Tag Archives: interview tips

Network your way to success

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The Capital Alliance of Young Professionals, better known as CAYP, is an organization that was created for professionals in their 20’s and 30’s, giving them a chance to network with others their own age. Many young professionals, who are starting a business or become employed in entry-level positions, have a difficult time furthering themselves in the business world. CAYP organizes networking events as well as service activities that benefit non-profit organizations throughout the capital region. The more people you know, the better off you are.

One of CAYP’s biggest networking events is their Holiday Party on December 14th from 7pm to 10pm. The event is open to members as well

Photo credit to http://albanyalive.com

as non-members. The cost for non-members is $30.00 and the event includes dinner, music, and the comedic stylings of Greg Aidala. If you’ve never attended a CAYP event, this would be a great place to start. You may even see a few Saint Rose alums there! Two of our prestigious alumni are on the CAYP Board of Directors: Schuyler Bull and Brandon Downie. CAYP’s holiday party is sponsored by our very own Saint Rose Office of Graduate Admissions!

If you want to further your career, meet great people, and have fun, become a member of CAYP. The annual fee is only $50 and being a member has its benefits. Members receive discounted event fees (only $20 for the Holiday Party), opportunity to attend quarterly planning meetings with the Board of Directors, listing on the CAYP website with hyperlink to your company’s website, CAYP lapel pin and a membership card for easy registration.

For more information, visit their website. Don’t forget to purchase your tickets to their Holiday Party to see what CAYP is all about!

Meet Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions, Chris Casey.

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The Graduate Admission team is a valuable resource in the admissions process. Assistant Director, Chris Casey, helps prospective students through the application process, recruits students throughout the Northeast, and works with other faculty to create and improve new programs.

Casey, originally from Boston, graduated from SUNY Geneseo with a degree in History, then continued on to earn a Master of Science in Education from SUNY Cortland. He also earned a certificate of advanced study in Program Evaluation at Saint Rose where he currently serves as an Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions. When he is not in the office, Casey enjoys spending time with his wife and his one year old son (they also have daughter on the way). He also spends a lot of his time playing the piano as well as writing and recording music.

Tell us about your typical day as an Assistant Director. What are your responsibilities?

Chris Casey: My main responsibilities as an assistant director are to meet with students and answer phone calls and email inquiries. Beyond that, I manage the recruitment schedule, travel to on campus and off campus events, and manage applications for a number of programs. I also really enjoy working on research and evaluation projects, like analyzing application trends, and helping faculty develop new programs.

What do you enjoy the most in your role as Assistant Director?

CC: My favorite thing about my position is that it is not just one thing, over and over. I am constantly meeting new people and taking part in exciting projects.

What are some of the most common questions you receive from graduate students?

CC: The most common question about applying to graduate school relates to the cost of attendance. We call this the “value proposition.” We know that graduate school at Saint Rose is expensive, but I know that it is worth it. One of my responsibilities is to demonstrate this worth to potential students.

What advice do you have for students who are applying for graduate admission at Saint Rose?

CC: The best advice I could give to an applicant is to do the research about your program and career field. Our faculty wants to admit students who have clear goals in mind and who can convey this in their statement of purpose or interview. Why do you want to be a teacher, or speech pathologist, etc? You should determine this even before looking into graduate school.

If you have any questions about graduate school or the admissions process, please call Graduate Admissions at 518-454-5143 or email grad@strose.edu.

How to succeed in a Skype interview

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Technology is an amazing thing, and believe it or not, the Internet is not only for Google, Facebook, and Twitter. Many colleges around the country are using Skype, and other video chat services, to conduct interviews with prospective students. This type of interview benefits students who do not live in the area, such as students, from the U.S. and international students.

A Skype interview may sound like a dream come true. You may think that you are able to interview without the added pressure of making yourself presentable. This, of course, is a common misconception. Skype interviews are just as important as if you were walking into an office. Here are 10 tips to succeed in a Skype interview:

1.) Be aware of your surroundings. The interviewer is able to see what’s next to you and what’s behind you. Straighten up your room. Remove the clutter, all the wine, cigarettes, stack of papers, or anything else you wouldn’t normally bring with you to an interview. Sit at a desk if you have one. The interviewer will then see you in a professional manner. It shows that you’re organized and confident.

Photo credit to http://article.wn.com

2.) Dress to impress. Although you’re not in the same room with your interviewer, they will still be judging your appearance, so you want to look professional. A nice blouse. A button-up shirt. A suit jacket. A tie. Wear what you would wear to an in-person interview. (If you want to keep your pajama bottoms on, that will be our little secret).

3.) Do a test run. Skype with a friend or contact your Career Center to see if they offer mock Skype interviews. Make sure you’re surrounded by enough light. Make sure they can hear you clearly. Have the person on the other end ask you a few questions and answer them in the way  you would in the interview. They will be able to give you feedback on your interview skills, visibility, tone of voice, and volume. They will be able to see what the interviewer will see. It will give you a chance to fix something before it becomes a problem.

4.) Close all other applications. Technology is often unpredictable. You don’t want to have to explain that you were watching The Hunger Games last night because the movie starts playing mid-interview. You don’t want “Ghangnam Style” to start blasting when you hit the space bar and set off iTunes by accident. Closing all other applications will help avoid that awkward, flustered moment during the interview.

5.) Look into the camera. Don’t look at the image of the interviewer. Don’t look at the thumbnail video of yourself. By looking at the images as opposed to the camera, the interviewer will see your eyes wandering. Eye contact is very important, even in a Skype interview, but in this case it’s eye contact with the camera, not the interviewer.

6.) Be ready for a technological hiccup. Keep your laptop plugged in to avoid a dead battery. Keep a fully-charged phone (on silent) and the contact information for the interviewer next to you at all times during the interview just in case the Skype call is lost.

7.) Speak slowly and carefully. On Skype, there is often a lag in the video, so wait for the interviewer to finish talking before you chime in. Waiting for them to completely finish their sentence gives you a few more seconds to think about what you’re going to say. Take advantage of the fact that you’re video chatting. Use those small gaps of time to collect your thoughts.

8.) Check your username. Your username is the first thing the interviewer sees. Make sure it is professional. Preferably your Skype name should contain your first and last name. Avoid: HoneyBunches, DevilQT, McKracken, or Wino54. Keep it professional.

9.) Minimize outside noise. Put the kids in another room, shut off the TV, put the barking dog outside, and lock yourself in a room. Even the slightest sound can carry through Skype, making it difficult to hear the person on the other side.

10.) Last but not least, prepare your interview materials in an organized fashion, making it easy for you to access them during the interview if necessary. Have your resume, cover letter, references, writing samples, and anything else you may need right in front of you. You’re better off being overly prepared than under-prepared.

Graduate adventures at the Career Carnival

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Last Thursday, I walked through campus and found a sea of bustling students holding snow cones and cotton candy. A large orange sphere, named the Smile Monster, was walking around getting his picture taken with Saint Rose students. There was a large tent in the center of the Quad with a ton of people underneath it. The crowd of people was there to attend the Career Carnival hosted by the Career Center on campus.

Saint Rose students enjoying the Career Carnival and free snacks

The event was organized by graduate students Kailah Borchers and Sabrina Leonard, who are both Graduate Assistants in the Career Center while working on their graduate degrees in College Student Services Administration.

“We put together the career carnival today as a part of WOW [Week of Welcome] for incoming freshman, and even for students who are still on campus, who might not be familiar with the Career Center and what we do,” said Leonard.

There were five different games that students could participate in.

“There is one game covering each area that we try to go over with students at the Career Center,” said Kailah Borchers.

After completing each game, you were given a ticket which could be exchanged for prizes. I decided to play them all.

The first booth I stopped at was a game to teach students how to dress for an interview and how to dress in the workplace. The game had a variety of magazine-clipped clothing options from which to choose. I had to design an outfit that would best fit each situation. I learned that blazers are a closet staple when applying for jobs. They can be casual and professional.

The second game was a tarot reading. There were four cards to choose,

“Show Your True Colors” Tarot card reading.

and each card displayed a different picture. I was asked to choose the photo that best represented me. I chose green. I learned that choosing that color meant that I have a great amount of personal drive and want to succeed in the workplace. I tell it like it is, whether or not it’s something they want to hear. I am determined. All of which is true.

The third booth was a trivia game. I was asked a couple of questions about resumes.

True or False: Completed resumes should be about 1-2 pages long.

Answer: True! Any longer than that and you’re just bragging.

The fourth game tested your interview skills. I spun the multi-colored ”Wheel of Questions” and landed on the color red. Red meant that I, the interviewee, had to ask a question of the interviewer. At the end of an interview, you will always be asked if you have any questions. Personally, I never know what to say at the end of an interview, so this booth was particularly helpful for me. At the end of an interview, you should always have at least one question for the interviewer. The question should be positive. Something that shows you’re happy about the opportunity to work for that company. For example: Why they chose to work for the company or what is their favorite part about working for the company? What is the office culture like? What training opportunities are available? Etc. Topics to avoid include: salary questions, benefits, and promotion opportunities.

The fifth and final stop was the Plinko bonus round. I was asked what three things I learned by playing these games.

1.) I learned how to better present myself in an interview.

2.)  I learned how to prepare for an interview.

3.) I learned that the Career Center isn’t just for undergraduate students.

The Smile Monster and I playing “Dress to Impress”

The event may have been directed towards incoming freshman, but the Career Center is an important tool for students to utilize every step of the way. They conduct mock interviews, help hone your resume, locate internships, and assist the student transition from college to the real world.

“I would suggest that graduate students come in right when they start their graduate career. It’s important to update your resume as you go. Come in and talk about internships. The more internships you have, the more marketable you’re going to be in the field,” said co-organizer Sabrina Leonard.

“Unfortunately, a lot of grad students approach job searching as a reactive thing. ‘Oh, I’m graduating now, I really should start searching’. We try and push the fact that it is a proactive thing. You should be looking, planning, developing, and networking the whole time so that when you graduate, it’s just the next step, it’s not a huge process that you have to go through,” said Kailah Borchers.

For those of you who, like myself, are just beginning life as a graduate students, now is the time to visit the Career Center. For those who have been at Saint Rose for awhile, it is never too late to get started. Contact the Career Center today!