Emerson College has been described as having a “vertical campus” made up of buildings interspersed with others in the heart of Boston’s city center. It is not physically unified by large swatches of green grass and diagonal sidewalks joining academic and administrative buildings like many picturesque U.S. college campuses. We have the Boston Common across the street, but it is a shared city space, as are the sidewalks joining buildings that rise between those adorned with purple and white Emerson banners.
During these “Covid Times”, the landscape of our campus is not only above (vertical), but it is so far beyond what we ever expected it to be. When the Career Development Center and the Emerson campus went remote in March 2020, I searched for a word to replace “vertical” which didn’t seem to apply as it used to. I thought to myself: We have been known as a vertical campus. Now we are a constellation. I think of our Emerson international student community as the stars that make up this constellation, expanding from Boston to around the globe.
As for the Career Center, we continue to offer our complete services, which you can access wherever you are. Here are some useful tips to keep you grounded and supported in the coming months:
⭐ Stay Informed
- Follow Emerson and department posts and emails from the offices you depend on, especially the Office of International Student Affairs (OISA), the Career Center, Academic Advising, and others you connect with often.
- Stay up-to-date on immigration information and reach out to OISA for questions about your eligibility to obtain work authorizations (CPT or OPT) once returning to the U.S., especially if your status has been interrupted.
- Reach out to student groups and join virtual events posted on EmConnect! If you are far from Boston or all-remote, you can stay current with activities and programs.
⭐ Stay on Track
- Update your online profiles. The more details you put on your Handshake profile, the more relevant your jobs feed becomes. Keep your Linkedin profile up-to-date as this will allow for more effective networking with alumni and employers. Join Emerge, Emerson’s new platform for student-alumni-staff networking, create your profile, and start connecting!
- Read up on job and internship opportunities. Bookmark those that stand out. Keep a spreadsheet of job titles, short descriptions, links to posts, and deadlines. Use job descriptions to draft or practice cover letter writing. Submit to our online resume/cover letter review service to refine your materials.
- Research companies. Whether or not you are applying for an internship, company research is important to your preparation for a career in your industry. Through company websites, you can learn about current projects, staff roles, and job postings. By googling companies of interest, you will find related news, information, and community impact.
⭐ Stay Connected
- Schedule an appointment at the Career Center! There are appointment blocks that accommodate international students’ time zones, so log on to Handshake and see what is available. If you find that the appointment slots do not meet your needs, please send us an email and we can schedule individually.
- Explore Careerbuzz and Handshake! Careerbuzz hosts many career resources, including resume samples, industry guides, internship spotlights, career news, blogs, and more. On Handshake, you can review job postings and register for upcoming virtual events hosted at the Career Center! (psst: be sure to log in with your Emerson credentials)
- Register and engage with our Career Development: International Students online Canvas course! It is free, available to Emerson international students and is a great resource for your resume and cover letter work, networking tips, and supplements your career learning. For registration information, reach out to careers@emerson.edu using your Emerson email.
⭐⭐⭐ To our international student stars that make up a bright Emerson constellation, be encouraged and know that you belong to a vibrant global community! And remember that wherever you are, the Career Development Center is here for you!
P.S. Visit our Emersonian International blog on Careerbuzz to read about your fellow international students’ career stories!
Emi Bague
Assistant Director,
International Student Career Services
