Developing Career Competencies: COVID-19 Edition

Develop these critical career competencies that employers look for in candidates!

Leadership/Taking Initiative

• Take the lead/initiative in your group projects and presentations
• Regularly check in on your friends to see how they are handling the current global situation and offer your emotional and mental support
• Create a structured routine that incorporates coursework, exercise (keep up with the BU Athletic Department’s Workout Wednesday routine on their instagram account or follow the Athletic Department’s Strength and Conditioning account), and professional self-improvement
• Check out How Great Leaders Inspire Action by Simon Sinek, What It Takes to Be a Great Leader by Roselinde Torres, and Everyday Leadership by Drew Dudley

 Professionalism/Work Ethic

• Have a dedicated space in your home as your workspace
• Create or update your LinkedIn account and publish substantial thought pieces
• Search for an internship or full-time job – schedule a Zoom appointment on hireBING for help from a career consultant
• Join BU’s Mentor Match program and connect with our alumni in areas of your interest
• Polish your application materials! Start with your resume and upload it to VMOCK
• Review the Fleishman Center’s Career Guide
• Strengthen your professional communication skills through zoom and other online platforms

 Critical thinking/problem solving

• Become informed, read a book! The National Emergency Library has over 1.4 million e-books
• Reach out to a supervisor or faculty member to ask for feedback on your critical thinking and problem solving skills, then set 2 short-term SMART goals for improvement
• View “5 Tips to Improve Your Critical Thinking”
• Talk to professors about turning class projects into substantial research projects
• Pursue one of many research opportunities with the Undergraduate Research Center

 Communication Skills

• Watch Celeste Headlee’s TEDx Talk, 10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation and Julian Treasure’s How to Speak So That People Want to Listen
• Schedule a Zoom appointment with the Speaking Center to work on a particular speech or ask for advice for general public speaking tips/anxiety
• Practice your delivery to common interview questions on Big Interview or schedule a virtual mock interview on hireBING
• Schedule an appointment with the Writing Center for help with your writing pieces
• Maximize your class online participation. If discussions aren’t common in class, do not be afraid to ask questions. Odds are someone else has the same question!
• Regularly call/video chat your close friends

 Teamwork/Collaboration

• Be an engaged and contributing team member in all of your group projects
• Plan a virtual event for your student organization
• Read “15 Top Tips To Become A Better Team Player At Work” by Forbes
• Watch Why It’s Worth Listening to People You Disagree With by Zachary Wood

Global Perspective/Intercultural Fluency

• Learn a new language, or brush up on your language skills
• Watch this brief video by CareerSpots and Melinda Eper’s 3 Ways to Be a Better Ally in the Workplace
• Read Building Relationships with People from Different Cultures from the University of Kansas’s Community Tool Box
• Check out this convenient resource by Commisceo Global which allows you to pick a country and view a brief cultural guide on that country
• Do some research on opportunities to study or work abroad. Start out using My World Abroad and Binghamton’s Study Abroad site

 Technological Application

• Participate in a basic Python programming bootcamp/online course
• Access HackBU’s archived workshops regarding Python, Machine Learning, and more through their GitHub
• Sign up for a free one-month trial on Lynda and take brief courses in Python, SQL, C, C#, C++, Java, VBA, and more
• Take free courses in SQL HTML, Python, JavaScript, and more on Code Academy
• Visit Khan Academy and take a free course in SQL or HTML
• Download Microsoft Office 360 for free using your BU email address – this package includes Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Access!

 Career Management

• Create 2 long-term term goals related to your post-graduation plans
• If you’re unsure about the right career path for you, start out by taking the Focus 2 Career Assessments
• Schedule a Zoom appointment with a career consultant from the Fleishman Center on hireBING to discuss your career path
• Reach out to three LinkedIn connections, alum, family friends, or family friends’ friends for an informational interview in your (potential) field of interest
• Review the “Passport to Career Success” and see what your next steps should be to prepare for life after graduation
• Research potential graduate school programs in your field(s) of interest
• These are examples of some industries that are continuing to hire – Forbes, Darling Magazine, Vox; view a live list of companies with their hiring status
• If you are looking for a job after graduation, try going on the careers pages of companies in industries that are hiring. If you are keen on finding a position sooner rather than later, you may have to start in an industry that you hadn’t initially planned on working in

Have a quick question for the Fleishman Center? Shoot the Fleishman Center a quick instant message.
Just type in “careers@binghamton.edu” in the search bar.