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rentwood Public Library To Host Next Forum
Students Preparing For Employment - Online interview with Jeff Herzog of Newsday

100:  Jeff, we are very pleased to do this interview with you. Please tell us a little bit about yourself?

Jeff:  It is a pleasure to have the opportunity to do this. I am currently the Manager of Recruitment Advertising for Newsday and Careerbuilder here on Long Island. I have been in recruitment and recruitment advertising for the past 8 years.

100:  When you were 15 years old, did you have an idea of what you wanted to do for a living?

Jeff:  If I remember correctly, my dream was to be a Doctor. I started college as a Pre-Med major, but did not make it past my first year. It is great to have aspirations early in life, but the vast majority of the people I know did not follow through with their original intentions. I will even take it one step further. Most everyone I speak to is doing something different than even their selected major in college. It is difficult to know what you will ultimately wind up doing. There is one constant, and that is to work as hard as you can at whatever you ultimately choose.

100:  I’m eighteen, I don’t drive and I need a job. Where do I start?

Jeff:  Transportation and location is definitely an important factor when selecting a job. There are a number of ways that you can search and the best way to start is to look around your local area. Look for the businesses that are very busy and may need help. They could be retail operations, local corporate parks or facilities that have constant activity in and out. It is extremely important to be aggressive when you are looking for a job. You should have a resume prepared, put on a suit and ask to speak to the manager or president. Even though it may be uncomfortable to do so, the hiring manager will be impressed that you took the initiative.

100:  If I’m thinking about dropping out of high school. What opportunities are there for me if I do?

Jeff: I would strongly recommend staying in school. Our society, especially on Long Island, has come to look at a diploma as a necessity not an option. It shows commitment, focus and the desire to succeed. Many of the manufacturing jobs that used to be on Long Island have recently moved to other areas. Most of the opportunities today are more service oriented and require, at very least, a diploma.

100:  Should everyone go to college?

Jeff:  This is a very touchy question. I believe that in this day and age it is extremely important to obtain some level of post-high school education. There are definitely opportunities out there for non-college grads, but to truly get a start in business today, I feel that it is a substantial advantage to have a 2 or 4 year (especially 4 year) degree.

100:  I’m a fashion bug who loves to express myself. Does it really matter if I have earrings and tattoo’s all over my body?

Jeff:  You bring up another very important question. I am a very conservative person and believe that it is important to separate some of your personal decisions with your professional ones. Even though it is illegal to turn down employment based on the way someone looks, there are many employers who will try to find reasons not to hire you if you have such markings. I know many people will disagree with me, but if you truly want an opportunity in most business environments, you may need to make the decision to reserve such expression for your personal life. One of my top sales reps has a number of tattoos, but I never knew it until she told me.

100:  What resources would you recommend for students looking for employment?

Jeff:  There are so many ways to look for a job today. Two of the best ways are your local newspaper and internet job board. If you are on Long Island, the most comprehensive resources are Sunday’s Newsday and Careerbuilder.com. These two resources have, by far, the largest and most diverse number of opportunities. Long Island also has its share of Career Fairs as well, many of which are located at the local universities. Also, it is important if you are a college student today to visit your career center and speak with one of the counselors. For anyone who is interested, we are holding our annual Career EXPO at the Nassau Coliseum on Wednesday September 28. We will have approximately 100 employers and over 9,000 job seekers. Long Island is faced with a major challenge today of keeping young professionals local. It is important that you utilize all resources and keep your options open. To conclude, everyone reading this interview should strive to be a “Make it happen” person versus a “Let it happen” person.