Graduate Students

Whether you’ve just started at BU or have been here awhile, we can support you and your career development.

Activate Your Account in Handshake
More than just a job board, Handshake is BU’s online career development hub for students and alumni to exclusively access events, resources, appointments, internships and jobs, employers, and much more. Log in to activate your account.

Explore Our Website and Blog
Our website has lots of helpful how-to information on writing resumes, interviewing for jobs, and much more, including a detailed guide on how to boost your career readiness. Our blog, BU + Beyond, is full of helpful tips and advice.

Get to Know the Career Development Cycle
No matter where you are in your journey, our four-step Career Development Cycle can help you identify and achieve your career goals. Start with self-discovery to create a plan that incorporates your skills, interests, values, and personality.

Attend Introductory Sessions for Graduate Students
Jump-start your career planning with our sessions for graduate students, either live or prerecorded. Check the list of session topics to see what’s available and our calendar for the next scheduled session.

Limited time at BU means jumping into career planning right away. Our experts can inform, advise, and more. Stuck on a career decision? We can help with that, too.

Attend Programs and Events
We offer presentations on a number of different topics, from resumes and cover letters to interviewing and job searching. Plus, we host programs with employers actively recruiting for open positions. Some presentations are recorded; check the list of session topics to see what’s available. Check our calendar to see upcoming events.

Read Tips from Experts in the CCD Blog
Browse our blog, BU + Beyond, to read advice on topics from resumes and the job search to advocating for yourself at work and everything in between. Our contributors share advice from their experience, tips on making the most of your time at BU, and much more.

Access the Terrier Network
Alumni participate in a wide range of events and programs across campus, including the career webinar series by Alumni Relations. Check BU’s calendar for upcoming events. Connect with alumni using BU Connects to learn more about their career paths, advice for students, and more.

Get Help for Resumes, CVs, and Cover Letters
Need to get started? Check out the resume and cover letter information on our website. Attend an upcoming session on resumes or cover letters (check the calendar) or watch a recording (see the list of session topics to see what’s available).

Already have a draft? Get some feedback with our resume tool, VMock (all degree students). Schedule or drop in for a review (on-campus degree program students only).

Meet Individually with a Member of the CCD Team
Conflicted or feeling stuck? Work one-on-one with a career professional, discussing topics like career goals, academic focus and career options, changing career paths, and more. Schedule in Handshake (on-campus degree program students only).

Relevant experience, skills, and knowledge come from many sources, including on- or off-campus work, coursework, team projects, student activities, volunteer work, and much more.

Find Internships and Jobs
Though not the only way to build your relevant experience, internships and jobs are a good way to prepare for a career path. Check out listings in Handshake as well as general or industry-specific job boards.

Take Advantage of Experiential Learning
With BU’s expanding experiential learning opportunities and programs, you can learn by doing without leaving campus.

Get Involved in Your Community
Teamwork and leadership are among the top skills that employers seek, both of which you can gain through community involvement. Start with options available through Student Activities and the Community Service Center. Seek online volunteer opportunities in areas of interest to you. Explore your interests outside of the classroom, work with teams to achieve specific goals, and contribute to initiatives with purpose.

Get Certified
Would additional skills help you launch your career? Build specific skills with certifications, boot camps, or other specialized training. One of many options: explore BU’s online options available from edX.

Explore Industries and Career Paths
Learn more about industries and career paths that interest you. Here are few places to get started:

• Vault: Guides on industries as well as information about many specific organizations
• Candid Career: Video interviews with people about their careers, representing thousands of companies, industries, and positions
• What Can I Do With This Major?: Guides that connect academic fields and careers, including typical careers, types of employers, and strategies for being a more marketable candidate (designed for undergraduate students, but helpful for others)
• CCD affinity and identity resources: Information and external links to help you start a deeper search
• BU Connects and LinkedIn: Real-world examples of career paths, affinity groups, and more

A good first impression is key to making the most of any opportunity. From resumes and cover letters to interviews and networking opportunities, we can help get you prepared to shine.

Assemble Your Professional Attire
By having at least one professional outfit in your closet, you are ready for interviews or employer events. No need to break the bank; there are great options for those on a tight budget, including the Professional Clothing Closet, where students can select up to four items to keep for free. And remember, virtual interviews are still interviews; professional dress is required. Not sure what to wear? Learn about business casual and business professional, plus read tips for virtual interviews and remote work.

Build Your LinkedIn Profile
With millions of users, LinkedIn can help you build your professional presence and expand your network to explore career paths, stay in touch with those you know, and connect with potential internship/job leads. Check out our calendar for upcoming sessions on LinkedIn profiles and strategies. Some presentations are recorded; check the list of session topics to see what’s available.

Build Your Handshake Profile
Your Handshake profile does much more than you may realize. The more information you add, the more relevant your internship/job search results. Once you fill it out, you can share it. Turn on your campus profile to share it with fellow BU students and/or make it visible to employers so that they can find you.

Tailor Your Resume and Cover Letter
Once you have a starter resume and cover letter, customizing these documents for each position increases your chances for getting an interview. By highlighting your most relevant skills and experiences, you will be more likely to stand out to the hiring manager. Get tips on how to do this on our blog and in workshops. Get feedback on versions of your resume with VMock and on cover letters with reviews.

Learn to Introduce Yourself and Practice Networking
With some planning and practice, you can be prepared for meeting new people, whether at a career fair or in the airplane seat next to you. An elevator pitch is a reliable way to introduce yourself and start a conversation; also known as networking. Need help getting started? Attend an upcoming networking session (check the calendar) or watch a recording (see the list of session topics to see what’s available).

Organizations of all kinds actively seek BU talent at all levels for open positions, recruiting in person and virtually.

Hear from Organizations at Recruiting Events
A great way to learn about organizations and opportunities, recruiting events include information sessions, drop-in meet-and-greets, tech talks, office hours, and much more. Held both in person and virtually, check our calendar for upcoming recruiting activities.

Meet Recruiters at Career Fairs
A career fair is an excellent way to research companies, meet recruiters, find an internship or job, and explore additional professional opportunities. Typically, our two largest fairs are scheduled for mid-October and mid-February, with smaller fairs (both online and in person) occurring throughout the year. A list of attending employers is available in Handshake prior to each event. Check our calendar and look for announcements in our newsletter.

Explore Employers in Handshake
Browse the employers seeking BU talent in Handshake. New organizations large and small are approved to recruit at BU every day, from diverse industries and with locations around the world. Favorite any that interest you and you’ll be notified each time they schedule an event or post a new position.

Take Advantage of On-Campus Interviewing
Each semester, our team brings recruiters from numerous organizations to campus to interview students for open positions. Apply for one of these roles, and, if selected, you’ll get to interview in person without leaving campus. Open to students in on-campus degree programs. Check out listings and application deadlines in Handshake.