A student guide from the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) that outlines steps to gain professional experience through internships, clubs, and networking. It explains the STAR method for resume writing and interview prep, lists early internship programs (CUNY Career Launch, CUNY Spring Forward, CUNY MTA Program, SYEP Ladders for Leaders, CUNY Cultural Corps), and introduces the…
This document is a professional development guide created for students at the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC). It provides actionable advice for turning campus involvement into career readiness, from joining clubs to applying for internships. The intended audience is BMCC students who want to build skills and connections before graduation.
The guide first encourages deeper involvement in clubs, listing professional associations like ALPFA and NABA as examples. It suggests volunteering for committees, planning events, and attending professional development events to understand the career landscape. The next section covers gaining practical work experience through part-time jobs, targeted volunteering, and joining company talent communities such as the New York Jobs CEO Council.
A major section focuses on early internship programs, including CUNY Career Launch, CUNY Spring Forward, CUNY MTA Program, SYEP Ladders for Leaders, and CUNY Cultural Corps. The guide then explains how to build a strong resume using the STAR method, breaking down Situation, Task, Action, and Result. It provides a formula for writing effective bullet points and recommends getting feedback from Career Services, a mentor, or a professor.
Interview preparation is covered next, with advice to practice answering 3-5 common questions about teamwork, leadership, or challenges. The final section addresses growing a professional network through Handshake, BMCC’s career platform, following companies on LinkedIn, and reaching out to alumni or upperclassmen. Contact information for BMCC’s Internships and Experiential Learning staff is provided at the end.