Senior Career & Recruiting Seminar

SeniorCareer & Recruiting Seminar Fall 2007

Congratulations Seniors! • Your senior year may feel exciting and may sometimes also feel overwhelming and stressful. You are not alone! • The Office of Career Services can assist you in preparing for your first full-time job and the world of work!

Your 1st Step to Job Search SuccessKnow Yourself! • Assess yourself (Your Interests, Skills, Values, and Personality) • What do you feel PASSIONATE about? • Not sure? Schedule an appt. with a Career Counselor • Take Assessments Tests in the Counseling Center or at your Career Service Office • Learn more about yourself through FREE online assessments and print resources (see next two slides for suggested online websites and publications)

1st Step….Knowing YourselfWill Help You To Prepare For Your Job SearchResources Online • Check out the following resources and learn more about your personality, interests, skills , and values: • The more you learn about yourself, the better your chance of finding a job that truly interests and excites you! • www.jobhuntersbible.com • www.nycareerzone.org • www.jobweb.com/resources • www.nextstepmagazine.com (click on career center tab)

1st Step…..Knowing YourselfWill Help You To Prepare For Your Job SearchResources – Print • I Don’t Know What I Want, But I Know It’s Not This, Written By Julie Jansen • The Pathfinder, By Nicholas Lore • I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was, Written By Barbara Sher • What Color Is Your Parachute, Written By Richard Nelson Bolles • A Step-By-Step Guide to Finding Gratifying Work, Written By Julie Jansen

2nd Step….Register, Create, Practice, & Review • REGISTER with MonsterTRAK.com, Fordham’s online job posting system • CREATE a resume/cover letter, set up appointment for review, and upload on MonsterTRAK.com • PRACTICE your interviewing skills….set up appointment for a mock interview • REVIEW listing of workshops and our many special programs and events. Sign up and attend those that fit your needs:

2nd Step….Register with MonsterTRAK.com,Create, Practice, & Review • MonsterTRAK.com is a web based system • Offers 24 hours-a-day online access to part-time, full-time, and internship opportunities • With registration, you will receive our weekly emails with new full-time job postings & listings of workshops and special events

2nd Step….Register,Create Your Resume/Cover Letter,Practice, & Review Why is a resume important? It is the first impression an organization/person will have of you! It is your marketing tool! • Opportunity to summarize your accomplishments to date and express the skills you have to offer that specific industry/organization. • A resume should be a personal reflection of YOU. Your resume should not look like your roommate’s or best friend’s resume. • There is no right or wrong way to do a resume; only better and worse ways.

Components of a Resume • CONTACT INFORMATION: (i.e. Name, Address, Phone number, Email address) • OBJECTIVE: Should be as concise as possible. If you are interested in various types of jobs, it is advisable to prepare separate resumes which reflect your interest in specific areas. • EDUCATION: List degree(s), institution(s) from which the degree(s) was/were earned, major(s) and additional course concentrations, and your GPA. You may also want to highlight educational achievements, such as Dean’s List, scholarships, etc. (This may also be listed in a separate category entitled “Honors and Achievements”.) • RELATED COURSES: Includes courses that are related to the area/industry you are targeting

WORK EXPERIENCE: Include the position held, name and location of the organization, dates employed, responsibilities, achievements/significant contributions, and demonstrated abilities and skills. Try to describe your experience in functional terms, always stressing your accomplishments and making sure you describe your work experience in terms that support your candidacy for employment. *** USE ACTION VERBS ***

OTHER SECTIONS TO INCLUDE: • SPECIAL SKILLS (I.e. language skills, computer skills, etc.) • COMPUTER SKILLS (can be a separate section if computer skills are extensive.) • COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES • INTERESTS • REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST List on a separate sheet of paper. Include the reference’s name, title, work address and phone number.

MARY FORDHAM 161 Cortland Drive Queens, New York 10001 (718) 555-xxxx jones@aol.com OBJECTIVE To obtain an internship in a law firm or organization in the criminal justice system. EDUCATION Fordham University, Bronx, NY Bachelor of Arts, expected May 2004 Major: Psychology Cumulative GPA: 3.2/4.0, Major GPA: 3.5/4.0WORK EXPERIENCE Intern, Queens District Attorney Office, Queens, NY (10/04-present) · Prepare and file Orders of Protection. · Conduct follow-up calls to victims of domestic violence and discuss case status. · Deliver court papers and gain exposure to court proceedings. Resident Assistant, Fordham University, New York, NY (8/02-8/03) · Directly responsible for responding to the needs of 80 freshmen students. · Designed and implemented programs which enhance community environment. · Conducted floor meetings to resolve residents' concerns and crises. · Worked directly with security when responding quickly to 911 calls from residents. SKILLS Fluent in Spanish; Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and the Internet ACTIVITIES & INTERESTS Student Ambassador, Fordham University's Admissions Ambassador Program; Member, Student Programming Board; Volunteer, Bay Street Nursing Home; Intramural Sports, Track Team, Creative Writing, 8 years piano training References Available Upon Request

COVER LETTERS • Writing a Cover Letter is your opportunity to showcase your writing skills and emphasize why you are the right person for the job! • A Cover Letter should always be included with your resume • The first exception is if an employer clearly states “Resumes Only” • The second exception is when utilizing InterviewTRAK.com. You will only need a resume, unless the employer clearly states they would like a cover letter included.

Your Present Address City, State, Zip Code Today’s Date Individual’s Name Title Company Street Address City, State Zip Dear (Mr../Ms.) ________________, First Paragraph: Tell why you are writing; name of position; state where you learned of position. Second Paragraph: Tell why you are interested in the company, type of work. If you have had related experience or specialized training, be sure to point it out. State qualifications you think would be of greatest interest to the employer. Refer the reader to the enclosed resume and/or application. Final Paragraph: Close by making a specific request for an interview, I.e. “I will be in contact with you in a week or so to further discuss my qualifications”. Thank the person for any consideration given to your request. Sincerely, (Your Handwritten Signature) (Type your name here) Enclosure

Cover Letters • Research whom to send your resume and cover letter . This is not always obvious. In general, address your resume to the most senior person who is in the position to make a hiring decision. • Often this will be a dept. head, manager, VP, etc. • Sometimes this person will be the Human Resources Department (particularly if you want to work in the field of HR), but often it is not.

2nd Step….Register, Create,Practice Your Interviewing Skills, & Review • Opportunity to make a lasting impression. • Key to successful interview is PREPARATION • Schedule a Mock Interview BEFORE: • Know yourself and why you are interested in the position • Research the company/organization • Prepare questions for the interviewer • Arrive 15 minutes early DURING: • Bring extra copies of your resume • Dress professionally • Ask questions that you have already prepared • Be conscious of body language (maintain good eye contact) AFTER: • Ask for a business card • Send a thank you letter

Women - Suit (pants or skirt/dress) - Blouse - Closed Toe Shoes - Stockings (if you are wearing a skirt/dress ) - Limited Jewelry/Makeup - Neat Hair Men - Suit - Dress Shirt - Tie - Dress Shoes - Limited Jewelry - Neat Hair Proper Interview Attire Your Attire Should be Conservative, Business Attire! (unless otherwise stated) Your Attire Should be Well Fitted! Not Too Baggy, Not Too Tight, and Not Too Short !

Accounting/Finance Career Fair & Tri-Campus Career Fair Career View Program Internship Information Sessions Graduate School Workshops Career Fair Etiquette Workshops Career Symposium Program Career Advice and a Slice Program Cambridge Test Prep Diversity Networking Banquet 2nd Step….Register, Create, Practice, & Review Listing of Career Services Workshops/Events &Sign Up!

3rd Step…..Learn the Nuts & Bolts of a Job Search • Utilize 3 Resources • Human Resources (Networking) -Informational Interviews, Professional Associations, Volunteer, Networking Events, Career Fairs, etc. -People that spend most of their time utilizing Human Resources (i.e. networking) find jobs more easily • Online Resources -Job Search Websites, Classifieds Online • Print Resources -Trade Publications, Newspapers

Human ResourcesInformational Interviews • Family, friends, friends’ parents, faculty, previous employers, high school and Fordham alumni, and staff at CP&P are all potentially good sources of career/employer information • Contact Fordham alumni through our online alumni database and conduct Informational Interviews (sometimes referred as Exploratory Interviews) • For more information about Informational Interviews, review the section in the Career Profile Guide, utilize our Networking/Informational Interviewing Handout, or visit any search engine i.e., www.google.com, and you will find a wealth of information.

Human ResourcesProfessional Associations • Join Professional Associations as a Student Member in your field of interest and get a student discount rate! • It is best to join now….after you graduate it may be more difficult since you are not a professional in the field yet. • Volunteer as a Member of the Hosting or Membership Committee to gain credibility and develop your network. • Check out the Encyclopedia of Associations and Job Hunter’s Sourcebook in the library (also see handout).

Human ResourcesVolunteer • Think of what you like to do and start volunteering! • You can meet a lot of interesting people that may be of help to you in your job search and you will be doing something that will make you feel good about yourself. • Also volunteer your services at an organization/employer where you want to potentially work.

Human ResourcesNetworking Events • There are hundreds of networking events that occur in NYC each week. • Start becoming involved and meeting people! • Buy Crain’s Publication (weekly publication) and learn of networking events on a weekly basis. • Go to Kinko’s and create your own business cards with your name on the front and your skills, interests, and the position you are looking for on the back. Give out these business cards at all functions as an easy way to market yourself.

Human ResourcesCareer Fairs • Meet and network at Career Fairs • Get a listing of Career Fairs in the metropolitan area at www.nytimes.com/jobmarket • Ask us for a handout on “Career Fair Etiquette” or attend a workshop to enhance your confidence • Attend ALL Career Services Career Fairs • Check out listing of employers at www.fordham.edu/cpp and click on “students.”

Human ResourcesDevelop your 90 Second Pitch • Create a targeted, focused 90 second “story” about your interests, skills, and what kind of position you are looking for • Keep it short and focused. Do not say that you would be willing to take “any” job. • Know what kind of job is the right fit for you and what job you want. • Employers are looking for candidates that are focused and targeted with their job search approach

Online ResourcesJob Search Websites • Review job listings online • Utilize listing of Job Search Websites Handout • Remember: Recently a NY Times article described the benefits of the “human factor,” (utilizing Human Resources!) stating that a job seeker should only spend 20% of his/her time online searching/posting resumes.

Online ResourcesClassifieds Online • www.nytimes.com • www.careerjournal.com • www.newsdirectory.com– a great place to start as you can search regional publications by area code • www.careerbuilder.com– a compilation of the “Want Ad” sections of dozens of US newspapers

Online ResourcesEmployer Websites • If you know of specific employers for whom you want to work, be sure to review their web site. • Many employers post their vacancies on their homepages.

Print ResourcesNewspapers, Trade Publications • Check out your local newspaper for job listings • New York Times Classifieds Section • Week in Review Section of the NY Times (Sunday) • Trade/Industry Publications post job listings

Other Job Resources • On-Campus Recruiting (we will discuss more in upcoming slides) • Job Binders in CP&P • Temporary & Permanent Employment Agencies

What is On-Campus Recruiting? • Interview with participating employers on campus for full-time positions which begin after graduation • Graduating seniors only (two semesters) - both liberal arts and business majors • The 1st step in the total job hunting process! • Over 100 organizations visited during the 2005-2006 academic year

“What’s in it for me?” • Network with recruiters from various industries • Sharpen your interviewing skills • Opportunity to obtain several job offers prior to graduation • Opportunity to look at a variety of options available to you after graduation, i.e. full-time jobs vs. graduate school

Requirements for Participation • Senior status • Recruiting Orientation • If you cannot attend an orientation session you must log on and take the online InterviewTrak Quiz at www.fordham.edu/career • Resume Critique before submission • Register on www.monstertrak.com • Mock Interviews (encouraged) ~ If you are unable to access InterviewTRAK please call our office immediately. ~

Steps for InterviewTRAK 1. Register online at www.monstertrak.com and then click on “Post Resume & Register” (password: rams) Note: If you are already registered, you are required to update your profile before accessing the system. 2. Upload your approved/updated resume from an existing file. 3. View on-campus recruiting opportunities through InterviewTRAK. 4. Submit your resume to those you have an interest in. 5. If selected*, sign up online for interview times. * It is your responsibility to check InterviewTRAK to find out if you’ve been selected for an interview!!

Terminology Resume Drop - Same submission procedure as on-campus recruiting.However, company will contact you directly to arrange for interviews at their site – not on-campus. Required Reception - Some companies hold a reception the evening before their on-campus interviews in order to meet and inform the interviewees. If you are unable to attend the required reception due to extraordinary circumstances, you must submit a letter of explanation to the Office of Career Planning & Placement. Business attire unless otherwise specified by the organization hosting the reception. Open Presentations - A number of organizations host presentations in order to allow students to become acquainted with what they do. These presentations are open to all students and provide a great forum for networking. Business casual attire preferred.

Open Presentations • If you happen to see an Open Presentation that you would be interested in attending, please make sure you sign up for this event on the system. This feature is now mandatory!

Additional Interview Information • Interviews are held at: Rose Hill Campus McGinley Center, Room 224 Lincoln Center Campus 33 West 60th Street 8th floor • You are at risk of losing your recruiting privileges: • If you do not sign-up for an interview time once selected for an interview and/or • If you fail to keep a scheduled interview • If you are unable to attend a scheduled interview due to extraordinary circumstances, you must call our office and submit a letter of explanation to our office.

After you accept an offer... • Write a letter to our office in order to withdraw from the recruiting program. • Must complete senior survey in our office or online at www.fordham.edu/cpp

The Job Seekers Laws to Abide by: • Know yourself • Know the company • Allow adequate time for your job search • Develop a personal network • Be honest • Use the interview as a learning process • Practice answering and asking questions before each interview • Write thank you letters for every type of interview • ALWAYS show enthusiasm!

Good Luck!Remember…….. • Preparation is key to a successful job search and you have already begun the process….feel proud of yourself for attending today! • A typical job search takes approximately 6 months…be persistent and take care of yourself throughout the process • We are here to assist you!

Visit us on the web! www.fordham.edu/cpp Lincoln Center: 33 West 60th St. New York, NY 8th Floor (212)636-6280 Rose Hill: McGinley 224 Bronx, NY (718)817-4350 You are encouraged to visit all three offices to explore diverse opportunities!!

Senior Career & Recruiting Seminar