Jobs – COM Ambassador Blog

Avery: Quick Jobs: The Hidden Gem of BU’s Campus

If you’re a student, there’s a good chance that you want to make some extra money for your own personal funds. As college undergrads, we could always use some cash to fuel our eating out and Starbucks habits. The phrase “broke college student” may be a stereotype, but I’ve found it to be true more often than not. Whether you have an off-campus job, or maybe a work study opportunity here at BU, there’s a good chance you’ll still want a quick and easy way to bring in some extra cash, especially with the holiday season (and the ensuing gift-giving frenzy) coming upon us. Or maybe you’re too busy for a full-time job, and you’re dying to find a simple way to bring in a little extra money here and there. Well, fret no more. I am here to inform you of one of BU’s most well-kept secrets: the Quick Job Listings Page.

**DISCLAIMER: This is NOT sponsored by Quick Jobs. To be honest, I’m just a really big fan of this resource and I’ve had great experiences with it, so I thought I would share it with everyone. I swear they’re not paying me to write this, but I will say that if they wanted me to be an ambassador for them I’d be down.**

What is Quick Jobs?
This portal on the Student Link is a list of one-time jobs and opportunities, both paid and unpaid, that are available to students. Many of them are on-campus and pay pretty well (at least $15 an hour). I’ve personally participated in a couple of focus groups and studies, which were actually pretty fun and easy! A lot of the studies are done by undergrad or grad students in the lab at Sargent, which is on-campus and easily accessible. And if studies aren’t your jam, there are other opportunities listed! I have friends who have found babysitting, videography, and research assistant positions on the portal.

How to Access Quick Job Listings:
First, you have to log into Student Link. On the homepage, you’ll see a teal colored tab labelled “Work.” Click on this link.

Once on the “Work” menu, click on the link that says “Quick Jobs.” This will bring you to a menu with a bunch of options for categories. For jobs that are easily accessible, I would recommend using the category “On-Campus.”

Once you have selected this category, you’ll be brought to a page with a list of available studies and opportunities you can participate in. A lot of them pay pretty well and are easy to get to because they’re on campus!

I’ve done a couple of studies and only have good things to say about them. For a speech comprehension study, I went into the lab at Sargent for an hour a day for 5 days and read sentences off a screen for $20 an hour. Not bad!

How to Sign Up:
If you’re interested, they’re pretty easy to sign up for. Just click the title of the job you’re interested in and click on the job number for contact info. A lot of the people conducting studies are undergrad students who are super approachable, so don’t get intimidated by the idea of contacting them.

Overall, I would highly recommend trying this out! It’s an easy and fun way to make some extra money on campus, and everyone that I know who has tried it out has had positive experiences 🙂 Now go get your study on!

Becca: Tips on Finding a Job the Summer after Sophomore Year

I started the fall of my sophomore year listening to my older friends talk about their stress surrounding summer internships. Their rambling started my nerves. “Do I need a job? Who is going to hire me?” My resume was scarce, to say the least. I had worked at summer camp and a dance studio but my real life advertising experience consisted solely of Ad Club. I scrolled through pages and pages of advertising agencies websites until I noticed one consistency with all of the applications:

“We are only accepting applications from graduation years 2019, 2018 or earlier.”

“Only rising seniors and post-grads are eligible to apply. “

“Sophomore are ineligible to submit applications for this position.”

Even agencies in my hometown had similar rules for their internship applications. This can be incredibly disheartening, especially for students who feel ready to see what the “real world” is like. So, as promised, here are my tips on finding a summer internship in your field.

Use your network.

LinkedIn is an amazing tool that gives you the ability to see who can jumpstart your summer job search. I used the chat feature to reach out to several of my older friends to get insight on where to look when your age feels like the biggest hurdle in getting a job. Also, don’t be afraid to use your parents and their friends to introduce you to players in your field. Most of the time they are very excited to offer help and their introduction might carry a little more weight.

Research a TON!

When I don’t know how to solve a problem, my go-to is to understand it. In the fall, I spent a lot of my free time reading AdWeek and AdAge as well as drafting resumes and cover letters to send out to any HR staff whose email I could find. Through research, I also figured out which COM professors were key players in the field and could help me get a foot in the door.

Nail the Interview.

If you get lucky enough as a sophomore to get asked for an in-person interview, prepare very thoroughly. Research the company and clients. Be familiar with major campaigns and their results. Examine their social media to get a feel for the culture and what they look for. Know the lingo about different programs and field jargon so you can speak their language. The fear of employers with younger college students is the ability to fit a professional workplace. Quell their fears by coming in well dressed and well educated.

Just Study Abroad

If you still can’t seem to lock down an internship with all those brilliant tips: just study abroad. BU offers a ton of international and domestic internships during the summer that provides you with a global experience. BU works very closely with those that are accepted to go abroad to make sure you are fully experiencing what it is like to work in another culture. In addition, you will be adding relevant experience to your future resume. So if in doubt, just hop on the plane and go!

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Arianna: Intersecting your Major with your Passions

Throughout my time in college, I’ve found that it can be difficult to figure out your exact career path, especially as a COM student, because there are so many different directions you could go in. Thankfully, coming into second semester of my junior year, I finally have it (almost) figured out.

The two best pieces of career advice I’ve ever gotten are:

1) “Do what you love, but prioritize what you love AND are good at, because if you pursue something you love but aren’t great at, you might grow to resent it. On the other hand, if you do something you’re good at, you’ll end up loving it no matter what.”

2) “Whatever you do, try to find a way to intersect your major and your greatest passion.”

As a Film and TV major, I’ve found it hard to narrow down my career goals. I love screenwriting, but I also enjoy production, even if it’s not something that comes as naturally to me as writing. After more than 2 years of trying to balance both, I have fully embraced my ability to write well and my passion for doing so. Here's an actual candid pic of me working on a screenwriting assignment:

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Meanwhile, through BU’s Community Service Center and my work study job at the BU Children’s Center, I’ve fallen in love with social justice and working with children. By participating in FYSOP (First Year Student Outreach Project) as a first year and as a staff leader, I've learned a lot about social justice, and try to incorporate what I’ve learned into my writing.

Additionally, through working at the Children’s Center, I have learned more about childhood development and my love for working with children has grown so much! I was lucky enough to spend a summer working at a day camp for children and creating a video for the company to showcase the program, which made me realize there is always room to connect working with children to working in the film industry.

It clicked that one of the best ways to cross-over all of these interests was to write for children’s television. Writing programming that is educational, inclusive of diverse backgrounds, and mindful of childhood development is something I have the knowledge, skills, and passion for, and with this career goal in mind, I can finish my last 3 semesters of college confident that I am pursuing something I will love.

As you continue your journey as a COM student (or in whatever major you choose), keep your passions in mind, and keep searching for ways to connect them to what you’re studying! Once you figure out a way to combine what you’re passionate about with your career goals, you’ll feel so much more confident and driven to achieve those goals, and have more fun doing it.

With Love,

Arianna

Mike: From LA to the Real World

Hey guys,

Well, after a whirlwind of a semester in Los Angeles, I am now an official BU graduate! I handed in the final paper of my college career last night, what a weird feeling...It hasn’t really hit me yet and I don’t think it will until after the New Year when all of my friends will be heading back to Boston for their final semesters and I will be home looking for work! A part of me is disappointed I won’t be up in Beantown for my final semester, but after two amazing semesters abroad, I feel that I am ready to take on the real world.

Spending the last three months in Los Angeles has been such an incredible experience. Just from being in the entertainment capital of the world, I learned so much about the industry. Interning at a major studio like Paramount and a leader in independent film like The Weinstein Company, I was exposed to such different approaches to filmmaking. I read tons of amazing scripts and even got to work a few film premieres! The program kept me constantly busy-- interning five days a week and taking classes at night-- but it has prepared me immensely for the working world.

Leaving LA was bittersweet but I know that I will be back in the future. For now, I’m going to enjoy the holidays and take a breather after a hectic semester. After the New Year, I will begin the daunting task of searching for a job in New York. Luckily, I have connections in NYC and LA now from my previous internships that I will definitely stay in touch with and contact if I need help finding work. My main piece of advice to all of you guys is to network and stay in touch with people from your internships! Introduce yourselves to the speakers at the Cinemateques and other COM events because you never know when you are going to cross paths with these professionals again. It is so important to keep in touch with people you meet in this industry because they are often the ones who will help you find work and put in a good word for you in the future!

I still can’t believe I am finished at Boston University. The two and a half years I spent on campus at BU flew by and I only wish I could go back for more. After a year of traveling (last spring in Europe and this fall in LA), I am ready to settle down and look for my first job. I learned so much during my time at BU and made such lasting friendships. Make sure you guys take it all in and have fun! I wish you all the best of luck in college and hope that you all enjoy your time at BU as much as I did!

Mike

Lauren: Interviews Galore!

Have a big interview coming up for a job or internship? Don’t stress! Here are some tips on how to make an awesome first impression without having a minor heart attack in the process.

1. Do some research beforehand

Make sure you know about the company before you walk into your interview! It will make you look professional and dedicated if you mention that you recently saw an article about the company in the news. Also, think about what kind of questions they might ask you and how you would answer them! And come prepared with some of your own questions to ask them at the end of the interview!

2. Dress professionally

Pick out your outfit the night before so that you won’t have to stress about it in the morning. Even if you know that many employees wear jeans to work, still dress professionally! They’ve earned the right to dress that way after working for the company for 10 years, you haven’t! If you need some fashion advice, the BU Center for Career Development has some great tips for how to dress for an interview! Check it out!

3. Arrive early and come prepared

Give yourself plenty of time to get to the interview, that way when you come in you won’t look stressed or out of breath. Punctuality is key, and a company won’t hire you if they don’t think you’re reliable. Nothing looks worse than strolling in 10 minutes late! And don’t forget business cards and copies of your resume!

4. Relax and look interested

Take a deep breath and try to calm your nerves right before you go in! Give the person interviewing you a firm handshake when you’re introduced, and make eye contact with them throughout the interview. Nod your head and really pay attention to what they’re saying. Show them that you’re interested and passionate about the position. Body language is crucial- sit up straight and smile! And take a second to think before answering a question so that you sound clear and well-spoken.

5. Talk yourself up

Remember, if you got to the interviewing process, they must have seen something in you that they liked! Have confidence in yourself and remember that it’s alright to brag! Be proud of your past accomplishments, and tell them how your experience and skills would make you a perfect fit for the company. This is your chance to make a great first impression and show them just how wonderful you are!

6. Thank them afterward

Make sure at the end of the interview that you thank them for their time. These people are very busy, and took time out of their day to give you a chance! A handwritten thank you note or email is the perfect way to show how thankful you are! Follow up and try to stay in touch-never underestimate the importance of networking and making connections!

If you’re looking for more tips, The Center for Career Development is a great resource for everything and anything relating to jobs, internships, networking and interviews! Check out their website and take a look at their calendar for information about upcoming workshops and networking events!

Good luck!