Building Authentic Connections | Wed 9/28 @ 12:30 PM

Join us for a conversation with alumni on Wednesday, September 28th, 12:30 – 1:30 PM to learn key strategies for effective networking and tips for initiating and maintaining relationships with prospective new contacts. Students will also learn about our Student-Alumni Career Mentoring Program!
 

Guest Speakers:
Liz Lawrence ’10 – Director, Office of Constituent Relations in the Office of Governor Phil Murphy
Heather Rolon ’11 – Program Supervisor, Outpatient Mental Health at Thrive Behavioral Health
Marlo Tablante ’07 – Head of Sustainability Transparency and Positioning at Meta

Event Details:
Wednesday, September 28
12:30 -1:30 PM (ET)

4th Annual Communities of Color Virtual Networking Event | Thursday, October 28

virtual meeting image
Image by Alexandra Koch from Pixabay

The offices of Career Services and Leadership Management; Development and Alumni Relations; and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are pleased to invite students to our 4th Annual Communities of Color Virtual Networking Event on Thursday, October 28.

All those who identify as students of color/BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) are encouraged to participate!

This is a great opportunity to meet and mingle with a group of distinguished alumni of color, learn about their career paths and trajectories, and get tips and advice on navigating your own path as a professional of color in a dedicated virtual support space.

The list of featured alumni can be found below.

Event Details

Thursday, October 28
6:30 – 8:00 pm ET
Platform: Zoom

Pre-registration is required.

Sign up here using your LionMail account by Tuesday, October 26. We ask that you only register if you are able to attend.


FEATURED ALUMNI

Read more about our participating alumni.

Lead with Curiosity When Networking

The idea of networking can be anxiety-provoking for many, no matter what career stage they’re in, leading some to avoid it. Yet, it still remains the number one strategy to land opportunities and an essential component of one’s career development.

Networking is more than talking to strangers; it is a process of building relationships towards a mutual exchange of support, resources, and information. It is also a way of letting others know your skills and passions and getting noticed in the field. (You can’t get noticed if people don’t know you!)

Not sure how to get started? Then lead with your curiosity.

Perhaps you’re wondering what you can do with your degree or concentration or how others with similar backgrounds and experiences landed their roles. Or maybe you’re still exploring and want to know different opportunities you might find meaningful. Find people with direct knowledge of your interest area and start a conversation:

    • Faculty, supervisors and colleagues in field, peers, and alumni currently working in your field of interest
    • Professionals you admire regardless of their background whom you can connect with through industry events, professional associations, or virtual networking communities, such as those on LinkedIn
    • Recruiters, hiring managers, and organizational representatives hosting information sessions and related recruitment and networking activities

Don’t forget that professionals outside your immediate scope of interest can also possess valuable insights, including how to effectively transition from student to professional, advance to leadership positions, or maintain work-life balance and self-care.

Whomever you choose to reach out to, make sure to tailor your conversation to the individual and assess what specifically you hope to learn from them so you can identify your next steps.

If the idea of networking and informational interviewing still feels intimidating, remember that you don’t need to know everything to have a fruitful conversation. Asking questions like “How do I get started?” or “Where do I go from here?” are acceptable conversation starters, particularly with social work educators and alumni. The main goal is to start somewhere!

More on networking for social workers

Upcoming NYC Government Career Events Hosted by DCAS

New York City Civil Service 101
Friday, March 19, 2021 from 4:00pm to 5:30pm

To register, please visit: http://bit.ly/0319CS101

For more information contact: Shannon Foley [email protected]


CityTalk Panel Discussion: “Women in City Government”
Friday, March 26, 2021 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

To register, please visit: http://bit.ly/0326WomenCareers

For more information contact: Raymond Cruze, Citywide Recruitment Specialist [email protected]

Social Workers Who Run Forum | Tuesday, March 16

Shared by Shanequa Moore, LMSW ’10:

Hear from a panel of social worker candidates who are running for public office in the 2021 election on why it is essential to elect Social workers into public office.

Featuring LMSW Candidates for City Council, Shanequa Moore ’10, Abigail Martin ’06, Ingrid Gomez, and Tricia Shimamura, and Candidate for NYC Mayor, Dianne Morales ’93.

Tuesday, March 16, 2021 at 6:30 PM
Register here

Hosted in partnership with Social Workers in New York City Running for Public Office in Honor of Social Work Month.

Flash mentoring is back – Sign up to get career advice and support from alumni!

The Office of Alumni Relations and Office of Career Services and Leadership Management are pleased to resume our career mentorship program for the spring semester!

The program will run from Monday, February 1 through Friday, May 28. Requests will be accepted until Friday, May 14.

 

Mentoring Program Overview

Through this program, students can request to connect with up to 3 alums per month for 1:1 conversations to:

    • Gain insights and perspectives about a career path, field, organization, or industry;
    • Get advice about career planning, searching and applying for jobs (including resume writing), networking, interviewing, or navigating life after CSSW; OR
    • Seek support in general from someone who’s been in your shoes as a student

Interested?

    1. Fill out this mentoring program interest form. On the form, you will find a link to a directory with a list of more than 300 alumni volunteer mentors who are eager to meet you! Select the one you’re interested in meeting. Note that you will have to complete this form for each request.
    2. After submitting the form, you will receive an email confirmation as well as an introductory email from Jennifer March from Alumni Relations connecting you to the alum of choice within a few business days. If you don’t hear from Jennifer in that time frame, please email her directly at [email protected] to follow up.
    3. Once you receive the email, it will be your responsibility to arrange a meeting directly with the alum using the contact information provided. While Zoom meetings are recommended, you can choose a platform that works best for both you and the alum.

Remember: This is NOT a forum to ask for a job or a recommendation for a job, but rather an opportunity to gather valuable information based on their knowledge and expertise.

After the initial meeting, it will be up to you and the alum to decide whether to continue to stay in touch.

Questions?

For general questions about our alumni mentors, please email Jennifer March at [email protected].

For guidance on how to prepare for a meeting, refer to our Informational Interview Guide. You can also view free, on-demand webinars on informational interviewing (and other career development topics) from LinkedIn Learning, or schedule an appointment with the career team to discuss further.

We hope you take advantage of this special opportunity!

Career Advice from VNSNY Community Mental Health Panelists

Last week, our office sponsored a panel discussion with VNSNY and their community mental health professionals to learn about their career paths and what led them to this work.

If you missed the session, here are some key takeaways:

    • Meet and build relationships with folx in the field, because networking is still one of the most effective ways to land opportunities.
    • Seek mentors and supervisors who are invested in your development. Surrounding yourself with a strong support system is key to growing and advancing in an organization.
    • Take risks by being open to new opportunities or exploring new paths—these experiences can help you build career agility, find meaningful work, and expand your professional network.
    • Take ownership of the job you have right now; it will not only help you build character and skill sets for your current role, it will also prepare you for future ones.
    • Make sure to prioritize self-care. When interviewing, ask questions about initiatives that are in place to support the well-being of employees and the agency as a whole.

Thanks to those who attended, as well as to our speakers Jessica Aitken, Natasha Anderson, Deborah Cho ’15, Sabrina Machuca, and Echelle Norman, and Keith Peters and Leah Blumberg for collaborating with us on this event!

You can find the presentation slides and speakers’ contact information in Career Connect within our Document Library under the Employer Events / Information Sessions folder.