowing, as well as a plethora of services that the Career Center offers.

2. What did you study in school OR what was your favorite class when you were in school?

I am currently a graduate student in the Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies program here at Hofstra. I will be entering into my second semester in the program. For my undergraduate studies, I received a BA in Psychology from St. John's University.

3. Where is your favorite spot on campus?

My favorite spot on campus is the lawn in front of Adam's Playhouse. It is very serene and you can often catch students playing or lounging around in that area.

4. What is your favorite season and why?

Winter is my favorite season because I enjoy all the festivities and joy that the holidays bring. I also look forward to the fashion!

5. What message do you have for the incoming class of 2019/returning Hofstra students as they begin their new school year?

For incoming students, as well as returning students, I feel that it is important to keep in mind that pursuing your degree is not limited to going to your classes, doing your required assignments, and passing. This University offers so much to their students and it would be great to take advantage of all the activities that are presented. Engage yourself in something that you enjoy, make connection with others, and expand your learning opportunities.

Nalani Goonetilleke, External Relations Intern

To-Do Lists

To-Do Lists. We’ve all got them. They consist of tasks that need to be completed by tomorrow, next week, in the next few minutes—usually along the lines of doing laundry, stopping at the bank, grocery shopping etc. I have found that the best piece of advice I can give is to write them down!

I very much was a “make a mental list” kind of person, and that only got me into trouble when pieces of that list fell off the grid and goals never got reached. So I’ve began writing things down. And I’ve found the most satisfying feeling is looking at a list all crossed off and completed!

Now, I want you to take a moment and think about what your current career goal is. Do you want to get an internship for the Summer? Are you graduating and hoping to get a job post-graduation? Or maybe a graduate program is in your future? Maybe you want to take steps to deciding on a major? Now that you’ve solidified that goal in your mind, write down your To-Do list!

Here’s a few examples I think should be on your To-Do list in order to help you reach your goal.

• Research different opportunities—Whether you’re looking for a job, internship, or new major, research what opportunities are out there that interest you. This will give you a different list of things you can aspire to.
• Update your resume—A resume is a list in itself! It lists all your accomplishments and great experiences that will help move you forward. Make sure it’s up to date and appropriate, then bring it in to the Career Center for an appointment or go to Quick Question Hours (10-11 AM and 2-4 PM every day) to get it critiqued by myself or a Career Counselor.
• Create a cover letter—A cover letter is one of the first chances an employer gets to know you a little more personally. Draft up a cover letter that is interesting and will help showcase how great of a candidate you are for the position. Then, come in to the Career Center to get it edited!
• Network, network, network!—Talk to your family, friends, faculty, anybody! You won’t believe who knows who or what type of information each person is able to offer. You may just find the solution to your goal through that person.

These are just a few things that can be on your To-Do list in order to achieve the career goal you’ve set for yourself. And as always, we at the Career Center are here to support throughout every step of the way! Call us at (516) 463-6060 or go online to Hofstra.edu/career to make an appointment and start crossing tasks off your To-Do list! 

Anne Monique Concepcion,
Graduate Assistant

Get Connected to the Health Sciences & Human Services Career Fair!

Hello students, 

Today is the Health and Human Services Career Fair. It is being held in the Multipurpose Room of the Student Center from 4-6:30 PM. All majors welcome, come see our employers and positions they have to offer. Even if you are not looking for a job, internship or volunteer experience stop by and see what a job fair is all about. Get "face-time" with employers and see what qualities they are looking for in new hires. I hope to see you there.

Lorraine Massiah,
Assistant Director

Always Keep Your Options Open!

Yesterday, as a “Throwback Thursday” (#TBT for our hashtaggin’ readers!) post, New England Patriots quarterback, Tom Brady, posted this photo of his college resume on his Facebook page with the caption “Found my old resume! Really thought I was going to need this after the 5th round.” (Brady was drafted in the 6^th round of the 2000 NFL draft, with the 199^th overall pick).

Now that we’ve seen Tom Brady start his 15th season in the NFL, it’s tough to think of him having any

other career. But what if the initial thought he had was right, and he hadn’t made a professional team or been drafted at all? Though his goal was obviously to be a professional football player, Tom had a back-up plan in case his dream didn’t pan out as he hoped. By pursuing a major which allowed him to take courses in both business and psychology, he made sure that he had a well-rounded educational background, and spent two summers as an intern for Merrill Lynch gaining valuable business experience! Additional sales and management positions during each of his summer breaks allowed him to develop even more related and transferable skills. By looking at Tom’s resume, I’m pretty confident that he would have been able to make a great career for himself in business if no NFL team called his name!

Nobody likes to think about the “what-ifs” of their dream career not coming to fruition. But by being prepared and giving yourself as many opportunities as you can to gain experience and skills, you will be more marketable and employable in the event that you do need to look into other careers – and even better off if your dreams do come true!

Not sure how to start thinking about your “back-up plan?” Let us know! We’d be happy to help you figure it out!

Amy Smith, Assistant Director