Careers in consulting, finance, and business (CFB) offer a wide range of opportunities to use analysis, critical thinking, and leadership to increase efficiencies, maximize profitability, and solve challenges facing organizations in a global economy.听听
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Assistant Director, Career Education
For MCAS, LSOEHD, WCAS, CSON, & STM Students
philip.guarino@bc.edu
617-552-2363
Graduate Assistant
For MCAS, LSOEHD, WCAS, CSON, & STM Students
audrey.ahlstrom@bc.edu
Explore Industries
Learn about specific fields within Consulting, Finance, and Business
Accounting
Accounting is the systematic and comprehensive recording of financial transactions pertaining to a business. Accounting also refers to the process of summarizing, analyzing, and reporting these transactions to oversight agencies, regulators and tax collection entities. Accountants prepare and examine financial records. They ensure that financial records are accurate and that taxes are paid properly and on time. Accountants assess financial operations and work to help ensure that organizations run efficiently.
Types of Positions
- Public Accountant
- Management Accountant
- Government Accountant
- Internal Auditor
- External Auditor
Where BC Graduates Have Gone
- Ernst and Young
- PricewaterhouseCoopers
- KPMG
- Deloitte
- RSM
Hiring Timelines
- 79% received job offers before senior year
- 16% received job offers during fall semester of senior year
- 5% received job offers during spring semester of senior year
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Professional Associations
- (AFWA)
- (AICPA)
- (NABA)
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DEI Resources
Do I need to go to graduate school?
The number of students earning a master鈥檚 degree in accounting has increased over the past few years. This growth is largely attributed to the implementation of the 鈥�150-Hour Rule鈥� by many states, which requires accountants to earn 150 semester hours of education in order to be eligible for CPA certification. Many accountants earn graduate degrees as a means to fulfill this requirement.
Consulting
Consulting is the practice of helping companies increase their efficiency and profits by addressing the major operational or strategic challenges they鈥檙e facing. There are four main types of consulting: management strategy consulting, financial consulting, information technology consulting, and human resources staffing/consulting.
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Types of Positions
- Managment Consultant
- Business Consultant
- Strategy Consultant
- Financial Consultant
- Healthcare Consultant
Where BC Graduates Have Gone
- Deloitte Consulting听
- FTI Consulting听
- KPMG
- L.E.K. Consulting
- Charles River Associates
Hiring Timelines
- 26% received job offers before senior year
- 44% received job offers during fall semester of senior year
- 21% received job offers during spring semester of senior year
- 8% received job offers the summer after senior year
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Professional Associations
- (IMC)
- 听(WIC)
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DEI Resources
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Case Interviews
Case interviews are used by consulting companies to assess your problem-solving abilities. Interviewers in these situations will observe your thought process, test your ability to think logically and organize your answer, and assess your confidence and communication skills under pressure. Resources on our interviewing page will help you prepare.听
Do I need to go to graduate school?
A bachelor鈥檚 degree is the minimum requirement for most consulting careers, but many consultants have a master鈥檚 degree in business administration. Others have advanced degrees in their specialty, such as engineering, human resources, or accounting. Attending a college with a top-rated MBA program increases your chances of landing a consulting job.
Consumer Products/Retail
The general consumer products industry produces goods that the public wants or needs. It produces two types of goods: durable and nondurable. Durable goods have a long life span and hold up over time; examples of durable goods are cars, electronics, tools, and washing machines. Nondurable goods, which do not last as long, include such products as food, cosmetics, and clothing. General consumer products are sold in retail stores, door-to-door, by mail order, and online.
Today, retail is a complex and diverse field. It involves the selling of all types of physical goods, such as automobile parts, pharmaceuticals, clothing, health care products, books, and food, as well as services, such as automobile repair or rug cleaning. The retail field consists of supermarkets, department stores, chain stores, specialty stores, variety stores, franchise stores, mail-order houses, online merchants, and door-to-door sellers.
Types of Positions
- Client Services/Relations Manager
- Export/Import Specialist
- Fashion Designer
- Product Manager
Where BC Graduates Have Gone
- Wayfair
- The TJX Companies
- Bloomingdale's
- Walmart eCommerce
- BMW
- Converse
Hiring Timelines
- 9% received job offers before senior year
- 38% received job offers during fall semester of senior year
- 35% received job offers during spring semester of senior year
- 18% received job offers the summer after senior year
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Professional Associations
- (NAM)
- (NCSA)
- (NRF)
- (SCAP)
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DEI Resources
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Do I need to go to graduate school?
Many people who want management positions in the export-import field are now deciding to get a master's in business administration (MBA), with an emphasis in international trade.
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship is the process of starting and developing a company, with the aim of delivering something new or improved to the market, or by organizing the means of production in a superior way. This process is principally organized through the formation of a startup company, is managed by entrepreneurs, often under considerable personal and financial risk, and is temporary in duration, as a phase in a business鈥檚 lifecycle.听
A key distinction between start-ups and other small or young businesses is an aspiration (realized or not) to substantially grow. As companies mature out of the start-up phase, they evolve into sustainable businesses, are acquired or sold to public investors, or decay and may eventually shut down, as new companies start-up and take their place.
Types of Positions
- Engineer
- Product Manager
- Salesperson
- Business Developer
- Marketer
- Account Manager
- Office Manager
Where BC Graduates Have Gone
- Vettery
- Atlantic Visuals
- Canvas Worldwide
- Drizly
- DraftKings
- Jebbit
Hiring Timelines
- 5% received job offers before senior year
- 10% received job offers during fall semester of senior year
- 54% received job offers during spring semester of senior year
- 31% received job offers the summer after senior year
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Online Resources
- (Vault)
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Campus Resources
Professional Associations
Startup and Entrepreneurship Fair
Every Spring, Start@Shea and the Career Center host a Startup and Entrepreneurship Fair for students interested in working in these industries.
Do I need to go to graduate school?
Every entrepreneur, from owners of roadside cafes to global startups, needs to be versed in management, finances, taxes, and other business-related topics. You don鈥檛 necessarily need a master鈥檚 degree in economics, but an educational foundation in business will certainly help. An entrepreneurship education could mean an actual entrepreneurship degree or a more general business education that will prepare you to meet the day-to-day challenges of an entrepreneur career.
Finance/Banking
Finance is a broad term that describes two related activities: the study of how money is managed and the actual process of acquiring needed funds. It encompasses the oversight, creation and study of money, banking, credit, investments, assets and liabilities that make up financial systems.
Types of Positions
- Financial Analyst
- Financial Advisor
- Financial Services Broker
- Loan Underwriter
- Investment Banker
- Mortgage Banker/Loan Officer
- Research Analyst
Where BC Graduates Have Gone
- Fidelity Investments
- Citi
- John Hancock
- JPMorgan Chase and Co.
- Morgan Stanley听
- Goldman Sachs听
Hiring Timelines
- 53% received job offers before senior year
- 26% received job offers during fall semester of senior year
- 15% received job offers during spring semester of senior year
- 7% received job offers the summer after senior year
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Online Resources
- 听
- 听
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Campus Resources
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Professional Associations
- 听
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DEI Resources
- (Goldman Sachs): ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
- (Morgan Stanley): ; ; ; ; ; ;
- (JPMorgan): ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
- (Bank of America Merrill Lynch): ; ; ;
- (Credit Suisse): ; ; ;
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BC Bank Week
Every February, we host Bank Week for sophomores interested in learning more about the finance/banking industries. The week features informational sessions, skills workshops, and networking sessions.听Find details in Handshake in the Spring.听
Do I need to go to graduate school?
A master鈥檚 degree in finance or business administration can improve an analyst鈥檚 chances of advancing to a higher/managerial position.
Human Resources
Human resources is the department or division of a business, corporation, or organization that manages all aspects related to its personnel, including recruiting employees, training and career development, overseeing compensation packages, managing benefits plans, and other duties that serve to maximize a company's business and its employees' satisfaction with their jobs. Simply, the function of the human resources industry is to produce competent personnel and to keep employees productive. More than 800,000 people work in human resources and related fields today. (Source: Vault)
Types of Positions
- Human resources generalists
- Employment and placement managers
- Employment, placement, and recruitment specialists
- Employer relations representatives
- Job analysts
- Compensation managers
- Benefits managers
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Professional Associations
- (NAAAHR)
Insurance
The insurance industry comprises companies and people who develop insurance policies, sell, administer, and regulate them. Some insurance companies offer investment products and employ people who develop, sell, administer, or service these products. Insurance is about managing risk, for both the insurance company and its customers. The insurance industry is divided into three main branches: life insurance, health insurance, and property and casualty insurance.
Types of Positions
- Actuary
- Sales Agent
- Broker/Consultant
- Risk Manager
- Underwriter
Where BC Graduates Have Gone
- Liberty Mutual
- AIG
- Optum
- Aetna
- Harvard Pilgrim
Hiring Timelines
- 32% received job offers before senior year
- 30% received job offers during fall semester of senior year
- 25% received job offers during spring semester of senior year
- 14% received job offers the summer after senior year
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Online Resources
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Campus Resources
Professional Associations
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DEI Resources
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Do I need to go to graduate school?
Generally speaking, the entry-level roles in this industry do not require a postgraduate degree. There are few that may seek those with a masters in finance, real estate or an MBA. Certification or licensure, however, is required for many of the roles and must be maintained through completing periodic continuing education classes/exams.
Real Estate
The real estate industry encompasses the many facets of property, including development, appraisal, marketing, selling, leasing, and management of commercial, industrial, residential, and agricultural properties. This industry can fluctuate depending on the national and local economies, although it remains somewhat consistent due to the fact that people always need homes and businesses always need office space.
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Types of Positions
- Assessor and Appraiser听
- Property and Real Estate Manager听
- Real Estate Agent and Broker听
- Real Estate Developer听
- Real Estate Lawyer
Where BC Graduates Have Gone
- Cushman and Wakefield
- JLL
- CBRE Group
- Corcoran Management Company
- Kingsley Associates
Hiring Timelines
- 13% received job offers before senior year
- 18% received job offers during fall semester of senior year
- 45% received job offers during spring semester of senior year
- 23% received job offers the summer after senior year
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Online Resources
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Campus Resources
- Joseph E. Corcoran Center for Real Estate and Urban Action
- BC鈥檚听听podcast - Episode featuring
Professional Associations
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DEI Resources
- (BCC)
- (Commercial Real Estate Success Training)
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Do I need to go to graduate school?
For most positions in real estate, individuals will need a Bachelor鈥檚 degree, along with appropriate training/certification, as an advanced degree (e.g. master鈥檚) is unnecessary for entry-level access.
Sports Business
Sports business (management) is the study and practice of all people, activities, businesses, or organizations involved in producing, facilitating, promoting, or organizing andy sports-related business or product. The sports business industry consists of numerous other segments, some of which are sports tourism, semi-professional sports, recreation, high school and college sports, outdoor sports, and sports-service businesses such as sports marketing firms, sports sponsorship management companies, and sport governing bodies. Essentially, in the sports business industry, there are numerous jobs that combine two interests into one job (e.g. photography, computer programming).听
Types of Positions
- Sports Agent
- Sports Executive
- Sports Facility Manager
- Sports Publicist
- Sports Scout
- Sports Trainer
Where BC Graduates Have Gone
- Boston Red Sox
- Athletes First
- New England Patriots
- MLB
- NFL
Hiring Timelines
- 9% received job offers before senior year
- 4% received job offers during fall semester of senior year
- 65% received job offers during spring semester of senior year
- 22% received job offers the summer after senior year
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Online Resources
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Campus Resources
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Professional Associations
- (ACSM)
- (NATA)
- (NCAA)
- 听(SHAPE)
DEI Resources
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Do I need to go to graduate school?
Plan to earn a master鈥檚 degree in sport management, preferably from an accredited sports-focused school in sport management, business, or college student personnel for more opportunities and advancement. Work as a graduate assistant (GA) in the athletic department.听
Earn a law degree and develop skills in investment management and negotiation to represent players as an agent.听
Business Analytics
A Business Analyst helps companies improve their processes, products, and services by analyzing data and identifying areas for improvement. They also work with stakeholders to develop and implement solutions. These roles may also be referred to as Data or Operations analyst positions.
Types of Positions
- Business Analysis
- Operation Analysis
- Data Analytics
Where BC Graduates Have Gone
- IBM
- Fidelity
- JPMorgan Chase
- PwC
- UBS
- Wayfair
- Wells Fargo
Business Development / Sales听
Sales development and business development are different functions within a company that both work to increase awareness and sales. Sales development focuses on identifying leads, researching and developing them and moving them along the sales cycle toward a closing. Business development involves finding new growth opportunities for the company and forming strategic partnerships that open up new markets.
Types of Positions
- Outside Sales (Field Sales)
- Inside Sales (Business Development Rep or Sales Development Rep)
- Sales Operations (Sales Enablement)
- Account Manager (Account Executive)
- Client Services (Customer Success)
- Professional Services
Where BC Graduates Have Gone
- Oracle
- Epsilon
- E&J Gallo Winery
- Hubspot
- Toast
- Dell/EMC
Hiring Timelines
- 21% received job offers during fall semester of senior year
- 39% received job offers during spring semester of senior year
- 39% received job offers after graduation
Key Resources
Handshake
As you look for opportunities, start with听Handshake,听our centralized platform where employers post positions for Boston College students. All of the top employers are hiring on Handshake. You can also find听campus recruitment听opportunities.
Featured CFB Employers
Follow these employers and others you like on Handshake to receive email alerts when new jobs and events are posted. Following employers also helps improve your job recommendations.
Eagle Exchange
Eagle Exchange is an interactive virtual platform that fosters connections between students and Boston College alumni. You can use Eagle Exchange to build your professional network, ask career-related questions, find alumni mentors, apply to projects to build skills, and more.
Big Interview
Build confidence in your interview skills through free access to Big Interview. You can record yourself answering questions听that are tailored to specific industries.听
CFB听Question Library
Start practicing mock interviews in hundreds of industries and job titles. Below are a few featured question sets听鈥� browse these and more in Big Interview.
Forage
A formal internship is not the only way to gain professional experience. Projects are a great option to boost your r茅sum茅/portfolio, build skills, and grow your professional network. The听Forage听platform offers hypothetical projects from top employers that you can complete to learn more about working in a specific field.
Forage Virtual Work Experiences
Check out these bite-sized 5-6 hour virtual work experience programs that give you a genuine career advantage with Fortune 500 companies.
CFB听Linkedin Learning Content
LinkedIn听Learning听provides free access to thousands of on-demand courses giving you an opportunity for self-paced听learning听about topics of interest from industry experts. This is also a听great way to develop the skills all employers seek in their entry-level candidates.
Firsthand
Find out what it is like to work within an industry, a company, or a profession. View the career guides for up to date information on a variety of careers as well as interviewing strategies and job search tips.
To access: Register for an account using your Boston College email address.
CFB听Career Guides
These career guides provide essential information about key听CFB careers and industries, including industry trends, employment and earnings statistics, and what employers look for in job candidates.
Industry-Specific Content
Your听CFB coaches have curated this set of custom tools, data, and resources to assist you in your career exploration and preparation.
Browse our jobs and internships pages to prepare to apply to CFB positions.
Update your career interests in听Handshake听to receive regular updates from our coaches with听exclusive resources, reminders, event invites, job/internship postings, and more.
Use the听database听to find students who completed internships that you may be interested in and reach out to them to discuss their summer experience.
Explore where Eagles land after they graduate from Boston College. Filter听first destinations data听by school, major, industry, location, and more.
Check out a听list of Diversity and Leadership opportunities听specific to Consulting, Business, and Finance.
Review recruiting timelines for internships and full time positions.