Winter may stick around for a few more months, but Syracuse University Career Services is already prepared for the spring and summer hiring seasons. In the next few days, SU Career Services will expand its offerings for students and alumni who are looking to land that ideal job or internship.

New programs will create opportunities to make connections and strengthen job-seeking skills, and special programs will assist underclassmen in exploring careers and securing internships. Programs just for seniors will help them prepare to navigate post-college life. From now until the end of the semester, students will have the chance to connect with a broad range of employers to discuss internship and job opportunities.

The office is also partnering with other campus career offices to host a variety of special events that will bring high-profile employers to campus and workshops for those looking to explore options or polish their job-hunting skills:

• The Environmental Career Fair comes to town on Wednesday, Feb. 24, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in Moon Library on the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry campus. More than 50 employers will participate, seeking full-time hires and interns in environmental-oriented industries.

• Those interested in government and nonprofit careers should attend the Community Connections job fair, Friday, March 5, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in Panasci Lounge. More than 30 nonprofit and government organizations will participate, including the American Red Cross, Everson Museum of Art, Organizing For America and U.S. Secret Service.

• The Big East Career Fair will take place in Madison Square Garden in New York City on Friday, March 12, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. It will feature employers such as City Year, ESPN and Northwestern Mutual Financial Network. The full list of employers can be found at http://www.bigeastjobfair.org. Career Services is co-hosting this event as part of a collaboration with other Big East institutions.

• The Design Career Fair on Friday, April 9, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at The Warehouse will provide an opportunity for students in creative and design fields to connect with employers.

“Today, so much of a successful job search is about networking," says Mike Cahill, director of SU Career Services. “That is why we feel strongly about providing students with abundant opportunities to network with employers in their particular career fields.”

Students will also have the chance to connect with job hunting experts for speaking engagements:

• “Your Internship Success” will bring local employers to campus to discuss how to conduct a last-minute internship search. The panel will take place on Tuesday, March 2, at 6:30 p.m. in 228B of the Schine Student Center. This event is part of a series of panels on internships.

• The Alumni Speaker Series will kick off on Thursday, March 4, at 4 p.m. in Room 409 of Newhouse 1  with Jennifer Pedde '06 VPA, who taught English in Korea for two years. Three other alumni will speak in the following weeks. The Alumni Speaker Series brings successful alumni to campus to share stories about their unique career experiences.

"By bringing alumni and employers to campus, we hope to expand students' knowledge of career possibilities and help them learn some effective strategies for attaining the jobs and internships they desire," says Cahill.

Also, a number of skill-building programs will be available for students throughout the spring semester:

• Attend “Dress For Success,” on Wednesday, March 3, at 7:30 p.m. in Gifford Auditorium in HBC. This fun event will feature a fashion show, music, game show-style "Fashion Feud," prizes and tips on how to dress in a professional setting. Tickets are available in the Schine Box Office for $3 (students) and $5 (general audience).

• “Explore & Experience” will prepare first- and second-year students for the upcoming fall recruiting cycle. It will take place on Friday, March 26, at 9 a.m. at the Whitman School of Management building. This event is a collaboration among The College of Arts and Sciences, the Whitman School of Management, the iSchool and SU Career Services. For more information and to register, visit http://ex2.syr.edu.

In addition to large-scale programming, Career Services will continue to provide workshops to classes, student organizations, residence halls and fraternities and sororities. Topics include resume and cover letter writing, interviewing, networking and social media in the job search. To schedule a group workshop, contact Dan Klamm (deklamm@syr.edu).

Individual career counseling by SU Career Services is available throughout the spring semester. Resume critiques, mock interviews, advice on selecting or changing majors, internship/job search strategy sessions and alumni networking orientations are among the most popular services. To schedule an appointment with a career counselor, call (315) 443-3616.

For more information about upcoming events, programs, and offerings from Career Services, contact Klamm at deklamm@syr.edu or (315) 443-3616.

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