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!

Intercampus Transportation Shuttle

Since the second semester of my freshman year, I have had a job at Fordham's Ram Van. Fordham has two campuses in New York City: The Rose Hill campus, or Bronx Campus, and the Lincoln Center campus. The Ram Van is the most direct mode of transportation between the two campuses (although you can also get there by taking the subway or a bus!). Many people on campus use the Ram Van to get to their classes at the opposite campus, or to simply go and explore the city on a weekend! It is a cheap and quick way to get from one campus to another, which many Fordham students and faculty take regularly.

A view from the van over the Hudson

The intercampus shuttle provides a great student employment opportunity. It is the highest paying student job on campus, and it does not require you to be eligible for work study. There is a work study opportunity available, however, as clericals are always needed in the office to complete various office tasks for the administrators. There is a 10-12 hour a week requirement for drivers, and when scheduling, administrators are really helpful and understanding when it comes to working around your schedule. A job at the Ram Van is not only an awesome way to make sure you have a little extra spending money in your pocket, but also an awesome way to meet other students on campus and to get involved in the Fordham community.

The vans drop you right outside of the Lincoln Center campus

I absolutely love working at the Ram Van! I started as a driver, simply driving the shifts that went to Lincoln Center and returned to Rose Hill. I then became a fueler, which consists of longer shifts that run multiple vans to get fuel and then back to the Rose Hill campus. Fuelers also take care of minor van maintenance, including taking vans to the car wash, filling wiper fluid, and vacuuming out the vans. As time went by, I became a Dispatcher. Dispatchers are primarily in charge of handling the front of the Ram Van office. They sell tickets, watch traffic and tell drivers which route to take, make sure vans board and leave on time, handle any customer needs, and basically ensure that everything runs smoothly in the office.

One of the vans in the car wash!

I have met so many wonderful people with this job. Not only do I absolutely love my administrators and fellow drivers, but there have been so many passengers that I have also been able to chat with. I have also, by picking up special runs (for clubs and organizations that use the ram van to go to different destinations) learned my way around the city really well. Ram Van is a fantastic opportunity for students to have a job and get involved on campus, and definitely something I encourage incoming students to look into!