The Career Center at Boston College is proud to present the Boston College Externship Program, offered to all undergraduate students. An externship is a one-day job-shadowing experience which provides students with the opportunity to explore a career field, gain a better understanding of how an organization and an industry function, and learn first-hand about a particular job function. You will be paired with a professional in the workplace, observe how they operate in their job, have the opportunity to ask questions, and, in most internships, interact with a variety of employees. During and after your externship, you are encouraged to forge useful professional connections. The Externship Program is not for academic credit and students are not compensated, but the experience will be greatly beneficial to both students and hosts.

Externships are located in the Boston, New York, and Washington, D.C. areas, and are scheduled during the week of January 7-11, 2013.  This is not during an academic session, but is part of the interim period between Fall and Spring semesters.  If you live on campus, early move-in is available through the Office of Residential Life, and we will help guide you through this process.

Student Criteria for Selection and Participation

It is the desire of the Career Center to place all interested students into an externship. However, due to the limited number of externships available, we may not be able to place you. Students will be selected for an externship on the basis of the quality of their resume and the connection between the student’s goals for participation and the criteria of the hosting organization.  

Matching will be on a first-come, first-served basis, so please don’t wait to apply!  Applications go live for BC students on October 22, 2012, and are due no later than November 5, 2012 on EagleLink. 

Students MUST attend ONE of the following mandatory Externship Orientation Meetings in order to receive their externship host match:

• Wednesday 12/5 at 5:00pm
• Friday 12/7 at 3:00pm
• Tuesday 12/11 at 12:00pm

Students need not show expertise or experience in the field of the externship for which they apply, but they must show sincere interest and curiosity about the field as a possible career option. If you are not placed in an externship the first time around, please be sure to apply for future opportunities.

Typical Activities of an Externship

• Sit in on company staff meetings
• Complete office tasks or assist with projects
• Conduct informational interviews of both professional and administrative staff
• Observe client interactions
• Observe functions and duties of a particular career
• Tour the facilities
• Review organization’s mission/vision statement and organizational charts
• Understand office policies and procedures
• Review current trends in the profession
• Explore potential career paths within the organization and the profession
• Meet with key players of the organization

Application Steps

All applicants must be a current Boston College Undergraduate, in good academic standing. To apply, follow these steps:

1. Read the Externship Program Orientation presentation (required for acceptance to the Externship Program).  Follow the instructions outlined in the presentation.
2. Login to your EagleLink account
3. Click BC Jobs/Internships
4. Under Keywords type “Boston College Externship Employer”
5. Under “Show Me” select All BC Jobs & Interviews (OCR/OCI)
6. Under “Position Type” select Externship
7. Click “Search”
8. View all available positions, and select up to (but no more than) 3 positions to which you wish to apply
9. Follow the instructions to apply for these positions directly through EagleLink

Current Timeline for Externship Program

• Applications go live: October 22, 2012
  
• Externship Student Applications Due: November 5, 2012
  
• Mandatory Externship Orientation Sessions: Wednesday 12/5 at 5:00pm OR Friday 12/7 at 3:00pm OR Tuesday 12/11 at 12:00pm
• Externship Period: January 7, 2013 through January 11, 2013

Sample Questions to Pose to Hosts during an Externship

• What are the major divisions of your organization? Where does your division fit in?
• What do you do during a typical work week/day?
• What skills/abilities/attributes are most important in your work?
• How did you enter this field? What preparations (college major, training, other work experiences) would you suggest for someone interested in entering this field?
• What other career areas are related to your work?
• What are the areas of growth and decline in this career field?
• What are the most significant problems you face in your specific job, department, or organization? To respond to these problems, what attributes do you seek in people you hire?
• What is the average beginning salary for a person entering this career field?
• Do employees have the opportunity for advancement within your organization? If so, how often is typical?
• How much flexibility does one typically have regarding: innovation, self-expression, hours of work, lifestyle, decision making (authority), and feedback? Do employees regularly work overtime?
• What percentage of time do you spend in interaction with people (staff and clients)? Working independently? Working with a team?
• Must someone in your field expect to be moved about often during his/her career (within the company and geographically)?
• Can you name any relevant magazines, journals, or publications that you would recommend I review?
• Do you have any advice for me?

2013 Externship Hosts

Check EagleLink after October 22 for the complete list.

Past Participating Hosts

Contact Us

Questions?

Students: Contact Jessica Crowley at: externship.student@bc.edu

Employers: Contact Dan Jalbert at externship.employer@bc.edu