BOCES holds career and technical education expo

(April 21, 2010 – Riverhead, NY) EASTERN SUFFOLK BOCES recently offered their students another “real world” experience—the opportunity to meet with and learn from industry professionals. The students who attended the ESBOCES Career Expo at Suffolk County Community College’s Culinary Arts Center in downtown Riverhead are already focused through their ESBOCES classes in a particular field of study. By attending the Expo, they were able to hear from and talk directly with the people who do the hiring. The presenters, by virtue of their expertise, were able to offer the students advice on how to make their dream career a reality.

Thomas Gadomski, an Environmental Conservation Officer with the NY State Environmental Conservation Police, spoke with ESBOCES students interested in the field of law enforcement and conservation. He discussed with them the specific high school and college coursework they would need to complete to qualify to take the Civil Service test in this field. He described the academies they would have to attend and the rigors of that experience. Officer Gadomski explained how competitive every opening is right now and the importance of experience and professionalism.

Officer Gadomski’s sentiments were echoed by Linda Berman, RN, BSN, Employment Manager at the Peconic Medical Center, “It’s very important that you dress and act professionally even as a high school student—especially when you interact with patients and hospital personnel. Everything you do now makes a difference to your future. High school experiences are important. Human resource personnel look at every experience you’ve listed. Your resume is very important,” Ms. Berman explained. “Some places only accept email resumes, but, if you can walk in and present your resume, do it. Companies are getting so many email resumes now that often they’re not even looking at them. That personal contact often helps. Make sure the resume you present is immaculate—no coffee or food stains. If you have a cover letter, check to see that you have the right name and the right hospital listed. It’s annoying to receive a cover letter addressed to Mather when you work for Peconic.”

Several students, who are enrolled in the ESBOCES Nurse Assisting class at the H.B. Ward Technical School and are currently doing their clinical nursing rotation at Riverhead Nursing  and Academic Center, attended Ms. Berman’s presentation. Most of them are juniors and interested in nursing as a career.

“ESBOCES students,” one student explained, “can exit the ESBOCES program with LPN certification.”

“By assisting at the nursing center, we are all experiencing the reality of what it means to be in the medical field,” noted RHS junior Rebecca Peters, who wants to specialize in pediatric nursing. “It’s hard work. A lot of time there’s not enough help, and you have to learn to work on your own.”

“And it can often be kind of gross,” noted SWRHS junior Connor Snyder, one of the only boys in the group.

“I was very interested to see what kind of courses I need to take,” shared Michelle Moreno, a senior at Riverhead High School. “I’m planning to attend Suffolk County Community College for a year or two, get my LPN, and then transfer to Stony Brook for my RN degree.”

Most of the students in the group seemed to be interested in nursing. Kristina Caschetta, a junior at Shoreham-Wading River HS specified that she wanted to be “an emergency room nurse”.

Shaquina Rennalls, an RHS junior, noted, “I want to become a physician’s assistant.”

Another presenter, Denise Davis from the Adecco Human Resources Company, spoke to cosmetology and computer science students, specifically about their resumes, their email addresses, and their cell phones. “If you send out resumes by email,” she counseled, “don’t use your personal email addresses that have embarrassing titles, open up a new more professional account. Be careful about what you put on your Facebook and YouTube  pages,” she continued. “Finally, check your cell phone message. If a potential employer calls you, they might hang up before you answer if it isn’t appropriate.”

Former police detective and motivational speaker Paul Failla counseled the students in his session about ‘The Classroom of Life’. “Your behavior and the choices you make now can follow you for the rest of your life,” he cautioned his audience. “You might just be the driver for your friend’s drug drop off, but as far as the police are concerned, you’re an accomplice.”