What is Bison CareerLink (BCL)?

Bison CareerLink is a NACE Link Network Career Services Manager (CSM) database system. It is Gallaudet University Career Center's online resume and recruiting system. Bison CareerLink (BCL) provides Gallaudet students and alumni an array of information and services to assist them with their career and employment exploration. It includes on campus student employment opportunities, off-campus employment listings, and internship information.

Students and alumni can post their resumes on Bison CareerLink (BCL) for perusal by potential employers. Current students can also make appointments with their Career Consultant or other Career Center staff. Additionally, through BCL, students and alumni can obtain information about Career Center up-coming events.

Employers can use BCL to post internship and job availabilities, view students' resumes, and sign-up for information tables, on-campus recruiting events, mock interviews and register for the bi-annual Internship and Job fairs.

How long does an internship last?

To satisfy the Career Center's internship requirements, interns must work a minimum of 10 hours a week for 10 weeks during the fall or spring semester. During the summer, students should work a minimum of eight weeks. You are encouraged to check with your department as they may have their own internship requirements.

How long should a resume be?

The length of your resume depends on how much relevant experience you have. Generally, undergraduate students, and occasionally grad students, have just enough information to fill one page. If you have a significant amount of experience that is of interest to an employer, then two pages are appropriate.

Keep in mind that employers will only read your second page if your first page captures their attention. If you are applying for a position with the federal government, you will need to revise your resume to the federal resume format.

Please visit the Interview Central if you need assistance with creating a federal resume.

Should I include information from high school?

It depends on your year in college and the amount of experience you have. If you are a freshman or sophomore, you may include your high school information, but as you progress through college and gain additional experience and skills, your high school achievements become less relevant to employers who are more interested in recent acheivements and experience.

Should I include my GPA?

The importance of Grade Point Average (GPA) varies according to industry and occupation. If your GPA is 3.0 or higher, you should include it in your resume. If your GPA in your major is higher than your overall GPA, you may indicate both, listing your major's GPA first. If you choose to include your GPA, be sure that it is accurate because your employer may verify it later in the hiring process.

Off Campus Employment

The Career Center at Gallaudet University strives to prepare students for their career aspirations. We maintain a database on Bison CareerLink of employers that students and alumni can utilize to search for internships and jobs.

The information that is provided in the database is available to allow individuals to search for places of employment that best fit their interests, experience, skills, education, and career goals.

Due to the volume of job and internship opportunities that we post on our BCL database, we are unable to screen each employer's posting. As part of the job search process, we recommend that all applicants thoroughly research companies, organizations, agencies and individuals who post internship and job opportunities on our database.

It is in the individual's best interest to obtain information on potential employers for validity and security purposes. Other resources for off-campus employment include, but are not limited to:


Advice for interviewees

An internship or job interview is a two-way street. The job of the interviewer is to determine whether or not you have the skills and attitude that make you the best fit for the position.

You also have to determine whether the company and the position is a good fit for you. The best way to do this is by asking the interviewer questions during the interview.

Usually, the interviewer will ask, "Do you have any questions for me?" Your response should always be, "yes." Saying no or having no questions prepared tells the employer that you might not be motivated to work or that you do not put in effort to be prepared, which can reflect on the effort you put put into the job.

Employers make judgments about you based on the questions you ask. Make sure that you ask good questions.

  • Do your research on the company and ask questions related to the company and your position
  • Don't ask about salary and benefits during your initial interview
  • Don't ask general, bland questions. Know the industry and lexicon
  • Ask open ended questions and not questions that can be answered with a "yes" or "no"

Sample questions to ask during an interview

Here are examples of questions you can ask the interviewer during the interview:

  • How does the department relate to the overall organization?
  • What are the values that make up the organization's culture?
  • What kind of work assignments might I expect the first six months on the job? What will be my day-to-day responsibilities?
  • How often are performance reviews given?
  • Are there opportunities for professional growth and advancement?
  • In what ways is a career with your company better than one with your competitors?
  • Is this a new position or am I replacing someone?
  • Can you tell me about the individual to whom I will report? What is their management style?
  • What characteristics do achievers within this company share?
  • What are the next steps?

You can find more interview resources and questions to ask at Interview Central and by participating in mock interviews to help you prepare.

Are internships paid?

Internships can be paid or unpaid. If the employer does not offer paid internship positions, you can still apply for a stipend through the career center. (Stipends are NOT guaranteed and are provided based on funding availability).

Can I get academic credit for my internship?

Yes, you can get academic credit for your internship. Contact your Career Consultant or your faculty advisor for more details.

Does my major require an internship?

Internship requirements are dependent on the choice of major. You can find out if your choice of major requires an internship by perusing the academic catalog page for more information.

When should I start thinking of doing an internship?

You can start your internship as early as the 2nd semester of your freshman year. You can do your internship in Fall, Spring or Summer. However, check on the dates of the internship you are interested in as some are only available for part of the year or certain semesters.

If I do an internship during the summer, where will I live?

If you plan to do an internship over the summer, in most cases, you will be responsible for securing your own summer housing. You can get in touch with your Career Consultant for other suggestions regarding where to look for housing.

How do I prepare for an internship?

You can prepare for an internship in the following ways:

  • Participate in on-campus recruiting (e.g.,info sessions/tables, interviews, job fairs)
  • Work with your Career Consultant to identify potential employers
  • Log on to the Bison CareerLink to review position announcements, and
  • Create a network of contacts such as friends and family.

Where can I find information about internships?

The Career Center coordinates various Employer Information Sessions throughout the school year. Internships are also posted on the Bison CareerLink and in the Career Library. You can also check with your major department to see if they have information about internship placements related to your major field of study.

The best way to learn more about securing an internship is to visit the Office For Career Education & Professional Development .

What are the benefits of participating in an internship?

Internships provide students with the opportunity to gain real life work experience related to their field of study. For additional information, go to Interview Central. Or contact us for more information.