About Us
Summer is only a few short months away, and with that comes the ever-pressing question, where are you working this summer? As we embark further into our college years, our summers can no longer be spent relaxing poolside or wasting the days away with friends. Instead, we are building our resumes, exploring career paths and gaining experience in the professional field. With February winding down, it seems like everyone snagged that internship…well, yesterday. But for those of you who have yet to find that perfect summer opening, or just don’t know where to start, Boston College offers several resources waiting to be explored. If you need a little help working through the Internship frenzy, check out the guidelines below to help you get started.
Go to the Career Center
This is the most useful place to start. The career center has a team of individuals who come to work everyday specifically looking to help students work through the internship process. The center, located right on Comm. Ave across from Dunkin’ Donuts, is open Monday through Friday and has drop in times available throughout the day. One-on-one appointments can also be made online with a number of staff members. If you’re beginning at square one, meaning you actually have no idea where to begin, the career center is the ideal place to start.
Photo courtesy of Boston College Career Center
Find what you’re passionate about
Knowing which internship to apply for can be difficult if you don’t know what you want to do. There are internship opportunities in nearly any field of study, so in order to make your time worthwhile, it’s important to find the correct fit for your skills and goals. The career center website offers a number of surveys, such as the SkillScan assessment, to help identify personal interests and strengths.
Attend an internship fair
The majority of the internship fairs occur in the fall semester and early months of the spring semester, so if you have yet to attend one, be on the lookout for next year’s fairs. The internship fairs provide a gateway to a number of employers and connections throughout the country. Before attending, look up the companies involved so you have an idea of who to talk to. Even if you aren’t interested in any specific companies represented, the fair is a great way to gain practice interacting with professionals.
Get up-to-date with Eagle Link
If you have yet to navigate Eagle Link, all you need is your BC username and password to log in. The site, run by the Career Center, is one of the main tools BC offers to gain access into the professional world. The site also provides online career management services, upcoming employer information sessions, BC alumni connections, and more.
Make and perfect your resume
A resume is often the first thing employers will see when you apply for a position, so it becomes the first chance to set you apart from competitors. When making a resume, clear and concise is best. Don’t know exactly what to add? The career center website also offers several downloadable templates of past resume and cover letters to give you an idea of where to start.
Photo courtesy of Pinterest
Search the web
Once you’re ready to start applying, the web offers an infinite amount of opportunities to find openings. The Vault guide provides the current standings for companies across the county, ranging anywhere from non-profit organizations to law-firms. Internships.com is another great resource where companies list specific positions they are looking for. Even more, you can apply directly online.
Build connections
Perhaps nothing boosts your chances of getting an internship like a good connection. Whether it’s a family friend, a professor, or a BC alum, reach out to those individuals you know with a strong foothold of the professional field. By asking them simple questions or advice, you will be forging a relationship that could benefit you in the future. For even more opportunities, try making a profile on Linkedin, and let the networking begin.
Applying for internships can be stressful, but knowing what to do and who to talk to can help you tackle the process with confidence. BC is there to guide you every step of the way, so be sure to explore one of the many resources provided on campus and online the next time you get stuck.
