Tools and Platforms

Handshake is BU’s online hub for career resources, including internship and job listings, in the U.S. as well as around the world. More than 38,000 employers post to Handshake seeking BU talent – undergrads, graduate students, and alumni. Browse employers, apply for positions, register for events, schedule appointments, and much more.

Who Can Use It

All degree program students and alumni are eligible for a Handshake account. The CCD automatically creates accounts for most students prior to their first semester.

How To Access It

Login at bu.joinhandshake.com. Begin building your profile and explore the platform.
On mobile, use Handshake’s app (iOS and Android) for the best experience

Pro Tips

The more you use the system, the better the recommendations you see. Ready to apply to internships and jobs? Get your profile to 80% and make it public to employers. For an extra boost, upload your best resume and make that public too.

For more tips, browse the blog, BU + Beyond.

Want to practice interviewing? Big Interview is an online mock interview system that will help you prepare effectively by improving your interview technique, practicing answers to tough questions, and building your confidence. The system has a variety of features including:

• Challenging, virtual mock interviews for all experience levels and dozens of industries
• A database of thousands of interview questions with tips on how to answer them
• The ability to rate and share your interview answers for feedback
• A comprehensive video training curriculum on interviewing and more
• Detailed tips for crafting answers to behavioral questions

Who Can Use It

All students at any degree level and all alumni

How To Access It

New Users: Register at bu.biginterview.com/register with your BU email address. Check email for a verification link. Login and start practicing!
Subsequent Use: Once you’ve registered, log in at bu.biginterview.com/login with your BU email address

Pro Tips

Build your own question sets using the library of options. There are also different levels of interviewers; as you practice, increase the difficulty level to further build your skill and confidence.

CareerShift is a digital tool that enhances the job search experience, now available to Boston University degree-program students. With CareerShift, it’s easy to aggregate job databases, keep track of applications, and research prospective employers. You can store custom resumes and cover letters, schedule follow-up reminders, and organize all your correspondence with employers in one place!

Who Can Use It

All students at any degree level and all alumni

How To Access It

Login with your BU credentials at bostonu.careershift.com today to get started.

Pro Tips

Use the “school attended” field in the contact search tool to find alumni at organizations you are applying to.

Forage provides a hands-on way to learn about a variety of career paths through virtual work experience programs built with and endorsed by leading companies. Each program has a series of resources and tasks designed to simulate a role in that career.

Who Can Use It

All students at any degree level, including international students

How To Access It

Register to get started at theforage.com

Pro Tips

Forage work experiences can be a great way to get to know an organization or industry of interest.

Parker Dewey connects students to micro-internship opportunities–short-term, professional, paid work experiences. Unlike a traditional internship, these opportunities typically range from 5 to 40 hours of work, and many can be completed remotely. Through micro-internships, you can demonstrate skills, explore career paths, and develop professional networks all while providing support on short-term projects and tasks.

Who Can Use It

All students at any degree level and all alumni

How To Access It

Create an account and log in at info.parkerdewey.com/bu

Pro Tips

Parker Dewey micro-internships can be a great way to build experience that you can leverage for internships/jobs later.

VMock is an online tool that will analyze your resume in 30 seconds, giving you an instant and detailed assessment, including specific tips for making it better. Your uploaded (pdf) resume will be analyzed and scored on three categories of criteria that employers value: impact, presentation, and career-ready competencies like teamwork and leadership.

Although not tailored to individual career paths, degree programs, or users, the feedback represents what is generally recommended by the Center for Career Development in ten broad academic and industry categories.

• Arts
• Business
• Education
• General: Advanced
• General: Getting Started
• Health
• Media, Communications
• Research, Science
• Social Services
• Technical, Engineering, Data

Who Can Use It

All current BU students enrolled in a degree program are eligible to use VMock, including those in online degree programs. BU students who start a VMock account may continue to use VMock for 2 years after graduation.

Please note: Law, MBA, and MSMF students should contact their career office as the Law School and the Questrom School of Business (select graduate programs only) have separate VMock access.

How To Access It

Log in at vmock.com/bu. The CCD creates new accounts within the first month of each semester; watch for an access email from VMock.

Pro Tips

Take the time to review the feedback and suggestions, down to specific bullet-level feedback. Make the most of your 10 uploads per year by making significant changes before uploading again. While the resume score can give you a general sense of work needed, you don’t need to reach 100; anything above 70 indicates a strong resume.

For more tips, browse the blog, BU + Beyond.

Curious about what it is really like to work in your intended industry or in a certain role? Candid Career is a database with thousands of videos clips from interviews with people about their careers. Thousands of companies, industries, and positions are represented. You can search Candid Career by industry, career title, or college major to see what kinds of careers are available with your academic background. Videos are broken up into short clips so you can browse.

Who Can Use It

All students at any degree level and all alumni

How To Access It

Access at candidcareer/BostonUniv or via the Resource Library in Handshake

Pro Tips

In addition to industry- and role-specific videos, watch topical videos on mentorship, grad school, networking, and more. Plus, explore identity-based videos on LGBTQIA+ rights, transferable military traits, and disclosing a disability.

Firsthand.co (formerly Vault Career Intelligence) is available to BU students and has valuable resources for exploring career paths and conducting job searches. Features include premier employer profiles, rankings and reviews, field of study/occupational insights and guides,and career preparedness training and materials.

Who Can Use It

All students at any degree level and all alumni

How To Access It

Log in via the Resource Library in Handshake

Pro Tips

Use Firsthand’s guides to get insider information without knowing anyone at the organization.

Thinking about job searching outside of your home country? GoinGlobal is a robust database for researching employers and careers around the world.

Country Guides: Information on more than 30 countries around the world, including work permit/visa regulations, resume guidelines, employment trends, salary ranges, and cultural/interviewing advice.

USA/Canada City Guides: Information on major U.S. and Canadian cities including employment outlook, networking, and the cost of living. This also includes H1B employer listings for all 50 states.

Who Can Use It

All students at any degree level and all alumni

How To Access It

Log in via the Resource Library in Handshake

Pro Tips

Explore the tips and advice for different countries and cities, everything from interviewing to workplace culture.

Questions about which major to choose and where each option might lead? Need help exploring what to do with your chosen field? This platform can help you narrow down your options as well as learn about typical career areas and what employers look for in various fields.

Who Can Use It

All students at any degree level and all alumni

How To Access It

Log in via the Resource Library in Handshake

Pro Tips

As you explore career paths the platform lists for your academic area, cross reference what employers seek with our career readiness guide to get ideas for building relevant skills.