Connect with The Career Center: Darlene Johnson

1. What is your role at the Career Center?

As Director of External Relations, my main role is to increase the number of opportunities for students to meet employers. This includes providing job and internship postings for students, and also networking and informational events.

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

My undergraduate degree is in Psychology, but my first few jobs were not directly related to that field. I worked various jobs within the music industry. I decided to go back to my college's career center to see if a counselor could help me decide what I really wanted to do, and I ended up wanting the career counselor's job! I then went back to school and obtained a Master's degree in Career Development!

3. Where is your favorite spot on campus?

Aside from the two Starbucks locations, I would have to say that I really love my office here at the Career Center. It’s a place where my co-workers can always come for a rest on the couch or a piece of chocolate.

4. What is your favorite season and why?

Definitely, Spring. My birthday is in Spring, so maybe that's why, but I also love the weather (when we do have Spring weather) and the anticipation for Summer.

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

We are here for you! Don’t wait to meet us, come and say hello at any of our events or make an appointment so we can get to know you.

Darlene Johnson, Director of External Relations

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

Why The Career Fair Is For You

POP QUIZ!!! When is the Fall Career Fair?  If you answered, Wednesday, October 22, then congratulations! The Career Center’s Fall Career Fair offers you a chance to meet employers face-to-face and ask about their job and internship opportunities.

Employers from many industries will be there to meet YOU. Yes, that’s right, YOU!! Over the years I have heard many reasons (excuses) as to why students do not attend career fairs.  I would like to address those concerns here

1. The employers there are only looking for salespeople.

Not true. Yes, there are always going to be a fair amount of sales opportunities. Think about it, pretty much every company uses sales staff in one way or another. However, there are plenty of opportunities in other areas as well.

2. I am not graduating yet so there is no need for me to go. 

Not true! Many of our employers are looking to hire interns or volunteer workers. This is a terrific opportunity for you to gain work experience that is related to your major and career goal while you are still a student.  Not sure of your major or career goal? An internship is also one of the best ways to “try on” a career to see if it fits.

3. I don’t have a resume. 

Well, that one is a problem; you do need a resume for the career fair. However, The Career Center counselors are here to help you create a resume, or revise the one that you have. To get resume assistance, you can either make an appointment with a career counselor, or come to The Career Center during our Quick Question hours. Quick Question hours give you the opportunity to meet with a counselor for a quick resume review without having to make an appointment; you can just come see us Monday-Friday at any time between 10-11 or 2-4.

4. I don’t have anything to wear. 

Yes, you do need to dress professionally for a career fair, but chances are you do have something appropriate in your closet, or on the floor, that would do. Just be sure to iron it first.

5. There is nothing in my major/industry. 

While we try our best, we cannot always accommodate every single major at every single career fair.  But you should always take the opportunity to come and meet with employers. You never know what they may have for you. Accounting firms have marketing people, hospitals have human resources staff. At the very least, you are making connections with people.

See you there!

Darlene Johnson,
Director of External Affairs

Fall Into Internships!

Fall is here.  Boots and scarves are coming out of the backs of our closets, you can find pumpkin flavored anything in the stores, and the school year is in full swing.

Hopefully you have settled into the semester and have an idea of the demands on your time placed by homework, projects and studying.  With the time that you have left over, the Career Center suggests that you consider applying for an internship in your field of study. Internships can help you in a variety of ways, including:

• CAREER DIRECTION: I always say that student teaching is an invaluable experience, but senior year may be too late for you to realize that you do not like working with children.  Internships can happen at any time during your time at Hofstra and can give you a better understanding of whether a career is right for you, or not. 

• RESUME BUILDING:  Any work experience is good work experience.  However, if you are a biology major, having an internship at a lab on your resume may make you a better job candidate than a biology major who is working in retail.  However, the opposite would be true if you are a management major seeking a career in retail.

• NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES:  Meeting people who are doing the work that you aspire to do is a great way to find out more information about that job.  Plus, you make networking connections that can help you obtain internship or full-time positions throughout your career.

• INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE: By being immersed in the field, you will learn the key aspects and jargon of the industry. For example, do you know what a bill of lading is? Someone who wants a career in import/export would.

• PROFESSIONALISM:  Internships are usually in professional business settings. Being in such a setting allows you to be seen as a professional; you learn how to effectively communicate with others in written, spoken and non-verbal form.

Convinced?  Well, then grab that pumpkin spiced muffin and pumpkin latte and come over to The Career Center for help with obtaining an internship!

Darlene Johnson, Director
of External Relations