The Way Ahead

by Khanh

When choosing a graduate program, it is hard, if not impossible, to take the career aspect out of the equation. Unlike undergraduate students, graduate counterparts may carry with them tremendous responsibilities to their families, and figuring out where they would end up after enrolling in a PhD, MBA, MSF or MSA program is a top priority. Fortunately, the Carroll School provides students with a solid preparation not only in terms of the knowledge they acquire, but also necessary skills with which an effective job seeker should be equipped through the dedicated staff in the Career Strategies Office. One-on-one advising, interview preparation, workshops and networking events are constantly available to students.

The arduous process is also supported by the School’s prominent reputation. Every semester, numerous Wall Street bulge brackets, middle-market and top-tier consulting, accounting, and technology firms flock to campus to look for their next batches of bright employees. Credit Suisse, Barclay’s, UBS, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte, and State Street are just a few names among the firms that make their annual pilgrimage to Boston College. In fact, in a recent Wall Street Journal article, BC was ranked as a top 10 feeder school to the Asset Management industry.

Delving deeper into my particular story, I was grateful to all the help I received from the Career Strategies team and the vast network of BC alumni. I was able to meet and connect with my future employer at one of the countless information sessions organized and held in the Carroll School. After an initial phone conversation and four back-to-back “Superday-typed” interviews, I finally received an offer from Analysis Group, a Boston-based economic consulting firm, where I will have an opportunity to work with Fortune 500 and top law firms in various litigation cases.

During my preparation for the interviews, I also received tremendous guidance from my career adviser through various resume, cover letter and mock interview sessions. Certainly, the relative small size of the Carroll Graduate School helps with the amount of care the career advisers put into the process. Looking back, I believe the practical knowledge I gained in the MSF Program and the exposure to the dedicated BC alumni network are the decisive factors that helped me through the entire employment process.

The Internship Search

By Lauren

"Congratulations, we would like to offer you a position as a Summer Associate....."

Those are the words every First-Year MBA student is waiting to hear. After a TON of time and effort, I can happily say that I finally heard those words, and my internship search is over! The internship search is daunting, time consuming, and a lot of work. But it's also exciting- you get to explore new companies and career paths. Through the process, I learned a lot about myself and envisioned myself in a number of different companies and career paths.

While everyone's internship search is different, here is my advice on going about the internship search.

Lauren's Keys to Successfully Finding an Internship

1. Start Early!
2. Network, Network, Network!
3. Attend Information Services
4. Use Career Services

Start Early: Beginning in September, I met with my Career Services Advisor to identify an internship search strategy that involved networking, attending information sessions, and exploring companies I was interested in. She helped me realize that any work I did in the beginning of the year would help me later on and that the sooner I started, the more companies I could explore, the more connections I could make, and the more I'd learn about what I really want to do.

Network: I set up a number of informational interviews throughout the first semester that positioned me well to secure an internship at the beginning of my second semester. I held two informational interviews with two employees and networked with several other people at the company I am interning for this summer. Those conversations not only helped me learn about the company, but were incredibly helpful during my interviews because I had prior insight into the company, demonstrated interest in the company, and a good explanation for why I wanted to intern there.

Attend Information Sessions:  BC brings top-ranked companies to campus for Information Sessions such as John Hancock, Liberty Mutual, Hasbro, CVS Caremark, EMC, and Oceanspray, to name a few. I attended as many information sessions as possible to learn about companies and industries I was interested in as well as ones I wanted to learn more about. Every information session is a learning opportunity as well as a great way to network with company representatives and establish relationships for the future. I made connections with several representatives at information sessions and made a point to introduce myself to the representatives of the company I'm interning for!

Use Career Services:  My career advisor was amazing. She was willing to meet with me as often as I needed to help guide me through the process. At first, I met with her every two weeks to prepare for informational interviews, brainstorm new companies to target and connections at those companies. She provided helpful advice on some of my cover letters. The day before one of my interviews, I had a freak out moment, and frantically emailed her asking for advice on how to prepare. She met with me for an hour, simulating an interview, helping me build my impact stories, and providing insight on the types of questions they would ask and pointed me towards facts I should know about the company. She also pumped me up and gave me an extra boost of confidence for the interviews.

The Interviews

So, what are internship interviews actually like?

First Round Interviews: Most of the companies I interviewed with started with a 30-45 minute behavioral interview where they asked basic questions like:

• Why an MBA?
• Why do you want to work for this company?
• What is your least favorite class?
• Tell me about a time when you had to use data to make a decision
• Tell me about a time when you navigated a difficult situation
• Tell me about a leadership experience

Most of my behavioral interviews were very relaxed- the interviewer was trying to get a feel for who I am as a person and if I would fit into the company culture.  

Second Round Interviews: Most of my second round interviews involved a 30-45 minutes case and a 30-60 minute behavioral interview. The cases I did were not as bad as I imagined they would be, but I would say they definitely require preparation! During the case, my best piece of advice is to take a minute to organize how you are going to present your analysis so that you come across organized and make a more compelling analysis.  

"Super Day" Interviews: Some companies host "Super Day" interviews, where they bring lots of candidates to the company's office in for a series of interview (mix of case and behavioral). During these days, they not only evaluate you on how well you perform in the interviews, but also on how you interact with others while you're waiting for your interview. They may have a room reserved for candidates, where they converse with each other and current employees. This is a great opportunity to show that you can play well with others and fit in with the company culture. Not surprisingly, the interviews during Super Days vary- for example, one company I interviewed with had four separate 30-minute, back-to-back interviews, while another had a very relaxed pace. I came an hour early for my interview to mingle in the candidate lounge and stayed afterwards to eat lunch with candidates.

That has been my experience so far!  Hopefully these tips are helpful!

Introducing...

by Christopher

By ways of a late introduction, my name is Chris and I'm a Full-Time MSF student in the Carroll School of Management.

I know, I know, you've been reading these posts and everyone is either a Full-Time MSF or MBA student in the Carroll School here at Boston College. What makes me different? After I chose Boston College, Boston College chose me. That's because I'm a "Double Eagle."

Here's the part where I explain why I decided to come to Boston College and pursue my Master's in Finance. But that story begins nearly five years ago, as I was in the midst of undergraduate college applications. When I visited Boston College for the first time, I fell in love. The beautiful campus, the strategic location right outside the city, the homey feeling, and of course the fall New England weather, pulled me to Chestnut Hill like static cling from a helium balloon. After receiving my Bachelor of Arts in Economics this past May from the College of Arts and Sciences, I knew I had to come back.

Most of my finance-related experience was personal - that is, non-academic. Though I took a number of electives in the school of management as an undergrad, my focus on economics detracted from my ability to foster and cultivate my expertise in financial theory - my other passion. Sure, I was trading stocks on an almost-daily basis during my sophomore year, and served as the Vice-President of the Boston College Investment Club during my junior and senior years, but if you asked me about the assumptions of the capital asset pricing model I would've been totally lost. So I came back to the place I called my second home for four years to get in some more schooling before going out into the "real world" - because a place like this makes you want to kick that can down the road for as long as possible.

So here I am - enrolled in the graduate program, taking four night classes while working as a Graduate Assistant. And I must say, the program is great. In the first seven weeks of the semester, we've already had a career fair, countless information sessions, and on-campus interviews. In addition, we've had numerous networking opportunities both on and off-campus, as well as multiple chances to reach out to recruiters about open job positions. I think you see where I'm going - Boston College has an amazing network. I know, lots of people say that. And even more people question how BC can have such a tight alumni network given how large of a university it is. But that's just it. Even if you didn't sit next to the head recruiter at your dream job during your seven-person senior seminar and grab dinner with the director of human resources after completing a group project, BC grads are BC grads through and through.

It's purely because Boston College graduates take so many different trajectories and career paths that going to a large school like BC gives you the benefit of a high-volume network and also a close-knit network. And for me that was really it - the people. I came back to BC because of the people, and I don't just mean the network. The students, the professors, the administrators, all the way to the man who starts his day cleaning Fulton Hall just as my day is ending - they're all classic. They're all great, wonderful, inspiring people, who each have a story to tell. And I'm here to listen to all their stories.

Until next time,
Christopher

My Summer Internship

by Jaclyn

I wrote in a blog post last year about the student adventure known as The Internship Search. In that post, I spoke to the amount of time that went into resume writing, networking, interviewing, etc., but also to the support that the Career Strategies Office provides in finding a placement that is right for each student’s interests and goals. Which leads me to my summer placement at...

So, I wanted to kick off my posts this year with a recap of my summer at the toy company that has brought us toys like Play-Doh, Mr. Potato Head, Monopoly, Nerf, My Little Pony, and Transformers, to name only a few. The interview process for Hasbro was rigorous, but a very positive experience, mostly because every person I met, from BC alumni to other Hasbro employees, immediately made me feel at home and excited for the summer.

I was recruited to an 11-person class, along with three of my fellow Boston College MBA colleagues. We were provided with our assignments before the summer started, in one of three brand management functions: Global Marketing, Global Product Development, and Regional (US) Marketing. I was placed in a group called Boys New Brand Franchises, which was a start-up size team responsible for identifying opportunities for Hasbro by leveraging existing brands, evaluating incoming entertainment properties or proposing new segments for the Boys portfolio.

In addition to my individual projects, the intern class was challenged with a group assignment: “The Future of Retail.” We researched the limitations of the current retail environment, consumer shopper trends, and upcoming technologies and worked with designers on what a long-term retail strategy might look like for Hasbro. Our intern class had the unique opportunity to present our solution to an audience of 60+, including senior executives. 

The Hasbro internship was also extended through social events, a mentorship program, and roundtable sessions. The roundtable sessions were scheduled every week with representatives from the Executive Team, who each provided insight on career planning, lessons learned, and the direction of the company. The entire intern class really appreciated having this time to personally meet and ask questions of such respected and successful individuals.

If I could share only 3 things about my summer internship at Hasbro, they would be: 1) toys are awesome, and so is working with them, 2) some of the friendliest and smartest people I've ever worked with are at Hasbro, and 3) I still can’t believe how much I accomplished and learned, from my manager, my mentor, and my peers.

For all those currently looking for a summer internship, GOOD LUCK!

The Part-Time, Full-Time Decision

By Jaclyn

For some, only one of these options will be a consideration. But for those of you who may be choosing between the two programs for the MBA, read on...

A QUICK SNAPSHOT:

	Full-Time MBA	Evening MBA
Length of Program	2 years	Varies; typically 3-4 years
Credits	56 total	56 total
Number of Students	Approx. 100 students; Split into cohorts of 50 for Year 1	Approx. 100 students; Options for Cohort or Self-Paced
Curriculum Requirements	Core courses +   specialization (6 electives)	Core courses +   concentration (3 electives)
Experiential Learning Components	Year 1: Design Thinking + Consulting Project Year 2: Business Plan Project	Business Development Workshop
Career Strategies	Access to all career services; Summer Internship, and opportunity for academic year	Access to all career services
Other Programs Offered	Access to lectures and events, international opportunities, and off-campus excursions	Access to lectures and events, international opportunities, and off-campus excursions

STUDENT PROFILES:

Meet Benjamin, an Evening Student...

1. Why did you decide to get your MBA?

I decided to get my MBA because I knew based on my career trajectory, I would manage people, operations and processes in a relatively short amount of time. The MBA has provided the theoretical knowledge I needed to thrive in a supervisor position when the opportunity was given to me.

2. Why did you choose the Evening program?

I chose the Evening program because, being that I am career young, I wanted to further my educational development while pursuing my career simultaneously. I knew it would take my 3-4 years to complete the program and in that span I would gain valuable full-time work experience.

3. What do you consider the strengths of the Evening program?

In my opinion, one of the greatest strengths of the Evening program is the opportunity to take theories and put them into practice literally the next day. There have been several times, where I learn a new concept or gain insight about a company's best practices and I can relate the idea to my current job and make suggestions for implementation.

Meet Rachael, a Full-Time Student...

1. Why did you decide to get your MBA?

I chose to get my MBA for several reasons. My previous academic experience is in humanities and prior to attending BC, I worked at an international nonprofit. I was therefore eager to complement my nontraditional background with a rigorous business education. Also, I plan to work in brand management following graduation, so as a career switcher an MBA has given me the practical and theoretical tools needed to thrive in a new industry. Finally, I was eager to be in a classroom of peers and professors with diverse backgrounds. I've learned a tremendous amount from class discussions and case analyses, and now have a strong personal and professional network that will last long after graduation.

2. Why did you choose the Full-Time program?

I was eager to be immersed in the business school experience, and felt that it would be a challenge to fully take advantage of the social and academic aspects of the program if I were also juggling a full-time job.

3. What do you consider the strengths of the Full-Time program?

I feel that the greatest strength of being a full-time MBA is that you are fully immersed in the program, which contributes to a rich and holistic understanding of business. For example, topics I learned in a first quarter strategy course have continued to develop in future classes, and being in the program full-time highlights those connections and helps crate a comprehensive understanding of the enterprise. As full-time students, we are also committed primarily to this program, which fosters a sense of camaraderie that will lead to lifelong friendships.

For more information, please visit:
Full-Time: http://www.bc.edu/content/bc/schools/csom/graduate/mba/fulltime.html
Evening: http://www.bc.edu/content/bc/schools/csom/graduate/mba/evening.html

The Internship Search

by Jaclyn

I can't believe it's almost February! One semester down. Most of the core courses are behind us. Our groups are just getting into the Consulting Project. And for the first time, in a long while, I'm scanning companies, deciphering job titles, and writing a ton of cover letters. That's right, it's time for...

Internships.

This word has always seemed innocent enough. It's an opportunity to explore a new career, figure out what you want to do, or just as importantly, what you don't want to do. But as innocent as it seems, it's a ton of work. And I do mean a ton. And because of that, I can honestly say the Career Strategies office has been a huge asset for me at BC, and here's why:

Information Sessions - These sessions are with top ranked companies, some of which have included Hasbro, GE, J&J, Liberty Mutual, Fidelity, etc., where internship/employment programs are presented, you can meet employees and recruiting managers, and have any questions answered. I would encourage everyone to go to as many of these as possible, regardless of the area of study, and treat them as professional networking events. Making connections in these sessions can be extremely beneficial later, in the internship AND job search.

Resume/Cover Letters - Leverage the years of experience in this office, as well as the relationships they've already formed with many of these prospective employers. They are more than willing to help ensure you are highlighting your strengths and matching them to the needs of the role and business.

Interview Prep - This would be my #1 recommendation for internship searchers. The insight I have received from my assigned Career Strategy advisor has been invaluable in helping me successfully position myself, in practicing and fine-tuning interview answers, and calming my nerves before each one. If I could schedule these meetings daily, I probably would.

Other Resources - While each student should also be looking outside of the school for internships, reaching out to old colleagues, classmates, and LinkedIn connections, the Career Strategies office can get you started with the internal job board, MBA Focus, and guide you along the way.

There's certainly an art in juggling classes, assignments, group work, and the internship search. But remember, this is probably one of the most important reasons why you're returning to school, so the tools and resources are here to help you succeed.

Strategizing Your Career Search

by Siobhan

With competing assignments for class, participating in extracurricular activities, and trying to maintain some semblance of a social life, it’s easy to forget the real reason that 99.9% of us return to business school – to get a great job. Fortunately, BC has a phenomenal Career Strategies department that actively engages me and my classmates in preparing – and going through – the internship and job search process. The reputation of BC’s Career Strategies department was definitely a selling point for me when making my decision about b-school. After talking to students at several of the other schools I applied to, BC students had an incredibly high regard for the work that the Career Strategies team puts into its students and the entire internship and job search process.

Now, after being in school for nearly a semester and trying to find as much time to dedicate to the summer internship search, the active engagement and support of the Career Strategies department is even more evident. For those prospective students wondering what career development opportunities BC offers for its MBA students, here are just a few of the highlights:

1 – Crack the Case Workshop: BC students are fortunate to have this program as part of our orientation, along with a follow-up session later in the semester. With so many internship and job interviews containing a case component, Career Strategies recognized how critical it is to prepare students for this aspect of the interview process. Led by a trained instructor, David Ohrvall, this two-day session provided me with the nuts and bolts of “cracking” the case in an interview. With access to online practice cases, I can continue to fine tune my skills as a I prepare for any upcoming interviews.

2 – On-Campus Information Session Hosting: Obviously many b-schools host companies on-campus for info sessions, but Career Strategies asks students to serve as “hosts” for each of these info sessions. I had the opportunity to serve as the student host for a previous company that was on campus, and not only was it a great leadership opportunity for me to work on my public speaking skills, it gave me one-on-one time with the recruiters and other senior leadership present. I contacted them before the session to confirm details, met with them before the session and introduced the company, and followed up with them after the session.

3 – BC Alum Small Information Sessions: The BC Alumni Network is massive and any BC alum in any company, in any part of the world, is always excited and eager to meet and connect with BC students and other BC alum – no matter what school they represent. I had the opportunity to participate in a small group information session, with about 10 other students, and a BC alum in a senior leadership position to hear about her career experience, time at BC, and her current role. This was a great way to network in an intimate setting with not only someone in senior leadership, but someone with a BC connection who is eager to help and answer any questions they can.

4 – Pre-School Career Assessment & Resume Support: Although you will want to cherish your free time over the summer before school starts, Career Strategies does an amazing job of helping you prepare over the summer for the internship process. Over the summer, I completed a Career Assessment, which evaluated my strengths and weaknesses and general areas of career interest. I also submitted my resume for feedback from my Career Advisor, who provided me with some great tips on tweaking my resume – which had been written with a slant towards my nonprofit experience – to make it more business savvy. Within the first few weeks of school, I met with my Career Advisor and reviewed both my resume and my Career Assessment, which helped her really get to know me and tailor her advice towards the path I hope to take with my career.

5 – Interview Prep: When the time comes for an interview or an informational interview, the Career Strategies team is ready to provide as much – or as little – support as you might want. I met with my Career Advisor to discuss how to run an informational interview and what types of questions to ask and just met with her to prepare for an interview. I know that I am even more prepared than I ever could have imagined with just gaining her insight on ways to tackle specific questions and what types of questions to ask my interviewer about the position.