For many students, the job-search process can be very stressful and nerve racking. Whether you’re looking for an internship or a full-time position, the process is essentially the same.
Don’t forget: No matter what the position, your actions throughout the entire hiring process make a difference.
Misstep along the way and you really can jeopardize your future.
Here are just a few examples of things NOT to do:
- Signing up for an on-campus interview and not showing up
Employers come on campus to interview students for internships and jobs. If you sign up for an interview slot on Handshake, employers expect to interview you. If you are a no show, you have wasted the interviewer’s time and you have taken a slot away from another student. In many cases, you have not only lost your chance for that position, but also any future position at that organization.
- Accepting a position and then declining the offer later
You are not required to accept an internship or job offer. Often, an employer will make an offer and give you a deadline. If you need more time to make a decision, ask for an extension. If you are uncertain as to whether you should accept, make an appointment with a career counselor at the CCD. Once you have accepted an offer, the employer begins to plan for your arrival. They stop interviewing other candidates for the position. If you renege, you have damaged your reputation as well as that of BU. Plus, anyone aware of the situation might not consider you for positions in future, whether at that or another organization.
- Misrepresenting yourself on your resume
Lying on your resume might get you an interview, but it won’t get you an internship or job. Most employers run a background check on an employee before extending an offer. They will call past employers to verify that you worked there (as well as dates and position title), they will check references, and they will determine if you attended/graduated from the university you list. False information pretty much guarantees that you will not receive an offer, and can also have wide-ranging consequences.
Don’t let something you do now impact future opportunities and destroy your reputation. We all make mistakes; you just don’t want them to weigh down your entire career.
BU + Beyond 