The Berklee Career Center will hold its first virtual Internship and Job Expo on October 1 to help students and alumni get a jump start on opportunities opening from now until next summer, and to help those new to Berklee chart their courses.The expo, which takes place from noon to 2:00 p.m. and from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., will feature dozens of employers who are seeking to build their talent pipeline with Berklee. Some will have positions to fill now-including full-time, part-time, and freelance work-and others will be looking for interns for spring and summer openings. Still others will be there to establish relationships with potential future employees so that when positions open, they'll have a contact list full of potential candidates.
In addition to being completely online, the expo is now open to alumni who have graduated within the past 12 months. We feel as though its important...a way we can help support those who are likely experiencing struggles finding work because of the high unemployment rate, said Dustin Gee, director of employer engagement and career programs.
Remote Internships Offer Firsthand Experience
Read about students experiences with remote internships this summer.
And though first-semester students aren't yet eligible for spring internships (students must have completed two semesters to be eligible for credit-bearing internships), the expo is a chance for them to gather information that might help them decide on a major or prepare for a certain career. It can be extremely rewarding and informative to go and have a chance to hear from an employer about what theyre looking for in an intern, and about what the work actually looks like, so that you can plan ahead and say, Okay, I know that an employer needs these skills or looks for this kind of student leadership experience, so as I plan out my first year of Berklee, I can start it being more intentional about where I choose to invest my time, Gee said.
How It Works While students and alumni can RSVP up until the day of the event, this year they will benefit greatly from preparing for it in advance.
The entire event will take place on a platform that connects employers with students and alumni. Attendees have the chance to see all the employers, research them, and then mark those that are of most interest to them. They can also upload information about themselves, such as a r sum and a photo, so that employers are familiar with them when the two parties speak online.
To help students and alumni master the platform and prepare for the event, the Berklee Career Center is hosting several 30-minute prep sessions, or boot camps. Its going to be really important that this year for prep, in addition to r sum s and perfecting their elevator pitch, that [attendees] understand how to use this platform so that theyre not on there stuck the day of, feeling like they dont know how to navigate, Gee said. While students and alumni do not need to go to a boot camp session in order to attend the expo, it will help them put their best foot forward.
In addition to creating an online profile, here are other tips for success the Career Center shared:
Dress professionally. Business casual attire is appropriate; keep the focus on you, not your clothes.
Practice your elevator speech, and offer a clear and succinct description of your background.
Be prepared to ask and answer questions.
Always express thanks at the end of the conversation.
Gee also advises students and alumni to focus on the 10 employers that interest them the most, so they can make sure to get in the virtual queues of the companies they really want to make contact with. Attendees should be mindful, though, that not every employer will attend both the afternoon and evening sessions, so it's essential to take note of who will be available during which time slot.
Students and alumni can RSVP on the Berklee Career Manager, under Career Events, to sign up for a boot camp, start building their online profiles, and register for the expo. Those who can't make a boot camp are welcome to meet with Career Center staff during daily walk-in hours or to schedule a 30-minute advising appointment.
Related categories:
News
Related Reading
Remote Internships Offer Firsthand Experience-from Thousands of Miles Away Fall internships are plentiful and opening up-and the time to apply for one is now.
Internship Expo Shows Students Whats Possible More than 20 employers visited campus to network with students and share information about internship opportunities.
Can You Land a Successful Career with a Performing Arts Degree? In an economy that rewards improvisation and entrepreneurship, well-trained artists and musicians are equipped to thrive.
More from Berklee Now
Most Popular
BerkleeNYC to Offer Master of Arts in Creative Media and Technology Launching in fall 2021, the one-year graduate program will consist of three specializations: songwriting and production, live experience design, and writing and design for musical theater.
Latest
Three Berklee Alumni Win Emmy Awards Jasmine Cephas Jones, Stephanie McNally, and Pablo Mungu a received statues at the virtual 2020 Emmys.
Jon Platt Joins Berklees Board of Trustees Platt is the chair and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, the leading global music publisher.
Internship and Job Expo Connects Students with Spring and Summer Opportunities Though spring seems far away, the time to look for internship opportunities is now.
Read All
Subscribe The latest sounds, stories, and ideas, sent to your inbox weekly.
Berklee Blogs
YouTube
Snapchat
Soundcloud
Spotify
