Career FAQ's for Students (COVID-19)
COVID-19 Operations Update (3/22): At this time, Hiatt's physical space is open and staff are offering both in-person and virtual appointments. We are committed to keeping you safe, healthy, informed and connected to our services throughout this period.
We understand you have many questions surrounding your life after Brandeis and how COVID-19 impacts your career plans. To help you navigate through this, our staff has answered some of the most frequently asked questions about our operations, applying to positions, working from home and more below. If you don’t see an answer to a question, let us know via email or send us a message on
Facebook,
Twitter or
Instagram.
Going forward, Hiatt will share updates on our website, social media channels and email to provide ongoing support. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at hiattcenter@brandeis.edu.
Access to the Career Center + Programs:
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Hiatt will be accessible through phone and video appointments. Log into Handshake and make an appointment as you normally would, here.
- Appointments with counselors are available Monday through Friday from 9:00 - 5:00 pm. These slots typically range from 30 minutes to one hour and cover resume and cover letters, questions about majors, interview practice, networking and LinkedIn techniques, and other career topics.
- Drop-in hours with Hiatt Advisors will run Monday through Friday from 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm. These meetings are 25 minutes and are primarily for students who are in need of a resume review, help with application materials or have quick career questions.
Most of our career events will be held online during the spring 2022 semester. This includes career fairs, workshops, panels and information sessions. You can review our major career events here.
As always, continue to check the Handshake calendar and watch your email for upcoming career and recruiting events. These emails will have more information, tips and strategies on navigating online events, how to make the most of them and the best ways to follow up.
Yes. Hiatt will continue to offer a number of programs around career development. Topics and subjects include: application materials, networking, virtual career treks, alumni-led workshops and panels, internship planning and more.
All career events are posted in Handshake and on the Brandeis Campus Calendar. Be sure to register and add upcoming programs to your personal calendar.
Hiatt offers a number of robust virtual resources that you can access anywhere, anytime. Whether it's finding jobs, internships or career programs on
Handshake, using online tools that
help you explore your personality preferences, discover your values, skills, and interests via TypeFocus or want to expand upon your skillset, we have you covered. Review the full list, here.
Job and Internship Search + Planning
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Jobs + Internships:
Handshake is your one-stop-shop for job and internship postings, career events and fairs, programming and more! Employers are posting opportunities every day and also have the ability to reach out to you about positions based on your Handshake profile and uploaded resume. Be sure to keep your profile up to date to receive targeted emails and outreach.
Hiatt sends weekly event emails showcasing upcoming career events, workshops and panels. The employer relations team also sends out bi-weekly targeted industry emails with job and internship opportunities. Check your Brandeis email for updates.
On-Campus Employment:
The Office of Student Financial Services provides job opportunity listings as they become available throughout the year. All hourly student jobs are posted in Workday. Please log in, click on the "Careers" worklet and select Find Jobs for Students to begin applying.
Learn more about on-campus employment.
Additional online job resources:
You can find, search and apply for opportunities on other platforms including:
- LinkedIn
- Indeed.com
- Scouted
- Monster
- Glassdoor
Yes, employers are still hiring, but recognize that due to the current situation, the process may be delayed and/or slower than anticipated. Many employers may have to reprioritize business functions and structures as well as the onboarding process until offices are back to normal operating procedures.
Previously posted positions may be put on hold for the time being but that doesn't’t mean that they are gone forever. Keep reviewing company websites and postings and continue to apply for roles. You can find a number of employers actively recruiting on our online job and internship database, Handshake.
In-person and virtual interviews are relatively the same and preparing for both shouldn’t be any different. Aside from brushing up on your knowledge about the organization, practicing the answers to typical questions and finding a clean shirt to wear; it’s vital to take a professional approach and attitude when getting ready to face the camera; literally. Here are some key tips to take into consideration for your next virtual interview.
The short answer is yes. Most positions are “at-will” and you or the employer can change your employment situation at any time. If you received a contract or written job offer, consult it closely. If you have specific questions, log in to Handshake and
make an appointment with a staff member to discuss your situation.
If your employer has relayed the message to you that your planned internship has been canceled, the first thing you should do is inquire about future openings and your continued interest in being a candidate. If you were accepted to a designated program, like a finance intern at a top financial company whose program is competitive, touch base with the hiring manager to confirm that you can add the canceled experience to your resume and LinkedIn.
Example from NACE:
XYZ Company - Internship offer accepted. Rescinded due to COVID-19 - Fall 2020
You can also utilize this time to explore micro-internships. Micro-internships are short-term, paid, professional assignments that are similar to those given to new hires or interns. They are highly-specific, project-based positions that typically consist of 20 to 40 hours of work and can occur year-round. Students that participate in micro-internships are paid a fixed rate (at least $12/hour), can complete work remotely and are given a timeline to complete their projects; typically over a two to four week time period. Read more, here.
Now more than ever is a good time to gather information, learn about fields and grow your network. Brandeis alumni are a great pool to start with as they have been a student before and understand where you are coming from. Get started on LinkedIn by using the Find Alumni Tool:
- Search for "Brandeis University" in the LinkedIn search bar
- Once on the page, select the "Alumni" tab on the left-hand side
Be sure that you are clear in your outreach as to why you are looking to connect (learn more about career paths, industries, informational interview interest, etc.). Review our networking and interviewing section for more information and resources.
New this year: The Rise Together Mentor Network!
Over 500 Brandeis alums are waiting to connect with you about careers and fields of interest as well as provide career advice. Find your mentor and get started.
During this time, communication and transparency are key. It is on you to keep the lines of communication open and proactively reaching out to your employer about the status of your employment. We want to make reaching out to employers and alumni as easy as possible for you so we created email templates to help get you started. Be sure to customize yours to best represent who you are and what you are asking.
This is a complicated time and both students and employers are having to adapt and be creative. Look for ways to stay involved in your learning and
Build Career-Ready Skills online. You can also look for local opportunities to shadow professionals or volunteer at an organization. Start with your own network for opportunities and visit local job boards for part-time positions. Hiatt is also here to help. Log into Handshake and
make an appointment with a staff member to discuss your situation.