Month: September 2013

Make the Most of Attending the Career Fairs (CPA – 9/27, Fall Career Day – 10/4)

By: Alina Nesterenko

 

The fall career fairs are around the corner! The CPA fair will take on place September 27th on the fourteenth floor. Career Day will take place October 4th at the VC gymnasium. What’s the best way to stay calm in what can appear to be an overwhelming environment? Be prepared and be confident! Knowing what to do before, during, and after these events will help you succeed.

 

Employers at the CPA Fair are seeking out accounting majors, while the Fall Career Day is geared towards all professions and majors. Visit StarrSearch and look under the Events tab to find out which employers will be coming to these fairs. With the information at your disposal ahead of time, you can plan which employers with whom you would like to speak. Not only that, but you can demonstrate your enthusiasm, passion, or curiosity about the company to the recruiter if you have done proper research. Some companies have released information about the positions they are looking to fill. Applying online before the fair is a good idea. You can ask thoughtful questions about the position to show your interest. Remember to bring with you a list of the employers and their summaries because you will not be given a packet when you arrive.

 

Aside from being knowledgeable, you must look presentable. Your appearance is one of the most important steps in preparing for the fairs because it will be the first impression you will give a recruiter. You should not aim to stand out for your unique choice of attire. The dress code is business professional. In short, wear a dark suit. For some, the term “professional” may include removing eye-catching piercings, cutting long nails, and straying away from flashy jewelry. You should bring at least 20 copies of your most up-to-date resume in a nice business portfolio or a neat folder. Plan according what you will bring with you, so you do not leave your stuff unattended.

 

Now that your company research and appearance are taken care of, think about your behavior. The first thing you will have to do when it is your turn to speak to the recruiter is shake his or her hand. This means you must practice giving a firm handshake. After, you will likely give your personal pitch. A personal pitch is a short (1-2 minute) summary of yourself, which may include your current major, year, school involvement, and your reasons why you are interested in the company. A good pitch is more thoughtful than just a list of facts the recruiters can read on your resume. It is should be a good segue to mention what you are looking for in a company or a job function. More times than not, this personal pitch will spark a brief conversation between you and the recruiter. The recruiter will give you a better feel for the company’s culture and will answer questions you may have.

 

Be mindful of the recruiter’s time. If the line behind you is long or you are running out of things to say, you can always reiterate your interest in the company, thank the recruiter, and see whether the recruiter is collecting resumes. For more tips, visit SCDC’s website to view media videos such as How To Tie a Tie, Career Fair Tips, and Don’t Fabricate Your Resume.

 

It is crucial that you thank the recruiter not only at the conclusion of the dialogue, but also in an email after the event is over. Therefore, do not forget to politely ask for a business card or e-mail and follow up. It will be easier to write the e-mail if you have taken notes throughout the fair on the people with whom you’ve spoke and the things you have discussed. A personalized email, where you refer to something mentioned in a conversation, is always better than a generic thank you.

 

Whether this is your first or fifth go at the career fair, walk in with an open mind. Visit employers that have shorter lines than some of the bigger names. Not only can you make a new connection and be exposed to a new role, but you can also practice saying personal pitch and thinking on your feet. This can be your warm-up before you speak to your top choices.

 

The career fairs give students access to new opportunities within many successful firms. It is a chance for them to show recruiters why they are ideal candidates for positions looking to be filled and have meaningful conversations that discuss their future career paths, display interest in the company, and demonstrate their strengths. Be prepared as best as you can be and have fun with it! Be genuine. If you have any questions, the Starr Career Development is here to help. Be sure to check out our workshops such as Job Fair Prep, Resume Rush, and Building Your Brand: The Personal Pitch.

 

Welcome Back Fellow Students!

By The Starrlights Committee: Jason Ioffe, Yahya Khan, Nadya Semenova, David Tsui, Ruixiang Wu, Camille Hall, Adia Tucker and Ellen Stein

Hello Baruch Students,

Welcome to a new and exciting academic year at Baruch College! We are thrilled that you are continuing your higher education or transitioning to Baruch College for the first time this year. We understand that your primary goal as college students is to establish a strong academic foundation that will lead towards a career.

Peers for Careers, a group of student leaders in the Starr Career Development Center, provides a variety of comprehensive career readiness services. Peers provide resume reviews, cover letter critiques and mock interviews. In addition, Peers write a weekly Career Corner column in the Ticker school newspaper and facilitate a variety of career-related workshops and presentations.

Last fall, we successfully launched our blog, Starrlights: Peers Speak Careers. This blog provides career advice from a student perspective. We are pleased to share that Starrlights won the first-place prize in the 2013 Alva C. Cooper Awards for Best Practices in Career Development from the Metropolitan New York College Career Planning Officers Association.

As Starrlights enters its second year, we are offering an invitation to Baruch students to submit their own stories, interview a fellow student/alum or review a career-related event for our blog. If you are interested in writing a blog post for Starrlights, please contact the Starrlights Blog Team at [email protected].

To kick off the school year, as a committee, we have listed some tips that you may find helpful in your career endeavors.

  •  Make a positive connection with a professor. He or she can provide you with professional guidance, act as a reference during job and internship searches, and share with you vital information about your careers of interest.
  • Grades matter when it comes to landing internships and jobs. So get off to a good start academically. Practice good study habits and don’t wait until you are really having trouble to seek help. Take initiative to meet with your professor, get tutoring from SAAC (Student Academic Consulting Center), or see consultants in The Writing Center.
  • Talk to your peers. Introduce yourself to the people who sit next to you at classes and make connections. You never know where those relationships might get you. Maybe there is a new Bill Gates or Jamie Dimon among them.
  • As a student this is the perfect time to work on your professional image, public speaking skills and build your support network. Participating in a variety of student life activities will not only enhance your leadership skills; you will also gain a variety of mentors that can help you pursue your future career goals.
  •  Become involved with any of the over 200 clubs and organizations on-campus. These can help strengthen your network and brighten your college experience. Just be careful not to become overwhelmed; extra-curricular activities are great, as long as they do not pull your focus away from academic success and professional development.
  • Choosing a major or a career may be much more overwhelming than you think, especially for First Generation College students. We may be able to get advice from professors, fellow students or a simple Google search. However, there is another way to access our strengths and interests. The Starr Career Development Center specializes in assisting students who need help with choosing a major or career. Come to our Center, talk to our counselors and you get can professional advice. Start early and know yourself better.

The blog committee looks forward to sharing ideas, publicizing events, and inspiring students to reach their full professional and personal potential. Best wishes for a great year!