Going to College to Get an Education…….and a Job.

As much as us second semester seniors don’t want to admit it, our undergraduate education is ending this May and we will need jobs. Luckily, Fordham has an abundance of resources and events to help students get just that.

First, there is our Office of Career Services. Here you can have your resumed revised, practice interview skills, and talk to professionals about career options. Many students use Career Services starting as young as Freshman or Sophomore year.  Career Services also hosts on-campus interviews, networking events, and workshops for students.

Second, Career Services manages an online platform only for Fordham students called CareerLink. The major function of CareerLink is internship/job searching. Employers directly post internship and job openings where students can apply.  Students can search by industry, job function, position type and location. There is where I found, applied and eventually accepted an offer for my first internship as a Sophomore.  

Next, Fordham hosts a number of career fairs each semester at both the Lincoln Center and Rose Hill campuses. At these events, about 100 employers typically come and set up their own table to talk to students.  Here, many students make connections for internships and jobs. There are typically three career fairs each semester, with focuses on Finance and Accounting, Arts and Media, and Non-For-Profit/Service. 

The Gabelli School of Business also has a Personal and Professional Development (PPD) center, where there are multiple career advisors for each major. Students simply can make an appointment with either a PPD advisor or their class dean for industry specific career advice. 

Employed!!

So there are an abundance of resources…but are actually students getting jobs?  I currently work part-time at an advertising agency and plan on accepting a full-time offer for post graduation.  Two of my best friends – both Accounting majors – are set with summer internships at EY and PwC for this summer. A Finance major I’m close with landed a full time analyst job with TD Bank, beginning with an on-campus interview in our Career Services office.  I even know a Rose Hill student who had an internship on the Jimmy Fallon show last semester and is now interning at Comedy Central. And keep in mind, these are just a few examples!

Senior Spotlight: Kevin Kosciuk

Picture for my last home swim meet!

Name: Kevin Kosciuk

Hometown: Cheshire, CT

Major: Public Accounting

Graduation date: May 2015

Why did you choose Fordham? 

As a student in the business school, being close to the City was very important in making my decision. All of the other quality schools I looked at were not very close to any cities. Also, coming from the suburbs, I wanted to try something different by living close to NYC.

What clubs/organizations/internships have you been involved in? What has been your favorite experience? 

At Fordham I am a member of the varsity swim team and also a member in Beta Alpha Psi (Accounting Society). Outside of Fordham I have interned twice. Both of my internship experiences were great. I also look forward to my third internship this summer with Deloitte. My favorite experience has been being a part of the swim team at Fordham. It was a good experience to be a part of a team and having others as teammates but also as friends outside of competition.

What do you think is the best resource available to students on campus? 

Career services is the best resource available to students on campus. Although is it not a job placement center, they can always help you out the best they can and point you in the right direction as far as internships and possible job opportunities. They were the ones that fixed up my resume and suggested I join Beta Alpha Psi and that has really helped me throughout my time here at Fordham.

What is your favorite personal memory at Fordham? 

My favorite personal memory of Fordham is the first time that I stepped out on to Eddie’s the spring semester as a freshman. I thought that it was the coolest thing to see all of Fordham hanging out there.

Where is your favorite place to hang out at Fordham or in NYC?

Arthur Avenue is probably my favorite place to hang out around Fordham. The food and the markets in the area are all delicious and it is nice to live so close to it all.

What are your plans/goals/aspirations for post-graduation? 

Post-graduation, I will be attending graduate school for one year here at Fordham to get my Master’s Degree in Professional Accounting. I then aspire to start working for one of the “Big 4” accounting firms in New York.

Senior Spotlight: Savannah Coe

Swimming and Diving Headshot

Name: Savannah Coe

Hometown: Auburn, WA

Major: Biology and Psychology

Graduation date: May 2015

Why did you choose Fordham? During my senior year of high school, I was recruited by Fordham to join the Fordham Women’s Swim and Dive team. I had never even been out to the East Coast before, so the idea of moving 3000 miles away from home was a little daunting. But when I came to visit Fordham the campus was so beautiful and the school was what I wanted both academically and athletically that I decided this was the right school for me.

What clubs/organizations/internships have you been involved in? What has been your favorite experience? During the last four years I have volunteered at Montefiore Children’s Hospital, St. Barnabas Hospital, and the Bronx AIDS Society. I also helped perform genetics research at the Botanical Gardens. However, my favorite experience has been as a member of Peer Health Exchange (PHE). PHE members are trained to teach workshops about various health topics to ninth graders in the local public high schools. I joined the club my sophomore year and have worked my way up to become one of the leaders this year. It is really rewarding to teach a class when the students are engaged and you can tell that they are really soaking in all of the information. Plus, it is a great way to travel around the Bronx and see different areas.

Spring weekend: music, friends, and food!

What do you think is the best resource available to students on campus? I think career services is one of the best resources available to students on campus.

What is your favorite personal memory at Fordham? One of the best weekends at Fordham every year is spring weekend. My sophomore year was especially good because we had great weather and on Saturday Andy Grammer and Grouplove had great performances. Who doesn’t love a weekend full of concerts and free food?!

Where is your favorite place to hang out at Fordham or in NYC? It may be a cliché, but I love hanging out in Central Park when I have some free time to relax. Generally that only really happens in the summer, but it is a great place to workout, relax, or escape the noise of the city.

What are your plans/goals/aspirations for post-graduation? My plans are to attend medical school, but right now I am still waiting for acceptances so I’m keeping my fingers crossed! 

NYHS Internship in the City

At Fordham, students love taking advantage of all the opportunities New York City has to offer. In addition to all of the fun activities the city has to offer, there are also tons of internships for students to participate in throughout the year. Most Fordham students are able to balance classes with an internship and usually begin internships their junior year. So many of my friends have had really interesting and fun internships, like at the United Nations, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and Dylan’s Candy Bar, just to name a few!

NYHS is in a beautiful building on the Upper West Side 

This past semester I had the chance to intern at the New York Historical Society.  The New York Historical Society is located on the Upper West Side along Central Park.  I spent my internship working in the development office working on membership, funding, and events.  I really enjoyed my time at my internship, learning and gaining experience.  Some perks of working at NYHS, in addition to gaining “real world” experience, was its great location, and getting to take advantage of working in a museum, like seeing new exhibits and getting discounts at different museums throughout the city. 

Here is a view in Central Park where I used to take my lunch break

As the semester comes to an end, I’m now in the process of looking for another internship for next semester. The Office of Career Services provides several resources that help students find exciting and engaging internships to enhance their time at Fordham!
Blog by: Anna Romagnoli

Rams in the Real World!

One of the biggest themes in this blog is the fact that Fordham’s proximity to Manhattan and all of its resources lets Fordham students go on all sorts of adventures. Whether they’re exploring museums or galleries, seeing shows, people-watching in parks or enjoying the tons of delicious food the city has to offer, Rams love New York!  Fordham students don’t only use the city for leisure, however—Manhattan also provides students with opportunities to gain real-world experience through volunteering, internships, and part-time jobs. You know—all those “real people” things that help you learn important skills and evaluate different career options (and make for great resume material)!

Fordham has a great Office of Career Services, with approachable and knowledgeable staff who want to help Fordham students find the best opportunities! They offer tons of different workshops, including resume critiques and mock interviews, and also have a database of literally thousands of internships that are available to Fordham students.  Check out their website here: Fordham Career Services.

I’m in the Pre-Health program at Fordham, so this school year I looked into different research and clinical immersion opportunities for undergraduates near Fordham, hoping to get some experience in a hospital environment.  One of my professors suggested that I apply for a program at Mount Sinai Hospital on the Upper East Side, as a Sinai Research Associate. As a research associate, I volunteer in the Emergency Department twice a week, helping to recruit patients to enroll in clinical studies going on at the hospital.  In this way, not only am I learning about the nature of clinical research, but I also get to interact with patients, as well as shadow doctors in the ER!  The program has provided me with invaluable experience that I hope to apply in my future career!

The hospital is right next to Central Park!

Career Links At Your Service

One of Fordham’s greatest draws is that it is located right in the heart of one of the world’s greatest cities: New York City. You could read past blog posts to learn more about all of the cultural opportunities that accompany our location (i.e. Broadway, Central Park, Fifth Ave, the Met); however, this would not even begin to describe the wellspring of its benefits. As a senior, the one that draws primary attention for me is employment prospects. 

About 68% of Fordham students graduate with secured employment. In a time of economic downturn, that is a fairly impressive feat. Though it is difficult to nail down the total number of undergrads participating in internships, the Gabelli School of Business estimates that 91% of its students have had at least one internship by the time they graduate. Though this number of course translates differently for the College of Liberal Arts, you’ll find that a fairly high percentage of majors in other disciplines also find work in different environments, whether they be research, education, computer science, etc. In a place like New York City, there is a fit for anyone who is willing to look hard enough for it.

Amenities such as Career Services and Career Links greatly assist students in the internship and job hunt. While Career Services puts students through their interview and resume-building paces, Career Links provides them with employment postings. You can narrow down the scope according to location, nature of work, semester, and even your past experience. No matter your background, it is nearly impossible not to find a workplace that will, well, work for you.

A view of Career Services webpage

Blog By: Sara Power