find your niche in Rochester’s neighborhoods
Are you looking for off-campus housing? Ready for a change of scenery? Whether you’re still in school and need a new place to live next year or your lease is almost up, the time to look for housing is now! Rochester offers dozens of neighborhoods that are just minutes from the heart of the city. Before scanning the classifieds, check out Rochester’s many historic, distinctive and affordable neighborhoods and see which is right for you. You can get a quick overview in our city neighborhoods section or find out more at RochesterCityLiving.com. [Posted 05/4/09]
finals and graduation
As the academic year comes to a close for 2009, we wish all of our Real readers the best of luck on your finals and your post-graduation life. Real would like to thank three special seniors for all of their assistance during the past year in helping us promote Real and keep this site updated. Thank you to Mary Bertlesman and Jeff Howe from SUNY Geneseo and to Vicki Demkou from St. John Fisher College. We will be posting periodically throughout the summer and will return to our weekly schedule in the fall. [Posted 04/27/09]
twitter + festival + rochester =
2nd RocTwestival 4 Foodlink
Are you hooked on Twitter yet? Whether you are or not, Rochester will hold its 2nd Twestival from 6 to 10 p.m. April 30. The event—at Boulder Coffee, 955 Genesee St.—will benefit Foodlink, the regional food bank. For its first Twestival on Feb. 12, Rochester joined 201 other cities around the world to raise money for charity: water, a non-profit organization that brings safe drinking water to people in developing nations. Admission to the 2nd RocTwestival will cost $10 at the door, and you’ll get a drink of your choice. Local bands will perform, and appetizers from Foodlink’s Freshwise Catering will be served. Come out to support Foodlink, and help end hunger! Visit the Twestivals official site or contact Heather at (585) 328-3380, ext. 141, for more details on RocTwestival. [Posted 04/20/09]
finding a way into the work force
So you’ve perfected your interview skills, proofread your resume and attended your school’s career fair. Now what? The hardest part of finding a job is actually starting your search. What do you do first? How do you know who’s hiring? To make your life a little less stressful, collegegrad.com offers extensive advice taken from the book “College Grad Job Hunter” by Brian Krueger. Take a minute to browse the site, or go directly to the job search map, a tool that guides you from setting up your first interview to negotiating after a job offer. Interested in the book? Click here to find out more. [Posted 04/15/09]
pencil in the date
We’ve all seen the big pencil along University Avenue, next to the old English telephone booth, and maybe wondered what it’s for. For those who don’t know, the pencil marks the headquarters of Writers & Books, and your chance to check it out is coming up! Rochester Young Professionals will tour Writers & Books on Wednesday, April 22, at 5:30 p.m. The tour is being set up by Alexa Scott-Flaherty of W&B, at 740 University Ave. Attendees will learn about the literary center’s outreach programs, workshops for children and adults and visits by authors. W&B will provide wine and appetizers, and afterward RYP will go down the block to Edibles for a social. Click here for the W&B Web site, or check out the RYP events calendar to stay posted on the tour! [Posted 03/30/09]
a penny saved
Looking for quick and easy ways to save money on almost anything? Especially in today’s economy, who couldn’t use 91 tips to save hundreds if not thousands of dollars a year? The tips cover eight main spending categories—investing; food; transportation; travel; utilities; phone service, Internet and TV; credit, debt and banking; and entertainment—so there’s something for everyone. Click here for ways to save money that you may never have thought of! An especially useful and smart example: Restaurant.com, a site that lets you search for your favorite restaurants and purchase gift certificates for a fraction of their face value. [Posted 03/23/09]
college debt? don’t fret!
Did you know that the average college student now has more than $20,000 in debt at graduation and that the average salary of a new grad is $30,000? For those about to graduate, the best time to plan for paying back student loans is now—instead of celebrating by running up even more debt. Check out this article for advice about handling your finances and dealing with debt. The sooner you’re debt-free, the faster you’ll be on the road to financial stability! [Posted 03/16/09]
is an MBA for you?
You’ve just finished your undergraduate degree. Either you’re on a roll and go straight into grad school or you’ve been so drained after four long years that you wouldn’t go back to school even if they paid you. The decision to earn a master’s degree, such as an MBA, needs to be well thought out. Will it benefit you now or in the future? Is it better to have some work experience under your belt before applying to grad school? Some say an MBA is a wise investment, while others think they get more out of the real world than they ever would in a classroom. Take a minute and read this article and see if an MBA is right for you! Thinking of applying? Local colleges such as St. John Fisher, the University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology offer some of the top graduate programs in the country. Click on the school name for information about graduate admissions! [Posted 03/9/09]
meet Hizzoner…
Have any concerns about housing? Crime? Job opportunities? Who better to ask than Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy and his team? Rochester Young Professionals will be hosting and attending an information session called City Hall on the Road on March 31. The event will start at 5:30 p.m. at the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography & Film, and it is open to everyone. This is a great way to network with young professionals and give your input on city issues and events. As a major plus, the Eastman House will open up its galleries to young professionals and will be giving away film and house tour passes! If you have questions about the event, contact RYP at maria.thomas@r-y-p.org. Come prepared with questions and demonstrate to city officials that you care about local issues! [Posted 03/3/09]
what recession?
While many companies are cutting jobs, others such as Verizon Wireless are looking to expand their work force. Verizon plans to add 125 jobs at its Henrietta call center. The first hires will be in March, with the planned addition of 37 workers—just in time for graduation! The rest will be through the end of the year. Check out this article posted by RBJ Daily, and keep up with job openings in the Rochester area on VZWJobLink, Verizon’s career site. [Posted 02/23/09]
blab on, or just twitter
Wouldn’t it be nice to log onto a Web site, see what your favorite people are doing and log off without being sidetracked by this past weekend’s photos, videos and drama? We’re all familiar with the willpower required to avoid clicking on that one picture: Before you know it, you’re in full stalking mode and have exhausted your six-degrees-of-separation privileges. For those who want to avoid all of this, Twitter is for you. It’s the way to update friends and relatives by answering a simple question: What are you doing? Twitter limits you to 140 characters, just enough space to write or read a quick comment—with no pages to update, no pictures to browse. See what Rochester Business Journal has to say on Twitter by checking out its page and stay updated on all of Rochester’s business news! [Posted 02/16/09]
save the date(s)!
It’s that time of year again: Colleges all around the area are gearing up for job fairs. These fairs attract numerous employers looking for young and bright employees and interns. Remember to dress professionally, bring several copies of your resume and be on your best behavior; for some employers, this first impression is considered the first interview. Check out our newly updated career fairs section to see when your school is hosting its job fair and find other public career fairs. Don’t miss out on an opportunity that could land your first job or internship! [Posted 02/09/09]
creative SPEEDATE
Valentine’s Day may be just around the corner, but the Rochester Advertising Federation’s second annual Creative SPEEDATE is intended to make professional connections, not personal ones. Sophomores, juniors and seniors studying design, photography, new media and communications at area colleges are invited to get face-to-face with professionals in the business. The event will be set up like speed dating, and each professional will meet with students one-on-one for five to seven minutes to chat and answer questions about the industry—resumes and portfolios definitely not required. SPEEDATE will take place Monday, Feb. 9, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at John Myers Photography, 29 Richmond St. Food will be provided. If you’re interested, click here to sign up. Space is limited, and you must RSVP by Feb. 6. [Posted 02/02/09]
facebook for professionals
An earlier post explained how to clean up your digital dirt. But after you've made your online image presentable, you can put it to work and get connected. LinkedIn is a social networking site that lets you connect with hundreds of people you probably wouldn’t be able to connect with using traditional methods. Once you register and sign in, you can craft a profile including your accomplishments and resume, all of which can be seen by headhunters from around the country. Click here to learn more about business networking—and check out the mention of RIT! [Posted 01/26/09]
be a leader of your generation with NextGen
If you are between the ages of 21 and 45 and interested in giving back to the community, this organization is for you! NextGen Rochester, a new philanthropic group working through the Rochester Area Community Foundation, is recruiting young professionals who want to make the area a better place. Its goal is to introduce young leaders to philanthropy early in their careers, informing them about non-profits and giving them a voice in local charity work. NextGen Rochester is offering a free information session for young professionals from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 20, at the offices of the Rochester Area Community Foundation, 500 East Ave. If you are interested in joining or want to learn more, contact Cynthia Pacia at cpacia@racf.org or check out the Facebook group NextGen Rochester. To learn more about RACF, click here to be directed to its Web site. [Posted 01/19/09]
what happens on the internet …
stays on the internet
Thinking of applying for a new job? Before you sit down to update your resume or touch up your interviewing skills, take a minute to Google your name. If you haven’t already set privacy controls on your Facebook or MySpace pages, chances are they will top the search list. Although your partying days may be over, prospective employers have the ability to dig up old pictures you assumed were long gone. Click here to see how your digital dirt can either qualify or disqualify you as a potential employee. Ready to sweep the dirt under the rug? Follow this link to see how you can clean up your digital image and make sure the person you are is the person people see! [Posted 01/13/09]
what is the interviewer really asking you?
Interviews take a lifetime to master, but with a few simple tips you could be well on your way. Too many young people stumble through interviews without properly preparing for questions that every candidate should expect. By identifying your strengths, weaknesses, goals and personal characteristics, you can be better prepared for a slew of questions. If you want to improve your interview strategy, please click here. [Posted 12/22/08]
“On My Own Two Feet”
Are you living from paycheck to paycheck? Are you trying to pay back student loans or save for a down payment on your first home? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then the book “On my Own Two Feet” may be for you. This book has triggered a movement that empowers and educates young people. Topics such as tools for financial empowerment, saving vs. investing and strategies for real-life solutions are covered. Please click here to check out more. [Posted 12/15/08]
textspeak ruins employment opportunities
Today’s generation is filled with educated, qualified and enthusiastic young professionals who are ready for employment. The only problem is, they are accustomed to online and cell phone messaging and the abbreviations affiliated with these mediums. This communication style, known as text lingo, is ruining chances for employment. Employers are not impressed with the trend and are not hiring these less-than-impressive job-hunters. Please click here to check out why. [Posted 12/8/08]
resume boost
Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community by lending a helping hand to people and organizations. What you may not realize is that volunteering also benefits you as an individual. Through volunteering you can explore career and personal interests, earn great recommendations for future employment or college applications, develop marketable job skills, build your resume, uncover hidden skills and talents and increase your self-confidence while having fun and making a difference. To check out community service opportunities near you visit rochestercares.org. [Posted 11/24/08]
rochester-area career development association fall teaching fair
Are you an education major? Are you interested in working in the Rochester area? If you answered yes to either of these questions then please stop by the Shults Center Gymnasium at Nazareth College of Rochester on Dec. 5, 2008, from 3:30-6 p.m. Teaching candidates seeking long-term, per diem and probationary positions for fall 2009 will have the opportunity to speak to representatives from the Rochester area and surrounding districts. Pre-registration is not required. Just show up prepared to interview! To check out what schools will be represented, please click here. [Posted 11/17/08]
interns wanted!
Interested in a spring 2009 internship? Over 25 companies in the Rochester area are looking for eager students who can put their education, talents and interests to work. To check out who’s hiring, please click here! [Posted 11/17/08]
rba names top 100
The Rochester Business Alliance Inc. recently named the top 100 fastest-growing privately held companies. Turner Bellows, a Rochester manufacturing firm founded in 1971, tops this year’s list. The company, headed by Amanda Pontarella, consistently ranks on the Rochester Business Journal’s annual list of woman-owned businesses. Optimation Technology Inc. ranked second on the list followed by 5Linx Enterprises Inc. in Henrietta. The Rochester Top 100 is a program of the RBA and the local office of KPMG LLP. It ranks firms based on revenue growth. [Posted 11/10/08]
100 jobs in geneseo
Livingston County can expect a huge boost in the local economy with the addition of a Coast Professional Inc. call center. The Anaheim, Calif., firm plans to invest $1.8 million in the local economy and add 100 employees over the next three years. With competitive salaries, creative bonus plans and opportunities to advance, the call center should be a great fit for those interested in future career opportunities in the Geneseo area. Please click here to find out more. [Posted 11/3/08]