The Career Development Center (CDC) is one of Bucknell’s most coveted and well-respected campus resources, yet students typically only utilize it when preparing to apply to a job or internship. While a lot that goes on in the Botany Building is assisting students in their job and internship application process, the CDC has a significant number of other services that it provides for both Bucknell students and alumni.
1. Come One, Come All
Many Bucknell students are under the impression that you have to be either a junior or senior to make use of the services that the CDC offers, but that is just not the case. The CDC is open to all Bucknell students from all majors. In fact, the counselors and staff at the CDC encourage first-years and sophomores to start assembling their resume early, attend employer information sessions and come in to the Botany building to speak with the career counselors either during Quick Questions (Monday through Friday from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.) or in a one-on-one appointment.
2. Ready, Set, Interview!
For many students, interviews are the most nerve-wracking part of a job or internship application process. Writing a resume and cover letter is relatively formulaic once you get it down, but talking with a hiring manager either in person, on the phone, or on Skype? Terrifying! But do not fear, Bucknell students! The CDC offers mock-interviews with its amazing counselors. All you have to do is call the CDC a week or two before your job or internship interview and schedule a mock interview with an available counselor. You can either schedule a 30 minute interview with a career counselor or a 45 minute videotaped interview. With both options, you have the chance to analyze and refine your interviewing skills with a counselor. Just remember, this is a service you have to make an appointment for in advance.
3. Need Some Privacy for that Interview?
Want to get out of your loud dorm room for your phone interview? Cannot imagine having to do your Skype interview in the library? Reserve one of the CDC’s interview suites for your job or internship interview. The interview suites are located on the second floor of the CDC and provide students with a quiet and professional atmosphere to ace that interview!
4. Personality Assessment Tests
The CDC provides students access to several personality and career assessment tests, such as Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the Strong Interest Inventory. These tests, while not a complete picture of you as an individual, help students gage their interests and personality strengths in relation to career choices. In addition to having the ability to take these tests free of charge, students then have the opportunity to review and discuss their results with a career counselor.
5. Another Library on Campus?
In addition to the BRIDGE and the other online job boards that the CDC subscribes to, students are allowed to check books out from the CDC’s Resource Room. The Resource Room library has literature about career choices, professional development, preparation for the LSAT/MCAT/GMAT/GRE, school guides for law/medical/graduate/business school and internship opportunities. Students are allowed to check out books from the Resource Room for one week.
6. The CDC is Online
The CDC is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. While the counselors and staff definitely encourage and want students to come into the Botany Building, the CDC has several online outlets for Bucknell students and alumni. In addition to being on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, the CDC also has a gadget on myBucknell entitled “My Career Center.” With this gadget, Bucknell students have direct access to B-Link, The BRIDGE, The Vault and other job boards and online career services. Additionally, the CDC has its own blog (https://careerinsider.blogs.bucknell.edu/) that posts about upcoming events, highlighted internships on the BRIDGE, career fairs, various professional trips and much more.
Whether you are a senior preparing to apply to a slew of jobs for next year or a first-year thinking of taking a personality assessment test, stop by the CDC for all of your career and professional needs.