Career Advising

Exploration, preparation, and a team that understands how it all works.  When it comes to planning for your career, you may know exactly where you’re headed. You may have ideas that you’re excited to explore. Or maybe you’re not even sure where to start. And that’s ok. Career Services is your hub for all things career, from researching internships and attending job fairs to preparing for interviews and negotiating offers. Connect with us to gain specific career development skills and insights, work with our team to think big-picture about your life goals and career path, or tap into our extensive network of alumni and industry professionals. We’re here for every student and postdoc, regardless of academic background or professional interests. Career Services team members are committed to becoming your trusted, understanding guide. Explore your options. Find your place. And let us help get you there.  Questions? Contact us at capd@mit.edu


Two women in office setting.

Appointments

Schedule, reschedule, or cancel career appointments with our team and with Peer Career Advisors through Handshake.

  • Career Advising (30 minutes, 50 minutes)
  • Critique of Resume, CV, Cover Letter, or LinkedIn Profile (30 minutes)
  • Behavioral Mock Interview (50 minutes)
  • Self-Assessment (50 minutes)
  • Presentation or Job Talk Review (60 minutes)

If you have an urgent career question and don’t see an available appointment in Handshake, please email us at capd@mit.edu.

Alumni graduated more than 2 years ago are directed to a list of external providers for advisement.


Person at career fair booth talking to employers and recruiters.

Events & Workshops

Our events and workshops encompass a wide-range of topics including career exploration, the internship and job search, self-assessment, networking, the graduate school application process, and more. See a list of our upcoming events and workshops.

If you are an MIT department or student group who would like to request a career event, please complete this form.


Student working machinery with instructor observing.

Career Interests

Our Career Interests pages are a way to explore various careers, find useful resources and connect to potential opportunities. CAPD has curated several career interest pages to help you explore career fields and find resources, internships, jobs, and advice.


Host talking to intern and showing documents.

Career Exploration

It’s okay not to have all of the answers! Career exploration is the process of learning about various career paths to find some options that could be a fit for you, your skills, values, and interests. There are many ways to explore, including doing self-assessments, reading about different career paths online, attending events, talking to other students and alumni, and doing career prototypes. Learn more about how to explore careers and connect with a CAPD advisor to come up with a personalized plan. Check out the events calendar for more opportunities, especially during the Fall Career Exploration Series!

Students celebrating at a graduation ceremony.

Career Prototypes

Test your assumptions about a field and make informed decisions regarding your next career move. Below are a few ways you can prototype your career.

  • Conduct career conversations with MIT Alums
  • Complete a summer internship or IAP micro-internship
  • Participate in one of MIT’s many experiential learning programs
  • Explore a virtual experience program

A person taking a meeting on their laptop.

Reserve an Interview Space

Our office contains over two dozen individual rooms each with their own phone, desk, and whiteboard  available to use if you need a private space for a job, internship, or medical school interview!

Sophomore Event Series: Fall 2023 events for MIT sophomores

Join your classmates for this year’s series of events from Career Advising & Professional Development tailored to sophomores, a collection of events that will help you make strategic career moves this fall. Learn more and register for events individually at …

By Ariel Ackermann
Ariel Ackermann Assistant Director, Early Career Engagement
Read more

Me in the Future (MIT Future): Fall 2023 events series for first years

Join your classmates for this year’s MIT Future series, a collection of events tailored to your needs as a first year undergraduate student at MIT. Learn more and register for events individually at the Handshake links below. For all CAPD …

By Ariel Ackermann
Ariel Ackermann Assistant Director, Early Career Engagement
Read more

MechE Graduate Coaching Program

Calling all graduate students (Master’s & PhD) looking to use the summer to further their professional development! Look no further than the MechE Graduate Coaching Program. Register by 7/10/2023. More details below:

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The program is a 3 session workshop …

By Tara Thakurta
Tara Thakurta Graduate Community Fellow
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PhD & Postdoc Career Night draws over 200 participants

On March 16, Career Advising and Professional Development hosted our first PhD & Postdoc Career Night. Our planning team conceptualized this event consisting of four PhD/postdoc alumni panels in the afternoon alongside an evening networking session featuring employers from a …

By Alexis Boyer
Alexis Boyer Alexis Boyer Assistant Director, Graduate Student Career Services
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1,806 attend 2nd annual institute-wide Career Exploration Series

For the second year, CAPD coordinated an institute-wide Career Exploration Series during the fall and IAP. The series is a collaboration between DLCs, employers, and alumni to help all students learn about different career and graduate/professional school options available to …

By Tianna Ransom
Tianna Ransom Assistant Director, Career Exploration
Read more

Featured Resources

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Members of the CAPD staff shared information with parents and supporters during Campus Preview Weekend on March 31, 2023.

You …

How to write an effective cover letter (with samples)

You will have to prepare a number of materials for employers while looking for a job. One type of document …

What is most important to you? What do you value? Identifying your values may help you focus and prioritize your …

Learning more about industries and careers options can help you narrow your focus on those that might be a good …