Student Blogger: Hofstra PR Major Talks Dreams and Career Prep

Where do you see yourself after your time at Hofstra?

After I graduate from Hofstra University in May 2016, I will hopefully be working at a public relations firm in New York City.

What are the most interesting experiences you’ve had on campus (with a club, greek life, class, etc) and/or at a job or internship? What did you learn or take away from these experiences?

The most interesting experience I’ve had on campus is the Networking Dinner and the Public Relations Conference. Through these two events, you get to network with different professionals from different industries. These two events also help you figure out what your interests are and where you want to intern and work in the future. Also, my internship is another great experience I have here at school because I know exactly what I’ll be doing in the future, I’m getting real world experience that I can’t get in the classroom, and I know that this is exactly what I want to do with the rest of my life.

What advice would you give to your classmates regarding their professional development?

Advice I would give to my classmates regarding their professional development is to join a club related to your major because of all the skills that you learn and all the networking opportunities that are available to you. Also, utilize your professors and advisors who will offer you advice, point you in the right direction for classes and internships, and answer any questions you have regarding your future. Don’t hesitate to use The Career Center to work on your resume and to prepare for interviews.

What is one career-related accomplishment you hope to make before you graduate?

One career-related accomplishment I hope to make before graduation is getting a job.

 

Alexandra Cohen, Junior 

Public Relations Major

Changes at The Career Center!

As the summer comes to a close and the first day of classes quickly approaches, I wanted to fill you all in on some great changes that have taken place in The Career Center over the past few months. We are so excited to move forward with these new initiatives and look forward to continue to evolve to best serve you, our students! Check out the changes below. 

Extended Quick Question Hours

We've added more Quick Question hours! Quick questions hours will now be Monday-Friday 10am-11am & 2pm-4pm. There is no appointment needed during these times, so come on in if you have a quick question for us!

Career Counseling Appointments

Career counseling appointments can now be made online! Simply go to hofstra.edu/career and click on "Make an Appointment" on the right hand side of the page. 

Virtual Mock Interviews in Pride-CMS

You can now practice your interview skills whenever and where ever with our new virtual mock interview module! To try it out, log in to Pride-CMS (located under "my apps" in the portal) and click on the "mock interview" option on the left hand side of the page. Wait, there's more! Once you have completed your mock interview, you have the option to send it to the career counselor of your choice for a virtual critique! 

Goin Global

Another new feature in Pride-CMS is GoinGlobal, which provides country guides and advice on careers abroad, international career applications, Visa and related requirements and much more. International students can use it to learn about U.S. Visas. The site also contains career guides on states and cities within the U.S.

If you have any questions about these new initiatives, feel free to call the office at (516) 463-6060. We look forward to seeing all of you on campus next week and wish you luck in the upcoming academic year! 

Kaitlyn Riley, Assistant Director 

What Does the Concept "Personal Brand" Really Mean?

You may have heard the phrase "personal brand" lately.  We here in The Career Center have even presented workshops on the topic. But what what does that mean?  Turning yourself into a brand may conjure images of fast-talking informercial pitch-people with shiny white teeth demonstrating their best features and functions. But it's not like that, at least it is not supposed to be.  Creating your personal brand simply means that you are establishing yourself as a professional; a professional who is known for certain key attributes and knowledge in particular areas. For example, I am known in the office as the "people person"; someone who is not afraid to enter a room of people and strike up conversations.  I am NOT, however, known in any way for my technical prowess.

This article perfectly outlines the concept and purpose of a personal brand. For more information, please do not hesitate to contact me at The Career Center at 463-6060 or at darlene.johnson@hofstra.edu.

Darlene Johnson, Director of External Relations 

The Truth About Assessments...

What are assessments?

One of the services that we offer to students at The Career Center is career and personality assessments. Career assessments are tools that are designed to help individuals understand how a variety of personal attributes (i.e., interests, values, preferences, motivations, aptitudes and skills), impact their potential success and satisfaction with different academic majors, career options and work environments. We currently offer Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), Strong Interest Inventory, and the Career Decision Making System (CDM). Each assessment serves a different purpose and it is usually up to your career counselor to determine which one would be the best fit for you.

Is an assessment right for me?

Anyone can take a career assessment. For students, assessments can be useful when you are in the process of choosing a major and later on when you want to pin point some career options. Assessments are also a great way for you to assess your values, personality, interests, etc which is just good information to know. For example the MBTI can be helpful in determining how you perceive the world and interact with others. Although very effective when taken individually, the MBTI is a good choice for groups as it can help clarify how you can work together more effectively as a team by playing off each others personality types and cognitive preferences.

Will taking an assessment reveal all the secrets of the universe to me?

Unfortunately, no. Assessments are helpful in narrowing your search and/or pointing you in a certain direction but they are not the end all-be all. Remember, taking an assessment is just one step in your “Path of Pride.” After taking an assessment, there is a strong chance that you will still not be 100% sure which major you are going to choose or what career you are going to have and that’s OK. Truthfully, you do not want an assessment to be the one factor that shapes your future. In addition to taking an assessment, here are some things you should do to further explore:

• Research majors and careers by doing internet research (check out The Career Center's website - we have LOTS of career and major exploration resources) and by talking to other students, faculty and professionals in the field (check out the Alumni-Student Konnection (ASK) program to network with alumni)
• Use your electives to take classes in different subject areas to find out what you like (and what you don't like) 
• Join clubs and other on and off-campus organizations that focus on certain industries or areas of interest
• Volunteer and complete internships to become more familiar with an industry and gain valuable experience outside of the classroom 

As always, The Career Center is here to help you throughout the exploration process! 

Kaitlyn Riley, Assistant Director 

Crash Course to Killin’ it at the Career Fair!

So if you’re reading this right now, it probably means you’re not at the SPRING JOB & INTERNSHIP FAIR. STOP READING, put your BEST professional outfit on and head on over to the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex between 11am – 2pm. There are 101 employers there TODAY to recruit YOU!

Here are some last minute tips to killin’ it at the career fair:

1. Dress to Impress:
This means: your best suit, dress slacks, dress shirt/ blouse, tie, jacket and shoes
This does NOT mean: jeans, platform heels, short skirts, hats and sweat suits

2. Bring a positive attitude: These employers are here to meet YOU! Make sure your energy reflects their enthusiasm. SMILE!! People often under estimate the great first-impression a smile can make.

3. Practice you’re elevator speech: When introducing yourself to representative start with a firm handshake, state your name (first & last), your current status ( i.e. sophomore studying marketing), something about your qualifications and , last but not least, what type of opportunity you are pursing.

Example: “Hello, I’m Jane Smith a sophomore here at Hofstra studying marketing. I’ve gained relevant experience by assisting one of my professors in research and looking to build upon my knowledge by obtaining a summer internship with your company.”

4. Collect Business Card and Follow Up!: Be sure to collect contact information from the representatives you speak to (i.e. their business card). This way you can follow up with a thank you note, restate your interest in their opportunities and ask them what is next step in the process. If you already know what the next step is, following up always leaves a great lasting impression!

~ Alison Charlebois, Graduate Assistant

5 Steps to a More Professional You!

As many of you might know, global spokesperson for LinkedIn, Lindsey Pollak, will be visiting our campus very soon! To be precise, she will be presenting a program on “The Insider’s Guide to LinkedIn,” on March 13^th at 6:30 p.m. in the Mack Student Center Plaza Rooms. Not only is she an accomplished business woman, who knows the ins and outs to LinkedIn, but she is also the author of “Getting from College to Career.” This extraordinary guidebook provide hints, tips and advice for those looking to transition into the professional world, or even into a new field. In preparation for her visit, I have read her book and the following are few of her essential tips that will help anyone develop a professional image and reputation.

1. Get a professional email and signature: As a student from generation Y, there was one point in our existence where it was “cool” to have a cutesy/ funny screen-name and email. Yes, even I at one point thought lilswimmer540 was a socially acceptable online image to promote, and maybe in 5^th grade it was. However, now it is time to upgrade to a more professional look. Create a free account on Gmail, Yahoo!, or Hotmail with a simple combination of your first name/ first initial and your last name. Additionally, add a simple signature line at the end of your email:

Your Name
ABC University
Cell Number
Your.name@xyz.com
Linkedin.com/in/yourname

Lindsey Pollak“ism”: “Don’t ever, ever, ever lose an opportunity because someone couldn’t easily find your contact information.”

2. Record a Professional Voicemail: Do you have and inappropriate ring-back tone/ voicemail greeting? Or a generic greeting that says “you have reached the voicemail box of 555-555-5555, please leave a message?” If you have answered yes to one or both, then it is time to make some changes. Record a new simple and professional voicemail message: “Hi, you have reached Jane Smith. I am unable to get to the phone, but if you leave me a message, I will call you back as soon as possible.”

Lindesy Pollak“ism”: “Basically, potential employers should feel as though they’re calling another desk in their office, because that’s exactly where you want your phone to be someday.”

3. Email Like a Professional!!!!:
1. DNUCAPE, or Do Not Use Cute Acronyms in Professional emails: Unless you’re on a friendship basis, this means no more LOLs, BRBs, TTYLs.
2. Use proper capitalization and punctuation: DO NOT write a whole email in lowercase and forget to use punctuation.
3. Do not use emoticons in professional emails: Save the smiley faces for your friends.
4. Cool it on the exclamation points!!!: I know you’re excited, but try to limit yourself to ONE exclamation point per email.
5. DO NOT leave the subject line blank: Today professionals receive tons of emails, you don’t want yours to be overlooked because it looks unimportant or like spam.

Lindsey Pollak“ism”: “When in doubt, have someone you trust proofread an important e-mail message. It’s always better to be safe than spam blocked.”

4. Get Carded: Alright, so maybe you’re still a student or just graduated, but that’s no excuse not to think of yourself as a professional. Order online or stop by your local office supply store to create some business cards for yourself. Things to consider including: your name, degree, anticipated date of graduation, cell phone number, email, LinkedIn address, website, professional blog or twitter account.

Lindsey Pollak“ism”: Students who have business cards show “maturity, foresight, and eagerness to have the appropriate tools for the working world.”

5. Develop your 15 second pitch: Trust me, there is nothing worse than having someone ask you, “tell me a little but more about yourself,” and being at a loss for words. This is the most common question to be asked during an interview or even when networking, so be prepared.
Step One: Tell them who you are- Consider major, awards, internships, licenses, jobs (anything relevant to the industry or the position you’re applying for).
Step Two: Tell them what you’re good at- Are there certain skills, passions or experiences that would be interesting or applicable?
Step Three: Provide a call to action- Let the person know what you’re interested in doing or why you are pursuing a particular job.
Step Four: Practice- Through practice you’ll be more confident and be sure to deliver a pitch that is clear, creative and concise.
For more help check out: www.15secondpitch.com, www.videobio.com, www.shatterbox.com

For more advice, come meet the guru herself, Lindsey Pollak on
Tuesday, March 13^th at 6:30 p.m. in the Mack Student Center Plaza Rooms

~Alison Charlebois, Graduate Assistant

Try This Out

Recently, our counselors have been making visits to classes on campus to introduce ourselves to students. I have really enjoyed meeting students and faculty, as for many of them this is the first time they are connecting with our office. Today I visited a class of sociology majors. One of the questions I was asked was “do you have any opportunities for me as a sociology major on Pride CMS or at the upcoming Job & Internship Fair?” As a career counselor and liaison to the Hofstra College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, I LOVE this question!

The truth is, you will rarely see a posting or an employer with a sign that says “Sociology Majors Wanted” or any other major for that matter. Employers don’t think in terms of majors, they think in terms of skills and so should you. My best advice to any student looking for opportunities is to keep an open mind and look at a posting and/or an employer and think about what type of person with what type of skills or experience would be a good fit. Market yourself this way too. You are so much more than your major!

So, when you are looking at the list of employers attending our Job & Internship Fair (available on our website at www.hofstra.edu/career), click on the employer, read about them and the positions they are recruiting for, and ask yourself “does this sound interesting or like something I could do?” Don’t just think “are they looking for my major?” Approach this employer on March 7^th and introduce yourself like this:

“Hi! My name is _____ and I’m a junior _____ major. I’m a member of _____ organization and have worked during the summer for a few years as a _____. I’m great at _____ and I’m looking for an opportunity that will allow me to _____. Do you have anything at your organization that might be a good fit for me?”

Just remember, our friendly staff will be available at the fair to help you as you try out this process. Don’t be shy, come and ask us a question. We will see you there!

~ Deanna Rodin, Associate Director