Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How can the Career Center help me?
A: We assist BU SMG students manage the internship and/or job search by providing services to review your resumé and cover letter, perform mock interviews, help you assess what careers would be a good fit, teach you how to network effectively, help you craft your "30 second pitch," and assist you in negotiations, etc.

Q: Does the Career Center help students in all classes and concentrations?

A: Yes. Collectively, the FCC staff has experience in every industry and concentration. We have employers recruiting for all concentrations and these opportunities mirror the percentage of students who are concentrating in these areas. For example, approximately 60% of our students concentrate in finance and accounting; 52% of our job postings are geared toward this population. 23% of our students concentrate in marketing; 21% of our postings are geared for the marketing students. 30% of the class concentrates on operations, general management, etc; and the balance (27%) of our employment opportunities are for these areas. Freshmen may want to wait until January to schedule an appointment as the fall is very busy with appointments for seniors and juniors.

Q: How do I get started on my internship or job search?
A: The first step is to meet with a career counselor. He/she can help you determine an effective strategy and then show you the tools and resources to accomplish your goals. Make sure you read Preparing for the Job Search under the Job Search Preparation section of this site.

Q: When should I get started on my search?
A: Landing your internship or job will take longer than you may think (6 - 8 months on average). You will want to spend time researching careers and companies so that you can apply to positions that are the best fit for you. Finance, consulting, and IT companies recruit in the fall as do most of the Leadership Rotational programs. Most marketing, non profit, health sector and operations opportunities recruit in the spring. However, we recommend you make it a habit to check new postings on MiTRAC every few days so that you do not miss anything.

Q: How do I set up an appointment with a career counselor?
A: Call the Career Center front desk at 617-353-2834 or stop in and we will schedule the appointment for you. Appointments are 50 minutes long and start on the hour. We are open from 9 - 5 Monday through Friday.

Q: When are the Walk-In hours?
A: Graduate Walk -In Hours:
Tuesday, 3:00 - 5:00
Wednesday, 3:00 - 5:00

A: Undergraduate Walk - In Hours:
Tuesday, 10:00 - 12:00
Wednesday, 1:00 - 3:00

A: Senior Only Walk - In Hours
Friday, 10:00 - 12:00

Q: What is MiTRAC?
A: MiTRAC is our online career management system which lists job and internship opportunities, company information sessions, career center workshops and other important information. Please check this every few days!

Q: How do I get access to MiTRAC?
A: Sign up for a MiTRAC account by stopping into the Career Center. It takes about 5 minutes to set up your account.

Q: If I don't see anything on MiTRAC that appeals to me, what do I do?
A: The most important thing you can do is to create a target list of companies for which you would like to work. Reference USA is a terrific resource found in the Pardee library to help you do this. Then you will want to go to their web sites and see what opportunities are listed under their Careers section. You will also want to network with your friends, parents, neighbors, professors, to see what contacts and opportunities they may know of.

Q: Why do I have to have my resumé approved?
A: Employers tell us year after year that the BU SMG resumés are some of the best that they have seen. Our format and the high quality of the content bring top tier companies back to recruit each year. Our goal is to help you make it past the screening process and a powerful resumé is one of the important steps in accomplishing this.

Q: When does my resumé need to be approved?
A: First year MBA's and sophomore will have to have their resumé approved to have access to on campus recruiting. We recommend you send it in to be reviewed before you start classes in September, unless you are a sophomore (you will go through the process in SM411). It can take time to go through the edits and approval process, so please allow at least 2 weeks.

Q: Why is my MiTRAC Profile important?
A: This is important because we send resumés to employers who are looking for students that meet certain criteria and we use MiTRAC to search for the resumés. Your profile outlines your skills, concentration, work authorization, etc. that match the employer's needs. Make sure your information you enter is accurate (cumulative GPA, etc) as any misrepresentation of your data will result in a hearing before the Academic Conduct Committee. It is NOT allowable to change any information so that you can gain access to a job application. Severe sanctions have resulted when this is discovered.

Q: If I want to work somewhere other than the northeast, what can the Career Center do for me?
A: We can help you with your resumé, cover letter, job search strategy, mock interviews and assist you with resources for locating employers and alumni in the area you wish to work.

Q: If I do not have a 3.0 or above GPA, are there any jobs for me?
A: While 30% of the finance and accounting jobs require a minimum GPA, only 7% of the other jobs have a minimum GPA of 3.0 or above. This means that MOST of the jobs on MiTRAC do NOT have a grade point minimum.

Q: As an international student, are there jobs that will sponsor me?
A: Due to the H1B Visa issues, it is more difficult for an international student to secure employment within the USA. However, 50% of the companies that recruit at BU do sponsor international students. Also, it will please you to know that each year our international students finish the recruiting season with a high employment rate. Last year it was 95%.