Do's and Don'ts: The Ten Commandments of Interviewing

From time to time, we are lucky to have one of our valued employers volunteer to write a blog post for us.  Aside from giving us a break from having to come up with a blog topic, we love when this happens, as it gives our students the opportunity to hear tips directly from hiring employers. When I talk to my employers about writing a blog, I always tell them to think about what they wish they knew when they were a college student. So, The Career Center is pleased to present a blog post from Michael McKay, PR/Marketing Director at Jozii, who is going to tell you what he has learned about interviewing for a job:

I. Thou shalt do research on the company

Knowing about the company not only makes for a better interview, but also shows potential employers that you are interested in the position.

II. Thou shalt dress correctly

How you dress is often the first impression an interviewer will have of you. Even when interviewing for jobs that allow more casual dress for employees, you should still dress up for the interview. 

Tip: It’s always better to overdress rather than underdress.

III.Thou shalt give a firm handshake

A firm handshake shows confidence and is an important non-verbal part of the interview. 

Tip: make sure to look the person in the eye when shaking their hand.

IV. Thou shalt ask questions

Asking questions shows that you have done research on the company and allows you to address any concerns you have about the position. Remember that the hiring process is a two way street.

V. Thou shalt send a thank you note

Sending a thank you note shows the employer that you’re serious about the position and went the extra mile.

VI. Thou shalt not be late

Being late is unprofessional and interviewers may think this practice will continue if they hire you. Make sure to plan ahead and leave some extra time in case your commute takes longer than expected.

VII. Thou shalt not give one word answers

“Yes” or “no” answers do not give the interviewer much information to work with. 

Tip: Elaborate by providing reasons or examples.

VIII. Thou shalt not check your cell phone

Looking at your phone during an interview is rude and distracting. The interview is your chance to sell yourself to a potential employer, not see what your friends are doing later.

IX. Thou shalt not speak badly of previous employers

Employers don’t want to hire people with negative attitudes. Plus, you never know if they may know your former boss.

X. Thou shalt not lie

In todays day and age it’s easy to to research a candidate and catch them in a lie. Be honest and focus on your strengths.

Use these tips to present yourself in the best light and remember, confidence is key. For more information on the hiring process visit the Jozii blog.

Darlene Johnson,
Director of External Relations

Getting Into Graduate School

Fast Fact: Each year, approximately one-quarter of the graduating class goes on to graduate school.

Getting into grad school is far from a slam-dunk. Undergraduates are up against not only their peers, but also nontraditional students who have been in the work force and are returning to school enhance to their skills.

Set yourself apart from the competition and stand out to graduate school admissions recruiters with these helpful tips.

Do your homework.

Thoroughly research the schools that fit your area of concentration. Take a look at the scope of their programs, investigate their requirements, find out about financial aid options and processes, and so forth. Get the lay of the land. Graduate school admissions recruiters want to see that you are genuinely interested in attending their institution, so learn all you can and make an informed decision about the schools you would like to attend.

Understand each school’s application process.

Once you’ve done your homework and narrowed down your choice of schools, make sure you have your materials together before you start applying. Every school is different, and you may not have to send the same packet of information to each one.

·       Do the schools require scores from standardized tests like the GRE, MCAT, or GMAT? Give yourself plenty of time to take (and retake, if necessary) the required tests.

·       Do you need to provide a writing sample? Carefully craft your sample.

·       Do you need a list of references? Lisa Palacios, director of student recruitment at the University of Texas - San Antonio, recommends putting together a packet of information for references—a school brochure, information about the program you’re applying for, and a copy of your resume so they can refer to it if necessary. Your references are vouching for your academic performance as well as professionalism, so give them the tools they need to write you a glowing referral.

Don’t procrastinate.

Graduate schools have firm deadlines that they expect applicants to meet. These deadlines are in place for a number of reasons, not least of which is financial aid. Make sure you give yourself enough time to complete in-depth documents like the FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid) or any financial paperwork. Keep track of necessary deadlines. Don’t leave everything until the last minute.

Other tips for graduate school applicants

If the program allows it, reach out to the program director in advance of applying to show that you’re a serious candidate. This can also help you get a sense of whether you are a good fit for the program (and give the admissions staff a sense of how good a fit you are).  If your program requires standardized testing, prepare for the test. That might mean a formal prep course, if you’re so inclined, but the key is to know what to expect—don’t go in cold. And, take the test well in advance of the deadline—early enough to allow you to retake it if necessary. Experience can make all the difference in being chosen. If you CAN get experience, get it. If you HAVE experience, make sure that your resume is complete, accurate, and demonstrative of your work.

Courtesy of the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

Gary Alan Miller,
Executive Director

To-Do Lists

To-Do Lists. We’ve all got them. They consist of tasks that need to be completed by tomorrow, next week, in the next few minutes—usually along the lines of doing laundry, stopping at the bank, grocery shopping etc. I have found that the best piece of advice I can give is to write them down!

I very much was a “make a mental list” kind of person, and that only got me into trouble when pieces of that list fell off the grid and goals never got reached. So I’ve began writing things down. And I’ve found the most satisfying feeling is looking at a list all crossed off and completed!

Now, I want you to take a moment and think about what your current career goal is. Do you want to get an internship for the Summer? Are you graduating and hoping to get a job post-graduation? Or maybe a graduate program is in your future? Maybe you want to take steps to deciding on a major? Now that you’ve solidified that goal in your mind, write down your To-Do list!

Here’s a few examples I think should be on your To-Do list in order to help you reach your goal.

• Research different opportunities—Whether you’re looking for a job, internship, or new major, research what opportunities are out there that interest you. This will give you a different list of things you can aspire to.
• Update your resume—A resume is a list in itself! It lists all your accomplishments and great experiences that will help move you forward. Make sure it’s up to date and appropriate, then bring it in to the Career Center for an appointment or go to Quick Question Hours (10-11 AM and 2-4 PM every day) to get it critiqued by myself or a Career Counselor.
• Create a cover letter—A cover letter is one of the first chances an employer gets to know you a little more personally. Draft up a cover letter that is interesting and will help showcase how great of a candidate you are for the position. Then, come in to the Career Center to get it edited!
• Network, network, network!—Talk to your family, friends, faculty, anybody! You won’t believe who knows who or what type of information each person is able to offer. You may just find the solution to your goal through that person.

These are just a few things that can be on your To-Do list in order to achieve the career goal you’ve set for yourself. And as always, we at the Career Center are here to support throughout every step of the way! Call us at (516) 463-6060 or go online to Hofstra.edu/career to make an appointment and start crossing tasks off your To-Do list! 

Anne Monique Concepcion,
Graduate Assistant

5 Tips for Acing an Interview

The saying goes, "resumes get you the interview, but the interview gets you the job." Truer words have never been spoken. Last night I did a workshop for a sorority on campus, part of which covered interviewing techniques and tips. After the presentation, my audience had SO many questions about the interview process and it got me thinking. The interview process is, for the most part, a new and sometimes scary experience for students. Although feeling a little nervous is normal and probably inevitable (this is important stuff, after all!), it doesn't need to be scary. So, how do you make interviewing less scary, you ask? Preparation! Preparation before an interview is key. If you go in prepared, you will naturally feel more confident. There are several things you should and can do to prepare for an interview. Below is my list of preparation techniques: 

1. Do a mock interview with The Career Center. Mock interviews can help prepare you to answer those really tough interview questions. I always say its better to make a mistake with a career counselor than with an employer! Ideally, mocks should be done before you start the job/internship search. Sometimes you get a call for an interview for the next day or two which doesn't always leave much time for you to get on our calendar. If you find yourself in a pinch and in need of some practice, you can also log into PrideCMS through the portal and complete a virtual mock interview using our Mock Interview Module. 

2. Research the company and know the position description. It is critical to have significant knowledge of the company before the interview. Researching the company or organization before the interview will show effort and interest on your part and make a great impression on the hiring manager. A few ways you can research the company is by visiting their website, following them on social media such as Twitter or LinkedIn, and by going to Vault.com to check out their company profile. Lastly, it is also important to review the position description and use it as a guide when preparing answers to interview questions. 

3. Have questions for the interviewer. This ties into doing research. By doing research, questions will probably naturally arise that you would want to ask about the position and about the company. Stay away from asking questions about salary, vacation time or benefits. That will be discussed if/when they make you an offer. If you need ideas on what to ask, make an appointment with a career counselor and we can brainstorm some questions you can ask. 

4. Arrive on time. Arriving late to an interview makes a terrible first impression and may cost you the job. Make sure you know how to get to the interview site before the day of the interview. You may also want to assess the parking situation or do a trail run if you are using public transportation. This may require making a trip to the site before the interview. 

5. Bring materials to show the interviewer. Some employers expect that you have a professional portfolio with you in an interview. This is especially true for creative and visual fields like graphic design. Even if your industry does not generally require a portfolio, it is not a bad idea to bring some visual examples of your prior work. This technique has the potential to set you apart from other candidates. 

Be sure to make an appointment at The Career Center to further discuss interview preparation! We are here to help! 

Kaitlyn Riley, Assistant Director

Top 5 Summer Career Activities for First-Years

If you’re completing your first year at Hofstra, congratulations!  I hope it’s been a year filled with fun and challenge and growth for you.   I’m sure the time has gone by quickly.   As the semester winds down, you might be considering your summer plans.  With this post I wanted to give you some suggestions for ways you can fit career-related activities in with your summer fun.

1. Intern:  It’s not too early to have an internship.  Don’t rule this option out.  While you may think it’s too soon in your college career or it’s too late in the application cycle, finding an internship is still possible and should be explored.  As of this writing, there are more than 600 internships in Pride-CMS and thousands in internships.com (accessible through Pride-CMS).
   
2. Volunteer:   If you don’t want to spend this summer in a formal internship, volunteering for a local non-profit is a great way to apply your skills while helping a worthy cause.  Find an organization that you care about and ask them about getting involved.  These organizations need help in a variety of ways, so ask about the opportunity to get the type of experience you want to have!
   
3. Informational Interview:   Challenge yourself to find people doing the types of jobs you might want to do after graduation and interview them about their work.  Professionals are typically very open to helping you learn more about their work.  You could do so in person or by phone, and you will be surprised at how much you can learn.  Hofstra’s A.S.K. system is a great place to find Hofstra alums who are willing to speak to you (accessible through my.hofstra.edu)
   
4. Research:   You may not have a good sense of how many different careers, industries and functional areas there are in the world of work.  Here’s a little test – see if you can name a dozen job titles right now.  Not so easy?  Then check into O*Net, Vault and Candid Careers (the later two are accessible through Pride-CMS).
   
5. Reflect:  One of the best tips you can receive is to know yourself better – What do you value?  What interests you?  What brings you joy?  What’s your personality?  What are your dependable strengths and skills?  Having completed your first year at Hofstra, really take the time to reflect on what had the most meaning and in what areas you grew the most.  The more you can articulate about yourself, the better decisions you’ll make in times to come.

Remember that The Career Center is open all summer.  So, we’re happy to help with these tasks and anything else related to your success!

Gary Alan Miller,
Executive Director