The Career Development Cycle is the conceptual framework for how we support students and alumni with their career journeys. We talk about this as a cycle because you can start at any point and move through the steps in any direction as you need to. Exploration leads to an internship or a job where you build skills but also discover a new interest, so you might head back to self-discovery before finding your next position. Download our handy Action Plan (PDF) to help you make the most of your journey!
Below you’ll find more about each step along with goals and recommended actions you can take. We’ve also included relevant Career Readiness Competencies with specific examples to show skills you’ll practice with following the Career Development Cycle.
Self-Discovery
This stage (also known as self assessment) is all about building a strong foundation focused on what is important to you. Whether you are just starting your career or are considering a change, we can help you think about your goals, skills, interests, values, decision-making process, and personality type and how these can help you find a career path you’ll love.
Self-Discovery: Goals, Steps, More
Goals
- Identify your skills, interests, values, and personality.
- Be able to speak about them with others.
- Understand how each of these (skills, interests, values, personality) can intersect with career goals.
Suggested Steps
- Undergraduate student? Explore majors offered at BU. Speak with faculty, advisors, and career counselors to learn more about which programs and majors interest you.
- Get involved with student groups and professional organizations to learn more about what interests you and how you like to engage those interests.
- Reflect on your experiences so far to identify interests, skills, and values. Consider coursework, activities, and hobbies as well as jobs or internships.
- Make an appointment at the CCD for help with assessing your skills, values, interests, and personality.
More To Explore
- Read more about self-discovery on the CCD’s blog.
- Learn about your mosaic, a holistic view of your BU experience, including how academics and career paths connect and how all of the parts of your experience contribute to finding your career path.
- Learn more about how the CCD can help by attending an introductary workshop, options for undergraduate or graduate students available. Check our calendar for upcoming events.
- Browse information on the resources and support available through the CCD.
- Get started with career skills like resumes, cover letters, and much more. Browse the list of programs. Check our calendar for upcoming events.
Self-Discovery and Career Readiness
Use this as a general guide to understanding what employers are looking for in applicants. Assess for yourself if these are areas in which you feel strong. If not, how can you begin building this competency?
- Career and Self-Development: Demonstrate awareness of own strengths and areas for improvement
- Professionalism: Act with integrity and accountability in self exploration
For more information and additional examples, view the full list of Career Readiness Competencies.
Exploring Careers
Exploring Careers focuses on collecting information about possible career paths that might interest you and are a good match for what you now know of yourself. While what you explore is up to you, we can help with online resources, events, and advice if you get stuck.
Exploring Careers: Goals, Steps, More
Goals
- Research fields and career paths that align with your interests, values, personality, and skills. Develop a short list; we suggest 3-6 careers, industries, job titles, or organizations.
- Learn about any education or skill requirements for each field or career path. Modify your list as needed.
- Identify ways you can gain relevant first-hand experience. This can include internships, practica, volunteer work, part-time jobs, research projects, experiential courses, and more.
Suggested Steps
- Use online tools (including those available from the CCD) to learn more about career options, employers, and entry-level roles.
- Set up (or update) your profiles> on LinkedIn and BU Connects to explore career paths you’re interested in and to build your professional network.
- Conduct informational interviews with alumni and others in your network to learn from an insider.
- If additional education is an interest or goal, research degree programs and identify BU faculty you can speak with about the field.
More To Explore
Exploring Careers and Career Readiness
Use this as a general guide to understanding what employers are looking for in applicants. Assess for yourself if these are areas in which you feel strong. If not, how can you begin building this competency?
- Career and Self-Development: Demonstrate curiosity and eagerness to learn
- Communication: Ask appropriate questions and communicate desired field using sound logic
- Critical Thinking: Analyze information from a variety of sources and made reasoned decisions
- Technology: Use appropriate and reputable resources to accomplish research
For more information and additional examples, view the full list of Career Readiness Competencies.
Building Skills
With Building Skills, you’ll focus on both the specifics of applying to positions and the hands-on experience and skills from coursework, study abroad, campus activities, and internships/jobs. We can help with how to conduct a search, write and target your resume, pen an effective cover letter, prepare for interviews, and even deliver an elevator pitch.
Building Skills: Goals, Steps, More
Goals
- Try out career interests through coursework, on-campus activities, study abroad, volunteering, internships or jobs, and more. As you gain experience, reflect on and refine your career goals.
- Learn how to target a resume and cover letter to a specific position. Highlight your skills and career readiness competencies.
- Develop and practice an elevator pitch, so you are prepared for any professional introduction.
- Identify skills needed for a career path of interest. Start building those skills while still a student.
Suggested Steps
- Develop a base resume and cover letter for each type of role you want to apply for, such as operations versus marketing. Don’t forget to customize both your resume and cover letter before applying to a specific position.
- Attend employer events, including information sessions, meet and greets, and career fairs. If interested in the organization or a role, speak with the recruiter to build a personal connection. Check our calendar for upcoming events.
- Build your professional network, including friends, family, faculty, mentors, supervisors, coaches, and other connections. Identify 3-6 professional references and ask if they would be able to provide a strong recommendation for you.
- Utilize tools and platforms available through the CCD. Use VMock to improve your resume. Use Handshake to apply for posted positions and to connect with employers. Use Big Interview to practice interviewing. Use free resources like Forage to demonstrate needed skills and add credentials to your resume.
More To Explore
Building Skills and Career Readiness
Use this as a general guide to understanding what employers are looking for in applicants. Assess for yourself if these are areas in which you feel strong. If not, how can you begin building this competency?
- Career and Self-Development: Assume responsibility for own growth and embrace opportunities for development
- Communication: Market skills effectively on resume and in interviews
- Critical Thinking: Evaluate skills and experiences needed for professional goals and identify ways to develop
- Equity and Inclusion: Seek opportunities to work alongside people you may not know and be open minded to new ways of thinking
- Leadership: Seek out diverse perspectives and feedback to inform decisions
- Professionalism: Prove ability to accept expectations and maintain positive personal brand throughout experiences
- Teamwork: Build positive working relationships and learn to collaborate with others
- Technology: Identify needed technology skills and find ways to use and prove proficiency
For more information and additional examples, view the full list of Career Readiness Competencies.
Making It Happen
Building on everything that has come before, Making It Happen is all about taking action to achieve your goals after BU – from that first full-time job to graduate school, fellowship program or even taking a gap year. We can help with how to get from here to there, including if you’re stuck or stressed.
Making It Happen: Goals, Steps, More
Goals
- Take action toward post-graduation plans. Apply for jobs, graduate school programs, fellowships and service opportunities, or other alternatives including taking a gap year.
- Be prepared for interviews. Be able to speak to your interests, skills, and experience, focusing on the relevance for the position or program.
- Be prepared for offer negotiation. Research location-based salary needs to help you identify a target salary range. Make a list of other benefits you want or need, from professional development to health insurance.
Suggested Steps
- Attend career fairs and employer events to connect with employers actively recruiting BU students and alumni. Check the calendar for upcoming events.
- For post-graduation alternatives, make a list of everything you want to achieve. This can include personal or professional goals as well as skills, experiences, or activities. Use our guide to alternative options for ideas.
- Expand your network, including by connecting with the BU Alumni Association and professional associations in your field. Add connections on both BU Connects and LinkedIn. Utilize your professional network to learn about positions that are not publicly posted.
- Create or use a tracking system for your applications, such as CareerShift. This will help you remember where you’ve applied as well as any follow-up communications.
- Once you know where you’re headed after graduation, complete the First Destination Survey (in Handshake) to tell the CCD and BU.
More To Explore
- Learn more about career skills, including searching, interviewing, and responding to offers
- Learn more about references, including who to ask and more with our guide to recommendations and references.
- Curious about where BU graduate go after graduation? Read our outcomes reports covering the new graduates (first destination survey) or alumni 5 and 10 years later (alumni career survey)
- Did you know that alumni can still use the CCD? Learn more about our support for alumni.
Making It Happen and Career Readiness
Use this as a general guide to understanding what employers are looking for in applicants. Assess for yourself if these are areas in which you feel strong. If not, how can you begin building this competency?
- Career and Self-Development: Develop goals for future career and take ownership in achieving them
- Communication: Market skills effectively on resume and in interviews and understand the importance of non-verbal communication
- Critical Thinking: Evaluate opportunities and use a variety of resources to make decisions
- Equity and Inclusion: Embrace diverse opinions and ways of working when adapting to a new work or other environment
- Leadership: Demonstrate innovation and a positive attitude
- Professionalism: Be prepared, accountable, and dedicated throughout your search and career
- Teamwork: Build collaborative work relationships and manage conflict in professional manner
- Technology: Employ technology resources to research, apply, and network using professional channels
For more information and additional examples, view the full list of Career Readiness Competencies.
Questions or Concerns
The CCD and BU have many career resources available for you to use at your own pace. But we’re also here to help if you get stuck, are having problems making decisions, or just need a helping hand. Appointments are available through Handshake. For other questions or concerns, contact us at 617-353-3590 or future@bu.edu.
