
Grad School: What to Know Before You Apply
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
You’ve been well prepared for your next step
Why use your Career Center? Click on video!
Click below to schedule an appointment:
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.
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.
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:
DOWNLOAD AND MODIFY A SAMPLE RESUME (samples and instructions below)
RESUME GUIDES & IDEAS:
RESUME SAMPLES:
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
That’s because they are filled by people who are known to people in the company.
How do you become known? NETWORK!
With many jobs available and many people looking for work, consider broadening your job search beyond your college major.
Start with BJU’s own job board, CareerCentral:
Then look at these other job search resources:
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!
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.
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]
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.
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!”
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
Should I Stay or Should I Go?: Pros and Cons of Going to Grad School VS Entering the Workforce Few things are a bigger deal for college students than graduating
My Next Move, sponsored by the US Department of Labor, can help you explore careers that fit your interests and skills. CLICK HERE to take the next step on your
Lost. Wandering. Trapped. Stuck. Overwhelmed. Confused. Do any of those words currently describe how you feel about your career journey or life decisions? Perhaps all of them do. How would
The goal of the resume is to get you a job interview. Once you secure an interview, researching and preparing for the interview is important. Like studying for a test,
FOCUS 2 CAREER guides you through a reliable, intuitive career & education decision making model to help you choose majors offered at BJU, explore occupations & make informed career decisions.