STUDENTS! Looking for a Job or an Internship? Do you always do research to evaluate a potential employer? Each year, our office works to provide you with numerous and varied employment opportunities. Many jobs and internships go onto BU CareerLink, or are posted in hard-copy binders. We hope you will take advantage of these listings to help you in your jobs search. BUT… we are not able to evaluate each employer, or each opportunity, to know that it is legitimate, appropriate, or as advertised. We obviously do not want to see students get involved with organizations with questionable backgrounds or operating practices; on the other hand, we do not have the resources to evaluate every organization, and we do not want to arbitrarily screen any out. Before you commit to a job or an internship, do some homework! Research the organization! • Check their website, for starters. Is there a fee required from you for training, materials, etc? If there is, that might be quite legitimate – but always check it out and use common sense. • Check out other, independent websites that have information about the organization. Are there lots of negatives? Are these balanced by positives? • Are you able to visit the location before you accept their position? Sometimes an on-site interview can be a great way to observe how an organization operates. • Do you know anyone who has had experience with the organization, either positive or negative? • What about your salary; is it based on your sales volume or other production output? If you were to earn only the minimum, would that be acceptable to you? What is the future for people in the company who are not among the top producers? • Is the product or service provided by the company something you are familiar with, and comfortable with? • Does the offer seem “too good to be true”? In short, look for red flags, and use common sense. The vast majority of employers out there are legitimate, and provide good opportunities for new college grads. But don’t assume that is automatically the case. And finally…. If you do have a bad experience in a job or internship, and believe the employers has acted fraudulently or inappropriately, PLEASE LET US KNOW! Sometimes we can help clear up misunderstandings, or alternately, prevent other students from having the same bad experience. Thanks for taking the time to read this. Use Common Sense, and Enjoy Your Job Search!

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