Career Services

We offer individual career counseling (in-person and virtual), job fairs, networking events, panel discussions, resume and cover letter reviews, mock interviews, a career readiness clothing closet, a mentoring network, a jobs board, educational literature, and a host of online tools and resources. View our upcoming events and programs here.

To schedule an appointment, visit our Bookings page and select the type of appointment you want (in-person or virtual). From there, a calendar will display a list of available time slots. Choose a slot and complete the brief intake form provide your name, contact information, major, and reason you want to meet. You’ll receive a confirmation email a well as a reminder the day before your session. You may also call us to schedule an appointment at 774.357.2959.

Yes, this is a core service. We can provide feedback as well as get you started with creating your resume and cover letter from scratch. We also review every resume that is uploaded to College Central Network.

Absolutely! We hold an in-person all-college job fair each fall as well as a 4-day Virtual Opportunity Fair during the first week in April. These events provide outstanding opportunities to connect with employers and learn about jobs and careers in a wide range of industries. We also hold a wide range of major- or industry-specific events that bring students, alumni, and employers together. Please check our calendar for a list of upcoming events and programs.

Absolutely! This is one of our primary functions. We provide career assessments and tools to guide you through self-exploration exercises, and help you research different fields.

In the meantime, here are some tips to consider if you’re experiencing difficulty identifying or choosing a career path or major:

Stop Pressuring Yourself for "The One”

The idea of finding one perfect career for the rest of your life is outdated and often paralyzing. Many people have multiple careers or evolve within their field. Focus on finding a good "next step" rather than a final destination. This immediately reduces the immense pressure.

Experiment via Short-Term (Low-Risk) Commitments

Take a Variety of Classes: Explore electives in subjects that pique your curiosity, even if you don't think they're "practical" for a career. You might discover a hidden passion or aptitude.

Join Student Organizations: Clubs related to different fields (e.g., debate team, coding club, creative writing group) offer hands-on experience and networking without the commitment of a major.

Volunteer: Try volunteering in different settings (e.g., hospital, animal shelter, community center, political campaign). This gives you exposure to various work environments and helps you identify what you enjoy (or don't enjoy) in a real-world context.

Conduct Informational Interviews

Talk to Professionals: Reach out to people working in fields that remotely interest you. Ask them about their daily tasks, what they like/dislike about their job, their career path, and advice for someone starting out. LinkedIn is a great tool for this, as are your college's alumni network and career services. Most people are flattered to be asked about their work.

Connect with Career Services — Early and Often: The Career Services office can assist you with career assessments, which identify your interests, skills, values, and personality traits, i.e., the key attributes behind career satisfaction and fulfillment. We specialize in guiding students through the career planning process so they can make well-informed career decisions.

Focus on Skills, Not Just Titles: Instead of thinking "What job do I want?", think "What skills do I want to develop and use?" Do you enjoy problem-solving, communicating, analyzing data, creating, leading, or helping people? Many different careers require similar core skills. Identifying your preferred skills can open up a wider range of possibilities.

Seek Internships and Part-Time Jobs: Hands-on experience is invaluable. Internships, even unpaid ones or short-term projects, allow you to "try on" a role or industry. A part-time job in a field you're considering can also provide insights. This experience helps clarify what you enjoy and what you definitely don't want to do.

Identify What You Like and Don't Like

Sometimes, knowing what you don't want is just as helpful as knowing what you do want. If you find a certain class unbearable, a work environment stifling, or a task utterly boring, cross it off the list. This narrows down your options and helps you focus your search.

Understand Your Values: What's most important to you in a career and life? Is it high income, work-life balance, making a social impact, creativity, stability, autonomy, or continuous learning? Aligning your career choices with your core values will lead to greater satisfaction. Take some time to reflect on these priorities.

Consider a General or Interdisciplinary Major: Majors like Liberal Arts, General Studies, Business or Communication provide students with a broad and well-rounded education that emphasizes the development of highly coveted transferable skills, e.g., critical thinking, communication, problem-solving, and creativity. This can buy you time to explore specific interests through electives, internships, and extra-curricular activities. (Be sure to discuss your intentions with your Academic Advisor.)

Talk to Mentors and Role Models: Seek advice from professors, older students, family friends, or alumni whose career paths you admire. Ask them how they navigated their decisions and what they would do differently. Their experiences can provide valuable insights and different perspectives on career development.

Remember, career exploration is a journey, not a single decision. Be kind to yourself, stay curious, and take consistent, small steps forward.

Absolutely! We offer mock interviews where you can practice answering common questions, receive feedback on your responses and body language, and learn strategies for success. Effective interviewing requires lots of practice. Therefore, we encourage you to schedule mock interviews long before you start applying for jobs! Students can schedule an appointment here.

While we can't guarantee a job, we can provide ongoing support, resources, and connections to help you with your job search. We encourage you to take full advantage of our events and programs. Bristol alumnus/alumni are encouraged to stay connected and get involved by attending and participating in our many events, educational programs, mentoring network.

While student employment, commonly known as “work study,” is coordinated by Financial Aid office, Career Services can assist you with locating open positions, reviewing your resume, and helping you prepare for interviews.

Available work study jobs are posted in College Central Network, Bristol’s online jobs board for students and alumni. Click here to learn more about the work study program, including eligibility requirements, the benefits of work study employment, and the application process.

While online research provides a wealth of factual information, it has significant limitations when it comes to truly exploring careers. On the other hand, people can take you backstage to learn about the day-to-day tasks and responsibilities, from the mundane to the exhilarating. If you want the unvarnished truth (i.e., "the scoop") about a particular industry, company or position, talk with people in the field. Networking and informational interviews are key ways you can make connections. Career Services offers many opportunities to connect with industry professionals (many of whom are Bristol grads!) as well as employers. We can provide coaching and educational materials as well.

Absolutely! Whether you have decided on a new career or not, we can help! The vast majority of career changers have strong skills that will transfer to other industries and roles. We’ll take stock of them, determine where the gaps are, and build a plan to fill them. We have lots of great tools and strategies to help you return to school and pursue the next phase in your career with confidence. The first step is to schedule a one-on-one session with a Career Counselor.