Career Conversations

A Signature Event from Graduate Career Development

Building Connections. Discovering Possibilities.

For more than a decade, Career Conversations has been one of Graduate Career Development's signature programs, a lively, fast-paced networking event that blends learning, conversation, and relationship-building. Designed for all graduate students, this event offers the opportunity to connect directly with alumni and industry professionals in a welcoming speed-meet, table group networking format.

Held every fall, free and exclusively for current Bentley graduate students.

Why Attend

Meaningful Connections

Career Conversations is about creating meaningful connections, the kind that spark ideas, expand perspectives about companies and industries, clarifies career directions and increases networks.

A professional from Harbourvest talking to students.

Networking Practice

Develop your networking skills in a welcoming environment. This event makes networking approachable, engaging, and impactful.

Reception

Continue conversations and start new ones at a post-event reception with light refreshments.

Career Conversations is an awesome opportunity to meet alumni and professionals in a friendly environment. The industry representatives are very eager to share their stories. I was able to learn about what I didn’t want to do as well as roles that I didn’t think I would like but were quite interesting. Several of the people were high level directors (Epsilon, Boston Dynamics) and were able to give great insights.

McCallum Graduate School of Business MSBA Student

Meet the Experts: Alumni and professional guests from a variety of industries and roles serve as table hosts.

Small-Group Conversations: Students join a table and engage in a 20-minute discussion on topics such as career paths, company insights, industry trends, and job search strategies.

Rotation: When signaled, students rotate to a new table, meeting a new professional and gaining a new perspective.

Table Talks: Students participate in multiple conversations, leaving with fresh insights, new contacts, and clearer career direction.

Reception: After the rotations are done, professionals and students are invited to enjoy light refreshments together.

Real-World Insights: Learn directly from professionals about their career journeys, current projects, and workplace experiences.

Exploration Made Easy: Discover new industries, companies, and roles you may not have previously considered.

Confidence Through Conversation: Practice your networking skills in a friendly, structured environment.

Relationship Building: Grow your professional network with people who want to see you succeed.

Since 2013, nearly 100 graduate students each year participate in this signature networking event to learn and connect. The event offers an opportunity for students to build professional relationships, strengthen networking skills, and and increase their understanding of companies, industries, career paths. While the primary focus is on learning and connection, many students have gained meaningful connections that have opened doors.

Career Conversations is also a chance for alumni and industry professionals to give back — sharing insights, mentoring the next generation, and connecting with talented graduate students eager to learn and grow.

Email aboni@bentley.edu for information about participating.

Current Participants

All the people that I talked to were very generous with information that they had. The best thing is that all of them were very senior in the organization, so they had a lot of experience to lend. A lot of them were also international students, so it was really insightful to get info from them as to how they navigated their career.

Bhavik Rughani

McCallum Graduate School of Business MSF Student, President of the International Graduate Student Association