Renovate Your Resume!

If you’ve been to The Career Center in the last couple weeks, you saw that we’ve had some BIG changes going on in our front lobby area! Thanks to a generous gift from LIREG (Long Island Real Estate Group), we were able to update our front desk and check-in area to give a new, modern feel to the office, and it looks awesome!

Seeing the carpeting get ripped up and new furniture get delivered got me thinking about how when looking for jobs and internships, sometimes you have to renovate your resume as well! Your resume is a constant work in progress, and even if you don’t have any new experiences to add, just a quick look at your current experiences can give you ideas on some new skills that potential employers would want to know about!

Looking to renovate your resume as you apply for internships and jobs? Let us help!

Amy K. Smith, Assistant Director

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

Events for the Week of 4/28

Crunch Time with Indeed.com
Monday, April 28, 2014 at 1pm in The Career Center
Seniors, don't wait until after graduation to start your job search! It's CRUNCH time! Hear from Indeed.com employees on how to use the #1 job search site to maximize your job search and CRUNCH on some snacks while you learn!

Target Information Session
Tuesday, April 29 from 5:30-7pm in The Career Center

Meet with Target representatives to hear about available employment opportunities within this retail corporation and gain insight on what it is like to work with the company!

True Hofstra Story: Internships

Tuesday, April 29 from 8:30-10pm in the Student Center Greenhouse
Don't be fooled when it comes to internships, hear the True Hofstra Story. Hofstra students "spill the beans" on internships at this tell all coffee house event!

Plug Into Your Career
Wednesday, April 30 from 6-8pm in the Multi-Purpose Room East
Learn from a panel of professionals in the fields of Information Technology and Business from both start-up and established companies. Gain insight on how they got started in their careers, and how you can find your own niche in the technology industry! Participating companies include CA Technologies, EGifter, Wolters-Kluwer, TEKsystems, and Uncubed/Wakefield Media.

EXPLORE Charter Schools Resume Drop

Thursday, May 1 from 4-6:30pm in the Hagedorn Hall Lobby, South Campus

Are you graduating in May and looking to teach? Join a representative from this network of high-performing Brooklyn charter schools to learn about opportunities for full-time teaching positions! Bring a copy of your resume.

Quick Question Hours:
Get your Resume or Cover Letter critiqued at The Career Center!
Monday – Thursday: 2pm – 4pm

Friday: 11am – 1pm

 Save the Date!

Macy’s Meet and Greet

Tuesday, May 6 from 10am-12pm and 2pm-4pm (Drop in; No appointment necessary!)
Looking for a company that will provide management training?  Interested in a company that promotes from within? Bring a resume and meet with Macy's representatives who will discuss their full-time Supervisory and part-time Associate opportunities and answer all of your questions! Open to all majors.

________________________________________________________________________

Looking for information about different careers while building your professional network?

All you have to do is A.S.K.!

Get answers by using the Alumni Student Konnection, where you can communicate directly with Hofstra Alumni in a variety of fields to learn more about different careers and industries that interest you! Use this resource to build or add to your professional network and learn about ways to advance your career search!

To get started:

Log In to the Hofstra Portal at my.hofstra.edu

Click on “Hofstra Online”

Click on “A.S.K. Online - Alumni Student Konnection”

Search by Class Year, School, Major, or other keywords to Konnect with Alumni!

Looking for more information about the career search process?

Visit Candid Career!

Candid Career is a great resource for students, no matter where you stand on your Path of Pride. You can watch videos that show you what it’s like to work in a certain field, learn tips and tricks on interviewing, and more!

Events for the Week of 4/21/14

Resume Re-Do

Thursday, April 24 at 6:30pm in The Career Center

Are you looking to re-vamp your resume, but your job prevents you from coming to The Career Center during our business hours? Attend this workshop to receive valuable tips about writing your resume straight from a Career Center representative, on your own time!

Quick Question Hours:

Get your Resume or Cover Letter critiqued at The Career Center!

Monday – Thursday: 2pm – 4pm

Friday: 11am – 1pm

Save the Date!

Crunch Time with Indeed.com
Monday, April 28, 2014 at 1pm in The Career Center
Seniors, don't wait until after graduation to start your job search! It's CRUNCH time! Hear from Indeed.com employees on how to use the #1 job search site to maximize your job search and CRUNCH on some snacks while you learn!

True Hofstra Story: Internships

Tuesday, April 29 from 8:30-10pm in the Student Center Greenhouse
Don't be fooled when it comes to internships, hear the True Hofstra Story. Hofstra students "spill the beans" on internships at this tell all coffee house event!

Target Information Session
Tuesday, April 29 from 5:30-7pm in The Career Center

Meet with Target representatives to hear about available employment opportunities within this retail corporation and gain insight on what it is like to work with the company!

Plug Into Your Career
Wednesday, April 30 from 6-8pm in the Multi-Purpose Room East
Learn from a panel of professionals in the fields of Information Technology and Business from both start-up and established companies. Gain insight on how they got started in their careers, and how you can find your own niche in the technology industry! Participating companies include CA Technologies, EGifter, Wolters-Kluwer, TEKsystems, and Uncubed/Wakefield Media.

Looking for information about different careers while building your professional network?

All you have to do is A.S.K.!

Get answers by using the Alumni Student Konnection, where you can communicate directly with Hofstra Alumni in a variety of fields to learn more about different careers and industries that interest you! Use this resource to build or add to your professional network and learn about ways to advance your career search!

To get started:

Log In to the Hofstra Portal at my.hofstra.edu

Click on “Hofstra Online”

Click on “A.S.K. Online - Alumni Student Konnection”

Search by Class Year, School, Major, or other keywords to Konnect with Alumni!

Looking for more information about the career search process?

Visit Candid Career!

Candid Career is a great resource for students, no matter where you stand on your Path of Pride. You can watch videos that show you what it’s like to work in a certain field, learn tips and tricks on interviewing, and more!

Events for the Week of 4/14/14

CPT Workshop: Summer Internships, Practical Experiences, and Externships

Wednesday, April 16 from 11:15 a.m.-12:45 p.m. in Breslin Hall Room 103

Are you an international student thinking about engaging in an internship or practicum off-campus? In order to engage in paid or unpaid practical experiences off-campus, international students must be authorized for Curricular Practical Training (CPT). You need to receive an updated I-20 before you start working. For more information, click here.

Quick Question Hours:

Get your Resume or Cover Letter critiqued at The Career Center!

Monday – Thursday: 2pm – 4pm

Friday: 11am – 1pm

Save the Date!

Resume Re-Do
Thursday, April 24 at 6:30pm in The Career Center

Are you looking to re-vamp your resume, but your job prevents you from coming to The Career Center during our business hours? Attend this workshop to receive valuable tips about writing your resume straight from a Career Center representative, on your own time!

Crunch Time with Indeed.com
Monday, April 28, 2014 at 1pm in The Career Center
Seniors, don't wait until after graduation to start your job search! It's CRUNCH time! Hear from Indeed.com employees on how to use the #1 job search site to maximize your job search and CRUNCH on some snacks while you learn!

True Hofstra Story: Internships

Tuesday, April 29 from 8:30-10pm in the Student Center Greenhouse
Don't be fooled when it comes to internships, hear the True Hofstra Story. Hofstra students "spill the beans" on internships at this tell all coffee house event!

Target Information Session
Tuesday, April 29 from 5:30-7pm in The Career Center

Meet with Target representatives to hear about available employment opportunities within this retail corporation and gain insight on what it is like to work with the company!

Plug Into Your Career
Wednesday, April 30 from 6-8pm in the Multi-Purpose Room East
Learn from a panel of professionals in the fields of Information Technology and Business from both start-up and established companies. Gain insight on how they got started in their careers, and how you can find your own niche in the technology industry! Participating companies include CA Technologies, EGifter, Wolters-Kluwer, TEKsystems, and Uncubed/Wakefield Media.

Looking for information about different careers while building your professional network?

All you have to do is A.S.K.!

Get answers by using the Alumni Student Konnection, where you can communicate directly with Hofstra Alumni in a variety of fields to learn more about different careers and industries that interest you! Use this resource to build or add to your professional network and learn about ways to advance your career search!

To get started:

Log In to the Hofstra Portal at my.hofstra.edu

Click on “Hofstra Online”

Click on “A.S.K. Online - Alumni Student Konnection”

Search by Class Year, School, Major, or other keywords to Konnect with Alumni!

Looking for more information about the career search process?

Visit Candid Career!

Candid Career is a great resource for students, no matter where you stand on your Path of Pride. You can watch videos that show you what it’s like to work in a certain field, learn tips and tricks on interviewing, and more!

Events for the Week of 4/7/14

Stay Classy, Hofstra: A Dining Etiquette Event

Tuesday, April 8 at 6:30pm at the Hofstra University Club, David S. Mack Hall

Join us for a unique dining event and interactive seminar facilitated by a certified business etiquette expert. Learn how to stay classy on interviews and meetings in a dining atmosphere. A three-course meal is included. Registration is required for this event, and space is limited -- Stop by The Career Center to reserve your spot today!

Resume Re-Do
Wednesday, April 9 at 6:30pm in The Career Center
Thursday, April 24 at 6:30pm in The Career Center

Are you looking to re-vamp your resume, but your job prevents you from coming to The Career Center during our business hours? Attend either of these workshops to receive valuable tips about writing your resume straight from a Career Center representative, on your own time!

Quick Question Hours:

Get your Resume or Cover Letter critiqued at The Career Center!

Monday – Thursday: 2pm – 4pm

Friday: 11am – 1pm

Save the Date!

CPT Workshop: Summer Internships, Practical Experiences, and Externships

Wednesday, April 16 from 11:15 a.m.-12:45 p.m. in Breslin Hall Room 103

Are you an international student thinking about engaging in an internship or practicum off-campus? In order to engage in paid or unpaid practical experiences off-campus, international students must be authorized for Curricular Practical Training (CPT). You need to receive an updated I-20 before you start working. For more information, click here.

True Hofstra Story: Internships

Tuesday, April 29 from 8:30-10pm in the Student Center Greenhouse
Don't be fooled when it comes to internships! Hear the True Hofstra Story, where Hofstra students "spill the beans" on internships at this tell all coffee house event!

Target Information Session
Tuesday, April 29 from 5:30-7pm in The Career Center

Meet with Target representatives to hear about available employment opportunities within this retail corporation and gain insight on what it is like to work with the company!

Plug Into Your Career
Wednesday, April 30 from 6-8pm in the Multi-Purpose Room East
Learn from a panel of professionals in the fields of Information Technology and Business from both start-up and established companies. Gain insight on how they got started in their careers, and how you can find your own niche in the technology industry! Participating companies include CA Technologies, EGifter, Wolters-Kluwer, TEKsystems, and Uncubed/Wakefield Media.

Looking for information about different careers while building your professional network?

All you have to do is A.S.K.!

Get answers by using the Alumni Student Konnection, where you can communicate directly with Hofstra Alumni in a variety of fields to learn more about different careers and industries that interest you! Use this resource to build or add to your professional network and learn about ways to advance your career search!

To get started:

Log In to the Hofstra Portal at my.hofstra.edu

Click on “Hofstra Online”

Click on “A.S.K. Online - Alumni Student Konnection”

Search by Class Year, School, Major, or other keywords to Konnect with Alumni!

Looking for more information about the career search process?

Visit Candid Career!

Candid Career is a great resource for students, no matter where you stand on your Path of Pride. You can watch videos that show you what it’s like to work in a certain field, learn tips and tricks on interviewing, and more!

Does Your Resume Need Some Spring Cleaning?

YES! It's Spring Break, Hofstra! I hope you're enjoying some well-deserved relaxation time.

It seemed like it would never come after the winter weather we've had... but the first day of Spring is tomorrow! Spring is a great time to clean up from the clutter and dreariness of the "winter blues," and your resume is no exception!

Last year, Careerealism posted this great article about how to spruce up your resume as you dive into a new season of your career search, and I think it's really helpful! Make sure that if you started a new internship or involvement experience this semester, or are taking a new class that's relevant to the type of job you're looking for, you add it to your resume! Don't undersell yourself or your wonderful experiences!

Want us to take a look at what you've added once you're done? We're here to help, even during break!

Come into our Quick Question hours from 2pm-4pm Monday - Thursday and 11am-1pm Friday, or call our office at 516-463-6060 to schedule an appointment with one of our counselors!

Happy Spring Cleaning! I hope to see you soon!

Amy Smith, Graduate Assistant

Let Your Key Achievements Work For You!

On Wednesday, your favorite team of career counselors viewed Careerealism’s “Selling Yourself to Employers” Webinar, featuring Tom O’Neil, who has authored a book of the same name. We learned a great deal about how you should market yourself on your resume and in job applications, and I wanted to share a bit of that with you today!

When writing your resume and applying to jobs, think of yourself as a “business of one;” if you were a brand, how would you go about selling yourself? One of the simplest, but unfortunately most easily forgotten, ways to do this is by mentioning the major achievements you’ve accomplished in your prior experiences. By highlighting these milestones, you’re able to give a potential employer a better, more quantifiable sense of the different things you’ve done.

Not sure where to start thinking about your key achievements? These ideas from O’Neil’s “Major Achievements Questionnaire” might spark your thinking:

-          Leading or taking part in any major projects

-          Promotions/Being given extra authority or responsibility

-          Receiving commendations from managers or customers

-          Training, coaching, or mentoring other employees

This tactic can work especially well if you’ve worked jobs in areas that look to be on the surface unrelated to your major; when you start looking at the specific things you’ve done, you may realize that your duties gave you great transferable skills for your future career!

The most important thing you can do to sell your “business of one” is provide tangible results that have stemmed from the work you’ve done in prior positions and experiences. Make sure you’re not underselling yourself and put all your hard work out on display!

Amy Smith, Graduate Assistant