MIT Career Advising and Professional Development (CAPD) is a resource for many in the MIT community, but some of our services are only offered to specific groups on campus. All individuals are able to access the unlocked resources on our website (or the printed version of many of these resources, the CAPD Handbook), and related materials.
If you are MIT faculty or staff looking for support with a classroom presentation or on-campus career event, please submit a workshop request.
To learn more about the resources available to you and your eligibility for support through CAPD, please select the category below that best describes you:
Students who have accepted admission to MIT are eligible for CAPD services once they have began their first semester (typically starting during orientation), but not before.
Undergraduate and graduate students who have matriculated into a degree-earning program are eligible for everything that CAPD offers. 1:1 appointments; attendance to workshops, events, and panels; Handshake job listings; and on-campus recruiting including career fairs and company presentations. Access to services begins at the start of their first semester at MIT (typically starting during orientation).
Are eligible for most of CAPD’s services during the year they attend MIT and are limited to the time they are at MIT, physically. They are not eligible for support from the Distinguished Fellowships team.
MIT’s reciprocity agreement provides Harvard’s engineering students an opportunity to access MIT’s on-campus recruiting services, and provides MIT graduating seniors in the Schools of Science (SoS) and Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (SHASS) access to Harvard’s on-campus recruiting. Similarly, specialty events and programs may also be open to Harvard students on a special invitation with additional information on how to register.
Harvard students who do not meet the criteria of the reciprocity agreement are encouraged to work with your Office of Career Services.
MIT does not have a reciprocity agreement with Wellesley. While some Wellesley students have an MIT ID and attend classes on campus, they are not eligible for CAPD services/programs and are encouraged to contact Wellesley Career Education.
Unless individuals in these categories are part of a dual-degree program, they are not eligible for support from CAPD. We encourage them to check their home institution, or alma mater, for support that may be available.
Unless these students are part of a degree-earning program, they are not eligible for support from CAPD.
Students enrolled as a MicroMasters Program Credential earner have access to certain benefits through their program. Although not eligible for support from CAPD while enrolled in a MicroMasters, upon matriculation into a degree-earning MIT Master’s program, they will have access to all CAPD resources as a degree-earning student.
Similar to undergraduate and graduate students, recent alumni are eligible for everything that CAPD offers for up to two years post graduation. 1:1 appointments; attendance to workshops, events, and panels; Handshake job listing; and on-campus recruiting, including career fairs and company presentations.
Although not eligible for one-on-one appointments with a CAPD Career Advisor, the MIT Alumni Association can direct them to external career counselors that can help them gain insight into their individual skills, interests, values, and personality traits – key factors in choosing a career or profession. Please visit Alumni Association website for further information about this service.
Likewise, they still may be eligible for support from Prehealth Advising (prehealth@mit.edu) and our Distinguished Fellowships (fellowships@mit.edu) teams, and can contact them directly for additional information about their eligibility for support.
Alumni who are 2 or more years post-completion also retain access to CAPD workshops, on-campus recruiting, and Handshake job listings.
Set MIT postdocs have access to on-campus recruiting, Handshake job listings, and most of our career events and panels. They also have access to postdoc career appointments via Handshake.
Set MIT postdocs who transition to another role at MIT (i.e. research scientist) will get a one-year extension to CAPD postdoc services and Handshake access.
Here is additional information on postdoc resources available from CAPD.
Postdocs appointed through some MIT-affiliated institutes may not be eligible for CAPD support. Postdocs from Whitehead, Broad, and Woods Hole are eligible for support from their respective institutes but may not be eligible for CAPD support.
Current faculty or staff members are eligible for Career Planning and Development support from MIT HR.
If a faculty or staff member is also an MIT alum, they may also be eligible for corresponding support for alumni (see “Alumni” category above).
Unless faculty or staff members are also a current degree-earning student, they are not eligible for Career Advising or Distinguished Fellowship support from CAPD.
Staff may be eligible to work with the Prehealth Advising team and can contact prehealth@mit.edu for additional information.
MIT faculty or staff looking for support with a classroom presentation or similar career event, may submit a workshop request here.
Spouses, partners, or significant others to an MIT graduate student, faculty member, or staff member, may be eligible for career support through MIT Work Life.
Spouses and partners must also be a current degree-earning student or recent alumni to be eligible for Career Advising, Prehealth Advising, or Distinguished Fellowship support from CAPD.
Additional support outside of MIT
Even through CAPD may not be able to support everyone in the greater MIT community, we recommend that you check out the following sources of support.
Career One Stop: Part of the US Department of Labor, Career One Stop provides guidance and resources on exploring careers, finding jobs, and support for resume writing, interview preparation, and more.
Below are resources that can provide additional support. You may need to meet additional eligibility requirements to utilize their services. Contact the individual organizations for additional information.
| Resource | Support offered |
| American Job Center Finder | Career advising Events/workshops Resources |
| MassHire Boston Career Center | Career advising Events/workshops Resources |
| JVS Boston (Jewish Vocational Services) | Career advising Events/workshops Job training programs Resources |
| Boston Public Library | Career advising Events/workshops Resources |
| Community Work Services | Career advising Events/workshops Job training programs |
| MIT Job Connector (Cambridge residents) | Career advising Events/workshops Job training programs |
