Alumni Spotlight: Michelle Ioannou, FCRH '13, GSAS '14

What I Wish I Knew When I Was Still In College
 
College is that beautiful time where you’re entering into adulthood, but you still have a bit of time before knowing the true struggles of how hard the job hunt can be, or how taxes will take away half your salary. But, college is also a time to take advantage of as many opportunities that you can. Getting your name out there, especially from a young age, most definitely can help you in the long run.

Personally, I currently helped start Not Another Millennial Blog, as well as am Editor of Rising Apple Blog, and I contribute to SNY’s MetsBlog. Why am I telling you all of this? Because I didn’t get into writing until way after grad school, and I wish I had started sooner. I didn’t make my name known until I was already out in the real world working. And no, it’s not a bad thing, but you bet I wish I had started from back when I was in college. Who knows where I’d be now if I had?

And that’s why I’m here, to share with you some things with you that I wish I had taken advantage of when I was in college.


Utilize your social media
Social media is obviously a lot of fun when you’re in college -- you connect with new friends, air your grievances about how expensive college is or about how hard that final was, and so on and so forth. But, there’s so much on social media that you can be taking advantage of from now. There are countless Twitter chats out there for millennials where you can connect with others around your age or a bit earlier, who just may be in the field that you’re looking at. Connecting with these people may just be the great launching pad you need.

Keep your social media clean
Speaking of social media, keep it clean. It’s tempting to post that party picture, I know, but don’t. Hiring managers will stalk your online presence. Either keep everything extremely private, or make sure that your public profiles are clean. Think to yourself: “would I hire someone who’s posting this for the position?” If anything, keep your personal stuff under lock and key in private accounts, and create public ones for professional purposes.

Stay in touch with professors
This applies especially to any professors that may be (or teach) in the field that you want to go into. You never know who they know, or what opportunities they may know of in a year or two from now. For instance, whenever there’s a job opening at my company, I always email my professors that I have stayed in touch with – and some of them still do the same even though I’ve graduated a while ago now.

Take advantage of both paid and unpaid opportunities
Yes, I interned throughout the majority of college, but I never thought to take it one step further and see what freelance opportunities there were available to me (online and offline) to get my name out there. At Rising Apple, we have some college kids who write for us, and I truly wish I had thought of doing that when I was back at Fordham to spearhead the current path I’m on. Of course, there are many other opportunities out there besides for writing. Look into them – freelance opportunities are a great start. And in today’s day and age where many millennials have a full-time job and a side-hustle, freelancing continues to become more and more popular.

Go to networking opportunities
I never went to any of the networking opportunities Career Services had, and I regret it. They were free, why didn’t I take advantage?! Who knows who I could’ve met! You know that old saying, “you never know unless you try?” I truly had nothing to lose by going to these networking events, and I look back at it and think to myself what opportunities I may have missed there.



About the Author
Michelle Ioannou is a proud Fordham alum who tried her hardest to never leave, getting both her BA in Communications and Media Studies and her MA in Public Communications. This, combined with her love of giving back, led her into the nonprofit world where she does social media and event planning. Michelle helped start Not Another Millennial Blog to help her peers through her past experiences and life events, and to try and defy the negative stereotype that surrounds her generation. Additionally, due to her love (or what some may call an unhealthy obsession) with the New York Mets, she has found herself as Editor of Rising Apple Blog, and a contributor for MetsBlog. Email her at michelle@notanothermillennial.com to chat more!

Alumni Spotlight: Richard Ramsundar, FCLC '15

Today's Alumni Spotlight is on Richard Ramsundar, a FCLC 2015 grad. After graduation, Richard connected with an organization called Amerson Year in China. Through this organization, Richard has had the opportunity to work and travel at the same time. Richard is currently serving as an Educational Ambassador through AYC. He creates and publishes weekly videos about his experience living and working in China in order to share his experience. If you're considering an international move for after graduation, you'll definitely want to check them out on the AYC YouTube channel, or shoot him an email at  raramsundar@gmail.com.

Hello everyone! My name is Richard and like many of you, I'm a part of the Fordham community. I graduated with the class of 2015 with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and I currently work in China as an English teacher at the Number 1 Middle School of Li County. Like many of you, I also had doubts and fears about career paths after graduating. I had no idea whether to plunge headfirst into my intended career or to go to graduate school. One thing I did know is that I wanted to travel and work at the same time. I found an organization called Ameson Year in China, otherwise known as AYC. The organization offered me training and also placed me at my current school. I teach grade one high school students and absolutely love my job. Each month, I create a video blog to give everyone a unique perspective of the reality of living, working and traveling in a different country. If any of you want to know more information or have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Alumni Spotlight: Gregory Marks's Experience With Project Firefly

Today's Alumni Spotlight is written by Gregory Marks, Gabelli School of Business class of 2015. Greg graduated from Fordham with a degree in Economics. During his time at Fordham, he participated in Project Firefly, a merit-based initiative that offers talented students and recent graduates the chance to take part in competitions, win awards and get hired for their skills. Here, Greg speaks about his experience participating in Project Firefly's competitions.
 

     "No matter what school you go to, no matter where you are from, the Project Firefly Academic Review Board reviews submissions on pure merit and pure merit alone. Project Firefly has a range of competitions available to Fordham students pursing a Bachelor, Master, MBA or PHD degree.
 

     During my time at Fordham, I was able to leverage time outside of the classroom with Project Firefly to publish written pieces, participate in competitions and debate topics with professionals from Credit Suisse and the Financial Times. Additionally, after a successful participation in the 2014 Emerging Leaders Competition, I spent a week in Hong Kong at the Credit Suisse Asian Investment Conference with Project Firefly where I met global leaders in government, monetary policy, and business. With that said I strongly advise Fordham students to take up the challenge and showcase their talent through Project Firefly's competitions."

 

 

Here are some articles that Greg published through Project Firefly:

1. Crude Move: Portfolio Reallocations and the USDollar (I)
2. Crude Move: Portfolio Reallocations and the USDollar (II)
3. Non-Standard Measures Are Risking Stability
4. Gregory Marks and James Mackintosh discussing the falling oil prices
5. Gregory Marks and Credit Suisse Hong Kong 2014

Student Spotlight: Sherry Yuan -- How to Navigate the Job Hunt

"To hustle, and to be hustled"

My experience with a recruiter, and how networking has taken on a different meaning

How to navigate and stay sane during the job hunt

Having just freshly graduated with a boat-load of optimism and zero experience with Excel, the job search has been a test of a lot of things. It takes strength to believe that you’d be an excellent candidate for positions that seem out of your league, and endurance to keep sending your resume into the black abyss; to spin everything into a positive when the answer is no; to not be discouraged when people make false promises or when something falls through.

It's been over two months, and truth be told, I haven't been entirely strategic in the job hunt. At the same time, I’ve had an incredibly strong support system—namely, my older sister who has significantly changed my understanding of what networking actually means. Now before you become annoyed and stop reading because you've heard this word since you were three, let me explain further. Especially if you’re someone who scrunches up their face anytime you come across anything that has to do with “networking.” Human interaction? No thanks.

More than that, I had resented the idea of “networking” because it implied that I needed others for help; and even worse, that I had to ask others for help.

I feared this, immensely. I didn't want to owe anyone any favors. Not only that, I told myself, “no one owes you anything.” All of this only prevented me from reaching out to both strangers and people that I knew. The period of inaction was the worst for me. Thankfully, it was again my sister who was there to give me a major reality check.

1. Yes, people are busy. So be clear about what you’re asking.

 If you’re emailing a previous company you interned for or asking someone for an informational interview, make sure to be both friendly and direct. Wondering if a place is hiring? Don’t be afraid to ask in the subject line of your email. It might seem like common sense, I was afraid to come off as too demanding.  However, if someone is reading through hundreds of emails a day, you want to make sure yours is short, concise, and thankful.

Email tips:

 i. Make sure your subject line is clear

ii. Try to end emails with a question; you’re more likely to get a response this way.

iii. Emails are like poems and/or sandwiches; there’s a beginning, a middle, and a closing.

2. Take some time to do research

I know, any time not barreling through job sites or chucking resumes feels like time wasted. However, it actually might be better for your sanity if you read up a little about human resources or hospitality. That way, when you tailor your resume and cover letter (yes, do this!) you might understand better why you a.) want the job, b.) why you’d be a good fit for it. Research might even lead you to people you’d want to contact.

3. Taking action is more important than trying to keep all of your options open

Don’t know what you want to do or where you want to go? Have many interests? Welcome to the club, my friend! Not knowing is okay, but you‘ll also never know if you never try. So instead of spending time debating whether you want to pursue law or hospitality, apply to positions in both fields.

4. Don’t let the fear of making a mistake or misstep prevent you from going forth.

Let’s admit it, we’re only beginning chess players. Yes, we’ve made it this far, but we’ve barely dipped our toes. Calculating possible outcomes is not your best mode of action right now. Move a pawn, and then another, and then another. Realize that mistakes will help you learn.

5. Embrace the uncertainty! Stay calm, healthy, and happy.

We’re in a tough transitional period. While it’s important to keep knocking on doors, it’s equally important to relax in the knowledge that you’ll be fine. Learning how to take care of yourself and how to make good decision is number one. Do things that you’ll be proud of yourself for, whether that means going to the gym or writing in your journal. Don’t let anyone bring you down! Especially not yourself.

- Sherry Yuan, Class of 2015

Alumni Spotlight: Katarina O'Regan

By Katarina O'Regan, FCLC '12

Katarina O’Regan graduated from FCLC in December 2012 with a major in International Studies. She is completing a fellowship program at the Asian University for Women (AUW) located in Chittagong, Bangladesh.

Like most seniors at Fordham, my last semester was a flurry of activity. I had just returned from an amazing study abroad experience in Tunisia, and was trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, or at least with my next year. As happy as I was to be back in NYC, I also wanted to go abroad again, to a place I hadn’t seen before. Part of that desire was personal, but as an International Studies major interested in development, I knew getting more international credentials wouldn’t be a bad move. I started searching for jobs abroad, and was lucky enough to stumble across a program offered at the Asian University for Women in Bangladesh. The application process was relatively quick, and by the time the semester drew to an end, I had accepted their offer!

Spring passed quickly, and before I knew it, it was August, and I was meeting the other fellows at JFK to begin our journey to Chittagong. By the time we arrived, we were tired, but excited and somehow already good friends (Nothing like 30 hours of travel to get people to bond!) We spent the next several weeks in orientation and then classes began. We’ve been busy ever since!

AUW is a new university, opening only in 2008. It's goal is enshrined in its mission statement: "to graduate women who will be skilled and innovative professionals, service-oriented leaders in the businesses and communities in which they will work and live, and promoters of intercultural understanding and sustainable human and economic development in Asia and throughout the world." They recruit from over 15 countries across Asia and the Middle East, and are committed to making education accessible for those who have been historically denied this type of opportunity. On campus, we have extraordinary diversity. People of many ethnicities, backgrounds and religions all intermingle, which makes class material on identity, culture and politics all the more relevant. The faculty are also an impressive bunch, hailing from the U.S., Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, and more. 

At AUW, most fellows divide their time between different roles. This semester, I’m serving as a TA for two academic courses, tutoring students and leading workshops in the Writing Center, and advising students on resumes in the Career Development Center. This mix is typical, though it does differ from person to person. AUW is a 5 year program, with a 1 year preparatory academy, where some of the fellows teach. We each have 40 hours of officially allocated work, but many volunteer to advise clubs, plan events, and serve on committees. Last fall, I taught weekly workshops for the dance club, advised an urban development research initiative and helped initiate a student health group. It’s full load, but it’s a good one.

I love the experience I’ve had at AUW, but it does have its hardships. There are significant cultural differences between Bangladesh and the States, and our lack of Bangla makes getting around difficult. There are few foreigners in Chittagong, and we attract a fair amount of attention when we go out. The attention isn’t hostile – many Chittagonians are quite friendly – but it can be disconcerting. And of course, there are some things that I crave from home (I’d give my right arm for Shake Shack right about now). These differences between here and home affect everyone differently, but for me, they pale in comparison to the benefits of living here: being able to travel on breaks, learning about different regions, and meeting incredible people.

If you’re interested in international development, women’s empowerment, or higher education, and you’re up for a challenging, but rewarding year, I urge you to consider applying to AUW’s fellowship program for 2014-2015.

AUW is taking applications for both senior and junior fellows now and will start interviews in March. The fellowship is posted on Careerlink (ID 28339), or you can visit http://www.auw.edu.bd/job-opportunities/ for more application information. For more information on Katarina’s experience at AUW, visit her blog at http://expatrikat.wordpress.com

The Benefits of the Fordham Alumni Network

Curious about what the Fordham Alumni Network can do for you and your career development? Connecting with Fordham alum can open up a wide array of networking connections, internship and job opportunities, along with support from your fellow Rams. Hear about the benefits of the Alumni Network through this video produced by GSB.

John McCombe graduated from the Gabelli School of Business in 1982 and is currently serving on the the Gabelli Advisory Board.  He has stayed connected to Fordham throughout his career and is looking to recruit Fordham students for his firm.  Currently, his firm is hiring for the position listed below!

Job Title:  Richard Bernstein Advisors (RBA) Marketing/Admin Associate

Department: Marketing

Job Reports To:  Director of Sales and Marketing

Job Summary:

Rapidly growing Investment firm - Richard Bernstein Advisors (RBA) - run by former ML Chief Investment Strategist and CNBC contributor - Richard Bernstein seeks a motivated, well-organized, detail-oriented individual in a combination marketing and administrative support entry level role. Great opportunity for graduating senior to learn the asset management business supporting top executives while learning and contributing to firm’s overall marketing and sales efforts.   RBA assets were up 40% in 2012 and 22% in the first qtr 2013. 

About RBA

Richard Bernstein Advisors (RBA) is unique in that it combines a highly proprietary “top-down” macro approach to investing with quantitative asset selection. RBA manages portfolios geared to global asset allocation, global equity allocation, income allocation, and promising undiscovered investment themes. They currently manage $1.1 billion of assets under management/advisement (as of 3/31/13).

Responsibilities include the following:

- Working on marketing material and literature as necessary.

- Coordinating and preparing PowerPoint presentations.

- Maintaining the client database for e-mail distributions.

- Utilize social media such as twitter to help market RBA products.

- Support all marketing efforts as needed on various RBA products.

- Managing calendars and travel arrangements for multiple individuals.

- Scheduling meetings and assisting with preparing agendas, presentations, handouts and/or taking minutes as needed.

- Answering and screening incoming calls.

- Preparing and processing expense reports.

- Performing general office duties, such as managing conference rooms, circulating mail, and ordering office supplies.

Minimum Requirements:

Bachelors degree 

Beneficial Skills and Abilities:

- Excellent communication skills. 

- Proficient in MS Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

- Must be a self-starter, independent and flourish in a small environment.

For more information and to apply today, head to CareerLink, Job ID# 19076. You may also find out more about John and his position at RBA by visiting their website. 

Alumni Spotlight: Katherine Muniz

By Katherine Muniz, Fordham '12

You know those movies that begin by telling you flat-out that something has happened to the main character, and the rest of the story is spent explaining it? Well, this is kind of like that. This is a cautionary tale of a girl who didn't do enough when she was in college. Having recently graduated in August 2012 and now being stuck in a position of little power, I find myself often thinking “what if”. What if I was enchanted to always say yes to everything? What would my life be like if I took every opportunity I was given? And what if I had done that in college?

To answer my own question, I give you this: a list of simple, non-scary opportunities that almost every college student is presented with. These opportunities would have enhanced my skills, built my experience, and helped me explore possible career options. Had I welcomed these, I would be a more well-rounded person today.

1. Summer Internships

Summer internships are a totally non- intimidating way to get lots of experience, and you don’t have to sacrifice school. Sign up for Career Services’ weekly email blasts and you’ll get relevant information on new openings for internships, and even full-time jobs for the future. I want to stress not putting off getting an internship for after college. A LOT of internships specify that the student must be currently enrolled in school, and able to receive credit. There are so many internships I've found that I wish I could apply for, but can’t. I hope you can learn from my mistake.

2. Clubs

I know. Clubs. What possible benefit could clubs have on your career? The truth is, clubs are actually a really great way of emphasizing and reiterating your interests to employers. If you cared enough to participate in it at school, it shows that you really do have interests and hobbies. Instead of just saying “I have an interest in film production” your resume will prove that interest by showing your membership in the Film & Television Production Club. 

3. Go to More Career Services Events

Okay, so this one might not be as easy as clubs, but it is seriously important! During my senior year I started to attend more Career Services functions, and while it educated me, it also left me wishing terribly that I had gone to them sooner. At a fashion panel I attended, every single panelist emphasized how important their internships had been. They received so many much-needed things from their internships, such as references, connections, and plain old experience. I would have gotten that advice earlier on if I had attended events sooner.

4. Work Study

Not everyone qualifies for it, but if you do, pick a work study that will come in handy. My sister worked at the Office of Development and did a lot of spreadsheet and clerical work. While it may not sound that fun, it looks great on your resume and is relevant to many positions. (Almost all post-graduate positions I've been applying to have some aspect of computer work/data processing/administrative work.)

5. The Funny Thing About Minors

A minor is not mandatory (most of the time). However, a minor can help make you more rounded. Hindsight is twenty twenty and since graduating, I have wished I had picked a minor that made good general sense for my interests. I liked History so I minored in it. However, now I’m left wishing I had gotten some training in a business-oriented minor to supplement my liberal arts background. So my advice? Consider getting a minor if you feel it makes sense to you. And also, DO NOT let the fact that it may be on a different campus deter you. If you’re really interested in it and think it will be valuable to learn about, please, go for it.

  

Katherine Muniz is a recent graduate of Fordham University with a Bachelors Degree in Communications having concentrated in Journalism. She is currently looking for her first foot in the door and has become an expert in applying for jobs, dealing with rejection, and persevering in the hopes of finding that sliver of opportunity on the other side.

Jesuit Principles of Leadership: A Lecture

What values from your Fordham education can you take with you to the real world? How can you market your education to future employers?  Is all the emphasis on Cura Personalis, Magis and other Jesuit tenets worth it? What leadership skills have your Jesuit education taught you?

Learn the answer to all these questions and more from author Chris Lowney, who will be coming to Fordham tomorrow! 

What: A Lecture of the 4 Jesuit Principles of Leadership

When: Thursday, February 21

Time: 5:30-6:15 PM

Where: Tognino Hall, Rose Hill Campus

Light Refreshments Served!

Chris Lowney, a former Jesuit and Fordham alum,  was named a managing director at J. P. Morgan & Co. while still in his thirties and held senior positions in New York, Tokyo, Singapore, and London before leaving the firm in 2001. He is the author of the best-selling Heroic Leadership: Best Practices from a 450-Year-Old Company That Changed the World, and Heroic Living: Discover Your Purpose and Change the World. Lowney lives in New York.

This event is presented by Alpha Sigma Nu, the Jesuit Honor Society, in conjunction with Gabelli School of Business. 

Tonight: Panel Discussions

Interested in pursuing or learning about a career in ethics? Join the Fordham Ethics and Society MA Program for an exciting panel of professionals and advanced graduate students engaged in or pursuing ethics-related careers!

Careers in Ethics: 

A Panel of Professionals and Ethics and Society Graduates

When: Thursday, February 7, 2013

When: 6:30 p.m.

Where: Walsh Library Special Collections Room, Rose Hill Campus

Reception to Follow!

Panelists will include:

Kelly Sakai O’Neill; Families and Work Institute

Kathleen Condon, ANP-BC; Montefiore Medical Center/St. Barnabas Hospital

J. Alan Clark, Ph.D.; Conservation Biology Program, Fordham University

Lois Levy, Ph.D.; Institutional Review Board, Fordham University        

Angelique Rivard, M.A. GSAS ’11; Pace School of Law

Erica Palaia, M.A. GSAS’ 11; Fordham University School of Law  

Moderated by Adam Fried, Ph.D., Director, MA Ethics and Society Program

For more information about the panel and the Ethics and Society program, visit: www.fordham.edu/EthicsandSociety

Free and open to the public.  Please RSVP to ethics@fordham.edu or call 718-817-0926. 


ALSO tonight, February 7th:

Navigating the World of Work: An Alumni Panel

Wondering what your career path is? Come to the FCA's "Navigating the World of Work" Alumni panel and meet recent graduates who have been through it all! 

When: February 7th
Time: 7pm
Where: Campbell Commons, Rose Hill Campus

Meet some of the panelists:
Kathryn Rouillard (FCRH '07) - Spanish and International Political Economy Major, Peace Corps
Brian Kraker (Current Fordham Graduate Student) - Pursuing an M.A. in English with a Creative Writing Concentration
Reena Shah (Fordham Graduate School '12) - Business Administration with a Masters in Taxation, Ernst & Young
Graham Gardner (FCRH ’11) - Mathematics and Economics Major, Associate Appraiser at Joseph J. Blake & Associates.

Congrats: Fordham Alum!

Congratulations to the recent Fordham grads for being hired at AOL in New York! Four Fordham 2012 graduates as full time employees, all of whom began as interns. 

Stephanie Spanarkel

FCRH, Communications 

Programming Manager for AOL Lifestyle Brands

Paul Cooney

FCRH, Communications

AOL On YouTube Channel Manager

Alyssa Marino

Gabelli, Marketing

AOL On Video Marketing Coordinator

Stephanie Lezama

Gabelli, Marketing

AOL Homepage Product Analyst

Currently, AOL is interviewing for additional current positions. Continue to check for openings on CareerLink, and look for AOL at our upcoming Career Fairs in the Spring semester!