Category Archives: Networking

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!

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.

Happy birthday to ‘CuseConnect! Are YOU connected?

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By Kim Brown, Alumni Programs Coordinator

We have a lot to cheer about these days! Our basketball team’s winning, this summer-like weather has the Quad PACKED, and…‘CuseConnect is now seven months old!

What’s ‘CuseConnect? It’s the LinkedIn group that Career Services launched on August 19th, 2011 to connect SU students with SU alumni, as well as alumni with fellow alumni, for career advice and job/internship opportunities. In the past seven months, we’ve grown to nearly 2,700 student and alumni members! Are YOU one of them?

Students do need to attend an orientation here in Career Services before your request to join will be accepted. You can sign up for an orientation in OrangeLink (accessed through MySlice). If the times don’t work for you, just give our office a call at 315-443-3616 to set up an orientation with me (Kim Brown) at a time that’s convenient for you.

Alumni are accepted to the group as soon as we see your requests to join. Joining the group says that you’re willing to be contacted (via LinkedIn messages) by students and fellow alumni as they explore different careers, opportunities at your companies, advice on what it’s like to live and work in certain cities, and more. It’s a phenomenal way to “give back.” I can’t tell you how many students have e-mailed me to say what great connections they’ve made or have stopped by my office with bright eyes to share the story of a great informational interview they had with an SU grad they found in ‘CuseConnect. THANK YOU to our alumni who’ve already come on board!

Courtesy: LinkedIn

The top industries represented in ‘CuseConnect (but our group certainly isn’t limited to these!) are:

  • Marketing and Advertising
  • Information Technology and Services
  • Public Relations and Communications
  • Financial Services
  • Higher Education
  • Law Practice

What you’ll find inside the group is a vibrant discussion board filled with all kinds of career-related topics. Under the “Jobs” tab, click on “Job Discussions” to find (and post!) job and internship opportunities for our ORANGE family.

If you’re on Twitter, we’re also using #HireOrange when we post jobs/internships from SU alumni specifically for SU students and fellow alumni. Be sure to check it out!

Do you have a SUccess story to share as a member of ‘CuseConnect? Have suggestions on how we can make the group more useful? Please let us know by leaving a comment below!

Spring Break Tips

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Stop and smell the flowers AFTER following up on this advice!

By Jeff D’Andria, Graduate Assistant

At Career Services, we understand the importance of resting up during spring break, but here are a few small things you can do to make a gigantic impact on your future. After all, your future doesn’t take breaks.

Your spring break to do’s:

  1. Add one new person to your network. The best tool for researching and contacting persons of interest is LinkedIn. Check out two groups on LinkedIn: ‘Cuse Connect and the Syracuse University Alumni Network. Once you’re accepted to these groups, click on the “members” tab and identify people you’d like to contact for an informational interview. Outside of those two groups, you can utilize the “advanced” search function to find people that went to S.U. and  currently work at the companies you’re interested in. Reach out!
  2. Reconnect with one person in your network. After you make contacts, it’s important to keep in touch. Send an email to catch up by asking what they’ve been up to and be sure to inform them of your latest updates. There’s a big difference between being in touch three times a year vs. once a year. You don’t want to be “that person” asking for a favor after being completely out of touch. Check in!
  3. Apply to one position. If you’re graduating this May and looking for a job or simply need a summer internship, the time to apply is now. For the job search, check out indeed.com and many other job search engines on our website. For you internship seekers, NYJobsource lists companies and organizations to intern with in New York City. Here are a number of other internship sources on our website. And no matter what, remember to customize your resume and cover letter to the positions you’re applying for each time you apply.

After completing these to do’s you’ll have made one new contact, reconnected with another and applied to one dream opportunity. Get these things done and you’ll be way ahead of your competition that snoozed during the break.

We’ll be in the office over Spring Break so stop in if we can help! Drop Ins are Monday – Friday from 1-2:30pm and appointments are still available.

Don’t fall off the interviewer’s radar!

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By Tracy Tillapaugh (and Katie Conrad)

Write a thank you note.  Why, you ask?

  • It gives you a chance to remind the employer that you’re still interested
  • It shows your maturity and professionalism
  • You will stand out from the other applicants-many people don’t write thank you notes!

Don’t be tardy for the party…
Send the note within 24 to 48 hours of the interview via email to ensure that the employer receives it. Mailing a thank you letter is helpful but might not reach the interviewer in time.

Just say it!
Say thank you directly and restate your interest in the position.

Reaffirm the match.
Whether you send your thank you note via email or snail mail, send something specific that reaffirms why you’re a great candidate for the position.

Good luck!  It’s good to know that you’ve done all you can!

Senior Session Recap: Social Media Networking

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By Lauren Wannermeyer, Career Services Intern

Dan Klamm and Kim Brown presented a very informative session on Social Media Networking for the last Senior Session on Wednesday, 2/22.

Did you know that 75% of employers search online for job candidates? That’s huge! A little known fact is that social media profiles are generally the top results when you search someone’s name online. If you are on any social networks, employers will be able to find them (try it out for yourself!). Kim went on to explain how you can use that to your advantage. It has been said that “If you’re not on LinkedIn, you do not exist professionally.” When used correctly, LinkedIn can be one of the first results that comes up in a search for your name. Be sure to make your LinkedIn the best possible representation of you and customize your URL to contain your name.

Use 'CuseConnect to network with alumni!

Once you’re all set up on LinkedIn, it can be a powerful tool (even without paying for a professional account). You can use it to find Syracuse University alumni who work at companies you like and even connect to someone you might not otherwise and apply for positions. The trick is to join groups and follow companies to get to know individuals in your future field. Start with the Syracuse University Alumni Network group (yes, you can join if you’re a current student) and check out ‘CuseConnect on the Career Services website to see if you’re interested in joining. After a short orientation, you can get all set up to connect with alumni who are looking to help you out. If you want more help setting up LinkedIn and learning how to use it, don’t hesitate to stop by Career Services drop-ins!

Dan went on to talk about how Twitter can help you connect to potential employers. Dan said that “The benefit of Twitter is that there are no walls.” You can reply to anyone, even if they’re not following you and they will see it and more than likely respond. The caveat is that you have to keep your account public if you want to use Twitter for networking purposes. You can connect to people that you might not otherwise have any other way of connecting with. A great way to do this is by participating in a Twitter chat. There are multiple ones held regularly. All different kinds of people attend. If you find one with a topic that interests you, you can connect with other like-minded people and possibly make connections that could one day land you a job. You wouldn’t be able to successfully accomplish this if your account is private because then people would not even be able to see your replies unless you’ve allowed them to follow you. There is much more to learn about Twitter, but try it out and get connected to the millions of people already tweeting!

Social networks get a bad reputation when people use them inappropriately. Representing yourself well on social networks can make all the difference in your job search. It can help employers get an idea about what kind of person you are before even meeting you. Be sure to keep this in mind as you’re using social networks for recreation purposes!

Don’t forget – TOMORROW, February 29, Career Services and the Office of Multicultural Affairs are hosting ‘Diversity: A Dinner & Dialogue.’  Take this opportunity to engage in lively discussion about diversity in the workplace, connect with employers, and eat some delicious dinner!  STUDENTS MUST RSVP ON ORANGELINK.

SU alumna Lan Luan shares her “Path of Detours” at SU

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By Bonnie Kong, SU Senior

Lan Luan, who received her master’s degree from the L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science in 2004, spoke to students about her career path this past Tuesday as part of SU’s Alumni Speaker Series. Bonnie Kong was in the audience.

Lan Luan G'04

Growing up, Lan Luan had a straight career path in mind: go to America for college, major in business, and work in financial services. However, a few detours drove her off that track. Instead of going to school first in America, she attended a university in Singapore. Instead of majoring in business, she majored in computer science. Instead of working in financial services, she worked for Microsoft. Each detour, Lan told us, made her life more fulfilling. While in Singapore, she picked up international ballroom dancing, a hobby she still continues. She majored in computer science at SU because her scholarship was limited to STEM fields. At Microsoft, she is a senior product manager, responsible for the quality of ads on Bing. Thus, where she is now is far from her initial track, but she is not complaining. She has enjoyed every moment of it and made the best of every situation. At Microsoft, Lan manages a large team of employees, but still has time to go hiking and be enrolled in Wharton’s Executive MBA program.

Lan Luan speaking to students

Lan’s experiences have defined her as a person and have taught her to adapt quickly. Although Lan’s presentation attracted a large number of international and engineering students, she gave advice that is applicable to any student. In some instances, Lan felt disadvantaged because of her accent or as a woman in a male-dominated field. But she was able to see and act beyond that. In fact, being an international student played to her advantage because she understood international markets. Additionally, as an international student in America or working overseas, she adjusted to American life smoothly because of her willingness to interact with Americans. Lan’s ability to adapt appealed to employers.

What impressed me the most about Lan’s career path was that she was passionate about her work despite straying far from her original route. She encouraged students to show authenticity and passion, qualities that are not only key to being successful in any industry, but also to being happy in life. Lan’s career path proved that there are numerous paths and opportunities in life. The right one is the one that you choose to take.

The Alumni Speaker Series continues on March 27th, as we welcome Theo Moll back to Syracuse University. Theo represents professional and celebrity speakers as Vice President of Keppler Speakers’ College and University Division. On April 4th, we’ll welcome Brian Tarrant, who is a Vice President at MC2 Events, Exhibits and Environments. His company designed the Melo Center’s Hall of Fame. Hope to see you at these great events!

Job Search Secrets: A Senior Session Recap

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Follow along at #GetHired12 on Twitter!

By Lauren Wannermeyer, Intern at Syracuse University Career Services

Last week, Career Services’ Associate Director Chuck Reutlinger shared his best job searching secrets.  He brings a unique perspective to the job search as a former recruiter and outplacement consultant who has worked in the Career Services office for several years. Here’s a re-cap of what we learned!

Just in Time
Reutlinger started by clarifying that most companies take a “just in time” approach to their hiring strategies. They don’t often plan in advance. Companies like to hire people they know or people they have met previously thanks to referrals. Interning allows you to meet people and build a relationship that can get you connected to companies you could potentially work for or professionals who could potentially refer you to their contacts. Not only should you be completing internships, but you should consider networking an important step to meeting people. Many companies give their employees monetary incentives for referring or recruiting new talent. Even completing a post-graduation internship can be a great foot in the door to a great company for your first real-world job.

Work Locally
Another important note about the “just in time” approach to hiring is that companies often look for local candidates. If you’re looking for a career in a specific city, you should keep in touch with friends and family in the area. They might be the first to hear about opportunities and can also help you adjust to life in a new place. 70-80% of positions are not advertised and, even then, many of them are not widely advertised. So if you know what job you’re looking for, put out feelers early. You never know when a posting might go out or a friend or relative might hear of something.

Job Advertisements
You also should be wary of job advertisements. Many times, postings are not entirely up to date; even if they are, the job might not actually be available. In order to aid their “just in time” hiring approach, companies like to have a supply of resumes on hand for potential future openings. So even if you send in your resume to an advertised position, there are still no guarantees that it will even be considered. Frustrating, right? Be sure to make sure your resume is scannable and contains the key words that companies might be looking for (hint: these works can be found in the job description!).

Don’t forget: this week’s Senior Session on Networking: Why #SocialMedia is a Must, featuring @kimincuse and @danklamm, will be held TOMORROW, Wednesday, 2/22, at 3:30pm in Hall of Languages 207. Questions? Email ttillapa@syr.edu or tweet @tracytilly. Can’t make it? Follow along on Twitter by searching #GetHired12.

There are just a few short months before graduation so make sure to stop in for a drop in or make an appointment to talk about your individual job search (or graduate school application). We’re happy to help as you transition into the real world.