Comfort can be a dangerous thing...

Now don't get me wrong, I'm all for snuggling in a blanket after a long day with a warm cup of hot cocoa, but the kind of comfort I'm talking about is the kind that stops you from learning something new. Opportunities arise every day to learn something or to move you in a new direction, and sometimes it opens an entirely new path that you never thought possible. Take my story of how I even got to the Career Center in first place:

When I was an undergraduate at SUNY New Paltz I studed Psychology, Art, and Disaster Studies (so pretty much nothing career-process-related). I became a Resident Assistant and in my second year, I chose to take on a new paraprofessional role as a 'Peer Career Assistant', where I acted as a liaison between my residence hall and the Career Center. I learned how to write resumes and cover letters, develop better interviewing skills, and gained a better awareness of the etiquette of the career application process. Fast forward to applying for Hofstra's Mental Health Counseling program, my position at the Career Center was brought to my attention by my interviewer (thanks, Dr. Seirup!) because of my previous experience as the PCA, and it's been a whirlwind ever since! I've learned so much more about the career process, and although there was definitely a learning curve, I was able to roll with the discomfort and begin expanding my knowledge about the ins and out of career centers and external relations--things I never thought I'd learn being a Psychology major in undergrad!

Working as the Career Center GA has really opened my eyes to the world of Student Affairs and Higher Education and I believe if I stayed in my comfort zone of what I was already learning, I wouldn't have gained such a valuable experience here. My time here has also supplemented the things I can put on my resume, which definitely opens up opportunities for career paths...and that's all because of a chain of events starting with taking on a new role that I knew very little about!

So, the next time a new opportunity arises (someone invites you to a new club meeting, a new class opens up, etc.), take advantage of it! Many things come up in a day, and it's all about how you navigate and make the most of these moments! And as always, The Career Center is here to support you. Give us a call at (516) 463-6060 to get started!

Anne Monique Concepcion,
Graduate Assistant

Old Dogs, New Tricks

Have you ever heard the expression “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks?” It means that once a person (or dog) reaches a certain age, their capacity to learn new things is somehow gone. Speaking as a, well, “middle aged dog”, I must disagree.

Last week all of the counselors in The Career Center participated in a career coaching two-day seminar. We learned the differences between career counseling and career coaching and how to utilize career coaching practices in our sessions with students. I found it very informative and helpful, and left with an enthusiasm to start using these new tools.

This training got me thinking about the fact that we are all life-long learners.  Especially with technology, it is very easy to keep up to date on what is happening in your chosen industry and to learn the newest tricks and tips. You should never feel that you are in a point in your career where you have learned all there is to learn. There is always someone else that you can learn from, whether that someone else is a supervisor, client, co-worker or someone who reports to you. I am always learning about technology from my co-workers, and I hope that my co-workers learn about employer relations from me!

So never hesitate to take the opportunity to learn more about your career and about yourself as well, and remember to always update your resume with the new skills and experiences that you have!

Darlene Johnson,
Director of External Relations

Fear Comes From The Unknown

As a student in college, you come in undecided, and take a few GE classes, maybe come in for an assessment at the Career Center, and eventually decide on a major. Usually your major includes those classes you loved or things you enjoy doing outside of school. This decision and your path towards a career becomes easier once you start taking classes within your major and learn more about the requirements to get into and succeed in that field. What’s happening here is classic psychology, you’ve eliminated the fear of the unknown because now you’ve gained the knowledge and have a better idea of how to do those jobs.

This fear is something that comes up a lot in life. Maybe you’re hesitant to join a club because you’re unsure how they run their meetings or if the members are friendly. Maybe you’re looking to apply for an internship but decide not to because it doesn’t look like something you could ever do. You’ll never know until you overcome that fear and get that initial burst of knowledge. By exploring different paths, you learn a little more, and fear a little less!

A resource I believe combats this fear of unknown is Career Explorer, which is accessed through PrideCMS. Here, you can search a variety of careers and it will give you detailed information about the job such as average salary, projected growth, a description of the job, what education you need, and even the skills and cognitive abilities needed! By gaining some inside knowledge of the career, you start to overcome that fear of the unknown.

And remember, in the same way a stuffed toy or a blanket provides support and comfort to a child scared of the boogeyman, the counselors at the Career Center are here to support you as you venture into the unknown of your future Path of Pride. Give us a call at (516) 463-6060 and make an appointment today!

Anne Monique Concepcion, Graduate Assistant