Guide to How to be a Successful Candidate for Top Jobs in Business

Evaluate yourself to determine what business career will fit your unique interests, skills and values.

Choose coursework, experiences, and extracurricular activities that you are personally interested in or passionate about:

• Take upper-division Haas electives , non-Haas Coursework, and De-Cal courses
• Join a student organization sponsored through Haas or Campus Life and Leadership
• Pursue hobbies that interest you
• Volunteer at an organization of your choice
• Study Abroad through EAP or pursue the Haas Global Management Concentration to gain International Business experience
• Test out your interest in Business through a part-time job or internship
• Conduct research on a business-related topic
• Participate in case competitions through Haas or learn about case analysis seminars by subscribing to the Business CareerMail email list
• Become involved in a Business professional association

Develop a track record of achievement in everything that you do (extracurricular activities, part-time jobs, internships, grades, etc.) and build skills that will prepare you to face the demand of the business marketplace:

Research your options in Business to learn which industry option is right for you:

• Business Career Fields
• Vault & Wetfeet Industry & Employer Guides

Make connections in the Business World

• Conduct informational interviews with Cal alumni on the @cal Career Network and Haas@Cal Alumni Network
• Network with Business employers on campus at career fairs and information sessions
• Speak with Haas faculty advisors
• Attend events and lectures at the various centers at Haas

Market Yourself: Develop an effective resume and cover letter

• Utilize Career Center resume & letter writing resources
• Get your resume and cover letter critiqued by a career counselor during a 15-minute mini-appointment, drop-ins at the Haas Undergraduate Office on Wednesdays & Thursdays from 2-4pm, or with a peer advisor

Participate in On-Campus Recruiting (OCR)

Many Business students will participate in On-Campus Recruiting during the Spring semester of their Junior year for internships and during the Fall semester of their Senior year for full-time jobs.

NOTE: Investment Banking, Accounting, Consulting, and other areas in Finance are the most represented industry options in On-Campus Recruiting. If you are interested in Marketing, Human Resources, Real Estate, General Management, Responsible Business, or any other business area, it is strongly suggested that you also use alternative strategies besides OCR to find an internship or full-time employment such as:

• Non-OCR postings on CalJobs
• Developing your own internship (PDF file)
• Targeting employers
• Industry job sites
• Networking

Interview successfully by practicing and preparing ahead of time:

• Successful Interviewing - Preparing for interviews, references, questions asked by employers, questions to ask employers, etiquette tips for interviews, closing the interview, business casual, interview advice from employers, types of interviews, interview tips, case interview tips, etiquette tips for dining, sample thank you letter (PDF - 9 pages)
• Attend an On-Camera Practice Interviews workshop
• Participate in an employer mock interview
• Schedule a 45-minute appointment for a mock interview with a career counselor.

Choose which job offer is right for you. Need help making this decision? Use the following resources or meet with a career counselor to discuss your options.

• Making decisions
• Job Offers - How to evaluate a job offer, salary negotiations, sample letters for accepting or declining an offer (PDF - 6 pages)

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