No one likes interviews, but here’s how to hate them less

You attended a career fair, exchanged pleasantries with recruiters, talked about your experiences, and submitted an online application after the event, as requested. Suddenly, you receive an email asking to schedule a first-round phone screening. What do you do?

First, know your audience. Remember that interview and hiring processes vary by industry and company. Some companies might hold first-round interviews with human resources recruiters, others might hold first-round interviews with hiring managers. If you speak with human resources first, note that the type of questions might vary and focus more on general topics, including the overall position, organizational structure(s), your educational training and experience level, salary ranges and benefits, and the projected hiring timeline. On the other hand, if you speak with a hiring manager first, prepare to speak about these topics, and also prepare to discuss more position-specific requirements and examples to prove your abilities.

Second, study like you do (or did) in school.  Review the job posting carefully and prepare talking points. Circle keywords and develop specific examples and stories for you to share with your interviewer. For example, if a posting emphasizes “communication,” “teamwork,” “reporting,” and “HTML,” think of specific stories you may share with the interviewer to prove your abilities. Also, as you wrap up your story during the interview, continue to keep the audience in mind and explicitly connect your story's ending to the new position.

Last, welcome nerves, fears, and uncertainty. In other words, acknowledge that interviews will challenge you, but also remember that your research, practice, and preparation will help you welcome the stressful aspects of the process. You might face a question you did not prepare for. You might mix up your words. You might never hear back from an interviewer. In the end, simply do your best, speak well, and maintain a positive attitude. Your perseverance, professionalism, and energy will help guide your process.

To further discuss your goals and how to reach them, feel free to schedule an appointment online at hofstra.edu/careerhub or call The Career Center at 516-463-6060.

Stefano Verdesoto, Assistant Director of External Relations

Just Add Some Lemon!

Although water is essential for life, sometimes it gets pretty bland and you need a bit of zest to make things interesting. I personally like to add lemons to my water, some people add mint, but it's up to your personal preference of how you want to shake things up from the monotony of every day water.

Think about how this could relate to the career-application process. Every day employers are getting piles of resumes and cover letters or conducting interviews, and the ones that stand out are the ones that have that "oomph". There are many ways to personalize your documents to stand out:

• Depending on the industry, you could add color in your resume. You don't want to go overboard with color, but minimally adding a pop of color could make your resume stand out.
• Changing up your font from the generic 'Times New Roman'. Try out a new professional font (no comic sans or curlz!) and see how it changes the "feel" of your resume. 
• Add an objective that personalizes your resume to the specific opportunity you are applying for. This shows the employer that you didn't just write a generic cover letter to send to multiple jobs!
• Personalize your documents for the type of position you are applying for. If you are applying for a retail sales position, your documents should reflect more customer service skills than if you were applying for a desk-job. Think about the skills that you'll need for that position and make it unique for each document!

These are just a few of the things you could do to metaphorically "add the lemon" to your career-application process. And as always, if you need support and advice on how to stand out, give us a call at (516) 463-6060 and schedule an appointment!

Anne Monique Concepcion,
Graduate Assistant

Why didn't that employer call?

The two things that we often neglect to pay attention to when applying for jobs is our E-Mail address and the outgoing message on our cell phone. Be mindful of what employers will assume about you based on those things. If your outgoing message on the phone has music with curse words and inappropriate language, you my want to consider switching to the default outgoing message. And if your email address is something like phatgurlzrock69@email.com or bigballover69@email.com, please know it is time for something that is more workplace appropriate. When employers are going through hundreds of potential applicants don't let your email address or outgoing message prevent you from advancing to the next round. Think smart, make appropriate changes, and land that next opportunity!

Lorraine Massiah,
Assistant Director

It's Almost Career Fair Season!

It’s that time of year again, when we start to say farewell to summer and to say hello to a new season… career fair season! If you just groaned, I apologize. I understand that career fairs are perhaps produce a bit of anxiety.  But, they really are a great opportunity to meet people and explore possible jobs and internships.  So, here are three good ways to prepare for any of the upcoming fairs (and if you don’t know when they are, log into Handshake via the Career Hub).

Tip 1: Research the companies in advance.  By logging into Handshake and clicking on the “fairs” link on the left, you can browse each fair and see what employers are attending.  Once you’ve identified those of interest (and don’t let the company name be your only guide – look at the actual positions for which they are recruiting), then be sure to research both the positions and the companies so you can be well prepared when you meet them.

Tip 2: Practice introducing yourself.  You’ll be interacting with a lot of people at the fair, and each of them will want to hear some basic information about you when you first approach their table.  So, prepare a short overview that sounds something like this:  “My name is Gary Miller, and I’m a senior here at Hofstra studying Philosophy and Psychology.  I’m interested in positions that involve critical thinking and analysis and have had some great opportunities to develop those skills in some past internships and campus opportunities.  I understand you’re here to recruit for (position name here), and I’d love to hear more about what you’re seeking.”

Tip 3: Freshen up your resume and have plenty of copies on hand.  Not every company accepts resumes on the spot, so don’t be offended if they ask you to apply online.  But, most organizations at the fair will want to take a copy of your resume.  So, make sure you update it and make sure it’s telling the narrative you really want to tell.  If you need help with that, please come see us at an appointment or in our Quick Questions service.

We look forward to seeing you at any of the upcoming fairs this fall and are excited to see you present yourself with confidence!  You never know who you might meet at the fair – it’s might just change your life!

Gary Alan Miller, Executive Director

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

The myth of the “creative type”

If you go to your favorite job search aggregator, such as linkup.com or indeed.com, and type in the words “creativity” or “innovation,” you will be inundated with results. More than 70,000 positions are given on a search of “creativity” and more than 170,000 are produced by searching on “innovation.” That’s a lot of opportunity! But, there are a lot of myths around those words, as well.

What are the stereotypes that come to mind if I ask you think about the “creative type?” Maybe you thought of someone who is artistically inclined? Maybe a painter or a musician? Or maybe you thought of someone who is an impractical dreamer or someone who can’t quite fit into the confines of traditional societal norms. But, here is the truth about creativity in the workplace – you are all capable of being a creative employee or contributing to a creative environment. One of my favorite business books is titled “Ten Faces of Innovation,” written by Tom Kelley of IDEO.  This book talks about how many different work styles are important to create and maintain an innovative workplace.

When you leave Hofstra for full-time work, or even when you head off to your internship, volunteer site, research lab or field placement, I want you to think about how you can contribute to making the environment more creative and innovative. Are you someone who pays very close attention to how people (i.e. customers, clients, students, or whomever is being served) behave? Perhaps you are the “anthropologist” that Tom Kelley describes in his book. Or maybe you are someone who pays attention to the physical space in which the work is being done. Perhaps you are the “set designer” of which he speaks. Could it be that you can see something happening in one context, like maybe a retail store, and see how it could be applied in another setting, like a hospital? Then maybe you are what Kelley calls a “cross-pollinator.”

The important take away is that creativity and innovation are certainly buzzwords in the world of work. That’s true because these skills are needed for most workplace settings. So, when you see them appear in a job or internship description, don’t say to yourself, “I’m not a creative type.” Instead, say, “I can contribute to a creative environment in my own ways.” But, it takes reflection and self-understanding to do that. If we can help you do this kind of reflection, come see any of our career counselors. And, if you are in a student group that would be interested in learning more about innovation types, we have a group assessment experience we could do with you. Just get in touch!

Gary Alan Miller,
Executive Director

Events for Week of 2/23/15

General On-Campus Recruiting:

On-Campus Recruiting are opportunities brought right to the Hofstra campus! Employers post job and internship opportunities that students are eligible to apply to; and if selected, first-round interviews occur right on campus at the Career Center. All positions are listed on PrideCMS and require resume submission by the respective application deadlines listed below:

OEC Group (New York): Monday, February 23rd at 11:59 PM

OCR Position for Air Import Coordinator, Executive Assistant, Ocean Import Coordinator, and Pricing Coordinator. See each listing for desired majors, class year, and degrees.

BDO LLP: Friday, February 27th at 11:59 PM

OCR Position for Pathway to Success Summer Leadership Program. See listing for desired majors and class year.

FCE Group: Friday, February 27th at 11:59 PM

OCR Position for Junior Operations Analyst. See listing for desired majors and class year.

GEICO: Tuesday, March 3rd at 11:59 PM

OCR Position for Management Development Program. See PrideCMS for details and desired majors, class year, and degrees.

Kohl’s Department Stores: Thursday, March 5th at 11:59 PM

OCR Position for 2015 Store Management Internship and 2015 Store Management Trainee. See each listing for desired majors and class years.

Target Corporation: Friday, March 6th at 11:59 PM

OCR Position for Executive Intern and Executive Team Leader. See each listing for desired majors and class year.

Sound Wealth Financial Group: Friday, March 6th at 11:59 PM

OCR Position for Financial Relationship. See listing for details, and desired class year and major.

LinkedIn Power Hour: Building Your Profile

Wednesday, February 25, 2015, Common Hour (11:15-12:30), Calkins Lab

Start or update your LinkedIn profile to join the World’s Largest Professional Network. The Career Center and Sigma Alpha Mu will be offering tips and help along the way. Dress professionally and get a free LinkedIn profile picture taken. It is highly recommended that you bring an updated resume to use when creating your profile.

Teach For America Information Session

Wednesday, February 25, 2015, 6-7PM, Career Center

Teach For America is a national teacher corps of recent college graduates who work to ensure an excellent education for America’s students. They are recruiting seniors of all majors, backgrounds, and career interests who are interested in teaching and committed to students’ academic success. Attend this information session and hear about this great program straight from a TFA representative!

Deloitte Office Hours

Thursday, February 26, 2015, 11-2PM, The Career Center

“Deloitte” is the brand under which tens of thousands of dedicated professionals in independent firms throughout the world collaborate to provide audit, consulting, financial advisory, risk management and tax services to select clients. Candidates seeking an internship in summer 2015 may schedule an appointment to meet with a Deloitte representative on February 26 between the hours of 11-2 in The Career Center.

Criteria for students for Office Hours:

Must be candidate for Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting or Master of Science in Accounting

Minimum GPA of 3.0

Target Graduation dates:

Students who are graduating in 2016 with their 150 hours and seeking an internship for the summer of 2015

Appointments can be scheduled through your PrideCMS account.

Long Island Real Estate Group: Real Estate @ Work Shadowing Program

Application Deadline: Friday, February 27, 2015, 5PM on PrideCMS

The Long Island Real Estate Group and the Career Center are offering juniors, seniors, graduate students, and law students the opportunity to participate in a shadowing program for those curious about the real estate industry. Students will visit employers from multiple segments of the real estate industry including developers, brokers, appraisers, attorneys, insurance professionals, and much more! For more information and to apply, search ‘LIREG’ and look for the Spring 2015 Real Estate @ Work Program on PrideCMS.

Save the Date!

Spring Career Fair

Wednesday, March 11, 2015, 11-2PM, Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex

Looking for a full-time, part-time, summer, or internship position? The Career Center's Spring Career Fair is open to all Hofstra students of any major and class level. Students are encouraged to attend in order to meet with employers from multiple industries who are looking to hire for a variety of positions. Professional dress is required. A professional photographer will be available to take LinkedIn profile pictures. Please bring copies of your resume. Students may attend the Career Center's Quick Question Hours any day prior to the fair for a resume review or for tips on how to make the most our of your fair attendance!

Zarb Alumni Resume Night

Wednesday, March 4, 2015, 6-9PM, The Career Center

Current Zarb students will have the opportunity to have their resumes critiqued by alumni from the Zarb School of Business. You must bring a printed copy of your resume. Professional dress is highly recommended. Pre-registration on Pride-CMS is strongly encouraged. This event is open to undergraduate Zarb students only.

Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Information Session

Wednesday, March 4, 2015, Common Hour (11:15-12:45PM), 101 Davison Hall, South Campus

Join the Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences Department for a fun and informative session about careers in audiology and speech-language pathology. Students can meet and hear from faculty, clinicians, and current students in the program and take a tour of the facilities at the Saltzman Center.

Out-of-State Teacher Fair

Thursday, March 5, 2015, 10-3PM, LIU Brookville

Are you interested in teaching outside of New York state? Then join us for our Teacher Fair to meet with out-of-state recruiters and learn more about available opportunities to take advantage of!

Grant Thornton Information Session for Accounting Majors

Thursday, March 5, 2015, 3PM, The Career Center

Founded in Chicago in 1924, Grant Thornton LLP (Grant Thornton) is the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd, one of the world’s leading organizations of independent audit, tax, and advisory firms.  Grant Thornton has revenues in excess of $1.3 billion and operates 57 offices across the U.S., with more than 500 partners and 6,000 employees.

This information session will center around ‘Grow with Grant Thornton'. GwGT is Grant Thornton’s Summer Leadership Program for sophomore and junior University candidates.  Our Summer Leadership Program is a great opportunity for you to gain insight into Grant Thornton’s professional service offerings and get exposure to several of our Business Leaders, Senior Executives, Associates, and peers.  ‘Grow with Grant Thornton’ is a 1-3 day interactive program at one of our 55 local or regional offices.  During the Summer Leadership Program you will be exposed to Grant Thornton’s service lines which include audit, tax, and advisory.  You will also have an opportunity to interact with Grant Thornton team members and peers.  The Program is designed to continue building your leadership skills and help you identify your own abilities and goals as you prepare for a successful transition from college into your career. Refreshments will be served.

No Major, No Problem

Friday, March 6, 2015, 12:30-4PM, Library Room 246

Do you need help in finally choosing your major? This event will offer fun and enlightening workshops that will allow you to learn about yourself and in the process learn which majors will be the best fit for you.  This event will also feature a panel of professionals and faculty that will share their stories on picking their majors and how it lead to their future careers. Arrive early at 12:30 to have some pizza and beverages before we start.

Pride Shadowing Program

Application Deadline: Monday, March 16, 2015 on PrideCMS

Shadowing Week: April 6-10, 2015

We are proud to announce that we are now accepting applications for our brand new shadowing program! If you need help choosing a major or exploring careers, this program is for you! Check out Hofstra.edu/shadowing to find out more!