About the CRL

Getting Started

• Career Resources By Major or Field
• Graduate School Planning
• Resumes and Cover Letters
• Job Hunting Online
• Get Help from a Librarian
• Workshops and Instruction

• Resources for:
  • New Graduates
  • Undergraduates
  • Graduate Students
  • Alumnae/i
  • Faculty and Staff
  • International Students
  • Jobseekers with Disabilities
  • ALANA (African, Latina, Asian, Native American) Jobseekers
  • LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) Jobseekers
  • Women and Careers

Career Resource
e-Library

Choose your resource Career Exploration Career Search dbase Company/Ind. Research Fellowships and Grants Gap Year Grad School Planning Internships Internships USA dbase International Study International Work Interviewing Job Search Tools Networking Job Hunting Online Get Help from a Librarian Relocation Resources for Alumnae/i . . . for Career Changers . . . for Faculty & Staff . . . for Graduate Students . . . for Undergraduates . . . for International Students . . . for Jobseekers with Disabilities . . . for ALANA Jobseekers . . . for LGBT Jobseekers . . . for Women and Careers Resources by Major/Field Resumes & Cover Letters Salary Information Self-Assessment Transitions (new grads) Vault for students/staff Vault for alumni Workshops and Instruction

Library Catalog

• Search here for Career Books and more*
  *For a list of all books in the Career Resources Library, search by Non-LC call number and enter "CRL."
• Suggest an item for CRL

Related Resources

• Career Education Center -- Simmons career counseling
• CareerLink-- Simmons online recruiting
• CA$H -- Simmons work study and on-campus jobline
• Alumnet Professional Connections
• School of Management Library -- additional career and business resources at Simmons
• Study Abroad Office

Transitions: Classroom to Career

Funded by a Centennial Grant from the Alumnae Association
of Simmons College

A Place to Crash: Finding a Place to Live

What type of living situation is best for me?
Where can I get started with my apartment search?
What factors should be considered when looking for an apartment?
What areas of the city should I look for an apartment?
Where can I find a roommate?
A final note on roommates
Cutting through the legal mumbo-jumbo: What are my rights and responsibilities as a tenant?
Okay, I found this great place, now how do I create and stick to a budget, so I don't run out of money?
Do I really need renter's insurance?

What type of living arrangement is best for me?

If you are unsure of what type of living arrangement is best suited for you, you may want to check out the housing page on the Massachusetts state Web site on housing in order to decide which housing option to choose. There are some really great links on this page, including links to demographic statistics, information on buying or building a house, housing assistance programs, renting, and more. Especially useful is the link to information about energy and utilities, including prices, energy-saving tips, and information about how to file a complaint.
http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=mg2topic&L=3&L0=Home&L1
=Resident&L2=Housing&sid=massgov2

Where can I get started with my apartment search?

At the Boston Realty Hub Web site, you have the option of searching massive amounts of listings, either by “apartments to rent,”or from direct rental listings from the owners. The downside to this site is that only some of the listings give pictures of the apartments, so it is strongly recommended that you set up an appointment with a realtor and physically visit the apartment before you commit to anything. This site can be very useful, but should only be used as a starting point in your apartment search, as much more information gathering is required in order for you to make an informed decision.
http://www.bostonrealtyhub.com/

What factors should be considered when looking for an apartment?

This Web site for students, from the city of Boston, gives information and resources about renting and leasing an apartment in the city. Some of the gems on this site include a "Top Ten List" of things you should know about renting an apartment and a list of six questions that you should ask before signing a lease. This site also includes a link to "Boston 101: A Student's Guide to City Services," which includes a list of Web resources and telephone numbers for several city offices related to living in Boston. Use this site for finding general information about the process of and legal parts of your apartment search.
http://cityofboston.gov/rentalhousing/students.asp

How can I find out what the different areas of the city are like?

The Boston city Web site on housing offers community information (a brief narrative about the community atmosphere), as well as information about schools, crime, public health and library information. In general, www.cityofboston.gov is a great place to begin looking for information on just about anything having to do with the city.
http://www.cityofboston.gov/neighborhoods/

Where can I find a roommate?

Nothing makes paying rent easier than splitting it with a friend. If this is an option for you (be sure to ask your landlord about her roommate policy first), here are some good places to locate a roommate:

Craig's List, an online classified ads website where you can find everything from furniture to a friend, can be a good place to find someone looking for a roommate. See "housing wanted" if you're looking for a room, or "rooms / shared" if you need someone to fill a room in your place. Be careful about giving out too much information about yourself, though, as some of the people posting on Craigslist may not be entirely on the level. One of the big upsides to Craigslist is that it is free, unlike a lot of professional roommate finding services.
http://boston.craigslist.org/

The Matching Roommates Web site requires you to fill out a survey, and they will find you a compatible roommate based on that survey. There is a non-refundable fee of $75 is required, and you must stay in contact with them at least once every two weeks.
www.matchingroommates.com

Roomster is a roommate matching service with a free "basic" level of access that allows you to create a profile, search, and contact all other members. "Full" access adds a secure mailbox with rates from $5.95 (4 days) to $29.95 (4 weeks).
http://www.roomster.net/

RoommateClick.com is included here not just for the purpose of roommate finding, but may prove even more useful for the valuable documents contained within its document library website. This page has a lot of really useful documents, including samples of legal documents, and helpful informative articles on topics such as "How to Find a Roommate" and making sure your new apartment is safe and secure. This is a really good place to go for information, once you have decided to take-on a roommate.
http://www.roommateclick.com/roommate_helpful_documents.htm

A final note on roommates

Always trust your instinct when selecting a roommate. If someone seems creepy, or you think that they may have an ulterior motive, you may want to think twice about rooming with them.

Cutting through the legal mumbo-jumbo: What are my rights and responsibilities as a tenant?

Houseman, The Action for Boston Community Development Handbook of Landlord/Tenant Rights and Responsibilities is a concise guide to your legal rights throughout the rental process, covering everything from what to look for in an apartment and lease to expectations about repairs to how to handle an eviction notice.
http://www.bostonabcd.org/houseman/index.htm

Okay, I found this great place, now how do I create and stick to a budget, so I don't run out of money?

When considering the possibility of getting your own place, taking into account your expected monthly income versus your spending habits and planning a budget can help you to avoid getting into debt or falling behind on the rent. PersonalFinanceBudgeting.com has a great deal of good advice to guide you in planning your monthly budget, including a free, five-day "Personal Finance" E-mail course.
http://www.personalfinancebudgeting.com/planning_a_budget.php

Check out our "Paying the Bills" page for additional financial resources.
http://my.simmons.edu/library/collections/career/transitions/bills.shtml

Do I really need renter's insurance?

Well, only if you value your property -- things like clothes, stereo and television components, computers, bicycles and sports equipment, and furniture can quickly add up to thousands of dollars. Renter's insurance is relatively inexpensive and will protect you in case of fire, theft, etc. Find out more in this guide from the Insurance Information Institute.
http://www.iii.org/media/publications/brochures/rentersins/

 

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Page updated: March 16, 2007