Becca Saran

in Spring 2015, Student's Blog, Washington, DC
April 14th, 2015

How to Survive DC as a Second Semester Senior

By Becca Saran
Spring 2015

With graduation quickly approaching, the real world can seem daunting and scary. Here is some advice I would give to any second semester seniors on the BUDC program as they transition to life after graduation as a young professional:

1. Make a good first impression: always show up on time or early, dress professionally and make eye contact. Be confident and bring a positive attitude everywhere you go: to field trips, to your internship, to class. You want people to remember you in a positive way.
2. Be nice to everyone you meet: you never know whom you’re sharing an elevator with. DC feels much smaller than Boston in that everyone seems to know each other. Don’t be the person who didn’t hold the door for Karlyn Bowman.
3. Set goals: it can be very easy to lose focus this semester as a graduating senior. You may find yourself daydreaming about going to the BU Pub in between classes. Remember why you came here, keep those goals in mind and keep working towards them.
4. Stay organized: write everything down. Set alarms and keep a planner (or multiple if you are like me). If you’re organized, your life will be infinitely less stressful. Make a spreadsheet of jobs you applied to, track your progress and clean up your computer. Start this next chapter of your life on a good foot.
5. Get out of your comfort zone: DC is unlike Boston in that it is a very professional city. It can be daunting and feel overwhelming at times, but you will never regret attending a hearing on the Hill or going to a happy hour. On the same note, reach out to people. If someone has a job you want, grab a coffee with them or set up a phone call. Go for informational interviews. Expand your network.
6. Keep an online presence: stay active on LinkedIn and make sure your profile is in tiptop shape. Contact an alum who works at a company that is of interest to you and look for jobs on LinkedIn. Many companies will post open positions on LinkedIn rather than online job boards.
7. Set aside time for fun: despite all the job applications, papers, field trips and hours spent at your internship or in class, make sure you set aside time to do fun things. Make a list at the beginning of the semester of things you want to do in DC and make sure you cross one thing off each weekend.

Becca is a senior International Relations major interning on Capitol Hill and actively searching for a full-time job post-graduation here in Washington, DC.