Syracuse University Gradcast

Last year we compiled a bunch of our bloopers and we’re back again with more; we hope you enjoy it!

What does a recruiter do? What is a hiring manager? These roles at companies are incredibly important to understand as a job seeker and are incredibly different. We’ll go over the differences and give you insight to help you improve your strategies with navigating the hiring process with both a recruiter and hiring manager.

Teaching demos are an often-overlooked part of an academic job interview, and they’re just as mysterious as their cousin, the teaching statement or “philosophy.” Dan Olson-Bang, Ph.D., breaks down the elements of a good demo, suggesting how to avoid inevitable pitfalls and, equally important, how to succeed at this sometimes-tricky assignment.

Engineering Management alumnus Saad Sayed, G’21, earned four job offers by the time he graduated. We’ll learn how he strategized and planned for his job search, what he learned along the way, and what he wishes he handled differently.

Whether you’re at a networking event or going to an interview, you’ll need to figure out the best way to introduce yourself to professionals. Not only that, but “small talk” is important to participate in as a way to warm up to a conversation with someone new. In this episode, we discuss tips for how you can prepare.

Join Jeffrey D’Andria, G’12, M.S., Student Affairs Counseling, former Technical Recruiter and liaison to tech and start-ups in Silicon Valley as he gives us insight into how to get a job in Big Tech (with advice applicable to other industries), advice he has for students that are struggling to land interviews, as well as what it’s like to live in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Graduate school trains scholars to work at research universities, even though only a small fraction of them will ever gain a permanent position at one of these institutions. For most doctoral students in the humanities and allied fields, the jobs they are being trained for don’t exist. In their recent book, The New PhD, Leonard Cassuto and Robert Weisbuch seek to overturn conventional wisdom in a clarion call for student-centered, career-diverse graduate education. I sat down with the authors, one of whom was an influential figure in my own doctoral program, to hear their take on how to fix the problems of a PhD that “turns inward,” rather than one that “looks outside the walls of the university.”

We tell you to make an appointment on Handshake all the time, but what is Handshake, what is it good for, and how does it help advance your career goals? Tracy Bauer, G'15, and Dan Olson-Bang, Ph.D., take you through the platform so that you know how to use its many features, from making an appointment, to learning about in-person and virtual events—and events to connect with employers through career fairs. Log in using your Syracuse University email address and start exploring today! In addition, Handshake posts articles with career advice that may be helpful to you, too.

We’re back for season two! Join Dan Olson-Bang, Ph.D., and Tracy Bauer G’15, as we discuss fall opportunities to advance your career and what we learned from season one. After over 55 episodes and over 7500 downloads, we have come a long way—and hope you’ll tune in this year.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Check Handshake and your email for news and events happening throughout the semester.

Dan Olson-Bang, Ph.D., and Tracy Bauer G’15, answer the most frequently asked questions on job offers including: What should I say when I receive a job offer over the phone? How do I research salary? What are some of the aspects of a job offer I can negotiate? And more!