• Strategies/Tips

  Use multiple resources

  • We strongly encourage all students and alumni to use  Handshake to search for experience. Over 24,000 positions were posted in Handshake during the 2016-2017 academic year.  You’ll also want to take advantage of additional resources to help maximize your search efforts. You can view additional resources below under Employer Search Resources and Additional Resources. 

  Search early

  • It’s never too early to begin searching! If you find something you are not yet qualified for, you can work towards developing the necessary skills and apply in the future. Make sure to save the information for future reference.

  Search frequently

  • How long a position is posted for can depend on a few different factors including the deadline the recruiter has to meet, the length of the recruitment process, and how many applications are received.

  Save job descriptions

  • Internet links can change or expire. Saving or printing job descriptions not only helps with preparing your written materials but also with interview preparation and organization of your search process. 

  Stay organized

  • You can create a spreadsheet or any other method that you prefer to track your applications. Staying organized during your job search helps you to see where you have applied and prioritize deadlines that are approaching first.

  Sharpen your resume & cover letter

  • Your written materials are the first thing a recruiter sees. Find out more about resume and cover letter preparation and review here. 

  Save your documents with appropriate titles

  • The last thing a recruiter needs is a file titled ‘resume.’ All documents submitted should have clear and concise titles. Ex. Resume of John Doe - Company - Position; Cover Letter of John Doe - Company - Position

  Manage your internet presence

  • Recognize how you represent yourself via social media and the internet. Design your presence to reflect how you want to be perceived by a recruiter. You can find out more about building your brand here.

  Research

  • Understand and know the industry and field you are applying to. 
• Employer Search Resources
  • Glassdoor.com
  • Buzzfile (access with your @stonybrook.edu email)
  • Vault Career Insider (access for free from the top of any page on our site)

  The following databases are accessible with your NetID and password through the Stony Brook University Libraries:

  • Hoover’s Academic Database
  • Vocational and Career Collection
  • Business Source Complete
  • Business Insights: Essential
  • LexisNexis Academic

• Student Awards & Recognition

  Undergraduate Recognition Awards

  Student Life Awards

  Scholarships, Fellowships, Grants and Awards for Students

  Alumni Association Annual Student Awards

  Additional Awards

• Professional Associations

  Professional associations exist across industries and help to connect professionals to others in their fields, as well as to help support the progression of the field. Professional associations offer a variety of resources including networking opportunities, industry requirements and recent publications. Many professional associations offer discounted memberships to students.

  Some examples of professional associations include:

  American Medical Association

  Society for Human Resource Management

  American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

  National Association of Environmental Professionals

  National Council of Nonprofits

• Additional Search Resources

  ---

  NEW: Comprehensive search engine powered by Job Integration Software

  

  This job board aggregates listings from hundreds of other services, including, Indeed, and Monster.

  ---

   

  • InternShop : Fill out one application and be automatically matched with paid internship opportunities across New York State.
  • Looksharp : Internships, entry-level jobs, and resources for the job seeker.
  • MindSumo : Not just a job board, MindSumo allows students to take part in employer-created challenges - for example, proposing the next great condiment or a more efficient way to sort objects - to win prizes and get their ideas in front of recruiters.
  • SimplyHired : Job and internship listings of all types, company database, tips for job seekers, and more.
  • New York Jobs : Positions throughout New York State.
  • Vault : Thousands of jobs and internships posted daily, in addition to industry & company information and career development tips.
  • WayUp: A resource designed specifically for college students and recent graduates.
  • Youthire.org: Youthire.org connects local residents with Stony Brook University students to perform temporary, short-term odd-jobs. There will also be listings for part-time and permanent employment situations. Registration with the website is free and is required before you can apply for jobs.

Weeks Leading Up To The Event

• 1. Review your resume

  If you want to leave employers with a good impression, you’ll want to make sure that you have a polished resume that demonstrates professionalism and experience. If you do not have a resume, begin by creating a rough draft. ( Consult our resume writing guide for some advice on this initial step!) Once you have a resume, go to Handshake to make an appointment, then  visit the Career Center to have it reviewed by a staff member. You should have your resume critiqued early. This will give you time to polish and review it. Remember, the closer it gets to the job fair, the longer the wait to have it reviewed!

• 2. Check what employers are attending

  Log on to  Handshake to view the list of companies attending the job fair and the positions they are hiring for. Make a list of the companies you would like to meet and prioritize them in order of importance to you.

  Also, download the Career Fair Plus App (on the App Store and Google Play Store) for a complete employer listing, interactive floorplan, event details, tips, and announcements!

• 3. Research employers

  Research is essential; you want to show that you are passionate, knowledgeable and interested in the company! Each company listing will include a website where you can find information on the company, work atmosphere, and client base. Make a list of important points and questions for each employer.  (HINT: You don’t want to ask questions that you could have answered yourself by doing research beforehand).

  Researching Employers

  A comprehensive, well-executed job search includes learning about potential employers. This learning should come  before you apply for positions. 

  Why is it Important?

  Researching employers is important because you want to find out which organizations have the types of positions that you are interested in. It’s also important to know what makes these organizations different from one another, which best align with your values, which are the most successful based on your criteria, how they operate internally and within their respective industries, how they treat their employees, and what these organizations are looking for in prospective employees—all this information enables you to tailor your resume to meet the organization’s needs. 

   

  Researching employers  requires planning. This section of the website is here to show you one way to organize your research.

  • Organizing Your Research

     Find out which organizations exist in your preferred industry.

    • For example, if you are interested in the communications industry and specifically in public relations, you want to find out: Who are the top companies in PR? The largest? The most well known? Then, who are their competitors? Mid-size or smaller PR firms? Are there communications companies with PR divisions? If you have a specialization or preference (e.g. PR in a specific industry like health care), you must identify organizations in your specialty area and find out if they have PR departments or if they outsource that function to agencies.

    To find companies, you can use:

    • Professional associations, such as the Public Relations Society of America or Public Relations Professionals of Long Island
    • Search engines, such as GoogleOnce you have a list of company names, begin the search for company information.
  • What sites should I use to conduct research

     

    • Buzzfile.com
    • Glassdoor.com
    • Vault Career Insider - access for free from the top of any page on our site

    The following databases, accessible with your NetID and password through the  Stony Brook University Libraries:

    • Hoover’s Academic Database
    • Vocational and Career Collection
    • Business Source Complete
    • Business Insights: Essentials
    • LexisNexis Academic

     Use these tools to learn about companies’ functions and structure. ( Hoover’s Academic Database allows you to search for employees, too, so that in the future you might contact these professionals and request informational interviews.)

  • How can I use social media to learn about organizations?

    Follow organizations on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and any other social sites they use.

    • On LinkedIn, you may be able to learn more about the types of positions that open up, who fills them, and what those people think is important in the industry, based on the articles they post.
    • Many organizations use Facebook to highlight their achievements or advertise themselves to those who like their pages. You can compare different organizations’ Facebook posts to determine which you think have the better overall online presence and marketing campaigns. You can also qualitatively evaluate which types of achievements - which were once projects - you would rather be working on. The information on Facebook, it should be noted, does not cover everything that an employer does, but should be thought of as a snapshot of the organization.
    • Organizations use Twitter to promote their goods and services, attract more customers, and create an overall brand. By paying attention to an organization’s Twitter feed, you may come to know what that brand is. By knowing the brand, you can really begin to differentiate between two competing organizations, in a way that is more substantial than simply knowing how many employees each hires per year.

    Organizations use all social media to manage their images in some way. Because of their online presence, social media can be another tool for you to use while analyzing the pros and cons of potential employers.

    After you have identified a list of potential organizations and investigated more deeply into their missions, values, products, services, locations, fiscal health, etc., you can narrow things down to a manageable list of your target employers. We suggest that you have at least 35 organizations to begin with, but that could increase fourfold if you are open to multiple industries and professions. Depending on the size of the industry you are looking into, the number of organizations per industry on your list could be larger or smaller than 35.

  Research takes time – many hours, in fact – but your investment into learning more about your target industry and the companies within will benefit you a great deal as you apply and interview.

  Once you feel that you have collected and analyzed enough information to decide which organizations you want to work in, you can begin looking at job postings, continue to network, and submit your applications. Good luck!

   

• 4. Prepare your 60 second commercial

   

  Prepare your 60-second commercial. This is a brief introduction to give to an employer when you first meet. While it isn’t necessary to memorize a speech word for word, having an idea of what you will say to employers will enable you to approach them with confidence and poise. Come up with a commercial at least a few days before the event; this will give you time to rehearse it until it sounds natural. A good example of a 60-second commercial is below.

  Sample 60-Second Commercial

  How are you? My name is Jennifer Chang. [Handshake.] It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m a SBU student currently majoring in business management. I will be graduating in May 2016. I’ve heard wonderful things about your company, and I’m interested in applying for your internship program. May I give you a copy of my resume? As you can see, I already have experience at Target and Canon, and in those positions, I developed my leadership, communication, and organization skills more fully. I’m confident that I could apply those skills as an intern at your company, and I hope you’ll consider my application! Again, it was so nice to meet you, and I hope to talk with you again soon. By any chance, do you have a business card that I could take with me?

  60-second commercials are brief introductions that help the employer get a sense of who you are. Things you could possibly include are your educational background, skills, strengths, and accomplishments, job focus, and career plans.

  **This example is for reference only. Visit the Career Center to polish your own commercial!

  Note: Digital guides are now available for all of our job & internship fairs! You can access them via the Stony Brook University's Career Fair plus app on any mobile device or tablet.

   

• What is Gilbane Building Company?

  Gilbane, Inc. is one of the largest privately held family-owned construction and real estate development firms in the industry. With several billion square feet of successful project completions to their credit, including some of the most complex assignments, Gilbane, Inc. has used their expertise to turn the most challenging situations into successfully completed buildings. Gilbane, Inc. strives to bring their core values, expertise, and integrated client-focused tem approach as they deliver value in each of their projects in a streamlined process.

• What made you choose this company?
  Valencia first heard about the opportunity to work at Gilbane, Inc. through an event hosted by the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) at Stony Brook University. Recommended by a professional who also attended the event, the position offered was in the Construction Management field which she is very interested in.
• What did you like most about working for this company?
  The aspects Valencia liked the most about working for Gilbane. Inc. were the comfortable environment and friendly co-workers who were always willing to help. She also liked seeing the number of women in construction, as it gave her more confidence about her career path.
• What advice would you give to students who are interested in working in this field?

  Valencia believes that you should be open-minded about the opportunities you can take advantage of in this industry. It is a very diverse field and flexible to change depending on your interests. You also don’t need to be a Civil Engineer or knowledgable about construction because most skills will be gained in the field. Finally, do not feel discouraged or intimidated if you are a woman interested in this field because the industry is changing and you will be surprised by how many opportunities are out there for you.

• What is the Wright Patterson Air Force Base?

  Wright Patterson Air Force Base is located northeast of Dayton, Ohio and has a rich aviation heritage. The pioneering work of Orville and Wilbur Wright from 1899 to 1903 enabled them to achieve the first manned, powered flight. In 1904 and 1905, they turned the Wright Flyer into the first practical airplane capable of fully-controlled flight.

• What made you choose this company?
  For an internship, it was the most interesting offer Mian was ever given. Throughout all three of his interviews, his interviewer, and later mentor, stressed that although he was given difficult technical questions, the goal was for him to learn from the interview. The atmosphere of each interview was intense but in the end, he believes the goal was to see how he reacts under stress and how much information he could learn from his own research. Alongside this, he already had an interest in Thermodynamics. Therefore, given the opportunity to work at a research lab that focused on unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) engines sounded like the opportunity of a lifetime for Mian.
• What did you like most about working for this company?

  Mian enjoyed the freedom he was given in his tasks the most. He was working underneath his mentor who gave him a list of current projects and allowed him to choose up to 2-3 projects to dedicate his summer towards. His mentor took a hands-off approach and paired him with an older graduate student who would not only act as a friend, but also a teacher. Together, they worked on each of their respective projects and Mian was pushed to schedule his own meetings, communicate with company representatives, prepare his own reports, set up his own tests, and create his own presentations to both his supervisor and mentor. He felt as if he was being treated as an actual engineer who was given the freedom to work on his own projects as opposed to an intern who’s under constant supervision.

• What advice would you give to students who are interested in working in this field?

  Don't be afraid to ask questions. Although Mian was thrown in the deep end and forced to catch up on years of piston, rotary, and turbine engine research, he was given the opportunity to ask for clarifications on any subjects he was shaky on. However, these answers weren't freely given as he was expected to have base knowledge in that area and he would have to reason out the answer with the help of a co-worker as opposed to them just giving him the answer. At that moment, he hated this and it actually stopped him from asking a lot of "dumb" questions, but at the same time it taught him the importance of performing his own research first and thinking before he speaks.

• What is the Department of Defense?
  The Department of Defense provides the military forces needed to deter war and ensure our nation’s security.
• What made you choose this company?
  Weerasinghe chose to work for the Department of Defense, seeking to gain insight into operations and little-known world of high strategic decisions. She wanted to witness the inner workings and challenges encountered within major combat support and intelligence agencies. This was an opportunity to get directly involved in developing products and providing services that decision makers, warfighters and first responders use.
• What did you like most about working for this company?

  As a Research Scientist Intern, it was an honor for Weerasinghe to be involved in the high-level and complex on-going projects. It was an enjoyable collaborative and supportive environment. It served as a great learning platform, to apply the skills learned to resolve real world challenges and the consequences of decisions. Although she sometimes viewed it as inconvenient, she respected the code of conduct and stringent security measures imposed on all to protect classified information. She also had the opportunity to visit and learn about other intelligence communities.

• What advice would you give to students who are interested in working in this field?

  Weerasinghe’s advice to students is to pro-actively search for internship opportunities, look outside one’s comfort zone, and take on a challenge. While new challenges may seem intimidating, they can be rewarding. This gives you a head start in building your experiences, strengthening your skill set, and expanding your network. Having prior work experience in this industry can give you leverage and distinguish you from other candidates when seeking high positions.

Shakibul Chowdhury

Company:   Appalachian Mountain Club
Job title:  Astronomy Intern
Major:   Physics and Astronomy

• What is the Appalachian Mountain Club?

  Founded in 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) promotes the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the mountains, forests, waters, and trails of America’s Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. AMC invites and helps people of all ages and abilities to explore and develop a deep appreciation of the natural world. The organization helps you get outdoors on your own, with family and friends, and through activities close to home and beyond.

• What made you choose this company?
  Chowdhury was interested in space at an early age. To him, sharing his ideas and teaching the public about space science has always fascinated him. He desired a more challenging environment that can foster his professional growth.
• What were some of the responsibilities you had?
  Chowdhury participated in planning a planetarium show for elementary, high school, and college students, aiming for a fun and relaxed environment where children and adults can participate in scientific programs. Constantly moving around and conducting presentations and observations for guests, he was able to adapt to the new environment quickly. He also operated AMC’s 8-10 inch telescopes for guests during solar and night time sky observations and learned how to convey complex scientific terms in an easily readable context. Eventually, he became skilled in operating ground-based telescopes and planned and prepared table talks for AMC guests who were interested in learning about Science Communication.
• What did you like most about working for this company? Did you have a favorite supervisor or mentor?

  For Chowdhury, having the opportunity to meet different kinds of people is what he liked the most about working at AMC. He realized that some people shy away from science and that pushed him to make the difficult scientific concepts easier for his audiences to understand. He was also fortunate to work with his supervisor astronomer, Dr. Douglas Arion.

• What advice would you give to students who are interested in working in this field?

  Chowdhury had a tough time when it came to Science Communication. He stresses that when someone asks you about stars, planets, and asteroids, it is unacceptable to fabricate anything at the top of your head. You must fact-check yourself over and over. Be honest with yourself and with the public. There is nothing wrong with not knowing something.

Rajesh Mohan

Company: Hachette Book Group
Job title:  Software Engineer Intern
Major:  Computer Science

• What is the Hachette Book Group?
  Hachette Book Group (HBG) is a leading US trade publisher and a division of the third largest trade and educational book publisher in the world. In one year, HBG publishes approximately 1,400+ adult books, 300 books for young readers, and 450 audiobook titles. In 2017, the company had 167 books on the New York Times bestseller list, 34 of which reached #1.
• What made you choose this company?
  Mohan chose this company because the position was an intersection of his interests in books and software development. He loves reading fiction, programming, and studying data science, so joining this company was like having the best of both worlds.
• What were some of the responsibilities you had?

  Mohan was tasked with creating an application that can track anomalies in the data that comes from retailers, such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble. The app helps the company avoid reporting incorrect numbers in their sales and analytics platforms.

• What did you like most about working for this company? Did you have a favorite supervisor or mentor?

  Working for Hachette Book Group definitely had its perks. With his love for books, Mohan enjoyed being allowed to take home books that the company has published. He also loved engaging with authors and celebrities who visited the office for book signings or audio-book recordings. His manager was his mentor, who inspired and guided him towards understanding how the industry works and what he needed to do to be successful.

• What advice would you give to students who are interested in working in this field?

  Mohan strongly believes that it is very important for you to love the work that you do. Otherwise, it becomes a mundane task that you are reluctant to follow through with. Keep doing interesting projects and practicing programming fundamentals, and the doors will open to your dream job in the industry. Endure and persevere through all the hardships that may come your way and know that there is a job out there that is going to be the one that you have worked really hard for.

• What is the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)?
   

  AFSP is an organization dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide, primarily by creating a culture that’s smart and informed about mental health. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people ages 15-24, with the highest overall rates belonging to adults ages 40-59. AFSP seeks to combat the statistics by funding scientific research, educating the public and advocating for public policies in mental health and suicide prevention, and supporting survivors of suicide loss and those affected by suicide.

• Why did you choose this program?
  Since she was thirteen, Anne Deubel has had an overwhelming need to help people. However, finding meaningful ways to make a difference at such a young age was difficult; “I wanted to actively be working on that in a way where the impact was fulfilling, but also a necessity to our society.” This led Deubel to take on a volunteering role at the Long Island chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), where she currently serves as a board member. Deubel says, “Seeing how a single suicide affects a community gave me a direct window into the effect our mental has beyond what is stereotypically depicted.”
• What was the most valuable part of your experience?
  For Deubel, volunteering for AFSP proved to be rewarding in more ways than one. Over seven years of involvement, she has worn many hats in the organization that have reflected her own personal experiences. “It taught me a great deal of acceptance of my own struggles with mental health,” she says. “The skills necessary were incredibly varied. I’ve needed to develop my public speaking and problem solving skills, as well as a capacity for resilience, leadership, and communication.” 
• What did you get out the experience that you could not get out of academic classes?
   Volunteering work has given Deubel a purpose to funnel her passions into. She is a firm believe that academics are an important supplement to the work one chooses to do. “Every time I reach hardships in my academic career, I remember the people I met through the charity. It grounds me in a way that scholarly demands cannot. At its core, it taught me to deeply value hard work.”
• What advice would you give to students looking for experience in your industry?
  For others interested in finding a job specific to their ideal career path, Deubel advocates volunteer work. “Whatever career you are looking toward, there is a charity where you can further develop your necessary skills. Think of what you care deeply about, and find out how you can get involved,” she says. “There is nothing as valuable as building a network of people who have experiences and advice to share with you. You may even find yourself doing things that always used to terrify you!”

• What is the Children's Defense Fund?
  To use their own words, the Children's Defense Fund "provides a strong, effective voice for ALL the children of America who cannot vote, lobby, or speak for themselves. We pay particular attention to the needs of poor and minority children and those with disabilities. CDF educates the nation about the needs of children and encourages preventive investments before they get sick, into trouble, drop out of school, or suffer family breakdown."
• Why did you choose this program?
  I heard about Freedom School from a friend I had worked with before. It seemed to perfectly align with my goals of educating and uplifting people. Freedom Schools aim to reduce the Summer Achievement Gap —the loss of knowledge over the summer breaks, which is especially heavy in low-income households where families may not always be able to reinforce material taught throughout the year. Additionally, this was my first opportunity to be a teacher in my own classroom, even as an undergrad student. While I aimed to provide opportunities to my students (or Scholars, as we call them), Stony Brook provided me with professional opportunities as well.
• What inspired you to pursue teaching?
  I grew up in Smithtown, NY, an upper-class town with a population that is 95% white and where almost everybody took their access to an incredible education for granted. So many people were handed amazing opportunities, but never realized the true value of what they had. This inspired me to go into education and make sure that I provide as many students with a quality education and empower them to educate others. My upbringing also pushed me to use my privilege and access to uplift others who have been systematically oppressed or denied the same opportunities based on race, socioeconomic status, or any other basis.
• What was the most valuable part of your experience?
  There are too many valuable aspects of the experience to mention. The position included a one-week, national training in Tennessee where we learned a whole lot about the historic importance of the Freedom Schools, practiced methods of teaching scholars in the classroom, and met so many passionate people from across the country. Additionally, back in New York, I was able to be in the classroom for six weeks, work face to face with scholars, and gain real-world experience all right on Stony Brook's campus!
• What did you get out the experience that you could not get out of academic classes?
  The first week in the classroom gave me more experience than the two years of classes I had taken at Stony Brook. Over six weeks, I had learned so much from real world examples of student struggles, how to effectively lead and manage a classroom, and more. While our Stony Brook professors can share a whole lot of knowledge, there is nothing that compares to being in the classroom with your own class of scholars testing you every minute.
• What advice would you give to students looking for experience in your industry?

  Go for it! Find as many opportunities that entail what you're looking for and go for it! Apply —even if you don't think you could get the position. Look for opportunities outside your comfort zone and go for it. Pushing yourself will not only improve you, but will give you incredible opportunities and experiences you can't get any other way.

• What is the POE program at St. Jude Children's Hospital?
      The POE program at St. Jude is a unique opportunity for students working toward careers   in the biomedical sciences, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, psychology, or public health fields. The program’s primary goal is to encourage students to pursue a career in cancer research by providing them with experience in biomedical and oncology research. Students, upon completion of the POE program and their undergraduate degrees, are given the opportunity to be considered for admission to the St. Jude Graduate School.
• Why did you pick this program?
  Concha’s ultimate goal in life is to be a pediatric hematologist/oncologist.   As a participant in the POE program, he had the opportunity to work as a  research intern in the Department of Oncology, specifically the Molecular Oncology Division. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is the number one research hospital in the nation for treating pediatric cancer, and it was this reputation that motivated Concha’s decision to apply for the program. “Money is not a concern at St. Jude, but instead the lives of many children. Although it was only for a summer, I knew that I would come out of the experience with a much better idea of what to expect in my future career as well as how to contribute myself,” he said.
• What was the most vaulable part of your experience?
  One of the techniques Concha learned and found to be the coolest was the CRISPR technique. CRISPR is a gene-editing tool that allows permanent modification of genes within organisms, manipulating the palindromic CRISPR DNA sequence. Concha worked primarily with this technique in his research. When he wasn’t in the lab, he enjoyed shadowing other doctors and volunteering in the hospital. “I was able to go around the inpatient floor, handing out snacks to patients and getting to know them,” he said. The most valuable part of the POE program, Concha says, was “working with world-class faculty and equipment in the most collaborative environment I have ever experienced.”
• What did you get out of your experience that you could not get out of academic classes?
  Over the course of the program, Concha found that hands-on research proved to be an incredibly helpful way to grasp difficult concepts, especially in the basic sciences. His focus over the summer was rooted in epigenetics and biochemistry, two fields he had no prior experience with. “I had to learn some of the fundamental concepts to succeed with my research,” he acknowledged. A typical work day began at nine a.m., but Concha would head to the library as early as six a.m. to study the unfamiliar concepts before putting them into action. “As a result, I am now much more confident going into the academic classes and progressing in my career,” he added.
• What advice would you give to students looking for experience in your industry?
  To other students seeking similar research positions, Concha advocates pushing yourself out of your comfort zone; it is only one of the many ways to find opportunities that allow you to grow. Find labs whose research focus is interesting to you and apply for positions. Most importantly, Concha says, “Never give up and do not be afraid to ask questions, especially in research. Those around you are there to help, and you are there to learn. Even though things may appear difficult some days, everything works out, and you will come out much more confident if you continue to put forth your best effort.”