Campus Life > Career Development Center > Students > Getting Started

Getting Started

We strive to partner with you as you empower yourself with skills and personalized strategies that will serve you for years to come. Similar to the college search process, career development is highly individualized and requires significant planning and preparation.

We strongly encourage you to get to know us and our resources early in your college career:

Career Counseling and Advising

BCDC career counselors are available to meet one-on-one by appointment and during regularly scheduled walk-in hours to address your specific needs and to guide you through the career exploration process:

Receive an overview of BCDC resources
Learn how to conducting industry research and extensive networking in order to fully explore career options, graduate/professional school opportunities, and fellowships
Develop and polish resumes and cover letters as you prepare to apply for internships and jobs
Conduct mock interviews
Complete online self-assessment instruments such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®), Strong Interest Inventory® (SII), and SkillScan; meet with a counselor to interpret and assess your interests, skills, preferences and personal characteristics
Discuss job offers and salary negotiations

Career Peers

Students selected for this leadership position demonstrate exceptional interpersonal skills, a deep understanding of the career development process, and proven success in their own career development. Career Peers work closely with the BCDC professional staff to:

Engage first-years and sophomores to launch their career exploration process
Educate and guide fellow students on career topics through workshops, events and walk-in hours
Serve as role models by sharing their own experiences
Assist the BCDC in developing strategies to fully engage students, faculty, and staff

Career Development How-To Guides

The BCDC offers a suite of downloadable and printable handouts for:

Bates-only Resources and Opportunities

As a Bates student, you have exclusive access to databases, guides and connections that will lead you to hundreds of internship and job opportunities in virtually every industry and field:

Register on JobCat and complete your profile to get started and to receive targeted e-mails that notify you of opportunities that align with your interests
Access exclusive online subscription websites on JobCat that support in-depth industry research
Use the BCDC career resources library that includes hundreds of hard copy industry-specific resources
Apply for the Bates-only Career Discovery In Practice (CDIP) job shadows and Ladd Internship Program

Workshops, Events and Activities

The BCDC sponsors myriad programs on and off-campus throughout the academic year to both inform and allow you to explore your options:

Employers across various industries offer information sessions and interviews throughout the academic year
An annual graduate and professional school fair brings approximately 100 admissions representatives to campus
Multiple “road shows” and “boot camps” are offered both on and off campus in the fields of business, finance, consulting, and law

Networking and Making Connections

Did you know that more people land jobs through networking than any other strategy? Use these resources to build a robust professional and personal network:

Use the Career Advisory Network – Bates alumni serve as career advisors on the Bates Online Community to share their own career stories and provide guidance
Attend a Bates Network gathering in Boston, New York City, Portland (Maine), Chicago or Washington, D.C. – where Bates parents, students, alumni, and guests meet to connect and network professionally around a variety of career-related or Bates Community-related topics
Learn to use LinkedIn.com to connect with others, as well as to conduct research on individuals and companies

Please let us know how we may assist you as you navigate this exciting process!