Navigating the path from graduate school to your dream career can be daunting, but Boston University’s Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GRS) is committed to empowering students with the tools and resources they need to succeed. With a wide array of career services tailored to the unique needs of graduate students, GRS offers unparalleled support as you transition from the classroom to the professional world. Learn more about what resources you can benefit during your time in BU and build a successful career. While each program provides more profession specific career resources, we’d like to focus more on the general opportunities you can benefit from no matter what you pursue.
Networking Opportunities at Career Fairs
No matter what profession you want to pursue in the future, BU’s career fairs are the right place for you to connect with business professionals to learn more about their experiences and offer you insight. Career fairs offer a valuable chance to network with potential employers, explore job openings, and learn about company culture. Many businesses actively recruit BU students at these events, making them an excellent platform to showcase your qualifications. Effective preparation, including research, tailored resumes, and a strong elevator pitch, can significantly enhance your chances of making a positive impression. Students are encouraged to follow Center for Career Development’s (CCD) calendar to check out event schedules and start their preparations accordingly. It is important to point out that certain programs such as CS also offer their own career fairs, where the students have the opportunity to come together with their peers and professionals. Therefore, make sure to stay connected with your professors and department news to never miss out on opportunities that arise.
Dress to Impress the Professionals
Presenting yourself to companies is a crucial part of the network process. BU also offers resources to make sure you have that part handled with ease. The BU Professional Clothing Closet provides free professional attire to students for job interviews, networking events, and career fairs. This service, a joint venture between the Center for Career Development and the Newbury Center, offers students access to clothing to help them succeed in their professional journeys. To visit the closet, located in the Yawkey Center (100 Bay State Road, Room 103), students simply have to schedule a 30-minute appointment on Handshake.
How to Ace your Interview
Once you give a great first impression and network, the obvious next step that follows is prepping for the interview. However, there is no need to worry as BU and the CCD got your back. The CCD website offers a step by step guide on how to prepare and ace your interviews. Through the site, students get access to written articles and video workshops to learn how to be better interviewees. For those who want to go a step further, CCD also offers mock interviews.
We’d also like to draw attention to the importance of regularly checking-in with the department websites and emails as students will have the chance to view department calendars, upcoming events, seminars, and many more. These events will be tailored to specific programs and allow students to get better insight on the professions they want to pursue beyond graduate school.
Utilize the BU Connections
Apart from the resources students are encouraged to utilize during the academic year; we want to draw attention to the importance of utilizing LinkedIn in the current US job market. We recommend all our students to follow the GRS account as well as the BU’s main profile to keep up with the career-related content as well as accessing our great alumni network. Students should also be on the lookout for affinity groups, mentorship programs, internships & job opportunities available both on campus and university’s online tools.
The Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, along with the Center for Career Development, offers a wealth of resources designed to equip you with the skills and confidence needed to thrive in the professional world. From career fairs and networking opportunities to professional attire support and interview coaching, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. Embrace these resources, explore your passions, and build a fulfilling career. Remember, you have the potential to achieve great things, and BU is dedicated to helping you unlock it.
About the Author:
Doğa Sevgi
Marketing & Communication Assistant, GRS
Bachelor of Science, Psychology