Practical tasks common to career planning & job searching

This guide is designed to help you navigate the often overwhelming process of career planning & job searching given there are so many competing priorities at MIT. No matter where you are in the career planning & job search process, use this guide to break down your career goals into manageable steps. Whether you’re exploring majors or career options or actively applying for internships or jobs, this guide provides structured tasks to help you stay organized, build skills, and make steady progress.

View the guide as a PDF below or read the checklist here:

Self-assessment

Find resources and tips for self-assessment (including the topics below).

  • Identify skills, interests, values, and personality traits
  • Take career assessments (e.g. MBTI, Strong Interest Inventory)
  • Reflect on preferred work environment and lifestyle

Research potential careers

Find resources and tips for career exploration and research (including the topics below).

  • Explore various career paths related to your major or interests
  • Investigate job roles, industries, and companies
  • Look up industry projections, job market trends, and salary expectations for specific fields

Set career goals

Our Career Advisors are happy to walk through building a plan with you, or provide advice, in an appointment!

  • Define short-term (1-5 months) and long-term (1-5 years) career goals
  • Determine the educational or certification requirements for your target job
  • Identify key skills and experiences needed to achieve your career goals

Develop skills and gain experience

Explore resources and tips on our Career Exploration Fellowship, building soft skills, and finding internships or jobs.

  • Enroll in relevant coursework or certifications
  • Participate in internships, part-time jobs, or volunteer work
  • Develop soft skills (e.g. communication, teamwork, leadership)
  • Create relevant hands-on projects that demonstrate competency in your desired field

Build a professional network

Learn more about informational interviews and networking, and find career fairs or more events that interest you.

  • Attend career fairs, industry events, or networking mixers
  • Join professional organizations or student clubs related to your field
  • Connect with professionals on LinkedIn and engage in informational interviews

Prepare job application materials

Get templates, walkthroughs, and more for resumes, CVs, cover letters, and portfolios.

  • Create or update your resume and tailor it for each job
  • Write a professional cover letter for specific positions
  • Develop a portfolio (if relevant) to showcase your work and achievements

Search for job openings

If you have a particular career field that interests you, check if it has a CAPD job search sites list.

  • Use job boards (e.g. Indeed, LinkedIn, Glassdoor)
  • Leverage your network for job leads
  • Research companies you want to work for and monitor their careers page

Apply for jobs

Find all of our tips and advice for the job search process.

  • Submit tailored applications to open positions
  • Keep track of application deadlines and follow up where appropriate
  • Prepare for potential interviews by researching the company and role

Prepare for job interviews

Read our advice for interviews or schedule a mock behavioral interview with one of our advisors.

  • Participate in mock interviews or interview coaching
  • Prepare answers to common interview questions and behavioral scenarios
  • Research the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for answering questions

Follow up and reflect

Learn more about professional correspondence guidelines.

  • Send thank-you notes after interviews
  • Reflect on interview performance and identify areas for improvement
  • Maintain an application tracker to monitor progress and responses

Negotiate job offers

Find advice for negotiation and evaluating offers.

  • Review salary and benefits packages
  • Prepare to negotiate offers professionally
  • Consider the total compensation (salary, benefits, work-life balance, growth opportunities) before accepting a role

Continue career development

Read advice for new jobs and career transitions.

  • Stay up to date with industry trends
  • Pursue ongoing professional development (e.g. certifications, courses)
  • Set new career goals as your career evolves
View the PDF guide