Preparing for Your Career
As an MBA or MS Accounting student you may already have a well-defined career in mind. The job search process can still be a lengthy and time-consuming process. The earlier you begin this process in your master’s work, the more successful you will be. Think of your internship or job search as an additional two-credit class each semester and budget time accordingly.
All campus recruiting for SOM students is coordinated by the University's Career Development Center, which is located in the basement of the Bartle Library Building. CDC offers a career library, several counselors, workshops, and online tools for students to utilize. Find CDC and take advantage of its resources.
The School of Management Placement Office is another resource available to you after your visit to CDC. The Director of Placement and Placement Assistants offer career-related guidance to enhance the internship/job search preparation of SOM students. Individual and group meetings are available through office hours and scheduled appointments. Resume review and mock interview services are also available following students’ interaction with CDC.
The Office of SOM Graduate Advising maintains a database that contains internship postings for graduate students. Ideally, the internship you have during the summer prior to graduation should be in the same field in which you would like to work upon graduation. CDC's eRecruiting service for on campus recruiting, job and internship postings is also available to graduate students. Visit CDC to register.
Tips for Your Internship/Job Search
As you move forward with your internship or job search, we suggest the following:
A strong resume is a necessary tool for the internship and job search. It is crucial for you to have a high quality, well-organized resume to attract employers’ attention. Use the tips and recommendations found in the School of Management Resume Guide when preparing or reviewing your resume for potential employers. - .
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Update your resume and become familiar with writing strong cover letters. CDC has free literature on resume and cover letter writing. Be sure to pick up copies of these information sheets, called Quick Reference Guides, during your next visit or print them from CDC’s website. Make an appointment to have a CDC staff member review and critique your resume and cover letter.
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Remember your resume is never finished. Make sure to continually update your resume so it is accurate and ready for review by an employer. You never know when someone will ask for your resume.
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Speak with a professor or advisor if you're unsure of which career path is right for you, but remember the decision is completely yours.
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Read the Wall Street Journal every day. You won't have time to read it cover to cover, but try to read at least the front page every day. The Journal is a great source of information about careers and industries. Accessing the Journal is easy and free to BU students on Lexis and ProQuest. If you prefer to read it in print, visit the Bartle Library's periodicals room or purchase a subscription. To subscribe to either the print version or the customizable online version of the Journal, visit WSJ.com.
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Make a point to attend SOM and CDC events, especially those involving employers like SOM’s Mentoring and Networking Event and CDC’s Job and Internship Fairs. Dress for employer related events is never less than business casual. Some situations, like interviews, will call for business professional attire.
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Network, network, network! Networking is the number one way anyone finds a job or internship today. Make use of all contacts you have. If you don’t have a network, get started creating one. Use the Alumni Career Network (ACN) to search for alumni and seek out their guidance and advice. The ACN is available through CDC’s website and the BUSI web center.
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Helpful Online Resources
For further information on careers refer to the following sites.
Graduate Placement
See: A sampling of firms that hired Class of 2006 graduate students:
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