Category Archives: Networking

Spring Break in Suits: DC Immersion 2013

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MHA-WhiteHouse

Malcolm, Hannah, and Amanda in front of the White House on a rainy day!

By Amanda Day, Class of 2015

While my friends headed down to Punta Cana and Panama City Beach this Spring Break, I was doing something a bit more productive. Nineteen of my fellow students and I were given an opportunity to explore Washington D.C. and to meet some of the remarkable Syracuse University alumni who call D.C. home. Thanks to the Paul Greenberg House in Washington D.C., Alumni Relations, and Career Services, we spent our break running around D.C. experiencing what life is like in our nation’s capital. By the time the trip was over, we were all exhausted, but the experience was incredible. I wouldn’t trade my Spring Break trip for the sunniest island on the Caribbean.

I’ve always loved Washington D.C., but our trip opened my eyes to everything the city really has to offer. It’s a city that offers a fast-paced life and beautiful views. Washington D.C. is without a doubt one of the most breath-taking cities I have ever seen. On our Monuments by Moonlight tour that kick started our trip, we got to experience the beauty of the city after dark, seeing all of the historic monuments of D.C. in a new light. In the time we spent walking around the city, there was always something amazing to see.

DC 2013 - Capitol

DC Immersion 2013

What I believe to be the most important part of our trip to D.C. was meeting Syracuse alumni who live and work there. On our trip we got the opportunity to talk to some of the most incredible people who graduated from Syracuse University and went on to a life in Washington. From Google to the F.B.I. we met amazing alumni from all different fields of work. We got a taste for various work environments and what different jobs entail. But perhaps the most valuable part of our visits with alumni was the advice they offered us. Though every alumnus had unique advice, one message was consistent: the importance of connecting. Reaching out and connecting to people is crucial to building a future. They also advised us to work hard, be involved on campus, and to not stress too much about our futures. All of the alumni we met on our trip inspired me tremendously.

Our Spring Break in D.C. was a phenomenal experience that I will never forget. We were given the opportunity to network, ask questions, and learn a lot about life in Washington. I personally have a whole new appreciation for our nation’s capital. By the time our trip came to an end, it was hard to say goodbye. I gained so much from the trip: connections, knowledge, and 19 new friends. Like I said, I wouldn’t trade my Spring Break for anything.

Spring Break: use it to spring ahead on your job search!

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By Kim Brown, Career Services’ Assistant Director, Alumni Programs

Spring Break has arrived! While we’d all love to escape to sandy beaches and sunshine, this week is actually the perfect time to take some significant steps ahead when it comes to your career. Here are a few ways to do that!

Informational Interviews (but you don’t need to call them that…)
Use this week to be productive! Hopefully you’re familiar with LinkedIn and our ‘CuseConnect group. In that group, you can reach out to alumni who, by joining the group, have indicated that they are willing to help you with job search questions and career advice. Identify some alumni you’d like to learn from and don’t hesitate to reach out to them with questions. You can even arrange to meet for a cup of coffee or a brief meeting at their offices during Spring Break.

You may hear these meetings referred to as “informational interviews.” Personally, I’m not a fan of that term. Consider them friendly chats! They offer you a chance to get to know our alumni and the various career paths they’ve followed. Ask questions about how they got where they are today. It can feel a bit intimidating, but just know that your alumni love SU as much as you do and will very likely be willing to help. Remember, too, that these chats don’t NEED to be limited to SU alumni. Meet with friends of your parents, former internship supervisors, etc. The more people you know, the better off you’ll be when it comes to landing your internship or job.

For some advice about the best ways to connect with alumni on LinkedIn, check out this fantastic blog post by Lindsey Pollak.

BigEastHave you heard about the Big East Career Fair?
Nearly 100 companies are registered for the Big East Career Fair, which takes place during Spring Break! While we’re still part of the Big East, Syracuse University students and alumni are encouraged to attend.

Here’s what you need to know:

Who? Employers registered to attend include SONY Music Entertainment, GEICO, Federal Reserve Board, Abercrombie & Fitch, Oracle, First Investors Corporation, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and many more!
What? The Big East Career Fair!
Where? Madison Square Garden, New York
When? Friday, March 15, 2012, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Why? Well…that goes without saying – to land a job and/or internship, of course!
How? To register go to http://www.bigeastcareerfair.org

For more information, to see the full list of companies, and to register for the fair, visit: http://www.bigeastcareerfair.org/

Remember, too, that our office is open during Spring Break and is generally VERY quiet. If you’re staying in Syracuse, break week is the best time to secure an appointment with one of our staff members. Just give the office a call at 315-443-3616.

Entrepalooza: Connecting the Students Who Will Change the World

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Guest blog post by Chelsea Orcutt

As a student, it can be difficult to narrow down all of your passions and interests into a clear career path. You might feel like there’s no career out there that’s perfectly tailored to you.

Why not forge your own path and start your own venture? It’s a daunting task, but Syracuse University offers a variety of resources that will help you turn your great ideas into a reality.

On November 28 at 5:00 p.m., the Milton Atrium in the Life Sciences Complex will be transformed into Entrepalooza, an event featuring entrepreneurs and innovators sharing their ideas and searching for new talent to help move their businesses forward.

This event, fueled by the Raymond von Dran IDEA and the Falcone Center for Entrepreneurship at the Whitman School of Management, aims to connect student startups and local startups with the talent they need to take their businesses to the next level.

Demo Alley at Emerging Talk 2011

Each startup will have a display at Demo Alley, where attendees will have a chance to learn more about what each company does and the skills they’re looking for. The event is structured in a way that a student can walk into Entrepalooza with an idea and walk out with a co-founder. It just takes networking and a desire to innovate.

Entrepalooza provides an excellent opportunity for students to step outside your home colleges and meet others from across campus that have similar interests, valuable skills, and bright ideas.

The event also includes a 60 Second Pitch Competition with a $500 prize, an App Competition, and a $500 award for best table display at Demo Alley. The evening packs in plenty of chances for students to see others’ work and find exciting projects to pursue.

If you’ve caught the entrepreneurship bug and want to start your own venture, or simply want to connect with students with great ideas, Entrepalooza is a can’t-miss event. It’s the perfect way to open your eyes to the innovation and startup culture being cultivated right here on campus.  All you’ve got to do is jump in!

All event details, including a schedule for the evening, can be found here. For more information, contact Tory Gentes at trgentes@gmail.com.

#BethAnnSpeaks: Valuable advice from an SU alumna

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By Lindsey Silverman, Newhouse/iSchool ’15

Beth Ann Kaminkow ’89 speaks to students in Watson Theater

Last Wednesday evening, Beth Ann Kaminkow ’89 packed a large audience of ambitious students into Watson Theater as she discussed her journey to becoming successful in the advertising and marketing industries. She is now the President and Chief Executive Officer of TracyLocke, but she reminded everyone that she started out in the same position as many of us sitting in the crowd. As a Syracuse alumna, Beth Ann knows the ropes and is in the perfect position to give advice to students who are wondering how we can achieve the same level of success.

Be an Architect
This first point that Beth Ann really stressed is that you have the power to pick the direction of your career. She told the students to “think of yourself as the builder and architect of your career.” If you sit back and don’t do anything, nobody will magically create a successful career plan for you. You have to put in the work and create your own personal brand. This is where she pointed to the subject of social media, an area of interest for many Syracuse students. Beth Ann talked about taking the digital tools that we use everyday and transforming the way we use them in order to brand ourselves. All of our social media platforms together allow us to be the curator of our own brands. Beth Ann urged us to “start thinking about yourself as the agency of your own brand.” No matter what point in time, you can still design and change your brand. You are the architect.

Image courtesy of www.coachjohnwooden.com

“Pyramid of Success”
Beth Ann alluded many times to John Wooden as she talked about his “Pyramid to Success.” She continued to urge us to research advice given by Wooden and referred to one of his quotes that seemed to really resonate with us. The quote? “Nothing will work unless you do. “

 

Madonna

One of the last points that stood out to me was when Beth Ann discussed the concept of reinventing yourself. She referred to the prime example of Madonna and explained that if you plan to remain in your industry for a long time you must remain relevant. You need to always be on the lookout for a void in society and think of ways you can fill it. Life is constantly changing, so you must love the change and embrace it.

A Student Perspective

From our hashtracking.com report

I only decided to attend this event at the last minute, but I am so happy I took the time out of my midterm studying to hear Beth Ann speak. Her energy and story were inspiring and made me so excited to start a career in the advertising industry. Everything she said was relatable and valuable, plus it was great to hear her in such a relaxed setting. Students were given time to personally ask her any questions about her story and about the industry in general, and all throughout the event students and faculty were communicating through social media. The hashtag #BethAnnSpeaks on Twitter generated nearly 200 tweets and reached an audience of more than 11,000 people.

I encourage every student to take the time out to hear speakers who you are interested in because you never know what you could learn. Beth Ann made me confident in the fact that I just added a new major in the Newhouse school. With hard work, success is definitely in reach.

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The Alumni Speaker Series is a joint program by Career Services and the Office of Alumni Relations. Mark your calendars for Friday, November 9 when alumna Rachel Chang G’ 03, Editor-in-Chief of J-14 Magazine, will take part in a panel discussion with Newhouse professors Corey Takahashi and Aileen Gallagher on the future of the magazine industry. That takes place at 1:00 p.m. in Schine 304ABC. On Monday, February 11, 2013, we will welcome Jeff Connors ’98, Director of Global Marketing at The Rockport Company, as part of the Alumni Speaker Series. Stay tuned for additional speakers in Spring 2013! For details, contact Kim Brown (kmbrow04@syr.edu).

With a dash of luck (…a blog post about landing a job)

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By Alison Neufang, Class of 2012

The spring semester was a rough one for me. I had one of the toughest classes I’ve taken. I was also taking the capstone advertising course. I was part of three semester-long teams, and we know how much we all love team projects. Mostly, I was just staving off a raging case of senioritis. Suffice it to say, I wasn’t too proactive about finding a job. It was just really easy to procrastinate. Easier than normal.

That’s not to say I wasn’t thinking about it. I was. I attended one career fair where I didn’t find anything that interested me. I thought about what I should be doing, mainly networking and talking to as many HR people as possible. I knew I should be getting a portfolio together.

But when I finished my last final, I had nothing to show. I still needed to update my resume. I still needed to put my portfolio together. I needed to scour the CDC’s newsletters and Monster.com.

But there were some things that I had been doing for my entire college career. I had been building relationships. Not specifically for the purpose of getting a career, because that would just be rude. But I knew that there were people who wouldn’t mind helping me. So the first thing I did was to recruit as many of my professors as I could. I was lucky that a few decided to lend me a hand. They drew on their experience to introduce me to a few people in the industry.

The other thing I had been doing without realizing is learning how to sell myself. I have passion for my chosen career, and I was able to describe where I thought I fit in. So when I was introduced to people in the industry, I could toss aside any nervousness or scripted speech and just talk. I was able to just look at the people I was meeting and tell them why I thought I could help them do what they do, and be happy doing it. Because, you know, no one likes working with a miserable jerk who has to force herself out of bed in the morning.

So here’s the rundown of what I did. I took my final final (what a weird thing, the last act as a college student) and then I had a week until graduation. So I met with my professors and asked for some introductions. I updated my resume one last time. I went to the SUccess in the City networking event and I shook a bunch of hands and collected a bunch of business cards.

They say finding a job is a full-time job, so I worked on my portfolio for about 10 hours a day for 4 days straight. This was a great exercise because it forced me to reflect on the experience I had gained from school. I would recommend every entry-level person has some examples of why they aren’t completely clueless about the position.  Then I scheduled a few interviews.

And then I graduated. I walked that stage and it was one of the happiest days of my life. The next day I had an interview. Then I had lunch with a professor. Then I had another interview. Then another. And then another. By that Friday, I had a job.

So there was a bit of luck. To find a job that quickly is pretty much unheard of. And I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere without a lot of help from some friends. But the main thing I would attribute my success to is my passion. I walked into the interview with enough confidence to say “I belong here,” and enough desire to ensure that my confidence didn’t come off as “ego.”

I wish you all the best of luck in your job search. I’d wish you luck, but you don’t need it.

From college books to Booz Allen…job search tips from a new grad!

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By Ariana Yuen, Class of 2012

As senior year rolled in, I was overwhelmed with the questions, the lecturing and sheer thoughts regarding my post-grad plans. To say that the job search is stressful is an understatement and if you enter senior year without concrete plans (as I did) and are a complete worrywart (as I tend to be), you may experience what I call a quarter-life crisis.

I had sculpted my college career with the intent of going into communications, but come October of my senior year, I pivoted. After a frazzled process of professional “soul searching,” research and brain-picking sessions with people I felt knew me best, I made an unexpected decision to pursue a career in management consulting. Although the job hunt process can be tiresome, demoralizing and metaphysically tumor-esque, there are a myriad of tactics to land a great job while getting the most out of senior year.

Although everyone’s job search will be entirely unique depending on your personality and industry, I have listed the four elements of my job search I felt most beneficial:

1. Research is always beneficial throughout the entire job hunt process. Use research to help understand the industry, companies and job function you’re looking to get into. Sites like Vault and Glassdoor, as well as casual informational interviews with professionals in the field, will give you the best idea of whether or not you’re on the right track for what’s best for you. When you’re networking, research companies before you speak with people to ask more intelligent questions and show a genuine interest in the company. Also, be sure to visit Career Services’ resource page. I wish I had found it earlier!

2. Utilize your resources: Those resources include LinkedIn, alumni databases/‘CuseConnect, OrangeLink, and our very own Career Services office (in Schine 235!). If you tend to be an “I-can-do-it-all-by-myself” type of person (which I am), stop. Although you might be able to land your dream job simply by applying online, your chances are exponentially higher if you leverage your resources. There is so much that Career Services offers that students, including myself, did/do not even realize. Besides resume and cover letter building, there are people who can advise you with career paths, networking, improving online profiles, mock interviews, choosing between multiple offers, negotiations, and many other topics. Pay attention to career-related e-mails so that you are aware of job fairs and deadlines.

3. Network, network, network. This is heavily stressed, yet rarely put into practice by students. It starts with peeling away the common fears of networking: the awkwardness and misconceptions that networking is always “suck-up-y,” artificial and not beneficial unless the person you are networking with is someone with a senior management position. You must get over those fears. Start viewing networking as relationship building and networking now (even if it does not lead directly to a job) can be potentially beneficial to the future, whether you want to transfer jobs X amount of years down the road, or build new business or partnerships on behalf of your company. Don’t be too picky with who you network with. You never know if that entry-level person you’re speaking with is best friends with the HR manager or takes part in the recruitment process. Personally, I found LinkedIn to be most useful. Reach out to SU  alumni – they are generally extremely generous with their time, advice and resources. Follow up and always give your thanks.

4. Be excited about what’s going on in your present and future. Being excited is the best way to balance the stresses of the job search while living up your senior year. Being excited about your job search will make being proactive (whether it’s with your research, networking or actual job applications) less of a hassle and something to get a thrill out of. Yes, I know it sounds mildly strange, but to combat my job search stresses, I began to see networking and my job hunt progress as a game instead of a burdensome struggle. Excitement, most importantly, will give you the perseverance to land your dream job while remaining sane.

These practices, especially school resources and help from alumni, were invaluable to reaching my goal of a career in management consulting. In August, I will start working at Booz Allen Hamilton as an entry-level consultant in the D.C. area and I couldn’t be more excited for this next chapter of my life!

So…you’re going to a networking event?

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By Kim Brown

SUccess in the City DC (a networking event!)

Congratulations on registering for a networking event! One of the biggest anxieties people have about networking events (especially the first one) involves what to expect. This post is meant to take the edge off by offering advice on HOW to network.

Preparing for the event:

  • How will you know who to approach? Do your homework. Ask for a list of attendees before the event. Then, go to LinkedIn to find their pictures and learn a little bit about them beforehand.
  • Practice your self-introduction. This is commonly referred to as an “elevator pitch” because of its brevity. Just include your name and a few key pieces of information about yourself.

Now a few rules:

  • Your nametag goes on your right side. That way, it’s easily visible when you’re shaking someone’s hand.
  • Being a wallflower won’t work. Think about what you have in common with other attendees. If you’re going to a SUccess in the City event, talk about your love for SU to start the conversation! :)
  • Look other people in the eye, LISTEN to what they say, and don’t be afraid to guide them to topics you want to talk about. No one wants to talk about the weather for 10 minutes straight unless you’re networking in an effort to become a meteorologist.

What to talk about/how to start conversations:

  • Try asking a question. If you’ve done your research ahead of time, this should be pretty easy. Questions are much easier to ask than you think. Trust me.
  • Try making a statement. “This is such a gorgeous space.” “It’s awesome to see so many Syracuse grads in the same place.” Just make a statement and let the person you’re talking to play off of it. Again, easier than it sounds.

So how do I “get away”?

Have you run out of things to say? Are you anxious to talk to someone else? It’s OK to leave the conversation…politely.

  • It’s OK to say “I see my friend (or my colleague) so-and-so over there. I’m going to go catch up with her.” You can also tell the other person that you’d like to get a little more to eat or drink or perhaps just excuse yourself to use the restroom. All of those work as excuses to “get away.”
  • Thank the person before leaving the conversation.

Following up matters:

  • Consider a spreadsheet for your networking. Write down the next step, what you owe whom/what they owe you.
  • Find the person on LinkedIn and send a **personalized** connection note, with a request for a next meeting, if possible.
  • Consider writing a handwritten note (or e-mail, but handwritten is better) to thank particularly helpful connections.

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!

Student perspective: top 5 reasons to #StayinCNY

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By Kathryn Banzer, Sophomore at Syracuse University

Last Friday, I left the comforts of the SU Hill to venture out to the city of Syracuse. Courtesy of SU Career Services, seventeen other students and I had the opportunity to meet with Syracuse alumni and professionals who work, live and play in the CNY area (CNY = Central New York). Our tour included visits to O’Brien & Gere, Eric Mower and Associates, KS&R and to the Tech Garden to meet with the Downtown Committee. In between all of the networking and exploring, we dined at Lemon Grass – one of the finest restaurants in Armory Square.

Our group at O'Brien & Gere

This experience opened my eyes to the job opportunities, living options and social activities available in the CNY region. All of these factors make it an attractive place to settle down after graduation, although it is typically overlooked. Prior to this event, staying in Syracuse past May 2014 didn’t cross my mind, but after exposure to the employment, food and fun available in this city, I am reconsidering. I’ve narrowed it down to the top five reasons to #StayinCNY.

1. Chance to work for some of the country’s leading companies

Eric Mower and Associates, O’Brien and Gere and KS&R are all top-notch companies that rank very highly in their respective fields. In all of these workplaces, you’ll find a refreshing environment with a young staff and plenty of SU pride. Each of these businesses is growing and will prosper in the years to come.

2. Cheap(er) rent

Once May rolls around, recent grads are packing their bags and heading to the nation’s largest cities. With this comes an entry-level job and an expensive (yet tiny) apartment on top of those student loans! The cost of living is significantly lower in CNY, where you can live in a newly renovated apartment downtown or in one of the spacious surrounding suburbs for a much lower price. With the extra cash, one can enjoy…

3. Delectable food and chic shopping

Dessert at Lemon Grass!

In Armory Square alone, almost every ethnic cuisine is represented. From Italian to Japanese and Mediterranean, you can’t go wrong! Especially delicious is Lemon Grass, an upscale Thai dining establishment that serves authentic food, presented beautifully.  And who could protest a little post-meal shopping? The downtown area is chock-a-block with stylish boutiques and shops. Want more? The Carousel Mall is only a bus ride – or Creek Walk – away.   The Downtown Committee, a nonprofit, professional management organization, is also instrumental in ensuring that the region maintains a strong image while continuing to grow and develop.

4. Events, events and more events!

Although the weather can be gloomy and snowy for a significant chunk of the year, Syracuse still finds ways to entertain. Whether it is the New York State Fair in late August, the Guinness Syracuse Irish Festival in September, an SU basketball game or even an event at the Everson Art Museum, there is always something happening.

5. Location, location, location

Syracuse is only a short flight or few-hour drive from metropolitan centers like Toronto, New York City, Boston and Philadelphia!

Many thanks to SU Career Services for coordinating this event and an extra special thanks to Shannon Feeney and Kim Brown for showing us around and providing us with advice. #StayInCNY was a success!

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!