The New Girl/The New Guy

Starting a new job or internship is nerve-wrecking and exciting all at the same time. You were able to lock down the position you were aiming for, and as thrilled as you are, you are now entering into unchartered territory. You will be the “new girl or guy,” in the company.  As you try to learn the company’s culture and everyone’s name and job title, there are a few key factors to always keep in mind:

• Be Confident. Don’t underestimate yourself, you were able to land your dream position and here is your chance to prove yourself.
• Be Willing to Learn. There will be a lot of new work for you to take on, so have your pen, note pad, and an open-mind ready to learn.
• Be Friendly. Be open to meeting everyone, keep a smile on your face and introduce yourself.
• Be Prepared. Be ready for whatever may be thrown at you, whether it is a heavy work load, adjusting to new personalities or navigating yourself around the facility.

Being the new person at work is never easy, but keep in mind that everyone has been the new person at some point. Everyone has experienced those same butterflies. 

Nalani Goonetilleke,
External Relations Intern

5 Questions All College Students Should Be Asking

You have a lot of experiences and gain a lot of knowledge as a college student. But, to a large degree, it falls to you to figure out how all these things are connected and to make personal meaning from them. So, while it’s perhaps not the type of advice that makes the rounds on the internet, reflecting and synthesizing your knowledge and experiences could be among the most important things you can do to impact both your short- and long-term success.  

This kind of deep reflection and meaning-making can be hard to do. So, here are five questions you can ask yourself to help with the process.  You can use these during and after experiences (and by “experiences,” I mean just about anything – class projects, volunteering, student organization work, studying abroad, interning, going to your part-time job, and so forth).

1.      How does this connect this to other things I’ve learned or experienced? 

2.      What was the most challenging aspect of this experience, and what skills did I use with that challenge?

3.      In what ways did this experience require me to communicate with others?

4.      What mistakes did I make, and how could I have done things differently?

5.      How did I interact with other people in this experience?

There are many other questions you could ask yourself to prompt reflection as you move through college.  These are just a start. I recommend you start a journal and have a set of standard questions like these that you use to reflect on everything you do. You will learn a lot from doing so, and you’ll be better prepared to integrate what you’ve learned into future experiences. Resume writing and interviewing become easy when you do this kind of reflection. But, more importantly, what you experience and learn will have relevance and meaning to you, and that’s truly what college is about!

Gary Alan Miller,
Executive Director

Finding the Distinction: Personal Statements vs. Cover Letters

What is the difference between a cover letter and a personal statement?

A personal statement is exactly what it says, it's "personal". It tells a personal story about you and how you have gotten to where you are today. It may consist of why you want to be a doctor, social worker, teacher, lawyer or accountant. The story has to be compelling it should keep the reader interested. It may also explain why you want the reader to know these things about you. Convince them to choose you!

A cover letter may have the same elements but you need to link your story to the job in which you are applying. Make sure the employer can envision you doing the job, give clear and concrete examples of your work.  

Common denominators between a personal statement and cover letter:

• Keep readers interest
• Explain yourself
• Set yourself apart.

There a lot overlap but vast differences.  Make sure your cover letter is not too personal but has aspects of your personality. Either way make sure you put your best foot forward. And if you need an unbiased eye to look over your personal statement or cover letter, remember the Career Center is here to help! Give us a call at (516) 463-6060 to make an appointment or stop by our Quick Question hours Monday-Friday 10-11AM & 2-4PM.

Lorraine Massiah,
Assistant Director

Will You Love Your Job?

One of the things that I am thankful for is my job.  And I don’t just mean that I am thankful to be employed and earning a paycheck (although that definitely is part of it.)  I mean that I am thankful to have a job that I love.  You see, that was not always the case.

When I graduated from college with a psychology degree I had no idea what I wanted to do for a job, let alone for a career.  I had never given my career goals serious thought, so there I was, a college graduate with no clear career focus.

Thus began a string of jobs that I landed because I knew someone who knew someone who was looking to fill a position.  I was never really happy in any of those jobs.  So, after a year or two I would move on to the next one and find myself in the same situation; knowing that I was not in the right place but having no clue where the right place was.

I finally decided to find out. So, I called my college alma mater’s career center and made an appointment to speak to a career counselor.  I hoped that she could help me figure out how I could use my psychology degree, desire to work with people, and business experience to find the perfect career for me. Well, she did more that that. As we spoke I realized that the job I wanted was hers!  I ended up asking her questions about what she did and what skills and experiences I would need to do what she did.  That led me to pursue and obtain a master’s degree in Career Development and the rest, as they say, is history.

Looking back, I can point to a few key things that helped me to get to where I am today, and I would like to share them with you:

• Always question.  If you don’t like a job, ask yourself WHY you don’t like it.  Keep a journal.  As you move along your work life, you will see patterns. For me, I realized that I needed autonomy and the fulfillment of helping people in my job for me to be happy.
• Keep in touch with the people you meet.  Let them know if you are looking for a new opportunity.  Looking back, I realize that I did not get one full-time job (and I have had many) through applying to a job advertisement.  It was always through word-of-mouth because when I was in need of a job, I used my networks to help. 
• Ask for help.  I owe my career to the session that I had with a career counselor.  Ask people that you know about their jobs.  Utilize the Hofstra ASK (Alumni Student Konnection) to find alumni to talk to about their career path.  Make an appointment with a Hofstra career counselor!
• Get related experience. When I was pursuing my master’s degree, I realized that I had no work experience related to career counseling.  My alma mater’s career center to the rescue again!  I contacted them and asked if I could shadow and they happily allowed me.  I helped them with projects and observed counseling sessions. This gave me first-hand knowledge and experience and also allowed me to meet the other counselors there.
• Join professional association in your field of interest.  You can join most of these groups as a student.  My supervisor during my shadowing program encouraged me to join a local career counseling group. That membership led me to my first full-time job in the field. 

I hope that you find my experiences helpful.  I would be happy to meet with you to discuss how you can take these tips and use them in your own career search!

Darlene Johnson,
Director of External Relations

Passing On Tips I Learned...

Last night I went to a wonderful event offered by the New York State Society of CPAs. The event started with a panel of accounting and human resources professionals giving their tips and advice on many areas of job search, gained from their own experiences with students over the years. While the event was geared towards accounting students, the information shared by these professions is relevant for all students in any major.  Here are some of the points that were stressed the strongest:

• Look for internships and mentoring programs to boost your resume, but also to reinforce you desire to be in your field of choice.
• Communication skills are crucial!  That goes for non-verbal communication as well. Practice your handshake and maintaining eye contact during conversations.
• Employers will only spend a few seconds reviewing your resume. Therefore, you need to be strategic on where you place the key information.  The most relevant experiences and skills should always be at the top of the resume.  Within your jobs, put the most relevant bullet points first.
• Use an objective to let the reader know right away what type of position you are seeking. For example, are you looking for an internship or full-time job?
• Cover letters are important!  Your cover letter is a writing sample for the employer.  Be sure it is free from any spelling or typographical errors!  (Same for the resume!)
• Be prepared for your interviews.  Know the interviewer’s name beforehand.  Even look them up on LinkedIn! Give yourself ample extra time to get there; you never know what can happen!  Will you need to find a parking spot?  Also, bring a few resumes with you.  Look the part!  Dress professionally and neatly. 
• Speaking of LinkedIn, if you don’t have a profile, create one!  If you do, make sure you have a picture that shows you at your professional best and be sure to add all work and educational experiences to your profile.
• Give examples during your interview. Tell a story that illustrates the skill that you are trying to convey with your answer.
• Always follow an interview with a thank-you email.  Again, this should be a professional email free of any errors.
• Once in an internship or full-time job, take initiative! Ask your co-workers if they need any help with anything. Don’t wait to be asked. Read whatever you can read.  Volunteer for whatever you can volunteer for.  Take the any opportunity to meet your co-workers.

Of course, we at The Career Center have been saying these things all along!  Want more tips?  Make an appointment with a career counselor today!

Darlene Johnson,
Director of External Relations