The Fordham Career Center hosted virtual coffee chat sessions with representatives from the Fordham Law School on Feb. 20. Students had the chance to speak with Barbara Boehler, senior director of Fordham Law School’s Compliance Programs, to discuss the school’s Corporate Compliance Program.
The coffee chats are informational interviews that provide an opportunity for students to develop individual relationships with employers and experts in their desired fields. Although these conversations are more informal, employers will vet a candidate during these sessions.
“If a student really stands out, they’ll be urged to apply for an opportunity with a certain employer,” said Michael Persaud, assistant director of campus recruiting.
In a recent coffee chat session with Fordham University alum Michael Krepak, PCS ’16, who is the CEO of Flex Caps Solutions, extended an offer to a student. A lot of employers chose to hold virtual meetings instead of in-person, and students were able to utilize the interview rooms in the Career Center in the McShane Campus Center.
The coffee chats reflect a small part of the 500 employer-related events presented by the Career Center each year, including 10 career fairs. Networking is highly promoted and encouraged at Fordham. Overall, the coffee chats have proven to elicit great success stories and long, fulfilling careers and relationships.
ALDI has attended Fordham recruiting events for the past three years.
“They really built a brand and are hiring year after year,” said Annette McLaughlin, director of Fordham’s Office of Career Services.
Persaud went on to explain ALDI’s relationship with Fordham students further: “The recruiter, Ryan, loves Fordham students and he will help you with applying. A lot of the recruiters are kind of like coaches. They help prepare you for interviews and coach you on what questions they may ask.”
Employers want to help students and hire Fordham alumni, so seeking them out and showing interest through Career Center events goes a long way. Students can gain crucial skills regarding interview tactics and what recruiters want to hear.
Specifically, the law school coffee chats draw people into the corporate compliance programs. These are generally sought out by graduate students in the compliance world who are looking for more legal education but not to be a lawyer. It is a one-year program and does not lead to taking the bar exam.
When asked how Fordham Law engages pre-law students, Stephen Brown, assistant dean of enrollment, said, “our director of admission spoke at the pre-law symposium for freshman and sophomores. The student groups invite us to talk all the time and we do.”
The pre-law symposium is a one-credit, pass-fail course designed for pre-law students at Rose Hill and Lincoln Center to gain an overview of legal careers and law school admissions. It is one of the many ways that Fordham engages students who are taking the route to law school.
