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A little “Soul” is coming to the SUccess in the City series!

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By Kim Brown, Assistant Director, Alumni Programs

It’s hard to believe that four SUccess in the City networking events are already in the books for the 2013 SITC season…with five more on the horizon! SUccess in the City events give our new graduates the opportunity to meet established alumni in nine different cities across the US: Syracuse, Philadelphia, DC, Boston, NYC, Atlanta, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. We are proud to partner with the Office of Alumni Relations and alumni clubs in each city to make them happen!

Alumni Andrew Laver, Rob Long and Jenny Sacks at SITC Philadelphia!

Alumni Andrew Laver, Rob Long and Jenny Sacks at #SITCPhilly!

We kicked off the series at Eric Mower and Associates in Syracuse’s Armory Square. Eric is an SU alumnus, and we were thrilled to hold the event at a company owned by one of our own. Attendees heard 2012 grad Alison Neufang’s fantastic success story and enjoyed a great night of Orange networking. The series continued on a gorgeous night in Philadelphia, where we shared all of the recent changes to LinkedIn and how our students and alumni can take advantage of the Orange networking opportunities that are abundant within that platform. It was a wonderful evening – and we had difficulty clearing the room as the night ended!

#SITCDC – put on by SU’s Greenberg House – and #SITCBoston were also excellent events. In every city except for NYC (where our alumni population is so huge), we encourage current students to attend SUccess in the City. It’s always amazing to watch our up-and-coming Orange alumni make connections with our established grads. Smart networking starts early on in your college career!

Gabby Etrog Cohen, VPA '02, will speak at #SITCNYC

Gabby Etrog Cohen, VPA ’02, will speak at #SITCNYC

Speaking of NYC, that’s our next event…and we’re THRILLED that Gabrielle Etrog Cohen will be our featured speaker at #SITCNYC. Here’s where the SOUL part of the blog post comes in. Gabby is a 2002 VPA alumna and is the PR and Marketing Director at SoulCycle – arguably the HOTTEST workout on the market these days. Gabby has an incredible career story to share, including the fact that she was recruited for her current position thanks to LinkedIn! We hope you’ll consider joining #SITCNYC on June 27th. Click here to register and here to learn more about Gabby before attending the event.

And remember…if you call Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, or San Francisco home, then we’ll be making a stop in your city this summer! You’ll find all the details here. Hope to see you at a SITC near you!

 

 

#LifeAfterSU with Caitlyn Ferber

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Otto & Caitlyn!

Our #LifeAfterSU series continues with School of Education alumna Caitlyn Ferber!

1) Name, Major:  Caitlyn Ferber ’13; Majors: Selected Studies in Education and Sociology; Minor: Disability Studies

2) What are you doing after graduation?  I will be participating in the Syracuse Urban Inclusive Teacher Residents (SUITR) program at SU! Through the SUITR program I will be pursuing a master’s degree in inclusive special education (7-12) and working in the Syracuse City School District.

3) What tip do you have for those going to graduate school/finding employment?  The best piece of advice I have for anyone about to graduate is to take time and think about your long-term goals. It is a daunting task but it will make the process of applying to graduate schools and jobs easier. Another important thing to do is to be open to the idea of taking different paths to reach your goals, as flexibility is a very important skill in the workplace.  I would also encourage you to network with your professors and peers. Networking is a great way to meet new people and a wonderful opportunity to hear new ideas/opinions that may influence you.

4) How did Career Services help you? (Or, what tips would you give to others on using Career Services?)  I first visited Career Services my junior year, but I wish I had realized sooner just how many different services the office offers. These services range from advice on choosing a major to helping with the job search process. When I first met with Tracy in Career Services I had no idea how to approach my graduate school search. Career Services helped me through the whole process from personal statements to final decisions. Throughout my junior and senior year, I also attended Career Services’ events such as drop-in hours, the career fair, graduate school fair, LinkedIn workshop and more. I would advise you to start using the resources that Career Services offers as soon as possible!

Good luck at SUITR Caitlyn, and thanks for sharing your post-grad plans with us!

Stay tuned for more #LifeAfterSU stories!

 

Bright lights, Big city: when a new job involves a move…

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Dan Klamm

by Dan Klamm ’08, Director of Young Alumni Engagement – Syracuse University Lubin House

On October 14th, 2012, I packed my things into three suitcases, hugged my mom goodbye, hopped in a car, and went to New York City.

I didn’t have a place to live, I hadn’t met my boss for the job I would start the following day, and I didn’t have any super-close friends or family in the city. But I knew one thing: I needed a change. And I was excited about the adventure to come.

My story is not unique. Each year, thousands of college grads and young professionals flock to cities like New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, and Austin. Here are some tips on making a successful transition:

Be smart about housing. Where yNeighborhoodou live has an incredible impact on your level of happiness in your new locale. It’s your home base! I am a huge advocate for finding a short-term sublet while getting your bearings in a new city (I found a six-month furnished sublet on Craigslist that worked out well). Once you’re familiar with public transportation and you’ve had a chance to scope out neighborhoods — as well as discover your own preferences within the city — you can make a more informed decision about where you’d like to settle down.

Just as important as the neighborhood you choose is the apartment itself. Syracuse alumna and real estate agent Stephanie Tiboris ’05 shared some great tips at Lubin House recently about hunting for apartments.

Think carefully, too, about long-term roommate compatibility if you choose to cohabitate (which is often a wise financial and social decision for new transplants).

Make a budget. When you move to a city like New York or San Francisco, it’s easy to blow $50 on a casual night at the bar or to discover that your artisan latte habit adds up to $200/month. Take the time to chart your monthly financial situation. Account for fixed expenses like rent, utilities, and student loan payments; then, determine what you can afford to spend on food, entertainment, and other flexible expenses, while hopefully allowing you to put a bit into savings as well.

Consider your overall budget whenever committing to major financial decisions. The $90 gym membership you sign up for on a whim can come back to bite you, as can the decision to spend 40% of your monthly salary on apartment rent. There’s nothing wrong with spending money; the key is to consciously prioritize where to allocate your funds, so that you’re not forced into unpleasant situations (like skipping a social outing with friends, or eating ramen noodles) because you’re broke.

CentralPark

A view of Central Park

Develop a group of friends. ”Be the one who finds things to do,” said Sadé Muhammad ’12 at our recent Lubin House event to welcome new grads to NYC. You’ll likely arrive to your city alongside a slew of twenty-somethings who are all in the same boat: looking for new social connections and things to do. So be the one who finds free concerts, inexpensive happy hours, and fun cultural outings… then pull people together to attend! You’ll begin to develop a strong group of friends — or groups of friends — this way.

In terms of branching out, check out sites like Meetup.com. Consider joining classes that intrigue you, from fitness to painting to improvisational comedy. Become part of the SU Alumni Club in your region and attend the summertime SUccess In The City events to make new connections.

#LifeAfterSU with Jesse Feitel

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Jesse FeitelIn our continuing series on post-SU plans, Jesse Feitel ’13, lets us know where he’s headed next (hint: SU is involved)!

1) Name, Major: Jesse Feitel, Major: Political Science, Minor: Public Communication Studies

2) What are you doing after graduation?  I will be attending Syracuse University College of Law as a 1L student in the fall!

3) What tip do you have for those job searching? While I haven’t been in the job market during this hectic time of the year, I do believe my experience applying to law schools is useful. I think the best tip I can offer is to try hard to make personal connections with our dedicated and passionate alumni base. I’m always even more honored to be an SU student after speaking with these incredible individuals who give back so much to our University. Our graduates are employed throughout the entire world, in jobs spanning the entire spectrum of career opportunities. Many of them are more than willing to discuss networking and employment opportunities with students.

4) How did Career Services help you? Or, what tips would you give to others on using Career Services? While Career Services is always available to assist students in finding employment or answering questions about resumes and networking, many of their services require students to be proactive. Much like on the job search, students who are proactive in seeking opportunities will be best-suited for employment after graduation. The more a student seeks the help of the Career Services office, the more they are likely to get out of that experience.

Thank you Jesse for sharing your post-grad plans. Good luck at the SU College of Law!

Stay tuned for more #LifeAfterSU stories!

#LifeAfterSU with Heather Cosson

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Heather Renae Cosson

Heather Renae Cosson

In our continuing series on post-SU plans, Heather Renae Cosson, G ’13, lets us know how she will be using her M.S. in public relations!

1) Name, Major/degree: Heather Renae Cosson – M.S. in Public Relations

I have always been a social and opinionated person. I chose to embrace this and jump into public relations and communications. While earning my master’s degree, I worked with a PR agency in NYC. I enjoyed working there, but I knew something was missing.

That same summer, I attended a conference where President Bill Clinton spoke about mutual cooperation and bringing communities together to solve problems. Everything clicked. From that moment, I knew I wanted to work toward something greater. After meeting the team at National Foundation to End Senior Hunger, I had found my “something greater”. I joined the fight to end senior hunger.

When I’m not working, I spend my free time trying out new recipes, exploring museums and playing with my new puppy. I am also slightly addicted to coffee and Twitter.

2) What are you doing after graduation? I will be the communications associate for the National Foundation to End Senior Hunger. It’s a new nonprofit in the DC area that spun off from Meals on Wheels America.

3) What tip do you have for those job searching? Network! I know everyone says this, but it really is the most important step. Talk to the people you know and let them know what you’re trying to do. Don’t ask them for a job. They usually can’t give you a job, but if they know what type of job you’re looking for, they can keep an eye out for opportunities.

Update your LinkedIn profile. Add relevant courses and projects you’ve worked on. Make it easy for recruiters to find you.

Do not stop applying for jobs. Getting an interview is wonderful, but it does not mean you’ve been offered a job. Don’t stop.

4) How did Career Services help you? I used Career Services many times for resume and cover letter review. It helps to have a fresh pair of eyes look over your resume. A resume is how you sell yourself; take the time to get a second or third opinion on it.

Thank you Heather for sharing your post-grad plans. Stay tuned for more #LifeAfterSU stories!

#LifeAfterSU with Azhar Ali

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Azhar Ali '13

Azhar Ali ’13

As we say “good luck” to all of our students graduating this year, we wanted to share some of what the Class of 2013 will be up to as they start #LifeAfterSU.

We’ll get started with one senior who loves higher education so much, his career will continue to make the experiences of others more fulfilling!

1) Name, Major: Azhar Ali, Selected Studies in Education

2) What are you doing after graduation? I will be working as an Assistant Hall Director at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

3) What tip do you have for those job searching? One tip for those job searching is to know the field you are trying to get into, particularly the typical hiring schedules/timelines because it may be easy to get discouraged when friends are getting hired months before you even have your first job interview. Another tip would be to not simply create a perfect resume, but rather practice speaking about and presenting your resume so that your presentation is as strong as the content on your resume.

4) How did Career Services help you? Career Services helped me create multiple drafts of my resume and cover letter throughout my job search. I also went to the Ace the Interview Senior Session in February as well as several Alumni Speaker Series events during the past couple of years. I would encourage students to reach out to Career Services as early as possible before their senior year and to take advantage of the different workshops and Alumni Speaker Series events that are offered. I would also suggest utilizing drop-in hours to have someone briefly look over your materials as you continue to edit them. Lastly, it helps to have some sort of rapport with the consultants before you enter your last semester of senior year and are desperately seeking a job, so I would recommend connecting with Career Services somehow, even if it is just on Twitter.

Thanks to Azhar for helping us to kick off this series. Stay tuned for more #LifeAfterSU stories!

You’ve studied abroad…now use it to stand out!

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By Christina Faulkner, Career Services’ Employer Relations Program Coordinator

So you’re back in the States after a semester abroad; you’ve explored a new place, culture, and maybe a new language too. Your semester abroad can be a great leverage point on your resume and in an interview to help set you apart from other candidates!

Christina in Niokolo Koba National Park during her study abroad experience in Senegal.

Christina in Niokolo Koba National Park during her study abroad experience in Senegal.

Put it on your resume
Your resume is often the first method of contact you will make with a potential employer, so you want it to stand out against all of the other resumes they see. Having experience abroad distinguishes you from other candidates because it shows that you can adapt to new environments and be independent.

Depending on how relevant your study abroad experience is to the job you are applying for, you can list it briefly or more in-depth. Always include the location, duration, and title of the program on your resume. If you studied at a university while in your host country, include the name of the university as well. If your study abroad experience is directly applicable to the job, you can expand on it by sharing the classes you took (and whether they were in a language other than English), research projects you conducted, what you learned, and/or skills you gained.

If you held an internship, volunteered, or conducted research abroad, add your title and duties under the appropriate section of your resume.

Include any languages you learned abroad in the skills section of your resume. Add your proficiency in the language – basic, intermediate, conversational, or fluent.

Examples:

Resume Pic Christina

Talk about it in an interview
What you choose to put on your resume, including study abroad experience, may come up in an interview; if it’s on your resume, then you should be prepared to discuss it. You can also use experiences from your trip abroad to answer behavioral interview questions. Examples:

Interview Christina

Examples like these can show you are adaptable, determined, a good communicator, and so much more!

Everyone’s study abroad experience is unique and challenging in its own way, so use it to prove that you are the right person for the job. Be proud of your experience abroad – you learned, explored, and put yourself out there!

For individual help, please visit us during drop-ins! These times will change beginning May 13, so please keep an eye on our website.
Monday           12 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Tuesday          12 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Wednesday      3 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Thursday          2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Jerejef! (Thank you!)

ORANGE & BLUE: Serving and Protecting SU

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By Gregory Snyder, ‘07

On September 11, 2001 at 8:46 a.m., American Airlines Flight 11 smashed into the World Trade Center’s North Tower. Completely unaware of the situation, I was sitting at a computer in my graphic design course during my junior year of high school. I enjoyed computers and design and I was beginning to lean toward pursuing a college degree in the field. As the day unfolded, my career path changed in an instant.

Officer Gregory Snyder '07 (second from right) on the day he was swore in

Officer Gregory Snyder ’07 (second from right) on the day he was sworn in

Someone in class saw the headline news on a website and brought it to everyone’s attention. My teacher turned on a television in the classroom for us to see as we continued with our work. At 9:03 a.m., United Airlines Flight 175 slammed into the South Tower before our very eyes. We were horrified. As the events of the day concluded, I knew what I wanted to spend my life doing. I wanted to be a police officer. I wanted to be the one running in and the one to help those in need. Some say law enforcement is a calling. I’m not sure this is true, but what I do know after working for six years is that it is a challenging and stressful job that will strain your personal relationships and potentially your quality of life. However, when you choose this career for the right reasons and find the department that fits you, as a complete person, there are few more rewarding professions.

After high school, I attended Syracuse University, following in the footsteps of my grandfather, brother and sister before me. I worked as a tour guide for SU and volunteered with the University 100 and enjoyed serving the University community. I bled orange for my years at Syracuse and will continue to for the rest of my life. I completed my degree in Sociology with minors in both Psychology and LGBT studies, but I continued pursuing a career in law enforcement and both my degree and college experiences made me the officer I am today.

My fiancé and I moved to Brooklyn after graduation in May of 2007 and by that July I had completed the painstaking process of written exams, oral interviews, physical fitness testing, and background checks. I then began my six months of training at the New York City Police Department Academy, an adventure and unique life experience, to say the least. After graduating the academy, I worked for another three and half years in the public housing developments in Brooklyn. The extremely high crime area was great for developing my skills and experience, but after about two years of work I knew something just wasn’t right. I loved aspects of my job, but I just knew the department wasn’t quite right for the kind of police officer I wanted to be. New York City was mind blowing, and while the pizza is unmatched, I also knew the city just wasn’t where I wanted to settle down and raise a family. I began the process of looking for a department that was a better fit to me.

In 2010, the perfect job opportunity to combine my passions appeared. As it would happen, the Syracuse University Department of Public Safety, DPS to the community, was hiring. I instantly gravitated toward the idea of returning to my alma mater to do the job I love. After going through the process, I returned to Syracuse University to work full time for the Department of Public Safety in August of 2011. The department has been a great fit for me. It has allowed me to live and work in a place I love, with a community I can relate to, and to be a police officer in a unique way that I couldn’t in New York City.

I don’t know whether or not this is the last stop for me in my law enforcement career. As with any career, I am constantly looking to improve myself and further provide for my family and our future and it is difficult to predict where that road will lead. However, the Department of Public Safety has given me a career I can enjoy and I feel rewarded every day to serve and protect this community.

Balancing a Passion and a Paycheck: Megan Hess

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This is the first blog post in a new series on A Slice of Advice called Balancing a Passion and a Paycheck. We’ll feature Syracuse University alumni who spend their time outside of work on a project, business, idea, or hobby in a proactive and dedicated manner. If you’d like to be featured, send a tweet to @CareerSU!

Megan Hess

Megan Hess, Class of 2011

Today’s alumna, Megan Hess, was featured on Forbes’ list of Top 75 Websites For Your Career, and as a 2011 grad, she has spent a lot of time exploring odd careers for her website, No Joe Schmo. Here she talks about what she does and how she does it:

What do you do full-time and what do you work on part-time? (a little introduction)
I’m a digital and social media editor at Scholastic Parent & Child magazine, where I help to oversee digital strategy and produce content for the magazine’s website, apps, and social media channels. On the side, I founded and run a website featuring people with unusual jobs called No Joe Schmo.

Why did you begin this part time work?
Knee-deep in the job search after graduating in 2011, I needed a creative outlet to keep me writing on a regular basis (cover letters just weren’t cutting it). One of my favorite writing formats is the character study, because it enables you to engage in someone else’s life through his or her stories. So I decided to create a hub for character studies.

Originally, I conceived of my site as The Joe Schmo Project; I planned to interview people with really run-of-the-mill jobs, like bank tellers and grocers (Joe Schmos, if you will), in order to glean career advice. I wanted to examine the paths of people we interact with daily but probably never speak with. But as I gave it more thought, I realized I could extract more human data by profiling people at the other end of the spectrum: those with cool or crazy jobs. I think my mom was actually the one to coin “No Joe Schmo.”

What do you enjoy best about your side project?
I love chatting on the phone for hours with people I’d otherwise never have the opportunity to speak with. While I’ve chronicled some well-known individuals, like the Naked Cowboy, many No Joe Schmos are much lower profile. In fact, many have never been interviewed before. Hearing these people speak with such gusto about their lines of work – even someone like Cara Brown, a professional pooper scooper – helps me remember that a career is always a work in progress. Plus, a full-time job and side project mustn’t be mutually exclusive; No Joe Schmo helps to fuel professional inspiration.

Not only is No Joe Schmo personally satisfying, but it also opens up others’ eyes to jobs they didn’t know existed. Or perhaps it turns their preconceived notions about certain jobs upside-down.

What advice would you give to others looking to start side projects?
“Do what you love, and the rest will come” is easier said than done, especially if you’re a recent grad with bills to pay. But maintaining a side hustle is a smart workaround that may eventually become a full-time job. It’s so important to act on a great idea; you can always tweak and iterate later. Waiting to act until an idea is “perfect” may actually harm you in the long run. Just look at the Winklevii.

Stay up to date with No Joe Schmo on Facebook.

Do you balance your passion with a paycheck? If so, let us know and we’ll feature you in a future post!

When your home is also your office: the pros and cons

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By T.J. Basalla ’06

T.J. Basalla, Class of 2006

T.J. Basalla, Class of 2006

For the past two years, my job has offered me the unique opportunity to work from home every day. My company is one that supports flexible work arrangements or telecommuting, citing among other things improved employee morale and cost savings.  While I never actively sought a career that would allow me to work from home, it has proven to be a worthwhile experience for me. I’ve come to love the many benefits to working from home:

Comfort: Your home should be the place where you’re the most comfortable. When you get to work in your most comfortable location, you benefit. That’s how I feel working from home. Even when my workday gets really crazy, being at home relaxes me and allows me to stay focused on my tasks at hand.

Productivity: When I tell people that I work from home, one of the things that I often hear is, “I could never get any work done working from home.” This couldn’t be further from the truth. Working from home limits my outside distractions and allows me to stay focused on my job. I’ve found that I’m overall more productive working from home than in a traditional office setting.

Flexibility/Freedom: I don’t have to sit in traffic in the morning or the evening. When I take a lunch break, I can walk around my neighborhood. My time working from home has offered me a unique amount of flexibility that I couldn’t get in a traditional office setting.

With all that said, working from home does pose some unique challenges. I’ve found, though, that none of the following challenges are impossible to face.

Lack of Human Contact: This is the biggest and most obvious one. If you’re an outgoing person like me, that can be very difficult to take at times. Just because you’re not sharing an office with people doesn’t mean you can’t be in contact with your co-workers all day. That’s why a phone exists. That’s why social media and e-mail exist. My co-workers know me very well even though many of them have never met me in person. I also try to leave home to get coffee or lunch at least once or twice a week. You can still be social and outgoing even if you aren’t in an office setting. You just have to make the efforts to do so.

The Home Setting: It may not feel natural to “go to work” when you don’t leave your home. That can affect your productivity and work quality. The biggest way to overcome this: create a space in your home that is specifically designed as your work zone. I’m lucky enough to have an office in my house, but you can designate any space as your work zone. Then it simply becomes a mental thing: when I am in my work space, I am no longer “at home.” I am “at work.”

Working from home may not be for everyone, but it does offer some unique benefits that working in an office does not. I’ve been lucky to experience them first hand over the last two years!