Grad School: What to Know Before You Apply
March 3, 2025 No Comments
Introduction Grad School. You know it means more college (and more money). But what does it give you? Is it worth it? And how would you start applying? In a
From the classroom to the workplace
You’ve been well prepared for your next step
WE CAN HELP YOU GET THERE!
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- Resume and Cover Letter Review
- Job Search Strategies
- Internship Planning
- Career Exploration
- Interview Preparation
- Online Branding (LinkedIn, Social Media)
- Networking
- Career & Life Coaching
Why use your Career Center? Click on video!
MEET US AT THE CAREER CENTER
- Alumni 205 & 206
- [email protected]
- Drop-in Hours for Resume Review
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Mon-Thu 9-5, Fri 9-4
- Alumni 205 & 206
- [email protected]
- Summer Office Hours:
Mon-Thu 9-5, Fri 9-noon
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NEED HELP IDENTIFYING YOUR TARGET CAREER?
Focus 2 Career is 5 assessments in one, helping you to gather language that describes who you are and use that information to figure out what careers would be a fit for you. For each recommended career, it tells you which BJU program will best prepare you.
CAREER EXPLORATION: Career Quest
Want to hear from people on the job, working in the industry you’re interested in? What challenges do they face? What is a typical day like? How did they get to where they are today? Check out these videos and more on Candid Career.
STEPS TO LANDING YOUR JOB (or INTERNSHIP)
1. PREPARE
Click on “+” below to view resources in each section
What is the actual job you are trying to land? You must know this first in order to write your resume, create your LinkedIn profile, and start your job search.
Not sure? Here are some ideas and resources to get you started:
- Take the FOCUS 2 CAREER assessment. Use Access Code: BJUBruins
- LinkedIn — Click on the JOBS tab. In the search bar enter your skills. Look at the job titles that show up, read some of the job descriptions, and see what is a fit for you.
- Use the SkillsMatcher at Career OneStop: https://www.careeronestop.org/toolkit/Skills/skills-matcher-questions.aspx
- Use the tools on the U.S Department of Labors O*Net Resource Center: https://www.mynextmove.org/
DOWNLOAD AND MODIFY A SAMPLE RESUME (samples and instructions below)
RESUME GUIDES & IDEAS:
- Resume Checklist
- Verbs to use on your Resume
- Transferable Skills for your Resume
- Career Ready Competencies
- Competencies Self-Assessment
RESUME SAMPLES:
- Freshman/Starter sample resume
- Accounting Resume
- Business Resume
- Chemistry Resume
- Communications Resume
- Computer Science Resume
- Criminal Justice Resume
- Education Resume Example
- Educational Studies Resume
- Health Sciences Resume
- Interior Design Resume
- Kinesiology Resume
- Math-Actuarial Resume
- Mechanical Engineering Resume
- Ministry Resume
- Multimedia Journalism Resume
- Music/Instrumental Performance
- Nursing Resume
- Photography Resume
- Sport Management Resume
- Theatre Resume
- Seasoned Professional Sample Resume
Have a Career Coach review your resume with you — Click to make an appointment
Upload your resume to Career Central for employers to see
Create a base cover letter that you can revise for each new job application.
COVER LETTER GUIDE: click to view/download pdf
COVER LETTER SAMPLES: click name to download Word doc
Create or update your LinkedIn profile
Check your other social media and remove any posts that could hurt your job search
Reach out to a Career Coach for a LinkedIn review — Click here
2. NETWORK!
80% of all jobs are never posted publicly
That’s because they are filled by people who are known to people in the company.
How do you become known? NETWORK!
- Reach out to the people you already know, tell them you are in the job market, and ask for introductions to anyone they know in your career field.
- Make new connections. Use LinkedIn and social media.
- Maintain your connections.
3. SEARCH FOR AND IDENTIFY JOBS & EMPLOYERS
The world of job searching is changing constantly!
With many jobs available and many people looking for work, consider broadening your job search beyond your college major.
- Identify all of the skills and competencies that you have developed over your lifetime. Here is a list to get you started: Transferable Skills
- Look at O*Net online and The Occupational Outlook Handbook for occupations that match your skills
- Search for jobs that match your skills and employers that would be great to work for
Start with BJU’s own job board, CareerCentral:
Then look at these other job search resources:
4. APPLY!
Apply for every job two times
- Apply following the employer’s application directions precisely.
- Next, send an email to the supervisor of the job or the hiring manager (find via LinkedIn, Google, etc.). Use your cover letter as your email and attach your resume.
Keep applying
Don’t be tempted to apply for a few jobs and then wait to hear from them. In this job market you will need to stay alert to new job postings and leads from your network and keep applying!
Adapt your resume and cover letter
- Adapt the profile of your resume to the job description and requirements. It should demonstrate that you are the right fit for the job. See examples in section 1 above.
- Your cover letter should show how you are a fit for the job, a fit for the company culture, and a team player.
5. INTERVIEW WITH CONFIDENCE
Your resume got you the interview.
Your interview gets you the job.
Now it’s time to . . .
Prepare and practice!
- Practice interviewing with the Mock Interview module on Career Central.
- Practice with a BJU Career Coach for an interview based on the job description.
6. TIPS FOR FOLLOW UP
Show Gratitude
Promptly send a Thank You email/note to everyone who has taken the time to interact with you. Everyone knows to do this, but only about 20% do. This is an opportunity to stand out.
Common Questions
If I don't hear back from an employer after applying/interviewing is it okay to reach back out?
Yes. If you have not heard back in a couple weeks it is fine to reach out to the employer to let them know that you are still interested and available. Following are some sample emails:
Inquiring about status of an application:
Dear Hiring Manager: (address to individual if you have a contact)
Given the current situation with COVID-19, I am writing to inquire about status of my application. I realize in these unusual times that [name of company/organization] might not be currently hiring. But I am very interested in talking with you about filling the opening for [insert name of position]. Have you had a chance to process my application/resume?
Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
[your name]
Inquiring about next steps in the hiring process (after an interview):
Dear Hiring Manager: (address to individual if you have a contact)
Thank you for the opportunity to meet with you [insert day/time]. I enjoyed learning more about [insert name of position] and how I could contribute. Given the current situation with COVID-19, I realize there are limitations you may be facing. I am writing to inquire about next steps. What is the next step in the hiring process?
Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
[your name]
When should I discuss salary or benefits?
The best time to discuss the details of salary and benefits is when you are offered the job. Do your research: Find out what similar jobs in that region pay, and make a budget to determine how much income you will need to live. Benefits you may want to discuss: health insurance, other insurance, paid personal time, sick time, continuing education, help with college debt, etc. Many of these benefits are negotiable.
What should I do until I get a job?
First of all — keep searching and keep applying for jobs. New job opportunities crop up all the time.
Gain certifications. While you have the time take courses (Coursera, Khan Academy, Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, etc.) and gain certifications that relate to your desired job. This also makes for a great story to tell at your interview: “I used my time between school and job to get better prepared for this job!”
THINGS TO KNOW RIGHT NOW
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