MS Management Career Checklist

The Career Resource Center (CRC) serves as the primary resource for students and alumni of the School of Management in career exploration and job search. The CRC is a key link between the school and employers, offering many programs that bring these groups together, such as career events, alumni connections, internships, campus recruiting and career development workshops and seminars. Our mission is to create a caring environment that enables and motivates you to be successful in reaching your individual career goals.

The CRC's dedicated staff is committed to assisting you throughout your career development and job search process. Get to know our team by visiting the CRC staff page.

Complete the CareerLeader™ online assessment. (Time: 30-60 minutes) Follow the instructions on how to access this assessment (PDF file). Sign in using your UB email. Review and save the Narrative Report. You will be need to refer to it during MS Advantage in August. (CRC Requirement)

• Login Issues: If you have any trouble logging into CareerLeader, please contact Pam Krakowiak directly at pjk2@buffalo.edu.
  NOTE: If you are a previous or current School of Management student who completed our undergraduate career course (MGG300, MGG315 or MGG398) you will need to provide a non-UB email address in order to gain access to CareerLeader. 

Complete the Career Vision assignment by August 1. This brief worksheet incorporates your CareerLeader results and your vision for the MS Management program and your career goals.

1. Build your management résumé using the CRC's MS Résumé Template. 
   
   • CRC résumé writing tools include a guide, digital workshop and tutorial on Making Your Content Count.
2. Submit your résumé for critique using the VMock résumé review tool, which provides instant, automated and personalized guidance on your résumé. You must use the preferred CRC résumé template and tools to get optimal results. 
   • Access to VMock will be granted in June (or soon after you commit to UB). You get 10 uploads per academic year.
   • It is best to use a PC/laptop to effectively use this tool, though there is a VMock app. If you have accessibility concerns, please contact us directly.
   • Your goal is to achieve 70 points or more before proceeding.
3. Revise your résumé based on your VMock feedback by Monday, July 15.
   • It should be one page only.
     
   • Name your document your name Last Name_First Name.

BizLink is the online career management system brought to you by the Career Resource Center for the exclusive use of School of Management students.

Sign in to the BizLink career management system and create your profile, clarifying your job experience and job preferences. 

• As an incoming MS student you will receive a welcome email message from BizLink once you have been added to the system.
  
• Keep your profile up-to-date. The CRC staff uses the data to effectively communicate with you and market the School of Management's MS talent to prospective employers.

• Learn how to effectively create and leverage your profile, using our social media tips.
• Add your current degree program, selecting the “University at Buffalo, The State University at Buffalo” as your school.
• Invite CRC staff and any other UB staff, faculty or students you have communicated with to join your network after you have updated your profile to indicate you are attending the UB MBA program.

• Become familiar with the CRC website, the BizLink career system and the Job Fairs and Events pages.
• Be prepared. Some companies recruit early; as early as the summer before you start the program and in early fall. These are usually larger national companies or those recruiting for development or leadership programs. So, it is important to monitor BizLink (and Bullseye/Handshake) as well as company websites for job opportunities. 
  • If you are interested in a company who does not recruit on campus, view the college hiring section of those company’s’ websites early. Résumé deadlines could begin as early as June (a whole year before).
• Understand the recruitment process at the CRC using the BizLink career system
• Review the career tools for international students
• Review cover letter resources. Any letter or email sent to a potential employer must be error-free, appropriately formatted and tailored to the company's needs and the desired employment opportunity.
  
• Register or update your profile with the UB Career Design Center, the university-wide career office. Their career management system is called Bullseye powered by Handshake. Complete your profile and upload your résumé to this system to take advantage of their job postings, on-campus interviewing opportunities, mentors and events.
• Plan to attend on-campus job fairs, such as the Management Career and Internship Expo and the UB STEAM Fair in early fall, and networking events within the community. Find events in BizLink, Handshake and on our Job Fairs and Events page.

Schedule an individual appointment with your career advisor, Pam Krakowiak directly through BizLink. Go to Career Advising and then click Add New Appointment. Scroll down the left side to find your advisor's name, select their name only and click Check Availability.

Sign in to BizLink and update your profile, clarifying your job preferences.

• Keep your profile up-to-date. The CRC staff uses the data to effectively communicate with students and market UB's MS talent to prospective employers.
  

After you have utilized VMock and have made the recommended changes, upload your résumé to the BizLink system. 

• It is extremely important that your uploaded résumé be error-free and in professional business format.
• You can have multiple versions of your résumé in BizLink, but only one “default”.
• As you edit your résumé throughout your program, be sure to upload the newest version to BizLink. Your default résumé should be your most up-to-date version.

Information about events and workshops are promoted through email, our website, BizLink and plasma screens during the semester.

• RSVP for events in BizLink
• You can find other career events through Handshake and our Career Events page.
  
• International Students: Attend workshops designed specifically for you. The career offices offer workshops targeted for our international students to prepare you for the job search. Sign up in BizLink or Handshake as appropriate.
  • Create a profile in Interstride, a career tool that offers U.S. visa insights and webinars on how to execute a successful job search in the U.S.  You can also investigate if a specific company has petitioned for an H-1B before, or conduct research on top prospects based on city, industry, etc. 
  • Attend all appropriate workshops provided by International Student Services (ISS), especially those pertaining to Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Explore careers (roles, responsibilities, certification, requirements, industries, etc.) using the resources below: 

• Review career resources for different business functions (finance, human resources, marketing, etc.)
• Vault through BizLink: Investigate top employers by rankings, gain valuable career knowledge in the career and industry guidebooks. It includes articles and employer profiles by function or career interest. Access the video library to see webinars on career functions, industries, case interviewing and much more. (Use your buffalo.edu email address to register.)
  
• UB Connect-a-Bull: UB’s online engagement platform, which creates a space for alumni and students to connect with one another throughout their career journey.
• Read job postings through BizLink, Bullseye, powered by Handshake or LinkedIn jobs.

Some companies recruit early; as early as the summer before you start the program and in early fall. These are usually larger national companies or those doing development/leadership program hiring. So, it is important to monitor BizLink (and Bullseye/Handshake) as well as company websites for job opportunities. 

• If you are interested in a company who does not recruit on campus, consider attending a national career fair and view the college hiring section of those company’s’ websites early. Résumé deadlines could begin as early as June (a whole year before).

Join student organizations and local professional associations that relate to your functional area of interest.

• Watch the Advanced Interviewing video series
• View the CRC interviewing guide and tips
• Complete a recorded interview through Big Interview (sign up with UB email address)
  
• Schedule a practice interview with Pam Krakowiak via BizLink to discuss interview strategy and practice some interview questions. When scheduling the interview through BizLink, submit a sample job posting in the note. 

Review cover letter and job search correspondence resources. Any letter or email sent to a potential employer must be error-free, appropriately formatted and tailored to the company's needs and the desired employment opportunity. Watch the Writing a Cover Letter workshop.

Attend both the Management Career and Internship Expo and the UB STEAM Fair in early fall. Some of the attending companies will hold on campus interviewing immediately/shortly after. (However, do not rely solely on on-campus interviewing for full-time positions.) Review the CRC's Job Fairs and Events page for more information.

Research and identify a list of companies to target for full-time job opportunities.  Use the following tools:

• Mergent Intellect (found on UB Libraries): Research individual companies and the industry in which they reside, or build a list of companies within specific industries and/or geographic locations to target for internships or jobs
• Go directly to company websites for information about how to submit your résumé. Conduct a targeted email (or direct mail) campaign to companies of interest. Also, network with fellow students, professors and alumni as well as friends and family.
  
• Glassdoor: Create an account and gain an insider’s view of company reviews, how they interview, salaries and more
• Follow your target companies on social media (i.e. Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.) as companies often post internships and jobs there before other, more expensive methods. Follow key people from those organizations as well.

Keep an Excel file of these companies, contacts and activity. Keep text of the positions you apply to for when you get called for the interview. 

Make the most of your winter break by networking and learning.

Revise your résumé to showcase your fall projects. Upload your new résumé and update your profile and preferences in both BizLink and Bullseye/Handshake.

Tips on Formatting Your Résumé Using Word
Using the CRC template is important, but you may still want to watch this quick video to learn the MS Word hacks necessary to format your résumé professionally.

New York City events are typically advertised in November.

• Participate in Network New York in January to meet with alumni in New York City (NYC) who work in your prospective field.
• Attend valuable company tours organized by the school or clubs which may take place in NYC or other cities.
• Check BizLink, Bullseye/Handshake and Career Events for more information.

Conduct informational interviews with alumni working in positions, companies or geographic areas of interest using:

• School of Management LinkedIn: Find alumni on the people tab.
• UB Connect-a-Bull: UB’s online engagement platform, which creates a space for alumni and students to connect with one another throughout their career journey.
• Your personal network

Attend on-campus job fairs and networking events, including events organized by the Career Resource Center (found in BizLink), by UB Career Design Center (found in Handshake) and other organizations (found on Career Events). 

Do not rely solely on on-campus interviewing for jobs. Add to and update your target list of companies. Continue to research and identify a list of companies to target for full-time job opportunities. Go directly to company websites for information about how to submit your résumé. Also, network with fellow students, faculty and alumni, as well as friends and family. Understand when each company on your list recruits college grads for new positions.

Continue to research and identify a list of companies to target for full-time job opportunities. Go directly to company websites for information about how to submit your résumé. Also, network with fellow students, faculty and alumni, as well as friends and family. Understand when each company on your list recruits college grads for new positions.

Determine your market-value by researching salary statistics by degree, location, career and industry using a number of resources. Collect data from sources we provide on the CRC website to determine your salary expectations and range.

Review information on Managing Job Offers and Compensation Negotiations.

• Your acceptance of a job offer is binding. Do not accept an offer, even verbally, until you are certain you are committed. 
• Do not back out after accepting; that's called reneging, and is unethical. It will negatively impact your professional reputation, the reputation of the program and ultimately, could affect the value of your degree.

Launch your Optional Practical Training (OPT) in a timely manner so that you are eligible to begin working full-time for your prospective employer. 

• It takes approximately three months for OPT to be authorized. 
• If you are not eligible to begin working when the employer requests you to start, the employer may not wait for your OPT authorization.  
• It is important you plan ahead on launching your OPT. You can submit paperwork for your OPT beginning three months before your conferral date. 
  

Two to three months before graduation, you should no longer be looking at the "college hiring" section of company websites. Focus on immediate openings for experienced candidates.

If you have accepted a job or decided on your post-graduation plans, complete the School of Management Job Offer and Employment Update Survey.

• If you are still searching, we are here throughout the summer and will continue to assist with your search after graduation. 
  
• Information collected, including salary information, remains confidential and is only used in aggregate form.
  

Complete the School of Management Job Offer and Employment Update Survey before you confer your degree.

• It is important to inform the school of your employment status whether you are still searching, accepted employment, starting a business, going to graduate school, or postponing your search. 
• If you are still searching, we are here throughout the summer and will continue to assist with your search after graduation. 
• If your status changes, you can update your employment status online. 
• Providing this information is critical to the services we provide to both our students and employers. It also plays a strong role in the School of Management’s efforts to improve the value of your degree.
  
• Information collected, including salary information, remains confidential and is only used in aggregate form.

As soon as you graduate, you are a member of the School of Management Alumni Association. We recommend updating your contact information and joining the LinkedIn group.

Update your LinkedIn profile to show your new employer and job title and keep in contact. The CRC often reaches out to alumni from the program to help advise current students about companies, industries, markets and hiring processes.