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. 

• 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

Undergraduate Recognition Awards

Student Life Awards

Scholarships, Fellowships, Grants and Awards for Students

Alumni Association Annual Student Awards

Additional Awards

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

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.

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!

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!

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.

  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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.