- Planning & Timelines
Preparing for your next steps may involve self-discovery, exploration, and skill development, but it will also involve putting together:
- a strong resume or CV;
- learning how to write a cover letter;,
- understanding the importance of team,
- honing your interviewing skills,
- developing a timeline for how you’ll achieve your goals.
- Resumes, CVs, Cover Letters
A resume is a brief, informative summary of your abilities, education, and experience. It should highlight your strongest assets and differentiate you from other candidates.
Used most frequently by Ph.D. students, a CV (curriculum vitae) is also a summary of your experience and abilities, but a CV will include more credentials relevant to academia and research, such as publications, presentations, and references.
Your cover letter is a way to introduce yourself to organizations in a narrative form that will accompany your resume. Use your cover letter to describe your qualifications as well as your interest in both the job and organization so the employer will want to interview you. Since the primary purpose of a resume and cover letter is to “market” you, always keep the organization’s preferences in mind.
- Interviewing
An interview allows the employer to assess your qualifications for the job or internship, your fit with the organization, how well you have considered your reasons for applying, how clearly you express your potential contribution, and your “soft skills” such as communication and professionalism. In other words, the interviewer wants to know: Why should we hire you?
- Decision Making
Getting a job or internship offer is both exciting and stressful, since this stage involves narrowing choices and decision-making.