Career Development Center Corner

By Alexandra Koulouris

Social Media Marketing Intern for the Career Development Center

The Career Development Center kicked off the semester with our first virtual career fair in September, "Meet the Firms." There were 19 organizations connecting with Stonehill's accounting majors to discuss internship and job opportunities. If you missed the event or are seeking other opportunities in your field of interest, we have some exciting news for you.

Over the next few months, there will be three more exciting job and internship fair opportunities for a variety of interests. These fairs will allow students to connect with professionals in both small groups and one on one sessions. Many of our programs look different this year, but they remain extremely valuable for your professional development! Virtual events do exactly the same things they would if they were in person; they give you opportunities to speak with companies and organizations that want to recruit and hire Stonehill students. It is important to take advantage of these events because they will provide you with opportunities to learn about a variety of organizations, including companies and graduate programs.

“Career fairs are a great opportunity to meet and talk with organizations you’re interested in. Especially now when everything is virtual and you’re not getting that face-to-face conversation that you’d usually get on-campus,” Riley Donovan, the CDC’s Employer Relations Intern, said.

On October 14th from 11am-1pm, there will be a Social Services Career Fair hosted by Stonehill on Handshake’s Virtual Career Fair platform. This event is open to all class years and majors, and is perfect for anyone interested in exploring a career/job or internship in counseling, health education/healthcare, applied behavior analysis, counseling/therapy, social work, foster care, mental health, family intervention and services, substance abuse treatment, speech language pathology, non-profit management, advocacy, education, or law enforcement. There will be more than 20 organizations and graduate schools present including Amego Inc., Bridgewater State University, Justice Resource Institute, Proven Behavior Solutions, RCS Learning Center, South Bay Community Services, The New England Center for Children, United Way of Greater New Bedford, United Way of Tri-County, William James College, and YOU Inc..

Coming up next, on October 28th from 2pm-4pm, we will be hosting a Internship Fair, again, using Handshake’s virtual platform. This opportunity is open to ALL CLASS YEARS & MAJORS!

Donovan encourages everyone to attend, “It’s so easy, and it could open up so many different opportunities for you.”

This fair will give you a chance to connect with organizations who are hiring for spring, summer, and fall 2021 internships in diverse fields. Attendees can meet with employers in small group sessions or one-on-one with recruiters.

Additionally, we will be hosting a Healthcare Career Fair on November 10th from 2pm-4pm. Like the others, it will take place on Handshake’s Virtual Career Fair Platform. This event is open to all majors and class years, and it is perfect for anyone interested learning more about opportunities in the healthcare industry. Many employers, alumni and graduate schools will be present for students to connect with to learn about the different career paths in the healthcare field, including both clinical and non-clinical tracks. Check Handshake as it gets closer for additional information to help you prepare for the event. You'll want to be sure to check out the list of organizations that you'll get to meet!

We hope you're as excited about the upcoming career fairs as we are! More information and registration details can be found at http://www.stonehill.joinhandshake.com.

“You should take advantage of the career fairs when they’re offered, especially now when this is most likely going to be your biggest opportunity for networking and getting to know certain companies you might want to work for” Donovan said.

Career fairs are an ideal way to expand your network and establish new connections, so we hope you will take advantage of our virtual opportunities this fall! Go explore, discover, and engage!

In order to help you prepare for these amazing networking opportunities, we’ve compiled a list of tips for navigating virtual career fairs. These are some of the best practices to help you present yourself well, even through a computer screen!

1. Research the Event

· Do your research ahead of time to figure out which companies & employers will be present

· Register in advance for meetings and sessions with the organizations that are most exciting to you

2. Do your Homework

· Once you decide which companies you want to speak with, research these companies in depth so you know what they're hiring for, and check them out on social media to learn more about the company culture

· Prepare a handful of questions to ask each company based on your research. Think of specific questions about the company such as, “What are the company’s values? When choosing employees/interns, what characteristics do you look for to represent these values?”

3. Dress to Impress

· Wear your best professional outfit (I.E. a button down shirt or blouse, a tie for men, subtle accessories for women)

· Even though only your shirt and face will be visible, you should complete the look by wearing appropriate pants & shoes. Remember, when you look good, you feel good!

4. Set the Scene

· Make sure your background is neutral & distraction-free

· Find a spot that is quiet so you can listen and speak without interruption

5. Showcase your Experiences

· Revisit your resume and LinkedIn profile to ensure it is updated with your recent experiences

· Update your Handshake profile, as this will be visible to the companies at the fair

· Be sure you've added a recent profile pic!

6. Register in Advance

· Make sure you have registered in advance so you aren't scrambling the day of

7. Log in Early

· Don't wait until the last minute to log in and test your tech

· Be on time for your sessions to help make a great first impression

As always, our Career Development Center team is here to support you every step of the way through this journey. Reach out and visit us during Drop-In Hours for last minute questions or tips!