Fairfield University has a ton of amazing resources on campus to help prepare for life after college. The Career Planning Center, located inside the Kelley Center, is staffed with the best career counselors who are ready to assist with all of our post-college preparation needs.
Stephanie Gallo is the Associate Director in the Academic and Career Planning Center. She recently sat down with HC to dish out all the tips and resources Career Planning has to offer!
HC: What does your job entail as a career counselor?
Steph: As a counselor, I meet regularly with students (freshman-seniors) to help them understand their options for the upcoming years. I also help with LinkedIn and resumes/cover letters, depending on the student’s needs. I also teach sophomore success which is a career development seminar, along with redefining leadership. We are the jack-of-all-trades in the career center.
HC: What services does Career Planning provide for students?
Steph: Career Planning offers individual counseling for students. We also offer career assessments, which help students who don’t know what they want to do get a sense of who they are, and what they are good at. Interview prep and help with the job search process is also a part of what the career planning center has to offer. We also help alumni, so even after you graduate you still have access to career planning. With this, career planning also provides academic counselors to help students with class selection, deciding on a major, and manage peer-to-peer tutoring.
HC: How should a student begin the process of creating a resume?
Steph: We have handouts on Orgsync, but in general the process consists of making a list of all the jobs and leadership positions you have had. From there you format the list and add detailed bullets explaining what each position entailed.
HC: When students come in to see you what is the most common mistake you notice on their resumes?
Steph: They use templates that are impossible to change over time. Resumes should be updated and altered depending on the position you are applying for. Also, in general, I sometimes see resumes that are built for people with more experience and that has to do with the template being used. Students tend to have difficulty using effective “action verbs,” to explain bullets about the position. Spelling and grammar mistakes probably happen the most.
HC: Can you explain the basics of a good cover letter?
Steph: Knowing that the cover letters purpose is to tailor why you are right for the job and what makes you unique for the position. Students should be writing a different cover letter for every position they apply for.
HC: What is an elevator pitch? When will students use this?
Steph: Number one question in an interview is “tell me about yourself”, so your elevator pitch should answer that question. It is a short 60-second pitch about who you are and how you would fit into the job. If you were applying to Cosmopolitan, you would speak of what makes you unique and what you are involved in that is relevant to the company. Also, your elevator pitch can be used at career fairs when you are meeting future employers. Elevator pitches are different depending on what you are interviewing for.
HC: How important is networking and how should students go about this process?
Steph: Networking is paramount, it is so important. Networking comes easier to some people. If you are introverted it may be hard, but it is not something to shy away from. First and foremost, sit down and write a list of your network, which can include family, friends, professors etc. It is important to know what you are networking for. It could be for an internship, or to learn about other jobs. LinkedIn is huge and with the alumni tool it is so easy to network. People feel like they don’t have a network. The office teaches students that you can build a network even if you don’t think you have those connections.
HC: How can students make an appointment in Career Planning? When should students start seeing a career counselor?
Steph: The best way is to call the office at (203) 254-4081. The best time for a student to see a career counselor depends on the student’s specific needs, but the sooner the better. Some students come freshman year, but by minimum students should come see a counselor by second semester of their sophomore year.
For more information about Career Planning and to learn about upcoming events, visit Orgsync.