Category Archives: Employer Relations

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.

Career Resources Series: Use Vault.com to Score Points with Employers

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By Chuck Reutlinger, Associate Director, Career Services

“Why are you interested in us? What do you know about us? Why are you interested in this position and this career path? What are your strengths? Where do you see yourself in the future?”

Employers ask questions like these to see how much you really know about their organizations, their products or services, their work cultures, and, of course, the actual tasks, challenges and preferred qualifications of a specific job. Why? They are trying to identify that candidate who has an accurate grasp of the realities of working in a specific role; is confident that their knowledge, skills and attitude can produce desired outcomes; whose personality and work style will fit easily into their work culture; and who will be energized by the work they do now and in the future. This will be the candidate with whom they will want to form a relationship and to whom they will gladly make an offer.

VaultIn order to properly impress an employer, motivated job seekers have come to depend on a number of resources that capture and publish information on industries, employers, specific careers, and the tactics that employers use to evaluate candidates in the various stages of consideration.  Foremost among these resources is Vault.com.  Through its various profiles and lengthy guides, Vault provides the kind of information that networkers, cover letter writers and interviewees can use to compete successfully for an offer of a job or an internship. Familiarity with such information has become an employer’s expectation of their best candidates.

For the general public visiting Vault’s web site, some information is presented free of charge but most of the truly valuable information carries a cost.  Fortunately for students, Vault makes arrangements for colleges and universities to pay an annual fee that affords their students access to a great deal more crucial insider information on industries, careers, employer cultures, preferred qualifications, interviewing styles and formats, and much more. Syracuse has such an arrangement whereby students can log on to Vault through a Syracuse portal, set up their own accounts on Vault, and use the resources without the restrictions that non-Syracuse users would encounter.

To access Vault through the Syracuse designated pathway, students need to follow these steps every time they wish to use this resource:

  1. Go to this section of the Career Services website and click on the login link
  2. Enter the SU designated user name and password
  3. Click on Vault Career Insider on the next page
  4. Set up a new account for first time users or log in with existing account login info set up in an initial visit

Counselors at SU Career Services can help students to grasp how Vault information can help them.  Resources similar to Vault include Wet Feet and Glass Door although SU does not currently have specific arrangements for student usage.

Career Fair’s Over: Now What?

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In this short video, Associate Director of Employer Relations Sue Casson shares some quick pointers on how to follow up with recruiters now that Career Fair is over!

This two-minute video is worth watching if you’re curious about the next steps to take.

We hope you had a wonderful experience at our Spring 2013 Career Fair!

Click the link:
Sue Casson on Career Fair Follow-Up

 

 

Prepare for the Fair! (Career Fair, that is…)

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By Shannon Andre, Employer Relations Coordinator

With the Spring Career Fair less than a week away, there’s only a little time left to get ready to impress the employers visiting campus!  Here are some quick tips to help you along the way:

1)      Have an up-to-date resume.

Even Otto has a resume!

Even Otto has a resume!

Remember that your resume is a marketing tool.  Most recruiters will spend less than 10 seconds reviewing a resume.  You’ll want to make a great impression!  Spend some time reviewing the Career Services Career Guide for all the basics of building a resume.  Make sure it’s free of grammar and spelling mistakes too!  Once it’s ready, have it reviewed by one of our career counselors during 15 minute drop-ins, or visit us during Resumania on Monday, February 4.  Employer experts will review resumes from 9:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis.

2)      Do your research.
One of the most frequent criticisms we hear from employers is that our students have not done their research when they approach the employer’s table.  Before you attend the Career Fair, it’s important to check out the employers visiting, the opportunities they have available, and to learn a little bit about the company.  Utilize resources like OrangeLink, LinkedIn, Twitter, and the company’s website to do the background research.  It will make you stand out!

3)      Practice your elevator pitch.
When you approach an employer, you’ll give them a firm handshake, introduce yourself, hand them your resume, and then have a few moments to explain why you are a great candidate for their position.  Be prepared to speak for 30 to 60 seconds about your qualifications, experiences, and goals as they relate to the position you are interested in (this is where that research is really important).  Don’t be afraid to write it down and practice!

4)      Dress for SUccess.
First impressions are key, which is why dressing the part is so important.  Make sure your clothes are ironed and appropriately cut.  Some suggestions for business dress include: dress pants, khakis, button-down shirts, collared shirts, suits, ties, skirts, and blouses.  Remember comfortable shoes too!  Check out Career Services’ Pinterest board for some examples.

If you need additional help preparing for the fair, Career Services is hosting two workshops this week – Wednesday, January 30 from 5:45 – 6:45 p.m. and Friday, February 1 from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.  Learn how the Career Fair works, what to wear, what to bring, and how to approach employers.

We look forward to seeing you Tuesday, February 5 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. in Flanagan Gymnasium for the Spring Career Fair!

A Career in Consulting…Not Just for IT and Business Students!

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By Janet Huang, Intern in Career Services

If someone were to tell me that I would be working as a consultant after graduation, I would probably look back at him or her with a very confused look on my face. As a December ’12 graduate with a public relations and international relations dual major, I thought my post-graduate career was going to either be working at a public relations agency or in-house for a corporation. Consulting had never been in my future, and I never thought I would land a job with Deloitte LLP, as a Business Technology Analyst.

I guess I sparked an interest in Deloitte when they came to Newhouse for an informational session. One of the best tips I can give to students looking for career opportunities or internships is to pay attention to Career Services.  I would have never found out about Deloitte speaking in Newhouse if I had not attended Career Fair at the Carrier Dome.

After hearing about all of the great opportunities Deloitte offered, I was surprised to find out that they needed communication majors such as myself. I had always thought Deloitte was a big financial company, but through the informational session, I found out they were much bigger than that. I decided to apply through OrangeLink and Deloitte’s website and SURPRISE! I ended up getting an interview.

Janet Huang, SU ’12

Words could not describe how anxious I was going into the interview. Most consulting firms require a standard behavioral interview along with a case interview. While I have been to many behavioral interviews, I had no idea how to approach a case interview. I pretty much thought that the questions would be extremely technical and involve complex math problems – both of which were not my strong suits. Fortunately, Career Services was able to calm my nerves a little and coach me through a case interview. I learned that the most important part of case interviews isn’t that you know technical terms, but that you know how to think logically and creatively.

It did not matter that I was not an IT student or that I didn’t know much about technology because my communications background was able to help me communicate my thoughts clearly and effectively. Similar to public relations, consulting requires you to face many different clients, most of which you have little or no background in. In order to succeed, you have to possess problem-solving skills, analytical ability, and strategic and logical thinking.  Remember: you can develop these skills in nearly all of the majors offered at SU!

Once I realized this, all I had to do was be calm and confident in my answers. The rest, you can say, is history…

I would have never thought to pursue a career in consulting, but in many ways, a lot of my PR skills matched consulting. I am thankful for being able to explore my options with the help of Career Services and informational sessions. While it may seem like that your major decides where you have to work in the future, it is ultimately the skills you gain that can help choose which path you travel.

How do I prepare for the Career Fair?

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Have you heard? Next week is Career Week at SU!

Shannon Feeney, our Employer Relations Coordinator, sat down with Sue Casson, our Associate Director of Employer Relations, to gather some great advice for students on how YOU can prepare to put your best foot forward at Career Fair!

Remember that you can check out a list of participating employers in OrangeLink. Researching those employers is an ABSOLUTE MUST. Just as you’d do your homework for class, you need to put in a lot of effort before you even set foot inside the Carrier Dome.

 

Watch Sue’s video here!


Headhunters and your job hunt

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By Chuck Reutlinger, Associate Director

“All you need to do is find a good headhunter who will find you a job.”

I’ve regularly heard young alumni, new grads and some students cite this piece of advice that they have usually received from peers, friends and family members. While there certainly are employment services out there that play a role in job seekers’ successes, there is a lot of confusion and unwarranted expectations about just what these various services really do.

They won’t be your agent. They don’t work for you!
Basically, headhunters, staffing agencies, consultants – whatever they may call themselves – generally make money by finding, screening and referring potential employees for specific jobs that the employer needs help filling right away.  If they are successful, employers give them new assignments and they spend their time working on these and trying to get new assignments from new and old employer clients. Been there, done that!

They may seem encouraging, but…..
To meet an assignment quickly (which means a quicker fee), they need to have an inventory of candidates ready to present.  Hence they’ll encourage you to submit resumes, and they might even have a quick conversation with you to determine salary needs, geographic restrictions, etc. What they seldom do, however, is launch a wide ranging search on behalf of a specific job seeker. They can’t by law accept fees from you to undertake such efforts, and why would they? Once you get a job, you’ll be off the market!  By serving employers well, they build solid relationships and ensure return business.

They seldom handle entry-level job assignments.
In this cost conscious economy, why would an employer pay them healthy fees to find entry-level candidates when they have so many free or certainly less expensive sources, notably fairs and listing resources at campuses near and far (e.g. OrangeLink), social network posting sites like LinkedIn, and college-specific sites like these?

So when are they valuable? You might score if……

  • You are available to work immediately.
  • You have a skill and experience set that is in short supply, probably in technology, healthcare, some areas of business, some foreign languages, etc.
  • You are more than an entry-level student or new grad; the more experienced you are, the rarer you may be, and the more likely an employer is to pay an outside agency to find you.
  • You have identified those who serve specific industries or career fields (headhunters usually emerge from specific settings and use their knowledge to bring value back to employers in the same settings.)

Researching headhunters et al.

Use Indeed, Simply Hired and other “aggregators” to find position listings from these external agencies and then visit the web sites of these organizations to find more opportunities.

Check out the Online Recruiters Directory and RON, the Recruiters Online Directory to find who serves your field or industry.

Happy hunting!

Why #stayinCNY?

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By Shannon Feeney and Kim Brown

Photo of Syracuse's Clinton Square by Steve Sartori

Next week, Career Services will host our very first Downtown Tour, introducing a group of 20 undergraduate students to what it’s like to call Central New York (CNY) home. We still have a few spots left for this very exciting opportunity! On the fence about signing up? Don’t be! Stop by Career Services today to secure your spot for April 13th. Here’s why.

Our Downtown Tour will begin with a ride to Armory Square on the Connective Corridor bus. You’ll get to tour and visit some of Syracuse’s top employers: O’Brien & Gere, KS&R, and Eric Mower and Associates.  You’ll hear about job opportunities in Syracuse from alumni who chose to stay here after graduation and will discuss all of the exciting ways that CNY is growing.  In addition, you’ll enjoy a delicious, free lunch at Lemon Grass, one of Armory Square’s most upscale restaurants. The day will wrap up with a visit to the Tech Garden to hear about all of the affordable (and really nice!) housing options in Syracuse, as well as all of the great festivals our city is known for, from the Downtown Committee.

So why do people choose to #stayinCNY? We thought we’d pose the question on Twitter, to drum up some excitement about our Downtown Tour. While the hashtag (and title of our blog post) is short, the list of responses we got to our question was very, VERY long!

We (Shannon and Kim) are both SU grads who didn’t grow up here, but chose to make Central New York our home after graduation. We both had huge smiles on our faces as we saw the responses pour in, many of them with similar reasons to the ones that kept us here! CNY Central’s Michael Benny even turned #stayinCNY into a news story! Thanks Michael!

Here is just a sample of the tweets that came in, but there are many, many more – so be sure to click on #stayinCNY to see them all!

@erobinso4444: My family and friends are still here, I love the area, and there are lots of things to do within 1 hr of the city #stayinCNY

@nwenderlich: I chose to #stayinCNY b/c I was embraced by the community and felt I could make a positive change. Syracuse has become my home.

@amandaseef: I left for 2 yrs and came back to #stayinCNY. Best decision of my life. Good mix of rural and city, tight communities. Love it!

@erintochelli: I chose to #stayinCNY b/c of all the places and things here! Armory, SU, Greek Fest, Beak & Skiff, Jazz Fest, Zoo, NYS Fair, Beaver Lake etc

@bsio: I choose to #stayinCNY because I can have a direct impact on making the region great

@jamierwhite: I chose to #stayinCNY bc we can customize/share our experiences, and unlimited potential of the area

@danklamm: I chose to #stayinCNY for the career opportunities, sense of community, and low cost of living. By deciding to #stayinCNY, I was able to pay off undergrad loans quickly and get out of debt, giving me more mobility later.

@michaelbenny: After 12 yrs it is home! I think it decided 4 me. Great job, great life.#stayinCNY I recall thinking I’d be here 2 years!!

@kristysmorol: I #stayinCNY because you can find almost anything here. you may have to search for it, but it’s always there

@syrarts: Where else could we find the huge range of affordable arts & cultural activities that we’ve got here? #stayinCNY

@gregmunno: Why I #stayinCNY: Diversity, access, people. Everson to Green Lakes, SU to Skaneateles, Armory to Ithaca. It’s all here for the taking.

@lpavlus8: I choose to #stayinCNY bc of the beautiful fall foliage, the affordability & the opps to make noticeable changes in the community.

Students: we hope you’ll consider joining our Downtown Tour on April 13th after reading through those and all of the other great responses. Remember, space is limited for the event, so be sure to stop by Career Services ASAP to sign up!

Alumni Speaker Series continues with exhibits, ESPN, and engineering!

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By Kim Brown, Alumni Programs Coordinator

A former SU football player turned vice president of the company that designed the Melo Center’s Orange Basketball Hall of Fame…

An ESPNU host and play-by-play announcer who got his start at WAER and was a finalist on ESPN’s reality show Dream Job while studying at SU…

And a 2009 alumna who is now a reliability and maintainability engineer for Raytheon, with some great perspective to share!

We are thrilled to welcome three more alumni back to campus as our Alumni Speaker Series wraps up for the semester. Why attend these events? Because our alumni have career connections that can help you; they have advice on what you can expect when you’re coming out of SU and trying to land your first job; and they bleed orange like you wouldn’t believe and are anxious to help students with one of the most important parts of your life – your career!

Brian Tarrant
Wednesday, April 4th, 5:30PM
Tobin Lab, Melo Center
Brian Tarrant ’96 was recruited to SU to play football and studied sociology as a student here. He is now Division Vice President at MC2, a leading event and exhibit marketing company. His company designed the Orange Basketball Hall of Fame at the Melo Center. Brian will share his career path and offer advice/inspiration to students at 5:30 p.m. inside the Melo Center’s Tobin Lab, with a reception to follow in the Hall of Fame area.
**SPACE FOR THIS EVENT IS LIMITED AND STUDENTS MUST SIGN UP IN ORANGELINK. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND AND DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO ORANGELINK, PLEASE EMAIL KIM BROWN AT kmbrow04@syr.edu***

Anish Shroff
Friday, April 20th, 2:30PM
Herg Auditorium, Newhouse 3
Anish graduated from Newhouse with a degree in Broadcast Journalism in 2004 and is now an ESPNU Host and play-by-play announcer for ESPNU Thursday night college football games. Shroff was featured on ESPN’s second season of the reality show Dream Job in 2004 and advanced to the final three contestants. He will share details of his career path with students, as well as offer advice on finding success in the competitive world of sports broadcasting. We look forward to welcoming him back to campus as part of our Alumni Speaker Series in partnership with Alumni Relations and the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month planning committee.

Jennifer Zhao
Monday, April 23rd, 7:00PM
Hall of Languages, Room 107
Jennifer Zhao graduated from LC Smith in 2009 and is now a Reliability and Maintainability Engineer for Raytheon. The students who are part of APA month planning are truly excited to welcome her back to share her career advice at this event. More details coming soon!

Hope to see you at one or more of these great events! Remember what we always tell you in our office: networking is a must. :)

Don’t forget – The Syracuse Downtown Tour is Friday April 13th from 10am-6pm. Visit companies in the Syracuse area and learn more about what it’s like to live in Syracuse as a young professional!  Check out OrangeLink for more information!

DC Immersion Experience – An awesome Spring Break complete with Orange Fever

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By: Kathryn Banzer, Class of 2014

Instead of packing my bags and hopping on a plane to a Caribbean destination this Spring Break, I had the terrific opportunity of exploring the best places and meeting the finest Syracuse alumni in Washington, DC. Courtesy of The Paul Greenberg House in Washington, DC, Alumni Relations, and Syracuse University Career Services, 19 other students and I enjoyed a jam-packed, yet mind-expanding five days in our nation’s capital.

There is everything and more to love about DC. The city is so young and vibrant, yet cultured and well-established. During our trip, we were treated to the best of the best. The weather was warm and sunny and the beautiful cherry blossoms were just about in full-bloom, creating picturesque scenery. We stayed in the grand Omni Shoreham Hotel and feasted on DC’s most delicious cuisine, including Georgetown Cupcakes and Armand’s Pizza. Our itinerary included trips to the Cato Institute, Capitol Hill, and the Peace Corps. We met with prominent alumni at Google, the FBI training facilities, and the National Zoo. Additionally, Young Alumni Dinners provided the chance to speak with recent graduates who are up-and-coming in their careers. For me, meeting the alumni and other professionals was the most beneficial part of the experience. Not only was it an opportunity to network, but also there was a chance to ask questions.

Another aspect to adore about DC is the Syracuse pride. Although it is Hoya territory, the color orange bleeds true. There is not only SU paraphernalia on the desks of our alumni, but also a very delightful smile appears on their faces at the mere mention of the Orange. It is contagious!

I would like to extend a big thanks to everyone who made this experience so incredible, especially Tracy Tillapaugh, Ellen King, Mike Cahill and Ann Donahue Yockey.

The experience was phenomenal. I gained a tremendous amount of insight on the life and culture in Washington, DC as well as ideas for my future career path. After this trip, two things are for certain: I have never been more proud to be an Orange woman and I will be moving to DC as soon as I graduate.