The Career Resource Center (CRC) welcomes you to the UB MBA program. The CRC staff look forward to working closely with you throughout your program and helping you achieve your career goals.
Here at the UB School of Management, your career development process starts before you even begin your first class. This career checklist is just the beginning. During your fall MBA Advantage program the Career Resource Center will introduce you to many resources and tools that will allow you to develop your own plan and help you achieve your career goals. In the meantime, follow the outline and deadline below to prepare for your career and ensure completion of CRC requirements during the MBA program.
Frank L. Ciminelli Family
Career Resource Center
School of Management
University at Buffalo
VIRTUAL OPERATIONS
Monday-Friday
8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Tel: 716-645-3232
Fax: 716-645-3231
mgt-crc@buffalo.edu
Virtual Front Desk [Zoom] is closed 12-1 p.m.
Meet our Staff
The Career Resource Center (CRC) serves as the primary resource for students and alumni of the School of Management in career exploration and job search. The CRC is a key link between the school and employers, offering many programs that bring these groups together, such as career events, alumni connections, internships, campus recruiting and career development workshops and seminars. Our mission is to create a caring environment that enables and motivates you to be successful in reaching your individual career goals.
Please note, many of the recommended in-person events may be pending based on the COVID-19 impact. Virtual replacements may be offered.
The CRC's dedicated staff is committed to assisting you throughout your career development and job search process. Get to know our team by visiting the CRC staff page.
There are three deliverables due on Sunday, July 12, 2020 for all incoming MBA students (who have made their tuition deposit).
If you have just been admitted to the MBA program, please take a couple days to complete the summer deliverables:
Complete the CareerLeader™ online assessment. (Time: 60-90 minutes) Follow the instructions on how to access this assessment (PDF file). Review, print and save the Narrative Report. You will be required to bring the report to MBA Advantage in August. (CRC Requirement)
Complete the Career Vision assignment by July 12. This brief worksheet incorporates your CareerLeader results and your vision for the MBA program and your career goals.
THIS DELIVERABLE ENDED ON AUGUST 3. JUST COMPLETE THE OTHER TWO ITEMS.
Throughout your career it is important that you have mentors or a "personal board of directors" that can give you advice, provide relevant information about companies, industries, cultures and give you honest feedback.
So start thinking about someone you might like as a mentor - someone you would consider to be a "career idol". Do your research. You may want to start looking through your network (friends, family, and business leaders in the community) or people who work at one of your target companies. Additionally you can identify alumni of UB or UB School of Management on LinkedIn or our Alumni Success profiles.
To complete the online Career Idol assignment, be prepared to:
1. Provide the name, company and title of someone who you admire for their professional profile. Pick a person you honestly think you could see yourself reaching out to (at some point) for career advice.
2. How does this person’s background tie into your own personal career goals? Please explain with specific details from their profile and at least three connections to your goals.
Tell us...who is your Career Idol?
Some of our more competitive students who are conducting a national job search opt to attend a national career conference. Learn about these conferences here. The most common career fairs are:
If you plan to attend a national career fair, submit your U.S. style résumé for an early critique.
As you begin your MBA program it is important to focus on your career development. After all, most incoming students are here to get a better job, change careers or enhance their other degree. Take advantage of the career resources offered through our office and online. You can get started with the resources below.
Sign in to the BizLink career management system and create your profile, clarifying your job experience and job preferences.
Schedule an individual career appointment with your appropriate CRC staff member based on your primary functional option/concentration by Monday, September 16. (REQUIRED) Appointments can take place after the 16th, but should be scheduled by then. Schedule your appointment directly through BizLink. Go to Request a Counseling Appointment on the right.
After the CRC has reviewed your résumé and you have made the recommended changes, upload your résumé to the BizLink system. All MBA résumés should be CRC approved and uploaded by September 16, 2019.
Bullseye, “powered by Handshake”, the career system of the university-wide Career Services office. You have access to the resources in the main career office in Capen Hall as well as the management-specific career office in Alfiero Center.
Some companies (particularly larger national companies or those doing development/leadership program hiring) recruit students in early fall, so it is important to monitor BizLink (and Bullseye) as well as company websites for internship and job opportunities. Some résumé deadlines are as early as September. BizLink also lists Employer Information Sessions.
Attend both the UB Management Career and Internship Expo and the UB STEAM Fair in early fall. Some of the attending companies will hold on-campus interviewing immediately or shortly after the fair. (However, do not rely solely on on-campus interviewing for full-time positions.) Review the CRC's Job Fairs and Events page for more information.
Join student organizations and local professional associations that relate to your functional area of interest.
Research and identify a list of companies to target for internship and/or full-time job opportunities. Use the following tools:
Keep an Excel file of these companies, contacts and activity. Keep text of the positions you apply to for when you get called for the interview. Sample Excel tracking document
Make the most of your winter break by networking and learning.
Conduct informational interviews with alumni working in positions, companies or geographic areas of interest using your current contacts, alumni you have met through the UB MBA program and mentors through the Firsthand Career Connector Network (found in BizLink).
Attend on-campus job fairs and networking events within the community, such as CareerFEST and Career Conversations (both organized by UB Career Services). However, do not rely solely on on-campus interviewing for full-time positions.
Continue to research and identify a list of companies to target for internship and job opportunities. Go directly to company websites for information about how to submit your résumé. Conduct a targeted direct mail/email campaign to companies of interest. Also, network with fellow students, faculty and alumni, as well as friends and family. Understand when each company on your list recruits college grads for internships and new positions.
Once you have secured your summer internship, report it to the CRC. To earn credit for your internship and meet your MBA internship requirement, log into BizLink and click on Report My Internship.
Sign in to the BizLink career management system and update your profile, clarifying your job search focus.
While interning during the summer, start revising your résumé using our résumé resources. Be sure to resubmit your résumé to VMock for a critique and make additional revisions. (Note: you can submit to VMock 10 times in one academic year.) After your revisions are complete, upload your new résumé to BizLink.
Update your profile on Bullseye, “powered by Handshake”, the career system of the university-wide Career Services office. And upload your revised résumé.
Research and identify a list of companies to target for internship and/or full-time job opportunities. Use the following tools:
Keep an Excel file of these companies, contacts and activity. Keep text of the positions you apply to for when you get called for the interview. Sample Excel tracking document Download xlsx(15 KB)
Information about events and workshops are promoted through email during the semester. RSVP for events in BizLink.
Sign in to the BizLink career management system and update your profile, clarifying your job experience and job preferences.
After adding your summer experience to your résumé, upload it to both BizLink and Bullseye (Handshake).
After attending an Advanced Interviewing workshop, schedule a practice interview with Melissa Ruggiero via BizLink to set a baseline interview. This will help you be prepared in case an employer calls you for an interview unexpectedly
Some companies (particularly public accounting firms who recruit for IT audit and forensics) recruit students in early fall, so it is important to monitor BizLink (and Bullseye) as well as company websites for internship and job opportunities. Some résumé deadlines are as early as September. BizLink also lists Employer Information Sessions.
Attend both the UB Management Career and Internship Expo and the UB STEAM Fair in early fall. Some of the attending companies will hold on-campus interviewing immediately or shortly after the fair. (However, do not rely solely on on-campus interviewing for full-time positions.) Review the CRC's Job Fairs and Events page for more information.
Continue to research and identify companies to target for full-time job opportunities. Use the following tools:
Keep an Excel file of these companies, contacts and activity. Keep text of the positions you apply to for when you get called for the interview. Sample Excel tracking document
Attend on-campus job fairs and networking events within the community, such as CareerFEST and Career Conversations (both organized by UB Career Services). However, do not rely solely on on-campus interviewing for full-time positions.
Continue to research and identify a list of companies to target for full-time job opportunities. Go directly to company websites for information about how to submit your résumé. Conduct a targeted direct mail/email campaign to companies of interest. Also, network with fellow students, faculty and alumni, as well as friends and family. Understand when each company on your list recruits college grads for new positions.
Determine your market-value by researching salary statistics by degree, location, career and industry using a number of resources. Begin with these salary resources and School of Management’s Employment and Salary Statistics; also collect a few data points to determine your salary expectations and range.
Review information on Managing Job Offers and Compensation Negotiations.
Launch your Optional Practical Training (OPT) in a timely manner so that you are eligible to begin working full-time for your prospective employer.
Within two to three months of graduation, you should no longer be looking at the "college hiring" section of company websites. Focus on immediate openings for experienced candidates.
Complete the School of Management Job Offer and Employment Update Survey before you confer your degree.
Join the School of Management Alumni Association and their LinkedIn group.
Update your LinkedIn account to show your new employer and job title and keep in contact. The CRC often reaches out to alumni from the program to help advise current students about companies, industries, markets and hiring processes.