Career and Professional Development Resources
Improve Skills/Material
Are there any professional development opportunities for graduate students on campus?
There are a variety of professional development opportunities across campus available all year long. Check out CPDC for help with writing/editing cover letters and resumes (check it out HERE) plus a wide variety of other career and professional development opportunities and tools. Many colleges also have career consultants who can help. Check with your departmental coordinator for more information. Also check at the department/college level for field specific workshops and lectures from guests and alumni in your field.
I want to learn how to be a better educator (and maybe enter Academia after my degree). Are there any services that can help me improve ?
The Eberly Center is the resource you need. They host seminars throughout the year to help you learn skills to be a better instructor. If you are thinking about teaching long term, consider enrolling in their Future Faculty Program. Find out more about all their offerings HERE.
Are there any locations that can help me improve my writing and presentation skills in general?
To learn more general skills about writing and presenting, consider attending a seminar/workshop hosted by the GCC. If you have a specific paper/project that you hope to get feedback on, you can sign up for a one-on-one consultation (see HERE). For nonnative English speakers, the ICC is also a great resource to gain more fluency in English in your writing and presentations (get info HERE).
Can I get help writing a resume/cover letter?
Yes. Check out the resources offered by the CPDC, HERE. The career consultants in most colleges are also more than happy to help with feedback. Check with your departmental coordinator to get more info.
I want to launch a start-up, does CMU have support for that?
Check out the Swartz Center (info HERE). Offerings like the Olympus Incubator Program and VentureBridge can help you transform an idea into a startup. Swartz also has options for mentorship and funding as you move from concept to company.
I am concerned about my ability to successfully complete the career search process due to a cognitive/emotional difference. Can CMU help me with that?
The Olitsky Career Readiness Program sponsored by CPDC can help. One-on-one sessions are held with a career consultant to give you personalized help in getting the soft skills you need to finding and getting job placement after graduation. No diagnosis or assessment is needed to take advantage of this service. Find more info and sign up HERE.
Find Placement
What about career fairs on campus? Are they open for graduate students?
The biggest career fair on campus is the Technical Opportunities Conference (TOC) which is hosted by the College of Engineering but is open to all CMU students. There are additional career fairs hosted throughout the year by other colleges and departments at CMU. Keep an eye on your email for information about career fairs on campus. For online tools to find a job/internship, check out Handshake and other tools hosted through CPDC. Find them HERE under the "Reserach & Apply to Companies" Tab.
Does CMU have a resource to connect students with part-time job opportunities on campus?
Check out Handshake (HERE) and search for "on-campus jobs." Be sure to figure out if you are eligible for Work Study or not though. While all students can apply for on-campus jobs, only work-study eligible students are allowed to apply for those listed with "(Work-Study)" after the job title. Additionally, you can ask faculty in your area of interest to see if they need research or teaching assistants for opportunities that are not publically available.
What about internship opportunities?
Internship opportunities can be found at career fairs as well as through Handshake (HERE). If you are seeking an internship in a specific field, check out resources offered by your college/department (your College Career Consultant should be able to help, get their contact info from your Departmental Coordinator).
Where can I find rules regarding work-study?
CMU Participates in two Work-Study programs (Federal Work-Study and Federal Community Service). Additional information can be found HERE under the "On-Campus Opportunities" tab.
I am a PhD student, is there anything to help me find a non-academic job?
CMU subscribes to the online tool Versatile PhD which may be able to help. It provides some examples of resumes/cover letters for PhDs who went into non-academic careers as well as some career tracks that are more friendly for PhDs. There are even some job listings and networking opportunities. Get info HERE.