Vacation, All I ever Wanted

Ah yes…sleeping late, working a fun summer job and hanging out at the beach or with friends and family doing whatever you like to do sounds very appealing. Sounds downright delightful. However, just because school's out for Summer and businesses slow down and folks go on vacation doesn't mean all will be quiet on the employment front! Actually, these Summer months can be an extremely busy time for internship or job seekers - and here are four steps to follow to make the most of this special time:

1. Create a schedule. This will help organize your day and make the most of your job (re)search. Include some down-time on your "to do" list to relax so that you don't feel like you are spending the entire summer working on finding an internship or job.

2. Stay Social. Social networking is always a good choice when trying to remain visible even when nobody is around. Now is a good time to create or populate your LinkedIn account so you can connect with companies, hiring managers and alumni. Ask for informal meetings or to make connections.

3. Network. Networking is pretty much one of the best ways to secure a job and you should not slack on this major step during the summer. Industry events, career fairs and conferences are still happening. Attend them. People will be hosting summer outings, a prime opportunity to meet new people and articulate your career goals. And make sure that your "backyard of contacts" knows you are looking!

4. Apply. Make it a point to try and apply for a few internships or jobs per week. Be strategic and really write a solid cover letter, a unique and highly customized document, for each opportunity. Don’t spray your resume into the internet vortex and pray that someone gives it a second look. Less is more. Check on LinkedIn to see if you know anyone who works there.

Hiring still happens over the summer, and if you stay on top of your search you can make great strides. So do have a great summer vacation but don't take a vacation from your job/internship search – businesses still have to function and positions still need to be filled. Instead, take your efforts to the next level and be better positioned to land something for fall and beyond.

See you at The Career Center in September! 

Michele

Get Up Close With a Job Shadow

Are you facing any of these career conundrums?

I wonder what the job options are in xyz industry.

What can I do to decide between majors A or B?

I know I’m interested in this area but I don’t know what to do next.

I think I might like a career in xyz but I don’t know how to be sure.

If you are facing any issues like these, then you are ready for a job shadow.  Job shadowing is a career exploration activity that offers an opportunity to spend time with a professional currently working in a career field you are interested in. Job shadowing provides you with an opportunity to see what it’s actually like working in a specific job or industry. Not only do you get to observe the day-to-day activities of someone in the current workforce and have your burning questions answered, it also encourages you to forge strong and valuable connections for future opportunities (i.e. internships).

The timing for a job shadow couldn’t be any better.  The Career Center is offering its first ever job-shadowing program! The PRIDE Shadowing Program, offered to all first and second year students, is a one-day job shadow scheduled during the week of April 6-10 (this is spring break week so there will be no class conflicts). 

Once you apply, you will be matched based on the preferences listed in your application. No prior experience is necessary; you only need to be interested to sign up!

Here’s how you apply:

All applicants must be a current first or second year Hofstra University student enrolled in classes. The application deadline is March 16^th.  To apply, follow these steps:

• Login to Pride CMS (accessed through the “myapps” feature on the portal).
• Click on the “Jobs” Tab
• Type "PRIDE Shadowing Program" in the search box and select Search.
• Read the description and note all the mandatory dates in your calendar.
• Click "Apply.”  You must upload a resume onto the system under the “documents” tab to do so.
• Click on the link in the “How To Apply” section and complete the online form.  

That’s it!  Once you have applied, you will be matched with an employer and notified of your placement on or before March 20^th.  Any questions can be addressed to Deanna.Rodin@hofstra.edu.  You can learn more at hofstra.edu/shadowing.  Check it out!

Deanna Rodin,
Associate Director

One Thing I Learned Being a Resident Assistant...

…Is that you can find relevant skills and experience just about anywhere!

A lot of students have been dropping into the Career Center lately to get their resumes critiqued because they are hoping to become Resident Assistants. Now, I may be biased; As a former RA, I think being an RA is wonderful and has a lot of great opportunities for learning and advancement. It was actually partially due to my role as an RA that I am writing to you now as the Graduate Assistant in the Career Center!

One thing I’ve heard from students hesitant to apply is that they think they have no relevant experience: they do not have past participation in their residence hall, they’re only first-year students, or none of their jobs or activities seem related to the job of being an RA. In my experience of applying to be an RA years ago and even working with the new applicants here at Hofstra, I’ve found this to be untrue!

When you sit down and think about what skills you’ve utilized in your previous experiences, even if they seem unrelated, try thinking about the skills you’ve developed and how they can be relevant:

• Did you work in the food industry? That sounds like a lot assessing customer needs and communication skills to me!
• Did you work in retail? Seems like a lot of conflict resolution skills and patience!
• Are you a member of a campus club? You’ll need the creativity and different ideas for programs in your residence hall!

So, before you get yourself down and discouraged about applying for the RA position or that dream career/internship opportunity, I encourage you to take a moment to sit down and think about what you’ve done in the past: what skills you had to utilize, and in what ways is it relevant to your current goal.

And as always, we at the Career Center are available to brainstorm with you and to help you look at your experiences with a fresh set of eyes! Stop by Quick Questions (Monday-Friday 10-11AM & 2-4PM) or give us a call at (516) 463-6060 to make an appointment! 

Anne Monique Concepcion,
Graduate Assistant