Internship and Job Expo Connects Students with Spring and Summer Opportunities

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 it's 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. 

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 they're 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 résumé 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. “It's going to be really important that this year for prep, in addition to résumés and perfecting their elevator pitch, that [attendees] understand how to use this platform so that they're not on there stuck the day of, feeling like they don't 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.