Tools to help you prioritize your career planning & job search process

Navigating the career planning and job search process can at times be overwhelming, but you’re not alone! Many MIT students struggle fitting in adequate time to explore their career interests and/or apply early to internships or jobs while also managing a rigorous but fulfilling course load and other activities. In Fall 2022, MIT participated in the National College Health Assessment (NCHA), a nationally recognized survey designed to assess student health behaviors, and it was found that 72% of students ‘had problems or challenges with procrastination’ and procrastination ‘negatively impacted performance in a class for 65% of students.

If you have been challenged with finding time to career plan and/or job search, this resource is here to help! This page is designed to help MIT students like you break down these career planning & job search tasks into manageable steps. From self-assessment and goal setting to networking, resume building, and interviewing, this guide and the time management techniques will equip you with practice strategies.

Using the Pomodoro Technique to improve time management & procrastination

The Pomodoro Technique is a simple yet powerful way to focus, manage your time, make progress, and get more done with less stress! The technique was developed by Francesco Cirillo in the 1980’s, while a university student looking for a way to get more done in less time.

The technique has you use a simple timer to break work into intervals, or a pomodoro , traditionally 25 minutes in length, separated by short breaks. Here’s how you can start using it:

Step 1) Choose the career planning & job search tasks you need to work: How many Pomodoros might you need?

To determine how many Pomodoros are needed, use the Practical Tasks for Career Success & Job Searching guide to help you identify the most specific tasks you want to accomplish.

If the guide seems overwhelming and you’re struggling to determine which tasks are most important, here are some strategies that can help you prioritize them:
- Eisenhower Matrix
- The Value vs Effort Matrix
- Deciding which task is most Important and/or Urgent
- Or simply choose 2-3 in each of the columns!

Step 2) Do 1 Pomodoro!

Work on 1 Pomodoro for 25 minutes then take a 5-minute break.

Read the guide

Focused work for 25 minutes on a project such as creating a new resume template and updating your experiences. Then stop and take a 5 minute break, where you relax. This is one Pomodoro.

Step 3) Complete 3 or 4 more Pomodoros: When you having completed 1 Pomodoro, continue the progress you’ve made by completing a few more and take a longer break.

An example breakdown of what multiple Pomodoros in a row could look like: First, 25 minutes of focused work on using job boards to research job openings and companies where you want to work. Then stop for a break. Second, updating your resume and tailoring it for each job/company. Stop for another break. Third, submit tailored applications to open positions you're a great fit for. Then, take a longer break to take a walk or eat a snack.

Step 4) Reflect on your progress and consider your next steps

After you’re done with your Pomodoros, it’s helpful to reflect on your experience and the progress you’ve made. Spend 5-10 minutes responding to the questions below. Consider writing down your responses!

What small wins did I experience using the Pomodoro technique?
Do I feel that the Pomodoro technique helped me stay on task and make progress?
What are some examples of progress I made?
Do I need more time to complete a task or less time?
What’s the next most important step I should take in my career planning and job search?
- An easy next step can be repeating Step 1) or choosing a task based off any new realizations made.

Examples of how MIT Students & Alumni Use the Pomodoro Technique

Whether you’re exploring career options, searching for jobs, managing academic assignments, conducting research, or working on personal milestones, the Pomodoro Technique can help you stay focused and effective.

Check out the examples below to see how Career Advisors in CAPD have guided MIT students and alumni in using the Pomodoro Technique to reach their goals. If you have your own experiences or tips for using this method, we’d love to hear from you! Feel free to share by emailing arosser@mit.edu.