How Do I Get a Job ?

Jobs, jobs, jobs!

In my personal (not scientifically verified) experience, most individuals leaving Wurzweiler, (without prior non-profit work experience) are absolutely overwhelmed by the prospect of conducting a job search. Some of our graduates have the luck to be in the right place at the right time and are offered positions by their first or second year field placements. However we all know that it is unrealistic to anticipate that field placements will have the financial resources or that the personal chemistry will such that a job offer will come across the table. The most important job searching tool most graduating MSW's will leave their job with is a few good professional contacts.

Today I received a call from a recent May 2007 graduate and I want to share some of her naches with you. This graduate did have the good fortune to get a job upon graduation. The practice opportunity seemed to be exactly what she wanted. However after a few short weeks she discovered that the fit wasn't quite right.

As a recent graduate with few contacts, she made a call to a member, of the professional staff, from her first year field placement who had since moved on to another job. During her initial conversation with this woman she discovered that individual was not happy in the job and was getting ready to tender her resignation. The had a nice talk about their respective lack of job satisfaction.

It turns out that the field work contact did not leave her job and the resignation was not accepted, in fact this individual was now going to be a major player in reorganizing the department that caused her such angst. Our graduate, because she had planted a seed,was given a job offer, which she has accepted.

Now how is that for luck? How many people accept 2 jobs in 3 months?

Networking seems to play a critical role in the modern world and especially in the social work world. Individuals, who respect your work, are your greatest resource in job searching. Peer input can be a very valuable resource in evaluating the modern job market.

On this note I would be very interested in getting some feed back on your interest in attending an alumni networking evening. I envision holding an evening event in Midtown, either later this fall or in the spring or both. I believe this could be a great opportunity to catch up with some classmates, to share your accomplishments, and find out what other graduates of the Wurzweiler School are involved in professionally and socially.

Please call or email me with your thoughts on participating in an event like this. This would not be a presentation on job searching, simply an opportunity for individuals who have graduated from Wurzweiler to share their experiences with their peers.

You can email me: cmmiller@yu.edu : or call me at:212-960-0127 with your thoughts or questions.

Hello,

(Believe it or not, E Blogger changed their posting critera and I haven't taken the time to figure out how to resolve the issue. However, after a minor hair pulling episode, I can once again post to this site.)

As of July 26, 2007 another academic year will have passed here at Wurzweiler, and the first half of the 50th Anniversary Celebration as well.

Boy, Oh Boy ... have I been busy!

I hope everyone reading had an opportunity to participate in the regional events. It has been my distinct pleasure to meet with everyone who was able to join us in all of the regional venues.

I have all been very impressed by the level of enthusiasm alumni have shown so far.

Events occurred in : Montreal, Toronto, Baltimore, Fairlawn(NJ), Boston, Los Angeles, Sioux Falls, Jerusalem and two different events in New York City. There are two additional events upcoming, San Francisco on October 29 at the George Krevsky Gallery and December 2nd in Boca Raton Florida. Details are currently being finalized, ... more details will be available soon.

Please be in touch with me and let me know what you are doing these days. Email me at: CMMILLER@YU.edu or call me 212-960-0127, or just drop by the 7th Floor of Belfer Hall. I would love to speak with you and maybe grab a little lunch.

Welcome one and all, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Mark Miller , the new director of alumni relations, and a 2006 concurrent graduate of the Wurzweiler School, where I had a case work focus. More recent graduates and current students will probably know me as a member of the student government. I was the person who asked for Tuesday Night Snacks. I find that many students consider this my most memorable accomplishment during my time at Wurzweiler.

But enough about me.

I hope that each of you will email me about recent developments and accomplisments in your life post Wurzweiler.


Has anyone from the class of 2006 recovered from graduation? I'm not even referring to the parties many of you may have attended. At 49 the transition from student back to the working world is absolutely daunting. And I of course had all of about a 3 day transition, between graduation and my first day of work.. As many of you know in addition to my work here I see patients privately in a mental health clinic here in Manhattan for 20 hours a week and I am starting the Wurzweiler Ph.D program in September.

I have heard from some May grads, Lawrence Caplan is working at Esperanza Hope an oganization sponsored by the Vera institute , Josh Ring is going to join the ER staff at New York- Presbyterian Hospital Queens, in August, Jamie Parr is working at Graham Windham Services,Yehuda Kranzler got engaged recently and I hear Julie Fishelson has accepted a job in a school system in New Jersey. What are the rest of you up to?

Please email me @CMMILLER@YU.EDU