career services

How To Choose A Major

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– Follow These Seven Steps! –

I’m Ami Tanaka and I’m currently pursuing a degree in Tourism & Hospitality Management at Genesee Community College. I’m from Nagasaki, Japan. Everyday, I have a wonderful time at GCC with professors and friends! I am really excited to learn, and love my major. Deciding your major is one of the most important steps before you begin college life. Also, it is directly related to your future career, so you should decide it carefully. Today, I will introduce “how to decide on your major”, based on my experiences. I hope it will be helpful when you decide on your major!

  1. Consider Your Passions, Interests, And Values.

Untitled4.jpgThink beyond hobbies such as sports or musical instruments. Think about the impact that you want to make on the world and the legacy you want to leave behind. Are you passionate about business? Do you want to save the environment? Are you an artist? Do you love math? Do you want to be a doctor? Keep in mind that not only may your interests change over the next four years, but that technology and the economy are constantly changing.

2. Think Of Your Favorite Subjects And Classes In High School. 

Untitled3.jpgWhich classes were the most exciting and inspiring to you?Consider which classes you performed the best in. “Easy A” classes don’t count; think of challenging and comprehensive classes in which you performed well. In my case, I was really interested in English, Speaking, and Hospitality management classes! So, I chose to study in the U.S., to improve my skills.

3. Consider Job Prospects, But Don’t Obsess Over Them.

Untitled6.jpgDon’t think of choosing a major as applying for a job; think of it as choosing your life’s path. The jobs, internships, and other opportunities that open up for you as a result of following your passion come second. On the other hand, if your passion lines up with your career plans, then choose the major that will get you there fastest. In my case, I wanted to be an international flight attendant in the future. I have a certain dream, so that’s why I chose Tourism and Hospitality Management as my major. Through this major, I could learn geography, airline industries, hotel and resort management, and great customer service. All of my classes are beneficial and important for my future career!

4. Decide What Type Of Degree You Want.

sss.jpgWhile you may still be totally lost, you can narrow down your decision by deciding between a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Sciences (BS).

  • BA degrees include liberal arts and social science majors like Political Science, International Relations, English, Art History, Sociology, and Cultural Anthropology.
  • BS degrees include science and math majors like Engineering, Biology, Evolutionary Anthropology, and Economics.

5. Read The Course Catalog At Your College Or University.

k.jpgIf you have already been accepted to a school, then read the course catalog to learn about the different majors, their requirements, and the types of courses involved. In my case, I also consider transfer requirements, so it is helpful to compare what credits I need to graduate from this school, as well as my transfer school. You can always talk with your advisor!

6. Consider Your School’s Reputation.

o.jpgDoes your school specialize in Journalism? Agriculture? Medicine? Engineering? Tourism? If the quality of the education you receive is of utmost importance to you and you are still undecided between majors, then consider which departments or majors your school is most well known for. GCC is one of the best schools for students who want to learn Tourism, because they have great internship opportunities, such as JFK and Disney World!

7. Set Up A Meeting With Your Counselor. 
m.jpgWhether you are undecided between two or more majors, or have absolutely no idea what major to choose, then set up a meeting with a counselor or academic advisor at your college. At my college, we have an international student advisor, so we can ask about not only majors, but also F1-visa, transfer, housing, internship opportunities, and so on. Also, your majoring professor helps you to register or build a study plan. If you want to have a successful college life, you should ask them! They will always support you.

CONGRATULATIONS! Now you can choose a major!

Have a wonderful time at College!

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This blog was contributed by Tourism & Hospitality Management Student Ami Tanaka.Untitled.jpg

GCC: Home To Teachers Who Care

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Professor Messenger, one of the many teachers who makes GCC a great place to learn and succeed!

Why choose Genesee County Community College over any other college? The answer is simple, because of the teachers. GCC is the third college I have attended and I can say for certain that it has the best teachers out of the three! They care more about the students and actually want them to succeed. If a student has a problem (family/medical), or just doesn’t understand how to do homework, they will work with you until you understand, because they care.

GCC faculty also learn of job openings and share them with their students, keep in touch to see how students are doing, and share their personal experiences to help everyone learn. They also support their students when looking for employment.

For one of my classes I had to do community service. Not being from Genesee County, I had no clue where to look for a community service opportunity. I went to my teacher and asked for their help, they were very understanding and gave me places to look into. After being turned down from three different places, I almost gave up on passing the class. But, I eventually found a place very late in the semester and the teacher was willing to work with me. I was able to hand in my volunteer hours after the deadline without a penalty; they even let me do an extra paper for the hours I wasn’t able to complete at my request!

In my experience other colleges I had been to would not have been so nice. They would have just said, “not my problem, you had all semester to find a place.” Just one reason as to why you should pick GCC as your school is for the teachers, there are many reasons, but the teachers are the best!

This blog was contributed by Kristina Yadloczky.

Peter Cumbo: Keynote Speaker at the 2015 Creativity Conference

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Untitled.jpgWe are thrilled to announce that the keynote speaker for the 2015 Creativity Conference will be Peter Cumbo, the Owner and President of Cumbo, Inc.

Peter is an award-winning producer, director, and editor. He has produced and directed commercial videos on location throughout North America and around the world, creating work for broadcast, digital distribution, and live events. Peter has done work for the iconic brand New Era Cap and some of the work that he has done for them was recognized on March 7, 2015 when Cumbo, Inc. won four Silver Addy Awards.

In addition to his work in media, Peter offers his expertise as an organizational consultant offering strategic advice, training and practical leadership to business. As a consultant, Peter’s goal is to create and sustain transformative moments, those in which the participants experience encouragement, inspiration, and improvement resulting in lasting change. Take a look at one of the video productions Cumbo, inc. was awarded for and don’t miss the opportunity to hear about the true power of creative thinking!

This blog was contributed by Business Administration Student Chelsey Breuilly.

Job Fair at GCC – Find Your Future!

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image001 With graduation right around the corner, a lot of students are starting to think about what’s going to happen after they cross the stage and earn a degree.

Even for our students that aren’t graduating this semester, the Job Fair on Thursday, April 10 in the Forum from 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm offers a wide variety of networking opportunities that could lead to a part time job, full time career, or an internship in a field of interest. Over 35 organizations will be at the fair, with an array of opportunities, listed below.

Students are encouraged to bring copies of their resume to distribute to the employers. For help with resumes or cover letters, stop by the Career Services Center, Room B201 at the Batavia Campus.

Download the List of Employers

ATTENDING:

Absolut of Houghton Certified Nursing Assistant, Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Nurse, Licensed Sports Trainer, Registered Occupational Therapist
ADT Security Services Emergency Dispatch Customer Service Representatives, Customer Service Representatives, Inbound Operation Center Representatives
Aflac New York Sales Associates / Sales Manager, Recruiting / Internship
All Star Energy, Inc. / Home Comfort Heating and Cooling Outside sales rep (full time, part time); Marketing (Summer internship); Heating and Cooling professionals
ATB Staffing Services Light industrial, Clerical, Accounting, Skilled Trades, Administrative
Avon Products Independent Direct Selling Representatives
Byrncliff Resort & Conference Center Cooks, Restaurant Service Staff, Dishwashers, Office Front Desk, Marketing Assistant, Golf Shop
Claims Recovery Financial Services Post foreclosure claims prep/processor specialist
Coastal Staffing Labor, Assembly, Food Production, HVAC Tech’s, Auto tech, Clerical, Lawn Maintenance, Seasonal Jobs
Concentrix Sales, Customer Service
Darien Lake Theme Park & Resort Guest Services, Park Services, Hotel Services, Safety, Security & Loss Prevention, Entertainment, EMT, Warehouse, Maintenance & Facilities, Catering, Artists, Retail, Games, Life Guards, Aquatics, Janitorial, Landscaping, Carpenters, Plumbers, Ride Mechanics, Vehicle Mechanics, Electricians, HVACR Tech, Food & Beverage, Sign Shop Carpenter, Front Gate, Rides.  Internships are available.
Fidelis Care IT, Marketing, Security Administration, Provider Relations, Project Managers, Developer, Analyst
Geico Licensed Sales Professional Agents
Genesee County AmeriCorps, Genesee County Youth Bureau Summer AmeriCorps members for several locations. All positions require 300 hours of service.
Genuent Process technicians, Programmers, Engineering Technicians, Software engineers and testers, other skilled professionals. (Hire for Xerox)
Georgia-Pacific, LLC General Laborer
*GLOWJobs.net (The Batavian) Find a job, post a job in Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming Counties, Western New York.
Hidden Valley Animal Adventure Kitchen: pantry cooks, line cooks, dishwashers, banquet set-up, banquet servers, banquet bartenders. Food Concession Stand: attendants, bussers, food servers. Cleaners / Housekeepers. Tractor Drivers. Tour Guides. Platform Attendants. Retail/Ticket Cashiers. Small animal adventure maintenance, marketing assistant.  Front Desk Admin Assistant (summer position).
Home Depot (The) Garden Sales, Lot Associates, Freight Team
Independent Living of the Genesee Region Personal Care Attendants
KR Communications Sales, Data Entry
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office See website: www.monroecountysheriff.info
New York Army National Guard All job types
NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets Assistant Horticultural Inspector I (Summer only)
NYS Unified Court System Court Officer Trainees
Pembroke Travel Plaza Cashiers, Food Prep, Porter, Matron
Perry’s Ice Cream Company, Inc See Website:  www.perrysicecream.com/jobs/career-center
Perschke Business Group (Amway) Independent Sales
Pioneer Credit Recovery, Inc / Sallie Mae Collectors
Premier Designs, Inc. Sales representatives, small business owners
Premiere Credit of North America Collections Specialist
Professional Driver Institute Student Drivers
Remedy Staffing Machine Operators, Skilled Machinists, Packaging, Production, Assembly, Clerical
Rent-A-Center, LLC Customer Service, Assistant Manager, Store Manager
Rochester City Police Department / City of Rochester Summer Recreation, Summer Aquatics, Summer Security Guards, Civil Service Exams (911 Call Center, Police Officer, etc.)
Sutherland Global Services Technical Support Consultant, Inside Sales Consultant, Inbound Sales Consultant
The College at Brockport Army ROTC Opportunities as an Army Officer
Thirty-One Consultants with Thirty-one including leadership positions
US Customs and Border Protection US Customs and Border Protection Officer
US Department of Agriculture See website: www.ny.nrcs.usda.gov
US Department of Homeland Security – ICE – ERO Nothing specific at this time but will advise on the process/procedures for researching federal jobs
US Marine Corps Over 300 technical fields including police work, investigators, mechanics, truck drivers, aircraft maintenance, legal administration and many more.
*WBTA Radio Board Operators
*WCJW: Radio Stations: 1140 AM Warsaw; 103.7 FM Warsaw; 105.5 FM Batavia; 100.9 FM Geneseo; 104.3 FM Avon Board Operator, Interns

 

UNABLE TO ATTEND:

Beaver Hollow Conference Center / Biggest Loser Resort Niagara Dishwashers, Housekeepers, Banquet Servers, Line Cooks, Outdoor Porter
Country Max Management Training Program Candidates, General Store Employees
Genesee County Human Resources See Website: http://www.co.genesee.ny.us
OATKA Milk Products Cooperative Maintenance Mechanics (4), Entry Level Administrative Assistant (1)

Job Strategies for the 21st Century

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The end of the semester is drawing closer, and that means many of our GCC students are beginning to think about entering the workforce.

With interviews, cover letter, resumes, and job postings, it can be a confusing and overwhelming process! John McGowan, GCC’s Career Center Coordinator, will be at the Albion Campus Center to discuss effective job interview strategies for students who are or who will be searching for work in their field.

Students are welcome to attend this discussion, and bring questions on Thursday March 27 from 4pm – 5:20pm.

Albion Campus Center
Room 10
456 West Ave.
Albion NY, 14411

STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math!

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The Career Services Department is hosting an Employer STEM Networking Event for students interested in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math on Thursday, March 6 from 12:45 pm – 1:45 pm in the Forum!

Register for this event to network with multiple employers, including:

  • RIT
  • Genesee Community College (IT & Media)
  • Liberty Pumps
  • GCEDC
  • Town of Batavia
  • Morton Salt
  • Genesee County Soil & Water
  • Xerox
  • Five Star Bank
  • Lapp Insulator
  • Oxbo Corp.
  • Cornell Cooperative Extension
  • EMA Design

Dress to impress, and have your questions ready to ask employers about their career path, future internship and employment opportunities, and anything else you can think of!

It’s Time to Get LinkedIn

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Want to scare a college student? Just ask them: “What are you going to do after you graduate?” Nothing will get their palms sweating quicker; their eyes will enlarge to the size of satellites as they begin an internal monologue “oh god, what am I going to do after college, I have the degree but now what?” Exactly. Now what? When you’ve just recently graduated from college, finding a job in your professional field can be impossible. According to a recent survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), businesses planned to hire only 2.1 percent more college graduates from the class of 2013 than they did from the class of 2012. The future of college grads is looking bleaker than ever; however, there is no need to throw in the proverbial towel. There is hope for us all yet. As current college students it is time for us to build up our resumes and differentiate ourselves as much as we possibly can from other job candidates. We have increasingly become a social media and technology reliant society; the job application process has now become heavily focused on separating oneself from other applicants through the use of technology as well. With the use of the social networking site for people in professional occupations known as LinkedIn recent college grads have the opportunity to include all of the factoids about themselves that make them who they are in and outside of the workplace.

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Jackie Vetrano helping a student with their profile

On Wednesday, Jackie Vetrano, the Web and Social Media Coordinator here at GCC, and John McGowan, career services coordinator at GCC, spoke to the Professional Sales class about how to make the LinkedIn profile the best reflection of yourself and use it as a tool to gain job offers in professional fields. Jackie and John told the class that the LinkedIn profile should be looked at as a supplement to your existent resume. Any photos posted on the LinkedIn profile page should be professional, especially the profile image that is used, as it serves as the first impression for potential employers and other people who browse through your profile. Other important points that Jackie and John went over include: editing the web link to your LinkedIn profile and making it simpler and easy to search for, using a professional email address (this means no xoxogossipgirl@aim.com email addresses, time to put them to bed), a personal statement that sells your skillset in an appealing way. Honors and awards received should not be overlooked as well; they provide employers with context of your provided skills and encourage follow-up inquiry if a job position is on the table. During the LinkedIn instruction, Jackie Vetrano told the students “ nothing is too trivial, you have infinite space, take advantage of it!” This is the beauty of LinkedIn, it’s a website filled with professionals, this is your chance to show-off; this type of opportunity should be taken seriously.

With the use of LinkedIn, and people like Jackie Vetrano and John McGowan who are grooming college students to make themselves standout on these social media platforms, GCC graduates will have a much easier time finding careers in the professional fields of their choosing. So it’s time for everyone to get LinkedIn and link up!

3rd Annual Resume Contest

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GCC’s 3rd Annual Resume Contest is back, presented by Career Services, Business Forum Club, and SGA! This contest is open to all GCC Students, and first prize is a new iPad!

Guidelines:

Create a one page resume including:

  • Heading (name, address, email, LinkedIn, phone number)
  • Summary of Qualifications
  • Education and Work Experiences
  • Skills, Leadership Activities
  • Volunteer Work

Bring your resume to the Career Services Office (Batavia Campus, B201) or via email to career@genesee.edu by March 31, 2014.

Contact:

Ariana Sneed asneed@my.genesee.edu or John McGowan at 343-0055 ext: 6383

Good luck!