Remember that Residence Halls close at 2 p.m. on Wed., Nov. 26 for break!
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STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION
Senators schooled on Career Center at Tuesday’s meeting; Two meetings left to the fall semester Ryan Caulfield
SGA Correspondent After having last week off, the Student Government Association held their tenth meeting of the year. Junior Delgado, director of the career center, spoke to the senators about what the career center does and has been doing along and answered a variety of questions from the SGA. Delgado said he has been with Westfield State University for fourteen years in the career center and has lived in the Westfield community for over thirty years. “I pride myself on my passion for helping students and trying to connect students to opportunities,” he said. He gave the senators an informational sheet that showcased what kind of services the center can do for students, ranging from résumé and cover letter writing to consolation on future career options, personal assessment tests, and mock interviews for students to hone their skills before going out into the real hiring world. “Those mock interviews are very unnerving, especially if you have never sat in front of professionals before. It seems to stun students when I tell them that when you go to interviews, many times in our days, you are not going to be meeting one on one,” Delgado said. He said that, during an interview, there are some committees that have anywhere from eight to twelve people interviewing a person, and if a person has not practiced, they are not going to do well. Before receiving questions, he said that the career center’s website on the University’s page is extensive with listings of jobs (part-time or fulltime), internships, and community service opportunities. The center’s four staff members can conduct more specific searches for students who ask. Delgado recommended a website to the SGA called, “Glassdoor.com,” which has fulltime job listings, company and organization reviews, and internship listings extending further than in the Westfield area. The first question came from
Richard Darrach, president of the class of 2015, who asked Delgado when would be the best time for seniors to start sending out job applications. Delgado answered the sooner the better because job processes take a long time. He said, “If an employer posts a position in February, that doesn’t mean they are going to hire someone in the month. The process could be dragged all the way out until May or June. The level of competition in today’s job market is very competitive.” Rebecca DiVico, president of the SGA, said the career center is a scary place to go because students usually do not want to think about what comes after Westfield and asked Delgado what can students do to prepare themselves for what is to come. He said his methodology is to have preparation, to be involved on and off campus in the community, and to look for opportunities, paid and unpaid, related to your major or area of interest. “There is one thing college students do not do well,” he said. “Many times students do a bunch of great things, have great experiences, but they do not sell themselves well enough.” Delgado said that students have to brag about themselves because the job market is so competitive, and employers are looking to see what a new employee brings to the table, along with how he or she sells himself or herself.
Darrach asked another interesting question about recommendations on where to get a good dress suit. Delgado said there would be an on-campus store called suit up for success. Students can come in and find suits that have been donated, and if they fit the student he or she can take it for free. The store may open next year or the following year, he said. Justin Connolly, community relations and fundraising representative, asked how to schedule appointments with the career center. Delgado said calling the center’s number, which is 413-572-5206, is the easiest way, along with their email, careers@westfield.ma.edu, or by simply stopping in. He said meetings could be from thirty minutes to two hours depending on the student and questions. He also said any class rank is welcomed and even said there are freshmen who start early and have a four-year career plan at the University. After Delgado was finished, president DiVico claimed the podium. She announced that the executive board of the SGA has created a packet that teaches the new senators the basics of SGA so they will not feel overwhelmed coming in as senators. The madam president gave praise to Victoria Landry, representative to the class of 2015, for receiving the president’s award for excellence in leadership, and the rest of the SGA applauded her achievement. Joshua Clark, vice president of student life, gave an update on the
Westfield State Cotillion is a go! The return of the SGA-hosted formal dance is confirmed after SGA executive secretary Andrew Morin announces the March 20 event. More details can be found on page two.
smoking gazebos and reported that one of the new chairs has already been damaged. He said the chairs were cheap enough not to cause a huge finical problem, but that is not the point. Clark said he would try to go to the gazebo and find out what happened to it. He also reminded senators to tell their fellow students who use the gazebos to respect them. Clark also said that he would be emailing Curt Robie, assistant vice president of facilities and operations, saying that times should be given out to students when the carpenters start cleaning the graffiti off the gazeboes. This will help avoid grievances filed by the carpenters about being subjected to second-hand smoke while working. Clark finally said that all students should remember that residence halls close on Wednesday, Nov. 26 at 2 p.m., and any student in the building will be forced out. This is for residential assistants to go home in a fair and timely matter, he said. Students are allowed back in their residential hall at 12 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30. Megan Doerle, representative-at-large, gave the Food Committee report and said that Sodexo is
see SGA on page two
in this week’s issue campus news & life
Westfield State Cotillion Teacher of the Year Award
opinions & editorials ‘Ladies Lifestyle’ Editorial ‘Conservative View’
arts & entertainment Benoit - Movie review ‘Knowing to Cook’
owls athletics
‘Get Burked’ Owls Football, Soccer Owls Men’s Basketball
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