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Career Devolopment

Personal develepment career developpment

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)

361 views69 pages

Career Devolopment

Personal develepment career developpment

Uploaded by

Ikram Syed

We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.

Available Formats

Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

You are on page 1/ 69

MIT Careers Office

Table of Contents

Building 12-170, 77 Massachusetts

Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139
Phone: (617) 253-4733

1. Introduction to Careers Office

Staff Contact List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Introduction to Careers Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Mission & Programs Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

2. Career Development Process

Career Development Pyramid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Self-Assessment: Your Interests, Values,
Identifying Your Transferable Skills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Exploring Your Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Focusing: Job Search Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Job Search Action Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Fax: (617) 253-8457

Web Address:
http://web.mit.edu/career/www
Email: [email protected]
Hours: 9:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m.,
MondayFriday

3. Making Connections With the Professional World

Experiential Education and Internships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
InterviewTRAK & MonsterTRAK overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Networking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Informational Interviewing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Career Fairs/Company Presentations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Alumni Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Community Service/Volunteering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Professional Associations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

4. Resume and Career Writing

Resume Presentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Online Resumes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Action Verbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Writing About Your Skills - PAR Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Sample Resumes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Cover Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Other Career Writing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

5. Interviewing
How to Prepare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
What Happens During the Interview? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Sample Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Behavioral & Case Interviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Telephone Interviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Dressing for Interviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
The Site Visit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
Salary & Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Negotiating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

6. Academic Pathway
Choice of Major . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
Graduate School Advising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Prehealth Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Prelaw Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Business Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Academic Career . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Differences Between a CV and Resume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
CV Sample . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Statement of Research Interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
Statement of Teaching Philosophy & Interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
Additional Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63

7. Advertiser Index

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64

211 W. Wacker Drive, Suite 900

Chicago, IL 60606
www.careermedia.com

Staff
Director
Elizabeth Reed

Undergraduate Career Development

and Preprofessional Advising
Heather Bois Bruskin, Freshman/Alumni Summer
Internship Program
Rachel Greenberg, Freshman/Alumni Summer
Internship Program and Pre-professional
Advising
Kathleen Haggerty, Undergraduate Advising
Deborah Liverman, Undergraduate Advising
Shonool Malik, Associate Director, Team Leader
Tamara Raimundi Menghi, Pre-professional
Advising
Sarra Shubart, Administrative Support
Marilyn Wilson, Undergraduate Advising

Graduate Student Career

Development
Hannah Bernstein, PhD and Postdoctoral Services
Kristina Nance, Career Development, Special
Projects
John Nonnamaker, Associate Director, Team
Leader
Deborah Rosencrans, Graduate Student Advising

Employer Relations and

Customer Service
Melissa Ackerman, On-Campus Recruiting
Bob Richard, Associate Director, Team Leader
Bill Rivers, Technical Support
Jordan Siegel, Administrative Support

The MIT Career Development

Workbook is published once a year, in
September, by the Careers Office at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Rights - All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be

reproduced without written permission of the publisher.
Copyright 2006 Alloy Education/Career Recruitment Media.

Welcome to the MIT CAREERS OFFICE

Dear Students,
Career preparation is an integral part of an MIT education, and it is a multi-step
process. It requires that you start early, identify useful resources, develop
relationships and life skills, and explore the world beyond the classroom to learn
how your talents and interests connect with professional options.
The Careers Office is committed to providing the best available information and
support to assure your success at MIT and beyond. Career management is a
process. As this workbook illustrates, it starts with self-awareness and branches
out from there. We have resources to assist and support you every step of the way.
Among the many sources of career guidance, none is more valuable than personal
conversations. We are eager to speak with you at any stage, and to help you find the
guidance, advice and information you need. Please visit soon and often.
With best wishes,
Elizabeth Reed
Director, MIT Careers Office

MIT Careers Office

Introduction to Careers Office

Mission & Programs Overview
To take advantage of our services and learn about upcoming events, please visit us in 12170, call our front desk (617-253-4733) or email us at [email protected]. Also, be sure
to visit our website (http://web.mit.edu/career/www) for current information on events
and services.
Our resources include career assessment, online career research tools, Employer
Business Card Directory, workshops, fall and spring on-campus recruiting, counseling
appointments, preprofessional advising, career panels, career fairs, symposia and other
networking opportunities. During the academic year, we hold Walk-In Hours on
Monday-Friday 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
On a recurring basis throughout the academic year, the MIT Careers Office presents
career workshops. Many are tailored to the specific needs of undergraduates, graduate
students, international students and preprofessional applicants. Current workshops are
listed at http://web.mit.edu/career/www/workshops.html. Online pre-registration is
required. Topics include but are not limited to:
Self-Assessment
Networking
Preparing Resumes, Cover Letters, and CVs
Interview Techniques

Searching for Jobs & Internships

Researching Employers
Negotiating Job Offers
Applying to Graduate School

MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the MIT Careers Office (MITCO) is two-fold: (i) To advise and assist
students at all degree levels, about career choice and decision-making, job
opportunities and academic programs that will enhance their qualifications and
(ii) To assist employers and graduate schools wishing to attract our students and build
connections with others who may be excellent destinations for MIT graduates.

http://web.mit.edu/career/www

Chapter 2.
Career Development Process
Career Development Pyramid

Testing Your Career Fitness

Self-Knowledge
1. I know what motivates me to excel.
2. I can identify my strongest abilities and skills.
3. I have several major achievements that clarify a
pattern of interests and abilities.
4. I know what I both like and dislike in work.
5. I have some ideas about what I want to do during the
next [two to three] years.
6. I can list my major accomplishments in action terms.

The pyramid above presents a model for how to conduct

a successful job search, where successful refers to
getting a job that is genuinely a good fit for you. Although
the process is actually dynamic and there is movement
back and forth among the different stages, the model suggests that a successful job search encompasses four basic
steps. It begins with Self-Assessmentknowing who you
are and what you want, moves on to Exploration of whats
out there in terms of interesting industries and occupations,
progresses to Focusing on specific industries and companies
that appeal to you, and then culminates in the nuts-andbolts Job Search stage, involving sending out resumes,
interviewing, and negotiating job offers.
You might find it helpful to look through the following
questionnaire, Testing Your Career Fitness. You can use
this as a checklist to see how ready you currently are to
conduct a successful job search, and as a guide to help you
effectively and confidently prepare for your job search.

Knowledge of Employers
7. I know what skills I can offer employers in different
occupations.
8. I can clearly explain to employers what I do well and
enjoy doing.
9. I can specify why an employer should hire me.
10. When Im ready to find an internship or job, I will be
able to identify and target potential employers.
Internship or Job Search Skills/Contacts
11. I can conduct research on different occupations,
employers, organizations and communities.
12. I can write different types of effective resumes,
internship search letters, and thank-you notes.
13. I can produce and distribute resumes and letters to
the right people.
14. I can develop a job referral network.
15. I can prospect for internship or job leads.
Adapted from Jobtrak Job Search Tips http://www2.jobtrak.com/
help_manuals/jobmanual/assess.html where it was reprinted with
permission from Change Your Job, Change Your Life by Dr. Ronald L.
Krannich, T 1995, Impact Publications.

MIT Careers Office

Self Assessment
At the base of our model pyramid, providing the essential
foundation for the rest of the job search, is self-assessment, or knowing yourself. Thoughtful self-assessment
streamlines the remaining steps of the job search, helping
you to focus on organizations and careers compatible with
your goals, and enabling you to market yourself knowledgeably and confidently. Three aspects that are important to
consider when choosing a career are: interests, values,
and skills. Being able to clearly articulate these on a
resume and at an interview will promote a good fit with
potential employers.
MITCO offers specific self-assessment inventories such as
the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and Strong Interest
Inventory to students during counseling appointments, if
both student and counselor think its appropriate.

Interests
Our interest in the work we do is a key motivating factor for
work. If we are interested in our work, we will find it more
enjoyable, be more motivated to learn about it, develop
relevant skills, work hard, and persist through difficult
challenges, all of which increase our chances of success
and job satisfaction.
What are your interests? Think broadly when you answer
this questioninclude work, academics, volunteer and
leisure interests. Consider subject areas as well as activities. For example, subjects might include biology, architecture, and economics, while activities could be research,
design, and consulting.
Below is a list of questions that may help you identify some
of your interests.
What do you love to do? __________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
What books do you browse through in bookstores? _____
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Which are your favorite courses? ___________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
http://web.mit.edu/career/www

______________________________________________
If you won the lottery, to which causes/issues would you
give money? ___________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
If you were a reporter, what kind of stories would you like to
write? ________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
What are your favorite objects? ____________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
What sorts of information do you find most fascinating? __
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Who are your heroes? ____________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
What did you dream of being when you were 10? _______
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________

Values
Values are ideals and core beliefs that are important to us;
they give meaning and purpose to what we do. We are most
likely to be comfortable and thrive in work that is compatible
with our own strongly held values. On the other hand,
difficulties may arise when we find ourselves in conflict
with a work situation because it clashes with our values.

Consider the following values as they relate to work. Which

ones are most important to you? Least important? Which
are very deep and clear? Which are more ambiguous?
How do your values impact your career direction and work
decisions?
__ Achievement
__ Advancement
__ Adventure
__ Balance: Work/Family
__ Challenge
__ Competition
__ Contribute to Society
__ Creativity
__ Expertise
__ Flexibility
__ Friendship
__ Helping Others
__ High Salary
__ Independence
__ Inner Harmony
__ Job Security
__ Leadership
__ Leisure
__ Location
__ Personal Growth
__ Physical Activity
__ Pleasure
__ Precision
__ Recognition
__ Responsibility
__ Stability
__ Variety

Skills
Skills are learned abilitiesthings we do well. Most students have far more skills than they realize, since they tend
to take many of their skills for granted. Do you know what
your skills are? Which skills do you like to use? Just
because we can do something well doesnt mean that we
enjoy doing it. Can you communicate your skills effectively
to potential employers?
It is helpful to think of two types of skills. Here are a few
exercises to help you identify both types.

____________________________________________
Which would you like to develop? _________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________

1) Knowledge-based skills are acquired through education,

training and on-the-job experience, e.g., you may be
knowledgeable about quasars or JAVA or the plays of
George Bernard Shaw. To think about your knowledgebased skills, ask yourself what subject areas do you
know a lot about? ______________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________

____________________________________________
Are there others not on the list? ___________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________

MIT Careers Office

Process for Identifying Transferable Skills

Knowing your transferable skills will help you when writing your CV, resume, and cover letters.
Being able to articulate your transferable skills is also essential to a successful interview. Below is
one process you can follow to help you identify your skills.

Process

Example

1. List the activities in which you have

participated while a student.
Include courses, research, projects, leadership, administration,
teamwork or lab work, community
service to peers, students or the
Institute community, etc.

Activity:
Taught computer graphics courses to Architecture and Computer Science
undergraduates in MIT Media Lab.

2. Using active verbs, list tasks

associated with each activity.

Tasks:
Developed content, and planned and organized lessons for several sections,
including adding new course topics and assignments, preparing syllabus, and
facilitating lectures and discussions. Designed approach to presenting new
topics and implemented this approach by drafting lecture slides. Integrated all
changes into a cohesive course calendar.
Supervised eight computer graphics final project teams (creating animations,
writing games, doing physical simulations) cooperated with course staffs of up
to 10 people, taught recitations, led tutorials, generated homework and test
questions, helped maintain course web page, edited notes.

3. List the skills you have gained or

developed from each task or set of
tasks. Start with obvious, general
skills, then be more specific.

Most Obvious Skills:

Writing, interpersonal, creative, analytical, technical, organizational, supervisory, curriculum design and development, computer graphics, animation
(discipline-related), communication ability.
More Specific Skills:
Small group, one-on-one, and large-group communications skills; communication and collaboration with peers teaching related courses; C/C++, Showcase,
and LISP; ability to translate new, technically sophisticated concepts to students from non-technical disciplines. Ability to break down complex material
and organize it into finite pieces.

4. Expand in greater detail, using

phrases like By doing _____, I
developed my ability to _______.

http://web.mit.edu/career/www

Expand in greater detail:

Through my Media Lab experience, I have learned to manage my time
efficiently or read and analyzed large amounts of material quickly.
As a teacher, I defined objectives of a course and communicated those
objectives to students.
I have developed flexibility, creativity, humor, patience, self-discipline...
As an Applied Mathematician, I have developed new techniques for modeling algorithms, which simulate motion... or I have participated in design and
implementation of a new advanced operating systems.
7

Once you have evaluated your interests, values, and skills,

how do you put all that information together? Your interests
and values will likely point you to certain industries, companies or job functions. Knowledge of your skills will help you
determine if those industries, organizations, and job opportunities are likely to offer you work you can skillfully do or
learn to do and will enjoy doing.
Self-assessment is a lifelong practice, one that most people
will return to again and again over the course of their professional careers. As you gain work experience and your
skills grow, your interests and values are likely to shift. You
can return to this pyramid to help you move confidently into
new areas of work and career.

Additional resources on self-assessment:

MIT Careers Office, Self-Assessment Workshop:
http://web.mit.edu/career/www/workshops/finding
University of Waterloo online Career Development
Manual, Self- Assessment: www.cdm.uwaterloo.ca
Career Steps on eProNet: www.epronet.com
John Hollands Self-Directed Search online:
www.self-directed-search.com
Career Zone: general interests and related jobs
(Holland categories): www.nycareerzone.org/
graphic/assessment/index.jsp
Spencer Stuart Organizational Culture Match Test:
www.spencerstuart.com/yourcareerresources
www.masscis.intocareers.com For people wanting
to read thorough descriptions of various occupations,
their tasks, requirements, skills, needed
http://counseling.unt.edu/careerlab/assessment.htm
http://web.mit.edu/career/www/infostats/
resources.html has a comprehensive list of links to a
wide range of career resources

Career Timelines
For tips on how to manage your professional development
at each stage of your degree program, use the timeline
below (if you are an undergaduate) or see Masters,
Doctoral and Postdoc versions at http://web.mit.edu/
career/www/graduate/timelines.html.
Freshman Year
Adjusting...Get to know yourselfyour academic and
extracurricular interests and your future goals.
Academics
Test your interests through coursework, UROPs, volunteer jobs, and student activities.
Meet your professors. Learn how to build your network
by taking advantage of their office hours.
Identify four to seven career fields that interest you and
research how academic training supports those careers.
Meet with a Career Counselor to discuss majors as they

relate to careers. Read up on the careers that interest

you in the MITCO on-line library. Arrange informational
interviews with alumni working in those fields.
Attend the Choice of Major fair. It is suggested that
freshmen pick a major in April, but you may wait until
sophomore year.
Career Decision Making
Start a Career Log to record your thoughts on academic coursework, future goals, and careers. Create a
college accomplishments section to record courses
taken, extracurricular and volunteer activities, honors/awards, internships, and jobs. Update this Career
Log throughout your college career. This Career Log
can be used to create a resume and will be helpful
when you look for a summer job.
Explore the services MITCO offers such as career
workshops, resume critiques, and mock interviews.
Meet with a career counselor to help identify your
interests, values, and abilities.
Talk to a career counselor about a summer job or
internship in an area that interests you.
Develop a resume to use both on- and off-campus.
Sign-up to become a registered user of MonsterTrak.
Extracurricular Involvement
Get involved in dorm activities, student organizations,
or public service projects. Explore social and academic clubs that interest you. Join at least one extracurricular activity.
Ask for help if you need it! That is what Resident
Assistants, Freshman Advisors, Teaching Assistants,
and counselors are for!
Sophomore Year
Exploring...Explore occupations that interest you.
Research and network career possibilities.
Academics
Confirm your choice of major. Explore a double major
or minor if interested.
Get involved with your advisor and within your department. Schedule at least two meetings per semester
with your advisor. Use the time to learn about his/her
field and explore your interests in that field. Find out
what activities and services are offered to undergraduates in your department.
Your electives can give you the opportunity to explore a
double major or a minor as well as to develop a personal interest. Consider targeting your electives to
make you more versatile and employable.
Explore opportunities for independent research and
creative projects
If interested in studying abroad, begin to research
your options. Investigate off-campus study abroad
programs through companies and other universities
or directly enrolling at a foreign institution.

MIT Careers Office

Career Decision Making

Update your resume and post it on MonsterTrak.
Attend career and internship fairs to gather information on different industries and companies.
Attend workshops and programs sponsored by MITCO
to build your career management skills.
Explore opportunities to gain relevant work experience, for example: internships, externships and
summer jobs.
Learn how to build your network and cultivate mentors.
Conduct informational interviews with people in fields
that interest you and record notes in your Career Log.
Keep track of contacts!
Update your Career Log.
Cocurricular Involvement
Attend meetings of student professional organizations.
Get involved! This will help you gain skills including
teamwork and public speaking.
Act on your interests. Take an active role in an
extracurricular activity and explore new ones.
Consider assuming a leadership role in your dorm,
campus organization, or on a class project.
Volunteer.
Junior Year
Experiencing...Get experience through internships and
summer jobs. Prioritize your interests. Draft your job
search or graduate school strategy.
Academics
Choose electives that enhance your learning and
career goals.
Explore options and desires to attend graduate or professional school. Consider two to three years of work
experience first to enhance learning.
Meet with an advisor before spring to discuss graduate
school admissions and testing processes.
Continue developing relationships with faculty, graduate students, and professionals. Identify who will serve
as references for graduate school or employment.
Career Decision Making
Meet with a Career Counselor to create a job or graduate school search strategy. Also discuss with a counselor effective ways to use web-based job and internship services.
Update your Career Log. Use your Career Log entries to
help you prioritize career choices.
Post an updated resume on MonsterTrak.
Devote a significant amount of time to finding a summer job or internship in a field related to your future
career goals.
Practice networking while getting career information
at company presentations, career fairs, career related
events/forums, and talking to alums. Keep in touch with
previous teachers and advisors.

http://web.mit.edu/career/www

Arrange a mock interview at MITCO to practice

interviewing skills.
Shop for business attire so you can dress for success in interviews.
Cocurricular Involvement
Send for career materials from professional associations and consider joining one as a student member.
Continue to explore your values, interests, and skills
though involvement with clubs, student organizations,
and volunteer activities.
Senior Year
Transitioning...Develop skills you need to accomplish your
goals and thrive in life after MIT.
Academics
If you are planning to attend graduate or professional
school, gather all application forms and write a
statement of purpose.
Make sure to keep up your grades. Graduate schools
and some employers may want to see your final
semester grades.
Career Decision Making
Visit MITCO early in the fall semester to sharpen your
job search skills and to take advantage of on-campus
recruiting.
Talk with professionals in your field about job search
techniques and opportunities.
Network with parents, friends, faculty, alumni, and
others. Most jobs are found through networking.
Tailor your resume to each position for which you are
applying and write compelling cover letters. Visit MITCO
and have your resume and cover letters critiqued.
Identify three references and ask permission to use
their names.
Prepare for interviews by attending an Interview
Workshop and doing a mock interview at MITCO.
Read relevant periodicals and trade journals to understand current issues in your field. Having this insight
makes a huge difference in interviews.
Analyze job offers based upon the goals and values
that you documented in your Career Log. Visit MITCO
where a Career Counselor can help you walk through
this decision.
Let MITCO know what you are up to for next year by
completing the Graduating Student Survey. Enjoy the
end of your senior year and graduation.
Congratulations!
Cocurricular Involvement
Think about your first year after graduation; your ideal
work, proximity to family and friends, lifestyle, values,
and long-term goals. It may help to talk about these
things with your friends and people whose opinions
you value.

Start thinking about practical life after MIT. Project

your needs and create a realistic budget. Attend
seminars regarding finances, work/life balance,
managing stress, office politics, etc.

Exploring Your Options:

Knowing Whats Out There
Here are some suggestions for how you can learn about the
enormous range of industries and occupations available to
you. Think expansively and creatively!
1) Read about industries, organizations, occupations in:
Occupational Outlook Handbook: www.bls.gov/oco
Wetfeet Career Guides: www.monstertrak.com
Websites, for example:
www.collegegrad.com/careers/all.shtml
Newspapers and magazines
Trade magazines and newsletters
Career books and career websites
2) Notice the jobs around you, especially those done by
family, friends, acquaintances and others. Ask people
about:
Their career path
How they feel about their work?
What tips and advice do they have to offer?
3) Browse the MIT Alumni Directory on: http://alum.mit.edu
and ICAN website:
What are alumni from your major doing?
From other majors?
Who are they working for?
4) Talk to business/industry people:
Talk with your advisor and faculty about opportunities
for people with your academic training
Attend student association events sponsored by various departments
Take part in career fairs
Conduct informational interviews with people in occupations and organizations that interest you

How 2005 MIT Graduates

Found Their Jobs
On Campus Recruiting
Networking
Applied Directly to Employer
Career Fair
Through Their Department
Replied to Advertising
Professional Conference
Contacts Through MITCO

38%
28%
25%
15%
12%
8%
4%
4%

Internship Led to Job

Other (previous employer, etc)

3%
1%

Focusing
Job Search Strategies
Focus on some industries and occupations that appeal to
you, and research them in greater depth.
Researching organizations that interest you helps you
decide which companies might offer a good fit for your
occupational goals and interests. In addition, it is essential
preparation prior to interviewing effectively with a
company. For an in-depth discussion on how to
research a company see www.learnwebskills.com/
company/index.html.
What you should know about a company:
Size of organization (comparison to other
companies in industry?)
Number of years in business, history of organization
Geographical locations, corporate headquarters
Products and services, clientele
Age and background of top management
Values, company culture
Organizational structure, climate
Current financial condition
Annual sales growth for past five years
Competition
Reputation
Future outlook
News stories about company, any new developments, trends
Where can you learn about companies and
organizations?
Company websites
Annual reports: contact companies for copies of these
Trade Associations: print and web materials
News articles about companies and executives:
newspapers, journals (use online search engines.
e.g., www.google.com)
Online References: e.g. Wetfeet Career Guides:
www.monstertrak.com
Directories: e.g., CorpTech, Standard & Poors
Corporation Records
Talk to employees: network, MIT alumni directory
Researching Companies
You are able to find many helpful details you need about a
company by using the various MIT libraries and on-line
resources at http://web.mit.edu/libraries. MIT Libraries
offers career research workshops to introduce you to
electronic and print resources for researching companies,
organizations and agencies as potential employers.
You can access business databases and directories for specialized industry and economic research, by going to the MIT

MIT Careers Office

Libraries Vera service at http://libraries.mit.edu/ vera.

There, from the List by Subject menu, select Business &
Management. These databases provide detailed information about a companys investment status, management,
products, markets. You can also use the databases to generate lists of leads (see MIT Libraries Handout).
Sample of listings:
ABI/INFORM Global
Bloomberg
Business Source Elite
Corptech
Hoovers Online
I/B/E/S
InfoTech Trends
Investext Plus
ISI Emerging Markets
Jupiter Communications
LexisNexis Academic
Morningstar Principia Pro Plus
Reference USA
Reuters
Reuters Business Insight
SDC Platinum
TAQ
Thomson Research
VentureXpert Web
Yankee Group Reports
The library also has guides to finding company information
(U.S. and International) and a list of Dewey Finding a Job
titles, which can be found by following the links below.
http://libraries.mit.edu/guides/subjects/company
http://libraries.mit.edu/guides/subjects/company/intlcos/
index.html
http://libraries.mit.edu/dewey/findjob.html
For a tutorial on how to use these databases, see
http://libraries.mit.edu/dewey/companyresearch.ppt#320

Job Search Action Plan

Once you have completed your self-assessment, explored
different industries and fields, and narrowed your search to a
few target industries and companies, you are ready to enter
the final stage of the job searchidentifying and applying for
jobs. Below are some tips for how to go about finding job
opportunities. Three job search methods are described:
Traditional, Using the Hidden Job Market, and Networking.

Traditional Job Search

You can apply for advertised job vacancies by checking out
the following locations.

http://web.mit.edu/career/www

MonsterTrakon-campus recruiting:
www.monstertrak.com
Newspapers, journals, publications
Company websites
Internet jobsites, bulletin boardse.g.
http://www.Medzilla.com, a pharmaceutical industry
site, and http://www.ieee.org, the electrical engineering
associations website
Listservs
Notices from MIT Department Administrators
Employment agencies
Head hunters

Hidden Job Market

Many positions are never advertised so how can you find
out about them?
Target employers that interest you and identify someone
who works for each, talk to him/her about the company,
your interests and jobs.
Do any MIT alumni/ae work for the company?
Talk to people in your networkdoes anyone know
anyone who works for the company?
Research to identify the name of someone you can
contact
- Company/organization website
- Directories
- Company Annual Reports
- News articlessearch http://www.google.com
Approach the employer
Conduct informational interviews and network
Ask for names of people you might talk with in areas of
the company that particularly interest you
Send a letter of inquiry to a company even if you do not
know of an advertised position
Networking
Networking is the most effective method of finding a job. It
involves talking to as many people as possible about your job
search. Networking is expanding your network of professional associates and acquaintances by connecting to other
peoples network of associates and acquaintances. It can be
part of a traditional job search as well as searches using the
hidden job market. When networking, you must gather information and seek advice about professions, fields, occupations, trends, skills and expertise required. Getting referrals
to others who may expedite your job search. Networking is a
two-way street. Offer to help the people who are helping
youbecome an active part of their network.

Long Distance Job Search

Use resources to help you identify organizations and
companies of interest in your desired location, and to find
people from that area with whom you can network:

Check directories (e.g., CorpTech) for

organizations/companies located there, research
company websites
Study local newspapers, job postings
Network and conduct informational interviews
Search for Alumni in your industry/areas of interest
- ICAN, Alumni Directory
- Alumni Clubs
Contact national, regional, local professional
associations
Visit, learn about employment trends, opportunities

Thank you notes to be sent out

Records of all contacts made and networking leads:

Name
Dates of all actions
Contact information
Referred by whom
Phone calls, emails, letters
Notes about conversations
Additional contacts offered
Ideas to pursue

Industries and companies of interest and your

research findings

Advertised jobs, relevant research, records of all

related actions

Jobs applied for:

Research on the organization
Dates of all actions, contact
Notes on all conversations, email correspondence
Copy of cover letters, resumes sent
Results

Reflections, lessons learned, suggestions for future

Record Keeping/ Action Planning

Organize your job search. Find a method that works for you.
Use an electronic diary, ring binder, file folders, computer
reminders, database, palm pilot, Rolodex, scheduler. Keep
track of:
1)

Job search ideas

Schedule of what you need to do and when:

Job application deadlines
Networking meetings
Follow up calls to make
Interviews scheduled

BUSINESS
ANALYSIS/CONSULTANCY
CONTRACTING & PROCUREMENT
FINANCE
HUMAN RESOURCES
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
SALES & MARKETING
SUPPLY & DISTRIBUTION
TRADING
GEOLOGY/GEOPHYSICS
PETROPHYSICS
PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY
PRODUCT/PROCESS RESEARCH
ENGINEERING:
RESERVOIR/PETROLEUM
WELL
PRODUCTION
PROCESS
ASSET MAINTENANCE
PROJECT/FACILITIES
DISCIPLINE

Respecting opinions. Sharing

ideas. Improving communication.
For Shell, these arent just nice
things to achieve, but vital
elements in our bottom-line
business strategy.
Its about acting as an integrated
team and behaving in ways that
benefit the business as a whole.
Like everyone at Shell, youll
value different peoples input and
always consider how your actions
impact on others.

WITH A STROKE,
T I M E L O S T I S B R A I N L O S T.

So if youd like to be part of a

collaborative culture, get together
with Shell. You can make your
online application right now just
visit our careers website.
Shell is an Equal Opportunity Employer

www.shell.com/careers

See it

How far a career with

Shell could take you

If you suddenly have or see any of these symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately:
Numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side
of the body Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding Difficulty
seeing in one or both eyes Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance
or coordination Severe headache with no known cause

Learn more at StrokeAssociation.org or 1-888-4-STROKE.

2004 American Heart Association

Made possible in part by a generous grant from The Bugher Foundation.

MIT Careers Office

Chapter 3. Making Connections

with the Professional World
Experiential Education and Internships

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program

(UROP)

Did you know that 83% of all undergraduates, 54% of masters

and 19% of MIT PhDs complete an internship? Internships
and summer jobs give you an opportunity to apply academic
concepts in practice, and to explore possible future occupations. The experiential learning and skills acquired from
internships and/or research experience on a resume make
you more marketable. MIT offers a variety of programs and
some have submission deadlines in the fall semester. If you
are seeking an internship overseas, you will need to start your
job search process at least six months to a year in advance,
depending on the countries that you will be applying to.

Established in 1969, UROP is MITs flagship academic

program. Participating students work with MIT faculty and
research staff in a wide variety of investigative projects,
across all disciplines. While most UROP projects take place
on campus, students can learn the valuable technical and
collaborative skills necessary for future occupations. UROP
is a widely recognized program and employers look upon
participation favorably. For more information, consult the
UROP web site http://web.mit.edu/urop/, or contact UROP
staff in Room 7-104, at [email protected] or (617) 253-7306.

Some internships in industry and in the executive area of

government pay a reasonable stipend. Many in the nonprofit sector pay little or nothing; however, if you are
work-study eligible you may be able to negotiate a salary at
the non-profit of your choice. Either paid or unpaid, the
experience in an internship can be extremely valuable.

Student/Alumni Externship Program

Data shows that, compared to the average, students who

participate in these programs:
Do better in school
Are more likely to graduate
Are ahead in preparation for their field
Are viewed as better candidates in job interviews
Receive more job offers
Earn higher starting salaries
Are more likely to get the job with the employer they
want after graduation
Other benefits of Internships and Experiential Education
Programs include developing transferable skills such as:
communication, critical thinking, teamwork, change
management, information technology, leadership, selfmanaged learning, interpersonal diversity, ethics, social
responsibility, and technical knowledge.

MITs Opportunities for Experiential Learning

and Internships
Most students are unsure of what they want to do for a profession. Those who think they know may not know how to
get where they want to be, or what skills they need in order
to be successful in their chosen field. The first step is to
explore and experience a field through one of MITs many
Experiential Education and Internship Programs.

http://web.mit.edu/career/www

The Alumni Associations Student/Alumni Externship

Program gives students a chance to meet and work with
alumni, gain marketable job experience, and explore companies that could become potential employers. Students
join alumni in their workplace during the January
Independent Activities Period (IAP) and get a first-hand
look at a profession. Current undergraduate and graduate
MIT students are welcome to apply to the Externship
Program. All applicants must submit an application form,
resume and personal statement about their desire to
participate. You will find more information online at
http://alum.mit.edu/ccg/students/externships/index.html or
contact the Alumni Association at [email protected],
(617) 253-6378 or visit the Alumni Center in 10-110 or
W59-200.

Freshman/Alumni Summer Internship Program

(F/ASIP)
MITs Freshman/Alumni Summer Internship Program
(F/ASIP) is a 6-unit seminar (SP.800/SP.801) that provides
participating freshmen with career development training.
This seminar cultivates professional skills, assists first-year
students in finding internships, and pairs them with MIT
alumni mentors at their internships. These alumni share a
learning-by-doing philosophy and a propensity for hard
work. They teach freshmen methods for tackling problems
and also educate them on what it takes to survive and thrive
in the workplace. The programs goal is to teach valuable
career planning and job skills that will be useful at MIT
and beyond.

For application materials, deadlines, and additional information on the seminar sessions, please see the F/ASIP
website at http://web.mit.edu/fasip.

MIT International Science & Technology

Initiatives (MISTI)
The MISTI programs promote the internationalization of
education and research at MIT. These regionally oriented
programs allow students to acquire a deeper understanding of how knowledge is created and employed in other cultures. Participants of MISTI become global professionals.
Since 1981, more than 1,300 internships have provided talented MIT students with an opportunity to be systematically exposed to and educated about the larger world with
which they will engage professionally. These students have
developed collaborations with scientists at outstanding
foreign institutions. MISTI currently has the capacity to
educate 200 students each year and place them in research
settings in China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan,
Mexico, and Singapore. For more information about MIST,
log onto http://web.mit.edu/misti/www/index.html. Direct
emails to [email protected]; or call (617) 252-1483.

Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program

(UPOP)
UPOP is an internship program for School of Engineering
sophomores administered by the Office of the Dean of
Engineering during Januarys Independent Activities
Period. It is led by MIT faculty from the School of
Engineering and the Sloan School of Management with the
help of industry professionals. UPOP introduces students to
engineering practice by providing them with the chance to
integrate their engineering academic work with a hands-on
summer experience. The UPOP engineering practice workshop focuses on applying technical skills, self-awareness,
communication, organizational dynamics, leadership and
collaboration while involving students in case studies and
simulations. This innovative experience provides UPOP students the opportunity to use their academic knowledge in
the real world.

MIT Washington DC Summer Internship Program

The Washington DC Summer Internship Program provides
technically sophisticated undergraduates the opportunity to
apply their scientific and technical training to public policy
issues. The core of the program is focused on the summer
months, when students work in the offices of government
agencies, the private sector, and advocacy groups.
Complementing the summer internships are a trip to
Washington DC during spring break and academic exercises.
Participating students are required to attend a seminar on the
policymaking process during the late spring and early fall, for
which they will receive 12 units of credit upon completion.

VI-A Internship Program

The VI-A Internship Program enables EECS students to
combine classroom studies with serious professional work
experience in industry with competitive salaries through a
series of leading edge technology jobs with participating
companies. The VI-A program is primarily designed to work
in conjunction with the EECS five-year Master of
Engineering degree program culminating in an industrybased masters thesis.

Other Internship Programs and Resources

Internships may be offered at companies, government
agencies, nonprofit organizations, other universities,
and advocacy groups. Here are some helpful links to find
opportunities:
MIT Careers Office - Internship listservs
http://web.mit.edu/career/www/students/
internshiplistservs.html
MonsterTrak: www.monstertrak.com see:
InterviewTrak, Jobs and Internships,
Efair (two week efair, generally begins February;
geared toward summer internships)
http://web.mit.edu/career/www/events/
careerfairs.html
MIT Careers Office Links:
http://web.mit.edu/career/www/internships.html
http://web.mit.edu/career/www/workshops/
jobs_internships/weblinks.htm
JobWeb Links and Listings:
http://www.jobweb.com/Resources/Library/Intern
Coop-Programs/default.htm
Wetfeet Internship Search Engine:
http://wetfeet.internshipprograms.com
Federal Government Internships:
www.usajobs.opm.gov
www.house.gov/
Short term job adventures:
http://www.backdoorjobs.com
Internships Abroad: http://www.cie.uci.edu
Non-Profit Work: http://www.idealist.org
Write to companies that recruit at MIT for full-time
positions and express your interest in an internship. Ask
if you might interview with them when they are on campus. They may like your initiative and interview you.
Do not automatically restrict your search to the Boston
area or your hometowna summer job away from MIT
and from home can be fun and broadening. Some
companies will help you find housing. Some will offer
housing at a local college. If you need to find a place
to live for the summer in another city, check out various
online housing listings.

MIT Careers Office

InterviewTrak
InterviewTrak is a web-based, interview sign-up process
that allows students to access the companies and employers that participate in on-campus recruiting. InterviewTrak
is accessed through http://web.mit.edu/career/www/
jobs/jobs.html. Click on MIT MonsterTrak and then click on
register. Once you fill out the user profile, you can
register with MITCO, create a resume and sign up for
interviews. You can also submit a resume for preselect
interviews, and receive notification when you have been
selected for an interview.
Tips for the User profile:
Set up personal login
When asked for educational information, GPA must
be entered and converted to a 4.0 scale. For help with
converting, go to http: http://web.mit.edu/registrar/
gpacalc.html
Provide a resume online. You will be unable to sign up
for interviews until a resume is made available online.

Uploading Your Resume

Once you login to MonsterTRAK.com, choose Resumes and
follow the instructions on how to transfer your resume from
a word processor file onto MonsterTRAK.com. Though you
can store up to 10 resumes on MonsterTRAK, MITCO recommends 2-4 resumes should be sufficient. When you
decide to submit your resume to an employer, you will be
able to choose which resume to forward.

Accessing your Cover Letter

Employers ask for cover letters more frequently than you
may thinkit may be in your best interest to have a general
cover letter on file just in case. It would summarize your
background and provide details not usually included in a
resume.
You can store one standard cover letter on MonsterTRAK.com
or upload or cut and paste a new cover letter every time
you apply for a position. You can also upload an unofficial
transcript and/or any other supplemental information a
company may ask for, such as a writing sample. When you
are done, you should select how public you would like your
resume to be by checking the appropriate option. If you
check Active for online resume search and career center
referral, it will be searchable by anyone MonsterTRAK.com
allows to search its resumes, and the MIT Careers Office
will have no control over who sees your resume. If you
check Active for career center referral, your resume will
only be visible to employers the MIT Careers Office selects.
If you check Inactive, your resume will be marked as not
currently seeking job opportunities, and will only be visible
by you and the MIT Careers Office.

http://web.mit.edu/career/www

After you have registered for an account on MonsterTRAK,

you can log in to http://www.monstertrak.monster.com/
seekers/ at any time to search for jobs. To search for jobs
posted by employers who will be participating in on-campus
recruiting, click on MIT InterviewTRAK (the second option
under My Account). To search for jobs posted by employers
who will be conducting interviews off-campus, either click
on the Search Jobs button at the top of the page, or click on
the Jobs & Internships button under My Account. Use the
Job Search Agents tool to save job search criteria and
receive updated emails with postings that fit your needs.

Signing Up for Interviews

When the resume and data sheet are completed, you are
eligible to sign up for interviews.
Through MIT InterviewTrak (the second option on main
menu, under My Account), you can obtain a listing of all
companies scheduled to recruit at MIT during the year and
what their preselection schedules are.
You can submit your resume to companies that interest you.
When an employer decides to interview you, they will add
your name to their Preselected list. You will need to log
on to your MonsterTRAK account regularly, to find out
whether or not you were preselected (Employers will not
always send you an email to inform you of this decision).
The employers name will then appear on a list of preselected interviews, which can be viewed in MIT
InterviewTRAK under personal dates.
You will not be able to sign up for an interview time until the
date the signups actually begin. To find out when signups do
begin, check the Signup Date Range listed on the preselect
page. To sign up for an interview time, select the ID button
on the preselect page to go to the job description. Then
select Sign Up at the bottom of the job description page.
Choose a time from the list of available times and select
Sign Up, noting your confirmed interview appointments.
You can search by company by choosing the first letter of
the companys name or do a presentation search to get a
list of presentations

Networking
Networking Defined
A professional network can be defined as people you know
who can provide leads, support and advice about your
career and the job market. They can help you tap the vast
majority of jobs that are never advertised. For this reason,
networking needs to be an integral part of your job search.
The benefits of networking include increased visibility
within your field, propelling your professional development,
finding suitable mentors, increasing your chances of pro15

motion and perhaps finding your next job. Though initially,

you may feel uncomfortable about the notion of networking,
it is a skill that can be learned and mastered by following
the practical guidelines below.
Start by networking with people you know such as family,
friends, faculty, students, community members, service
professionals (doctors, dentists), alumni, and neighbors.
Talk to them about what you want to do. Ask whether they
know of any companies or organizations doing the types of
things that interest you. Do they know of anyone in a related
area of work or study who you might talk to? Networking
etiquette requires that you do not ask for a job. The focus of
networking is to meet many people in your field and find out
more about the jobs they do.
This is how you get to see first hand the type of company
and work that you really want to do. The art of informational
interviewing is in knowing how to balance your ultimate
agenda (to locate a job) with the unique opportunity to learn
firsthand about the demands of your field. Always approach
the experience as asking for advice rather than looking for
work. Be courteous and professional at all times even with
your aunts best friend. Never abuse your privilege by asking for a job, but execute your informational interviews skillfully, and a job may follow.

Step 1: Identify Your Network

Start by listing everyone you know who is a potential
prospect.
Family (parents, siblings, uncles, aunts, cousins)
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Friends
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
16

School contacts (faculty, teachers, classmates, alumni)

______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Community associates (religious affiliates, neighbors)
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Work contacts (supervisors, coworkers)
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Professional associations, industry receptions, career fairs
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________

MIT Careers Office

Step 2: Prepare and Practice Your Script

Prepare a brief introductory script. This should be a oneminute summary of your expertise, goals and your needs
right now. Practice by telling as many people in the above
list as you can. Once you are comfortable with your pitch,
start asking if they know of anyone who you should contact.
This second level networking will involve adjusting your
script to explain how you were introduced to that person.
You can then start contacting these people by phone or email.
A first level networking script will sound something like:
I am in my junior year at MIT and have a particular interest
in Engineering Logistics. I hope to ultimately apply my
degree to product and inventory management. Right now I
am trying to learn more about the actual experience of
people working in these areas. Could you spare some time
to speak with me about the current trends and opportunities
in this field? Or ... Do you know anyone I could speak with in
order to find out more about the field?
Write your own script:
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
A second level networking script applies if you have found
the contact person through another person and could be as
follows:
My name is Sandra Chee. I am due to graduate from MIT
in 6 months time. I received your name from your companys recruiting representative, David Jones who suggested that I contact you. I am studying applied biological
sciences and David thought that, as you are doing work in
this field, you might be able to tell me a bit about it. David
also thought that you might be able to give me some names
of other people or companies that I could approach for a
possible informational interview (or summer internship).
Write your own script:
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
http://web.mit.edu/career/www

Informational Interviewing
Step 3: Arrange an Informational Interview
When you call, be polite and courteous. Acknowledge that
the person may be very busy. Start with the very brief outline about yourself and clearly indicate that the purpose of
your call is to gather more information. Communicate the
fact that there is no job expectation. Ask if you can arrange
a meeting in the near future. If you only get the voice mail,
leave a message saying that you called, and then call a few
days later. Keep calling after a few more days until you
reach them.
The purpose of your call is to:
Arrange an in-office meeting with the person
Set up a phone meeting if that is the only reasonable
option
Receive a referral to additional contacts
How do you prepare for informational interviews? Prepare
for your informational interviews just as you would for
an actual job interview: polish your presentation and
listening skills, and conduct preliminary research on the
organization. You should outline an agenda that includes
well-thought-out questions.
Your networking meeting should include the following
elements: introduction, self-overview, Q & A, obtaining
referrals and closing.
Begin your interview with questions that demonstrate your
genuine interest in the other person such as, Describe a
typical day in your department. Then proceed with more
general questions such as, What are the employment
prospects in this field? or Are you active in any professional organizations in our field and which would you rec17

ommend? If appropriate, venture into a series of questions

that place the employer in the advice-giving role, such as,
What should the most important consideration be in my
first job? The whole idea is for you to shine, to make an
impression and to get referrals to other professionals. You
could also ask their opinion about your resume.

Resumes: Bring more than you think you will need - at least
two for each organization.

Always remember to send a thank you letter to every

person who grants you time and to every individual who
refers you to someone.

Be Proactive: You may only have three minutes to market

yourself so be sure to make the most of your time. Start with
the basics: approach the company representative in a
friendly manner, make eye contact, offer a firm handshake,
and show enthusiasm. Recite your brief script and prepare
some questions just as you would any employment interview. The most common question you will face is something
along the lines of what are you here for today? A great
follow-up question for you to ask is, What do I need to do
to obtain a second interview with your firm? Obtain a business card or contact information for representatives of
organizations that interest you.

What motivates professionals to grant informational

interviews?
The reasons are varied. Generally, most people enjoy sharing information about themselves and their jobs and, particularly, giving advice. Some may simply believe in encouraging newcomers to their profession and others may be
scoping out prospects for anticipated vacancies. It is common for professionals to exchange favors and information,
so do not hesitate to call upon people. Also, they may be
aware that some day the tables may be turned and you
could become a helpful element of their networking.
Keep track of your networking meetings and be proactive with
follow up. Refer to record keeping on page 10 for guidelines
about implementing a job search action plan. Keep a list of
your contacts and update it frequently with the names of any
leads given to you. Send a thank-you note or email if appropriate. Be Dedicated to Networking: Most importantly, networking should be ongoing. You will want to stay in touch with contacts over the long haulnot just when you need something.
Make networking part of your long-term career plan.

Career Fairs/Company Presentations

Career Fairs are a great way to connect up with potential
employers. Many professional groups hold public career fairs,
which are advertised through newspapers. At MIT career fairs
are organized and run by a number of student organizations.
MIT Careers Office holds an annual career week in the fall to
prepare students for the Career Fair. This is a tremendous
opportunity for students to meet a wide variety of employers.
Keep in mind that career fairs should be just one small part of
your entire job search process; however, they can be a successful part. Here are some useful tips to help make the most of
your job fair experience.

Keys to Career Fair Success

Research: Have a plan of attack for the fair. Research the
companies and organizations you are interested in and see
if any new companies have registered when you arrive at
the fair. Take time to survey the layout of the fair and determine where your ideal employers are located.

Attire: Conservative business attire is essential. Know what is

the expected attire of your profession and dress accordingly.
It is always better to be overdressed than underdressed.

Follow-up: There are two main methods of follow-up. Some

suggest calling the recruiter within a day or two of the fair
and leaving a voicemail message thanking the recruiter
again for his/her time. Another tactic would be to write a
thank you note/e-mail and send it the next day to the address
on the recruiters business card. The content of the note
should include thanking the recruiter for his/her time and
restating your interest and qualifications for the position.

Questions to Ask Employers at a Career Fair

Your questions should be natural. Before asking questions,
introduce yourself and establish rapport with the company
reps. Listen carefully to their answers. Be courteous and be
sure to thank them before closing the conversation.
Try not to ask questions that could easily by answered by
the companys web site (e.g. what does your company do?).
Do not read from this list. These are intended as examples
of kinds of questions you could ask.
1. Where do MIT grads typically work in your company?
2. Did you go to MIT? (Whether or not) What did you major
in?
3. What do you do at your company?
4. How long have you worked there?
5. Does your company hire on a continual basis or only at
certain times of year?
6. How long does your hiring process take?
7. What are the most important qualifications your company
looks for in an employee?
8. Are there particular personality traits you look for?
9. What are your companys major goals in the next few
years?
10. Are graduate degrees important? In what areas within
your company?
11. What kinds of courses do you suggest in order to be a
successful candidate?
MIT Careers Office

12. Is there a GPA cut off for your recruiting process? (If this
is a question to which you want to know the answer.)
13. What kinds of entry-level positions exist within your
organization that would be open to someone with my
background? (Introduce yourself before asking this
question!)
14. As an entry-level employee, what kind of career
advancement opportunities would be open to me in 2, or
5 years from now?
15. How many years do entry-level employees typically
work for your company? What is your retention rate?
16. Do you expect employees to relocate?

Company Presentations
MIT hosts employer panels and company presentations.
Representatives from the leading industries and companies
present on the trends of that industry and the opportunities
that one can pursue within the industry. These may be followed by a reception for attendees.
In a group setting, circulate and meet people, but do not try to
talk to everyone. It is better to have a few meaningful conversations than 50 hasty introductions. If you are at a reception,
be sure to wear a nametag and collect or exchange business
cards so you can later contact the people you meet.
Try to personally meet the representatives and ask thoughtful questions to gain information about the industry in general and their company specifically. The person you are networking with may not have a job opening, but he or she may
know someone who is hiring. The key is to exchange information and then expand your network by obtaining additional referrals each time you meet someone new.
http://web.mit.edu/career/www/comppres.html lists the
company presentations.

Alumni Association Resources

Alumni Directory and the Institute Career
Assistance Network (ICAN)

Infinite Connection account at http://alum.mit.edu/

index.html or visit the Alumni Center in 10-110 or W59-200.
You can also write to: [email protected].

Community Service/Volunteering
Put your communication, teamwork, and leadership skills to
use while giving back to the community. Refer to MITs
Public Service Center for ideas: http://web.mit.edu/mitpsc.

Professional Associations
Professional Associations can be an excellent resource for
job seekers. Through their various activities and services
(meetings, conferences, publications, websites, etc.) professional associations provide information about career
fields, job opportunities, and employers in the professions
they serve. They can be particularly helpful if you need to
create a long-distance network to help you conduct a longdistance job search.
For a comprehensive list of professional associations go to:
http://web.mit.edu/career/www/students/workbook.pdf.
Also consult the MIT Libraries Virtual References at
http://libraries.mit.edu/help/virtualref.html.
To students (for whom time and money may be in short supply), the websites of professional associations offer easy,
inexpensive, accessible (24 hours a day, 7 days a week!)
access to:
Information about career options and industry/
professional trends in various fields
www.masscis.intocareers.com.
Professional contacts: their members form a network of
people who are often willing to assist others in career
exploration
Job listings
To learn about professional organizations in your field or in
other fields you wish to explore, ask your advisor or other
faculty members.

The Institute Career Assistance Network (ICAN) is a

searchable database of alumni who volunteer their time as
career advisors.
It includes more than 2,900 MIT alumni who are willing
to share their experiences and offer advice about
career paths, interviewing and specific companies.
You can communicate with them by telephone, e-mail
or meet alumni in person.
The ICAN website provides tips for making the contact, conducting a successful informational interview, and a
bibliography of recommended career-related publications.
To use the online database students must register for an
http://web.mit.edu/career/www

Chapter 4. Resume and

Career Writing
Resume Presentation
Your resume should be a concise summary of the high
points of your education, work experience, and other qualifications relevant to your audiences needs and to your
employment interests, not a complete history of your life. It
communicates your professional qualifications to employers, to interest them in interviewing you, and it creates their
first impression of you. It is a marketing tool and an introduction to you and your experiences. Do enough research
about the employer and the field to decide which messages
are most important to your audience, and communicate
these messages succinctly and clearly in a visually appealing format. Here are some guidelines to help you do this:

Presentation Checklist
Do not use a Microsoft Word resume template. None of
them scan well.
Use a laser printer.
It is safe to use a conservative font, such as Arial or
Times New Roman.
Font size should be 10-12 points.
Use 8 1/2 x 11 paper, printed on one side only.
Use high quality resume paper.

Format
Stick to one page; use two pages if you have an
advanced degree or extensive experience (10+ years).
Make the page easy to scan and graphically pleasing:
leave sufficient white space.
Select a format that suits your qualifications. Do not
automatically follow someone elses, which may not
suit what you have to say.
Avoid underlining, may use bullets to emphasize your
credentials.
Use bold face sparingly for headings and employer
information

Content
Put name, address, and phone number at the top of the
page. If you have a second page, repeat your name at
the top.
Choose topic headings that invite your readers interest, e.g., Experience, Leadership, Skills, Activities/
Honors rather than employment or other.
Include marketable and/or relevant data only; for
example, include classes that have been most important in your education and are most relevant to the type
20

of work you seek; do not provide an extensive list of

courses.
Highlight skills, accomplishments, capabilities, and
work experience. Give evidence of your personal
impact: show not only that you completed tasks but
that you contributed to organizational goals.
Cite numbers to convey size and/or scale of project,
budget, and staff supervised.
Give examples that demonstrate desirable personality
traits such as leadership, interpersonal facility, teamwork, and initiative.
Minimize personal information and omit unrelated
memberships, age, marital and health status, and information that is repetitive, implicit (e.g. high school graduation for a college graduate), or out-of-date. If you are
a US citizen or hold a permanent resident visa, include
this if readers might have reason to think otherwise.
Generally, it is a good idea to exclude data relevant to
salary expectations, religious or political affiliations,
and geographic descriptions.
References are usually omitted. Employers assume
that references are available upon request, so leave
this phrase off.

Style
Proofread to eliminate all spelling, punctuation, and
grammatical errors.
Use action verbs and strong adjectives. (See Action
Verbs.)
Make it future or present oriented, suggesting that I
am this kind of person, with these abilities, as my past
record demonstrates.
Avoid repeating words or phrases.
Leave out unnecessary words, sentences, and phrases
such as Duties included / Hired to / Project involved.
Avoid stilted or confusing language. Ask yourself,
Would I talk like that?
Do not use the first person I or any pronouns.
Be consistent and use the same grammatical style
throughout.
Avoid self-flattering terms such as highly skilled,
outstanding, or excellent. Describe your accomplishments effectively and let readers decide for themselves that you are well qualified.
Be honest and accurate, but not overly modest.
Convey through the style and content of your resume
an understanding of your audiences needs, priorities,
hiring criteria, and vocabulary.
MIT Careers Office

Final Edit
Ask a counselor, friend, or someone unfamiliar with
your background to review your resume for clarity and
effectiveness.
Tailor your resume to the specific qualifications of the
job for which you are applying and/or to the specific
employer.
Include all-important information, such as dates of
graduation, major, GPA, etc.
Proofread one more time to ensure correct spelling
and punctuation.

The Top 10 Pitfalls in Resume Writing

1. Too long. Restrict your resume to one page.
2. Typographical, grammatical, or spelling errors. Have at
least two people proofread your resume.
3. Hard to read. Keep it simple with clean lines and white space.
4. Too verbose. Say as much as possible with as few words
as possible, avoid use of jargon.
5. Not enough information.Give dates describing related
work experience, be specific about skills, accomplishments, activities, interests, and memberships.
6. Irrelevant information. Customize each resume to each
position you seek (when possible). Of course, include
education and work experience, but emphasize relevant
experience, skills, accomplishments and activities. Do
not include marital status, age, sex, children, height,
weight, health, church membership, etc.
7. Obviously generic. Tweak each resume according to the
job description. The employer needs to feel that you are
interested in that particular position with his or her company.

http://web.mit.edu/career/www

8. Too fancy. Of course, use good quality bond paper, but

avoid exotic types, colored paper, photographs, binders,
and graphics. Electronic resumes should include appropriate industry keywords and use a font size between
10-12 points. Use italics and bolding sparingly.
9. Too static. Make your resume as dynamic as possible.
Begin every statement with an action verb. Use active
verbs to describe what you have accomplished in past
jobs. Take advantage of your rich vocabulary and avoid
repeating words, especially the first word in a section.
10. Too modest. The resume showcases your qualifications in competition with the other applicants. Put your
best foot forward without misrepresentation, falsification, or arrogance.

Online Resumes
Though scanning technology and practices vary and are
constantly changing, some companies still scan resumes
and /or use keywords to identify candidates from their database. You want to fill your resume with as many of these
words as possible. Companies that pick up many resumes
at career fairs may use scanning technology, though you
should always check with the employer requirements
regarding format.
The essential keywords are specified by each employer for
each position. You can only make reasonable assumptions
about what a specific employer will ask for. Keep a log of
keywords that apply to your occupation and industry. Do
not fold or staple the resume.

Action Verbs
Management Skills
Administered
Analyzed
Assigned
Chaired
Consolidated
Contracted
Coordinated
Delegated
Developed
Directed
Evaluated
Executed
Organized
Oversaw
Planned
Prioritized
Produced
Recommended
Reorganized
Reviewed
Scheduled
Supervised

Spoke
Translated
Wrote

Communication Skills
Addressed
Arbitrated
Arranged
Authored
Co-authored
Collaborated
Corresponded
Developed
Directed
Drafted
Enlisted
Formulated
Influenced
Interpreted
Lectured
Mediated
Moderated
Negotiated
Persuaded
Promoted
Proposed
Publicized
Reconciled
Recruited

Technical Skills
Assembled
Built
Calculated
Computed
Designed
Devised
Engineered
Fabricated
Maintained
Operated
Pinpointed
Programmed
Remodeled
Repaired
Solved

Research Skills
Clarified
Collected
Critiqued
Diagnosed
Evaluated
Examined
Extracted
Identified
Inspected
Interpreted
Interviewed
Inspired
Investigated
Organized
Reviewed
Summarized
Surveyed
Systemized

Teaching Skills
Adapted
Advised
Clarified
Coached
Communicated
Conducted
Coordinated

Developed
Enabled
Encouraged
Evaluated
Explained
Facilitated
Guided
Informed
Instructed
Lectured
Persuaded
Set goals
Stimulated
Taught
Trained
Financial Skills
Administered
Allocated
Analyzed
Appraised
Audited
Balanced
Budgeted
Calculated
Computed
Developed
Managed
Planned
Projected
Researched
Creative Skills
Acted
Conceptualized
Created
Customized
Designed
Developed
Directed
Established
Fashioned
Illustrated
Instituted
Integrated
Performed
Planned
Proved
Revised

Revitalized
Set up
Shaped
Streamlined
Structured
Tabulated
Validated
Helping Skills
Assessed
Assisted
Clarified
Coached
Counseled
Demonstrated
Diagnosed
Educated
Facilitated
Familiarized
Guided
Inspired
Motivated
Participated
Provided
Referred
Rehabilitated
Represented
Reinforced
Supported
Taught
Trained
Verified
Clerical or Detail
Skills
Approved
Arranged
Catalogued
Classified
Collected
Compiled
Dispatched
Executed
Filed
Generated
Implemented
Inspected
Monitored
Operated

Ordered
Organized
Prepared
Processed
Purchased
Recorded
Retrieved
Screened
Specified
Systematized
Stronger Verbs for
Accomplishments
Accelerated
Achieved
Attained
Completed
Conceived
Convinced
Discovered
Doubled
Effected
Eliminated
Expanded
Expedited
Founded
Improved
Increased
Initiated
Innovated
Introduced
Invented
Launched
Mastered
Originated
Overcame
Overhauled
Pioneered
Reduced
Resolved
Revitalized
Spearheaded
Strengthened
Transformed
Upgraded

From To Boldly Go: Practical Career Advice for Scientists, by Peter S. Fiske

MIT Careers Office

Writing About Your SkillsPAR Statements

PAR statements in your resume make it easy for employers
to recognize your achievements. They provide a writing formula that stresses your skills and achievements. This is a
way of writing out your skills on a resume to maximize their
impact.
Using the action verbs listed on the previous page, write
your experience in the following format.
Describe this experience in terms of demonstrated skills
and accomplishments:

1) Describe the project, the context, task, job.

2) What activity did you do?
3) What were the results, outcomes, benefits?
Present the skill as a concrete action that has been done.
Do not use the words took part in, or gained experience
in, or assisted in.
Quantify the results by stating the amount of dollars saved,
the number of clients served, the percentage increase in
productivity or improvement in efficiency.

Samples of how to stress your skills:

Before:
Cambridge Performing Center, Cambridge, MA
May 2001-June 2004
Theatre Marketing Intern
Responsibilities included coordinating artist press releases, compiling tracking sheets
based on information from reservations and box office attendants, handling photo and
press release mailing to media, assisting in radio copy writing and performing various
other duties as assigned.

After:
Cambridge Performing Center (CPC), Cambridge, MA
May 2001-June 2004
Theatre Marketing Intern
Coordinated artist press releases that contributed to an increase in annual sales
by 10%
Compiled and maintained a mailing list of 10,000 customers, CPCs largest ever
Organized photo and press releases to XYZ Television and Cambridge Daily News
Contributed to the copy writing of promotional radio commercials for five events

Before:
Bright Consulting Group, New York, NY
Marketing Analyst, June-July 2005
I analyzed competitive strategies for clients in the bio tech industry. Data gathered
assessed profitability of strategies

After:
Bright Consulting Group, New York, NY
June-July 2005
Marketing Analyst
Assessed profitability of expansion strategy in the biotech industry; results were
used by the client to make market entry decision
Gathered data, as part of a three-member team, by interviewing over 100 potential
customers and presented the results to the clients
Below are some further samples of PAR statements (both
bullet form and paragraph form are acceptable):
Investigated effects of gas phase oxygen concentration levels on the differentiation of embryonic stem
cells in order to establish optimal settings for growth.
Designed and implemented a website containing interactive problem sets, information, and announcements
for Math competition participants.
http://web.mit.edu/career/www

Secured and coordinated professional improvements

of account prep with all sales materials used that contributed to increased productivity and sales over $1M
by 13% within Major Accounts/North sales team.
Investigated and evaluated business communication
practices and expertise within XYZ Co. to model framework for globalization initiative to improve the sharing
and use of existing knowledge.
23

Introduced new methods of treating fuel cycling, and formulated new mechanical fuel failure models, promising
in resolving puzzles on fuel failures for many years.
Found systematic method to raise glass transition temperature of vaccines. This allowed a higher storage
temperature for the vaccines. Generated $5 million
annual saving in refrigeration costs.
Technically advanced and trained the Major Account
Sales crew with computerized presentation designs
and introduced customer and industry market data
software. Organized and developed new methods of
reporting and presenting material to top advertisers.
Reviewed literature and evaluated past models,
expanded adaptability of key components, improved
stress analyses of fuel forms.
Consolidated 23 local customer service centers into
five regional centers achieving 15% cost reduction and
improving customer services.
Led design efforts of five-member team that developed
and manufactured a cooling system for desert combat
aviators in 90 days (10 days ahead of the schedule).
Using critical path scheduling and sub contractor management, successfully organized $3,000,000 pier
renewal due to ship collision.
Wrote software for simulating complex distillation
processes that was adopted throughout XYZ Co. leading to significant savings in manufacturing costs.
Proposed procedure to streamline the process of
reaching optimized fuel design. Produced corresponding computer program using C++ and Fortran, and
designed Graphical User Interface (GUI) for better
communication with users.
Created, refined and trained Sales Team on new presentation package and materials. Model was adopted and

resulted in a 2% increase in overall company revenue.

Incorporated new algorithms into pipeline simulation
modules and achieved tenfold increase in speed.

Samples of Freshman PAR Statements:

Math Team Captain
Organized review sessions and scored practice tests, leading team to Top 5 finishes in the Arizona State Math League.
National Honor Society Service Chair
Coordinated the Senior Citizens Ball, which raised $1,500
for a new Senior Activities Center.
Swim Instructor
Taught children between the ages of four and six basic
swimming techniques, to promote water safety and awareness.
Radio Shack Cashier
Communicated product details and provided exceptional
customer service to 50+ people per day. Promoted to
Assistant Manager after only four months.
Burger King
Team member. Worked in fast-paced environment,
received food-handling/cashier training, and experienced
assembly-line teamwork.
Five Seasons Country
Assistant Tennis Instructor. Worked with five to 12 year old
children and developed their tennis playing ability, as well
as cared for their well-being. Provided sunscreen, snacks,
supervision, and tennis instruction. Helped to bring about a
successful summer with no injuries or complaints.

Describing Transferable Skills

Your resume should describe your experience in the form of PAR statements: project, activity and result.
The following exercise will help you to describe your skills. Complete the following worksheet describing you own
experiences by using: Project + action verb + activity + purpose/outcome/benefit.

Project/purpose

Activity/task beginning with action verb

Result/outcome/benefit

MIT Careers Office

Sample Resumes
Undergraduate interested in Management Consulting
See Cover Letter on page 34.

JANE DOE
School Address:
XXX Memorial Dr.
Cambridge, MA 02139

[email protected]
(XXX) XXX-XXXX

Home Address:
Someplace, MA

Education

MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (M.I.T.)

CAMBRIDGE, MA
Candidate for B.S. in Biology, GPA: 4.6/5.0
2005
Concentration in Management at Sloan Business School and Minor in Brain and Cognitive Sciences.
Authored 5 publications in the MIT Undergraduate Research Journal and other peer-reviewed journals.
Relevant Coursework: Finance Theory, Economics of the Health Care Industry, Strategic Decision-Maiking in Life
Sciences, Building a Biomedical Business, Cancer Genetics and Therapies, Ceullular Neurobiology, Immunology.

Experience

PUTNAM ASSOCIATES
BURLINGTON, MA
Analyst
2004
Evaluated in 6-member team whether clients marketing strategy for its $100M organ transplant drug effectively
targets key decision-makers in transplant community. Client implemented proposed improvements in message content and delivery, designed to increase prescriptions for product by nearly 30%.
Managed recruitment and interviewing process of 98 physicians to obtain primary data for marketing case. Analyzed
data from interviews and secondary research in Excel/Access. Prepared PowerPoint deck for presentation to client.
Analyzed past product switches from predecessor to successor drugs for independent project. Presented recommendations
for future drug launches. Developed a database providing key criteria for launching various types of drugs.
MIT PROGRAMS ON THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY
CAMBRIDGE, MA
Health Economics Research Assistant, Sloan Business School
2004
Designed, created, and tested a strategic model for the pharmaceutical industry that analyzes safety, efficacy,
and economics to forecast (prior to clinical trials) which drugs will succeed on the market. Early remination of
inadequate drugs will significantly reduce the $800M spent to successfully launch a drug.
MERCK & CO., INC.
RAHWAY, NJ
Pharmaceutical Laboratory Research Assistant, Infectios Disease Department
2003
Identified deficiencies in Type 2 Diabetes drugs on the market and screened chemicals on new cellular targets to
develop an efficient drug without these shortcomings. Drug predicted to obtain substancially greater market share in
the $14B oral Type 2 Diabetes drug market compared to competitors.
MIT CENTER FOR CANCER RESEARCH
CAMBRIDGE, MA
Academic Laboratory Research Assistant, Housman Laboratory
2002 - 2004
Developed a product to recognize activity of a cancer-causing gene, aiding in discovery of drug for brain cancer.
Engaged in all stages of product development: identification of market need, engineering of product, collaborating
with industry for testing, production, and marketing of final drug.
Designed a new sequencing technique that refines a common laboratory protocol. New procedure increases
efficiency by 50% on average, reducing processing time by 25%, and creating more usable biological end-product.

Leadership

MARCH OF DIMES BIRTH DEFECTS FOUNDATION

BOSTON, MA
Director of Massachusetts Youth Public Affairs
2002 - Present
Lobbied legislators to encourage federal, Massachusetts, and California governments to develop public policies to
improve the health of women. Introduced and promoted 10 Senate Bills, 4 of which have been approved thus far.
Represented Foundation on the Massachusetts State Public Affairs Committee.
Organized conferences and fundraisers as a volunteer for the past 7 years (1997-Present).
JOURNAL OF YOUNG INVESTIGATORS
CAMBRIDGE, MA
Story Editor and Science Jornalist
2004 - Present
Managed 25 science journalists, delegated writing and editing tasks, and chose articles to print in monthly journal.
Created daily digests about current science news, distributed to all science journalists.
SCIENCE & ENGINEERING BUSINESS CLUB
CEMBRIDGE, MA
Consulting Focus Group Organizing Committee
2004 - Present
Organized 6 campus-wide information session to educate students about careers in consulting and law.
Selected and worked closely with speakers from diverse occupational backgrounds.

Awards &
Interests

Robert C. Byrd Scholarship, awarded to top 1% of U.S. students for academic excellence.
Rensselaer Medal, awarded to top 20,000 students worldwide for achievements in mathematics and science.
Interest in track & field, travel, photography, and oncology.

http://web.mit.edu/career/www

Biomed Student
XXX Memorial Drive
Cambridge, MA 02139
(XXX) XXX-XXXX
[email protected]
Objective

To secure a summer internship in the field of neuroscience and/or medicine.

Education

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA
Candidate for Bachelor of Science in Brain and Cognitive Sciences with Biology minor. June 2006.
Relevant Courses: General Chemistry, Physics, Calculus, Organic Chemistry, Neuroscience
and Behavior, Psychology, Visual Cognition, Development and Structure of the Mammalian
Brain, Biology, Neural Plasticity. GPA: 4.4/5.0
Fort Lee High School
Fort Lee, NJ
Graduated 5th in class of 225, June 2002.
Activities: President of Future Teachers of America, President of Harvesters Chess Club,
Math League, Debate League, National Honors Society

Experience

MIT /MGH Nuclear Magnetic Research Center, Research Assistant

Cambridge, MA
February 2005 - May 2005
Study the effect of aging and Parkinsons Disease on the homodynamic response of the brain
using the fMRI method.
MIT Infant Cognition Lab, Laboratory Assistant
Cambridge, MA
September 2004 - December 2004
Clinical research studied the various cognitive abilities of infants varying in age from 3
months to 3 years.
Unilever Laboratory, Research Assistant
Edgewater, NJ
June - August 2004
Researched the melanin content count in the corneocytes of the skin in search of a more
accurate method of measuring skin color.
June to August 2003
Identified process to encapsulate water-soluble glycolic acid (an Alpha Hydroxyl Acid well
known for the reduction of wrinkles) in oil emulsions in facial cleansers
June - August 2002
Evaluated body powders that produce three effects: the absorption of sweat, the cooling
effect by an endothermic agent, and the controlled release of fragrances upon sweating.
Englewood Hospital, Nurses Assistant
Summers 2001 - 2004
Volunteered for 6 hrs/wk for five summers for a total of 250 hrs

Englewood, NJ

Skills

Languages: Fluent in English and Korean

Computer Language: HTML

Honors/
Awards

- American Medical Student Association, MIT Korean Students Association (2003-present)

- AP Scholar with Distinction (2002)
- Columbia Science Honors Program (2001-2002)
- Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholar Award (2002)
- Commended for the National Merit Scholarship (2002)
- Debate J.V. 1st Place Team Award (2001)

MIT Careers Office

Lab Research Student/Resume

Term Address:
XXX Rd
Cambridge, MA 02478
(XXX) XXX XXXX

[email protected]

Permanent Address:
XXX Rd
Berkeley, CA 94705
(XXX) XXX XXXX

Objective

To obtain a full-time position as a biology laboratory technician in an academic research

environment.

Education

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA
Candidate for Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology June 2005. Broad curriculum in
biology with emphasis on biochemistry, molecular biology, cellular biology, genetics, and
immunology. Humanities concentration in Spanish.
Buckingham Browne and Nichols Preparatory School
Graduated Cum Laude, June 2002
Varsity Crew (4 years). AP Scholar with Distinction.

Experience

Cambridge, MA

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Brookline, MA
Andrology Laboratory - Prostate Cancer Research
February 2005 - June 2005. Laboratory Technician. Researched the effect of the levels of
matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibiting metalloproteinases on healthy and diseased
individuals. Recently submitted application for NIH grant to fund continuation of research
and under review for publication.
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, MA
Pediatric Unit
June 2004-September 2004. Cared for children between the ages of newborn and eight years
old, many of whom were suffering from Leukemia or in need of organ transplantation.
Translated English to childrens native languages to help staff to communicate with them.
Cytopathology Laboratory
July 2003- September 2003. Identified microscopic pathogenic human tissue and assisted
with laboratory management and organization of patient records.
Cardiac Access Unit
June 2002-September 2002. Assisted medical staff in patient information collections and
patient-family relations.

Skills

Macintosh and Windows operating systems, Basic, Pascal, UNIX, Scheme.

Fluent in English, Farsi and Spanish. Familiarity with French.

Activities/
Leadership

Athletics: MIT Crew - Novice first boat 2003.

Boat Club (organizational body of all the rowing teams at MIT) - Member-at-Large
2003-2004.
Leadership: Sigma Kappa Sorority, Continuing Membership Chairman/Assistant
Rush/Recruitment Chair (CMC). Served on Intersocial Committee and Pledge/New
Member Education Committee.
Volunteer: The Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House for underprivileged children and
their mothers, our chapters annual Latenight variety show for Alzheimers research,
Maine Seacoast Mission.

http://web.mit.edu/career/www

Mech Eng Masters Student

XXX Memorial Dr.,
Cambridge, MA 02139
XXX-XXX-XXXX [email protected]

Education
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA
Candidate for Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, June 2006.
Relevant coursework: Entrepreneurship Lab, Product Design, Preliminary Venture Analysis,
Applied Math for Engineers. GPA: 4.8/5.0
South Dakota State University (SDSU)
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, June 2003.
GPA: 3.97/4.0.

Brookings, SD

Peoples Friendship University

Moscow, Russia
One year course in Russian Language (91-92) in preparation for an MD in Medicine.

Experience
Edelman Lab, MIT
Cambridge, MA
2004-current
Examined implantation of a medical device (stents) in human arteries. Identified the
contribution of the geometry as well as material properties of the arterial walls. Drew
interpretations by assessing the response of arteries to these devices using numerical
techniques (finite element methods).
Gas Turbine Lab, MIT
Cambridge, MA
2003-2004
Analyzed a propeller connector (hub) for a vertical test stand to be used in the study and
control of flow patterns around propellers. Calculated design parameters, and strength
evaluation using software such as Patran. Created models using computer aided design
tools (Pro-Engineer).

Skills
Computer: Fortran, Matlab, HTML, UNIX, some JAVA and Visual Basic; Computer aided
design: Pro-Engineer, Ideas; Numerical analysis: ADINA, Patran;
Language: Proficient: English, Hindi; Conversational: Russian; Basic French, Korean,
Arabic.

Leadership/Extracurricular
Managed 150 students as a Resident Assistant at SDSU. Columnist at South Dakota State
Univ; Wrote articles in the MIT campus newspaper. Published poem in anthology of new artists.

Honors/Awards
Pi Tau Sigma, Tau Beta Pi engineering Honor societies; Sigma Pi Sigma outstanding
Physics student of the year 1999-2000; Perry W. Williams Prize 2001-2002; Wilton
McCown Scholarship 2000-2001.

MIT Careers Office

Joe Resume
77 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
EDUCATION
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA
Masters of Science in Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering

Phone: 617-253-XXXX
Email: [email protected]

GPA: 5.0/5.0

2007 (expected)

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, India

Bachelor of Technology, Mechanical Engineering
GPA: 9.5/10.0
Class Rank 1. (Summa cum Laude) secured a gold medal and three silver medals for overall excellence.
Published paper on manufacturing process control-Intl. Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management
Standardized Test Score: GRE Verbal: 720/800, Quantitative: 800/800.

2004

RELEVANT SKILLS
Software
Excel spreadsheets including Sensitivity Analysis, Monte Carlo simulation, and modeling uncertainties; C, C++,
Matlab, Saphire (probabilistic analysis tool) MS Word and MS PowerPoint.
Courses
Coursework covering fundamentals of finance, economics, statistics, risk-benefit and decision analysis, Options in
engineering and, engineering math.
Projects
Simulated stock prices using Hidden-Markov-Models (Course - Statistics); researched system design optimization
techniques as part of a course portfolio (Course - Engineering Options).
EXPERIENCE
Osio Corporation, Boston, MA
Business Intern
2005 Present
Developed Excel spreadsheet model for valuation of the start-ups revenue prospects over the next ten years.
Collaborated with management team in researching and identifying market segments for the new product.
Currently working on evaluating strategies to be adopted for market deployment and future expansion.
X Corporation, City, State
Part-time Consultant
Optimized and redesigned the system to reduce manufacturing costs by 40% and system size by 20%.
Appraised final results of analysis to senior management at the client site and at MIT.Conducted weekly client
update sessions
Center for Product Design, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
Intern for Program in Teaching Innovation
Deliberated with professors and fellow students on issues concerning barriers to student learning.
Identified and specified strategies aimed at teaching innovations and translated them into actionable objectives.
Implemented a key objective by developing a flexible teaching tool for an advanced graduate course.
Bharat Electronics Limited, Bangalore, India
Technical Analyst
Analyzed a structural component and identified its critical design parameters.
Redesigned and optimized the component.

2005

2002

2003

LEADERSHIP
Chief Course Coordinator, MIT Formulated the syllabus and developed the course content for an undergraduate design
engineering course. Organized lectures and led undergraduate assistants in conducting lab tutorials for 200 undergraduate
students..
Innovative Teaching, MIT: Formulated new teaching approaches as part of an HP sponsored focus-group trial.
Community Service Officer, MIT Planned and organized community events for fostering greater interactions amongst
graduate students. Received Outstanding Officer Award for organizational excellence.
Circulation Manager and News Reporter, Graduate Student News Magazine, MIT: Managed monthly distribution of
5000 copies of magazine on MIT campus. Popularized Cryptic Crosswords at MIT.
Mentor, IIT Madras Mentored 15 freshmen during the senior year at IIT Madras.
INTERESTS AND ACTIVITIES
Story-Telling O Cryptic-Crosswords O Teaching Innovations O News Reporting O Tennis O Piano
HONORS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
Government of India Fellowship (2000-2004) O Certificates of distinction for National Math, Physics and Chemistry
Olympiads O Summa Cum Laude in high school O Ranked in top 0.3% for IITs

http://web.mit.edu/career/www

See Sample CV on pages 58 - 59 for CV version of this resume.

PH.D RESUME FOR INDUSTRY POSITION

ANONYMOUS STUDENT
100 Any Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140
home 617-XX-XXXX, mobile 617-XXX-XXXX, [email protected]
Objective
Education
1994- Jan. 2001

1990-1994

Experience
Jan. 2001-present

Associate position in environmental consulting applying geochemical knowledge and gaining

experience in environmental economics and regulations.
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Cambridge, MA
Ph.D. Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences.
Thesis: Petrology and Geochemistry of High Degree Mantle Melts.
Combined thermodynamic, trace element, and geodynamic models to constrain complex
melting processes.
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
Cambridge, MA
B.A., Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Cum Laude.
Broad geology coursework including surface processes and sedimentary petrology.
BOSTON UNIVERSITY
Boston, MA
LECTURER. Department of Earth Sciences
Course: Introduction to Geochemistry. Covers igneous and environmental geochemistry,
element transport mechanisms, and kinetics.

Jan. 2001-present

MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Cambridge, MA
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER. Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences.
Estimating pressure and temperature conditions beneath the Aleutian islands using
combination of experimental observations and thermodynamic modeling.

1994-2001

MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Cambridge, MA
RESEARCH ASSISTANT. Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences.
Constructed thermodynamic computer code (MatLab) to predict the distribution of major
elements in solid and fluid phases during melting of the interior of the Earth.
Modeled trace element distribution in geologic samples.
Constructed geophysical model of mantle convection using existing finite-element code.
Developed experimental and analytical techniques to provide data for models.
Taught lab section of courses in Mineralogy and in Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology.
Mentored 5 undergraduate research projects in geochemistry.

1993-1994

HARVARD UNIVERSITY
Cambridge, MA
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER. Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences
Constructed compositional model of the Earths deep interior by comparing theoretical
seismic velocity of experimental charges with observed seismic velocities.
Performed and analyzed ultra-high pressure experiments.

Skills

Computer: MatLab, some HTML and VBA, convection modeling using pre-existing finite
element code, PC and Mac spreadsheet, text, and drawing programs (Illustrator, Canvas,...)
Analytical: Electron microprobe, ion microprobe, XRF, ICP-MS.

Awards/Activities National Merit Scholarship (1990-1994), Best Senior Thesis - Harvard Geology Club (1994).
Officer - Harvard Geology Club (1993-1994), Chairman of Board - Agassiz Cooperative
Preschool (1997-1998), ultimate, basketball, hiking, gardening, reading.
Publications

2 first author (refereed), 1 co-author (refereed), 8 conference presentations, and 5 co-author on

presentation abstract. A detailed list of publications is available upon request.

MIT Careers Office

Ph.D Interested in Consulting

BEFORE version
Rm. 51-84, M.I.T., 37 Ames St. Cambridge, MA 02139 Phone: 617-253-5000 Email: [email protected]
Objective

A challenging and rewarding position as a Management Consultant with significant growth potential.

Education

MASSACHUSSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Cambridge, MA
Candidate for Ph.D. degree in Material Science & Engineering, June 2001 Used stochastic simulation
techniques to gain new insights into the unraveling of polymers in rapid elongational flows Pursuing unique
integrated approach to develop new molecular models. Coursework includes: Fracture and Fatigue of
Materials, Polymer Processing, Composite Materials, and Biomaterials.
Advisors: Prof. Richard Barrett and Prof. Daniel Noble
Thesis: Stochastic simulation of elongational flows of polymeric materials.
Master of Science in Chemical Engineering Practice, January 1998.
TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY
United Kingdom
Master of Engineering, June 1995
Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Natural Science and Chemical Engineering, June 1994

Experience

MERCK PHARMACEUTICALS (Summer 1997)

Worked on method of raising glass transition temperature of vaccines.
DOW CHEMICALS (Summer 1996)
Programmed in C++ simulation of distillation processes.
DOW-CORNING (September-November 1996)
Researched gel formation in the distillation process.
UNITED KINGDOM ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY (Summers, 1992-1994)
Worked for fluid mechanics group.

West Point, PA

Plaquemine, LO

Midland, MI

United Kingdom

AV/MEDIA SPECIALIST, Cambridge University A/V Department (Summer 1991) United Kingdom
Coordinated use of various types of media tools. Assisted in set up of A/V equipment.
Activities

MIT PRESIDENT, STUDENT LEADERSHIP COUNCIL OF MATERIAL SCIENTISTS (1999 - present)

Lead student group that promotes collaboration between research universities.
TEACHING ASSISTANT, MIT MATERIAL SCIENCE & ENGINEERING DEPT. (Fall semester 1998)
Organized tutorials to clarify course materials.

Awards,
Honors

Winner of National Science Foundation Poster Competition (1999)

Sigma Xi Engineering Research Honors Society (1996)
Harvey Stern Fellowship, MIT (1995)
Fox Prize for Outstanding Performance in Chemical Engineering, Cambridge University (1995)
Verhaydn de Lancy Prize for Outstanding Contribution to Trinity College (1994)
Mobil Prize for Best Performance in Chemical Engineering, Cambridge University (1994)
Senior Scholarship for Outstanding Academic Performance, Trinity College, Cambridge (1993)
Student Scholarship, United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (1991-1995)

Pulications

Student, Ima, S. Wright, and J Zender, Stochastic simulation of elongational flows of polymeric materials
Journal of Physical Chemistry, 80, 14000, (1999).
Dean, J., Grace, D., and Student, Ima, Distillation Process Database Mining by Pattern Recognition, Journal
of the American Chemical Society, 60, 10987, (1996).
Student, Ima, Jones, E., and Walker, J., Measurement of Methionine Sulfoxides in the Active Site Loop of
beta-1 Antitrypsine Using Proteolytic Mapping,, U.K. Chemical Society, Platform Session, May 23, 1994.

Interests

Reading, Dancing, Music, Materials Science.

http://web.mit.edu/career/www

Ph.D Interested in Consulting

AFTER version
Rm. 51-84, M.I.T., 37 Ames St. Cambridge, MA 02139 Phone: 617-253-5000 Email: [email protected]

Education

MASSACHUSSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Cambridge, MA
Candidate for Ph.D. degree in Material Science & Engineering, June 2001 Used stochastic simulation
techniques to gain new insights into polymer structure. Established collaboration with experimental group in
the Mech. Eng. Dept. Pursuing unique integrated approach to develop new molecular models better suited to
designing optimal industrial processes. GPA: 4.9/5.0
Minor: Business Administration at the Sloan School of Management, MIT
Business Courses: Management of Innovation and Technology, International Management, Entrepreneurship,
Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Management and Policy in the International Economy, Marketing, Finance
Theory, Options and Derivatives, Investment Banking, Operations Research, all with grade A.
Master of Science in Chemical Engineering Practice, January 1998.
TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY
United Kingdom
Master of Engineering, June 1995
Class Rank: 2
Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Natural Science and Chemical Engineering, June 1994
Class Rank: 1

Experience

INDUSTRY INTERNSHIPS
MERCK PHARMACEUTICALS (Summer 1997)
West Point, PA
Team Leader: Found systematic method to raise glass transition temperature of vaccines. This allowed a
higher storage temperature for the vaccines. Generated $5million annual saving in refrigeration costs.
DOW CHEMICALS (Summer 1996)
Plaquemine, LO
Wrote software for simulating complex distillation processes that was adopted throughout Dow Chemicals.
DOW-CORNING (September-November 1996)
Midland, MI
Team Leader: Removed a bottleneck to allowing doubling of a plants capacity. $10million capital saving.
UNITED KINGDOM ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY (Summers, 1991-1994)
United Kingdom
Worked for fluid mechanics groups on technical consulting projects for the petroleum industry. Frequently
delivered presentations to clients. Achievements: Incorporated new algorithms into pipeline simulation modules
and achieved tenfold increase in speed. Developed strategies to reduce pipeline erosion. Improved reliability of
flowrate measurement devices in oil pipelines to allow clients to better monitor throughputs.

Leadership

MIT PRESIDENT, STUDENT LEADERSHIP COUNCIL OF MATERIAL SCIENTISTS (1999 - present)

Leader in group of 200 students that promotes collaboration between five major research universities. Organized
videoconferences to allow students to share research ideas. Planning summer retreat to further student
collaboration. Investigating ways to promote science and technology in secondary schools and the community.
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE, MIT MATERIAL SCIENCE & ENGINEERING DEPT. STUDENT
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE (1998 - present)
Leading student / faculty discussion on ways to enhance student / advisor interaction.
TEACHING ASSISTANT, MIT MATERIAL SCIENCE & ENGINEERING DEPT. (Fall semester 1998)
Organized tutorials to clarify course material. Wrote instruction manual to help students use math software.
Class scored 7% higher in final than any of the professors former classes.
U.K. COORDINATOR, EUROPEAN CLUB CAREER FAIR (1997)

Awards,
Honors

Winner of National Science Foundation Poster Competition (1999); Sigma Xi Engineering Research
Honors Society (1996); Harvey Stern Fellowship, MIT (1995); Fox Prize for Outstanding Performance in
Chemical Engineering, Cambridge University (1995); Verhaydn de Lancy Prize for Outstanding Contribution to
Trinity College (1994); Mobil Prize for Best Performance in Chemical Engineering, Cambridge University
(1994); Senior Scholarship for Outstanding Academic Performance, Trinity College, Cambridge (1993);
Student Scholarship, United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (1991-1995)

Activities

Dancing (MIT Salsa Club), Classical Guitar, MIT Debating Club, MIT European Club Soccer Team

MIT Careers Office

Cover Letters
You will have to write a number of letters to employers
while looking for a job. One type of letter is the cover letter,
which you send with your resume when you are requesting
a job interview. Other letters are those you write following
up interviews, arranging company site visits, and accepting
or rejecting job offers. See the examples on the next pages.
Here are some tips:
State clearly in your opening sentence the purpose for
the letter. Then use the rest of the letter to support your
candidacy.
Be sure that each cover letter is specifically tailored to
the company to which you are writing. Research the company to help you determine your approach. Check the
companys website and other resources on the Internet.
If you are seeking a position that is a departure from or an
unexpected application of your academic trainingfor

example, you are an electrical engineer who wants to

use his/her quantitative skills in a finance or consulting
position - be explicit about why you are interested in
that particular field, organization or job, and what value
you bring. Do not leave the reader wondering, Why is
an electrical engineer writing to me, the personnel
manager of McKinsey?
If you are applying for a summer job and do not yet
have any experience that is directly related to the position, focus on telling the employer what experience you
do have that may be of interest.
Always try to write to a specific individual and include
the job title. Do not address your letter to Dear Sir or
Madam.
Ask someone else to check your grammar, spelling,
and style. When proofreading your own writing, it is
easy to overlook silly mistakes.

Suggested Formula for Cover Letter

77 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02139
September 1, 2005
Mr. John Doe
College Relations Coordinator
Technology Corporation, Inc.
11 Beacon St., Suite 7
Boston, MA 02134
Dear Mr. Doe:
First Paragraph: Introduce yourself by stating your degree program and the year in which you will graduate. Specify the type of
position you are seeking (e.g. summer internship, full-time position). Tell why you are writing, and name the position, field, or
general vocational area in which you are interested. Tell how you
heard of the opening or organization (e.g., job notices in the
Careers Office or ad in the newspaper.)
Second Paragraph: Mention one or two qualifications you think
would be of greatest interest to the employer. Tell why you are
particularly interested in the company, type of work or location.
If you have related experience, or specialized training, point it out.
Refer the reader to the enclosed resume, which will give additional
information concerning your background and interests.
Third Paragraph: Close by stating your desire for an interview.
You may say that you will phone in a week or so to request an
appointment. Make sure that your closing is not vague, but
makes a specific action from the reader likely.
Sincerely,
Jane Doe
Enc.

MIT Careers Office

Sample Undergraduate Management Consulting Cover Letter

Jane Doe
XXX Memorial Drive
Cambridge, MA 02139
[email protected]
(617) XXX-XXXX
Recruiters Name
Campus Recruiter
Company Name
Company Address
Boston, MA 02116
June 24, 2006
Dear Campus Recruiter:
I am a senior at MIT majoring in biology with a concentration in management from Sloan Business School. I was
extremely impressed with Deloittes approach to consulting after speaking with Yelena Shklovskaya. Deloitte is
unique in having the ability to form diverse teams to tackle all the problems a client may have. As a member of
the Strategy & Operations group, I may have the opportunity to meet and work with a variety of people in this
consulting group, in other areas of consulting, and outside of consulting as well. In particular, I like the amount of
attention and dedication that Deloitte puts into working with its clients, not only by devising effective strategies to
address the clients problems, but also by often implementing the recommendations on-site. Therefore, I am
writing to request an invitation to interview for a Business Analyst position with Deloitte.
In the past two years, I have been involved in strategy consulting, pharmaceuticals, and government affairs for a
non-profit healthcare organization. This summer, I worked in strategy consulting for Putnam Associates. My
6-member team evaluated the marketing efforts for a major pharmaceutical companys organ transplant drug.
Through my management of recruitment and interviews with 98 physicians, I obtained primary research and
analyzed it on national and regional levels to recommend and help implement improvements in the clients
marketing plan. I learned how to work in a deadline-oriented environment, held responsibility for large segments
of a team project, and enhanced my quantitative skills through analysis of primary and secondary research data. In
addition, I conducted independent research to form recommendations when launching a drug that follows a related
product, and I presented these key considerations to all Putnam employees.
I have been a volunteer in public policy for 7 years with the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation. I lobbied
Senators at both the Massachusetts and California State Capitols, as well as on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
Lobbying has taught me negotiation skills, the need for contingency plans, and the ability to make quick yet
innovative decisions. Two years ago, I was appointed Director of Massachusetts Youth Public Affairs and asked
to be a member of the states Public Affairs Council. My responsibilities include developing, organizing, and
implementing the Foundations annual public policy objectives in an ultimately results-driven environment.
Through my experience with Putnam Associates and the March of Dimes, along with my modeling work in the
MIT Sloan Business School, I used my management skills to negotiate and consult with others, analytically design
a successful plan, and execute my ideas. I am confident that I can bring my strong, diverse technical and business
background to best fit the current needs and future ventures of Deloitte.
I welcome the opportunity to speak with you about my qualifications and ways that I can contribute to Deloitte.
Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,

Jane Doe
Jane Doe

http://web.mit.edu/career/www

Sample Cover Letter

Your Name
000 Memorial Drive, # 0000
Cambridge, MA 02139
August 25, 2006
Professor XXXX
Search Committee, IT 989
Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of XXX
Address
City, State Zip
Dear Professor XXXX:
I am responding to your advertisement for a faculty position in the Department of Mechanical
Engineering at University of XXX. I graduated from the Department of Aeronautics and
Astronautics at MIT in June with a Doctors degree, and am currently working as a Postdoctoral
Associate at MIT in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. My thesis work is in the
area of active structural acoustic control using smart structures technology, and my specific
research topic is the development of a new wavenumber domain sensing method for active
structural acoustic control. My thesis advisor is Professor X in the Department of Aeronautics
and Astronautics at MIT.
For my Ph.D. dissertation, I have worked on the development of the structural-acoustic control
algorithms and their implementation for the reduction of radiated noise from vibrating underwater
vehicles. The Office of Naval Research, with an objective of developing smart underwater
vehicle systems so that the enemy cannot detect their attack in advance, has funded this project.
My responsibility in this project is to develop the new technology to reduce the radiated noise from
vibrating underwater vehicles. In order to accomplish this, I have developed a new wavenumber
domain sensing method and applied it to the real-time estimation of acoustic power and the design
of feedback controller for active structural acoustic control of the general complex structures.
Furthermore, I have designed and experimentally implemented local and global controller
architectures with different configurations to find the best controller configuration for the new
underwater vehicle system.
I would like to continue my research on active structural control and active structural acoustic
control for complex systems, including aerospace systems (aircrafts, helicopters) and underwater
vehicles (submarines, torpedoes). I will carry out research on structure/fluid/control interaction
phenomena and advanced sensor/actuator development using smart structures technologies. Also,
I will extend my research to the development of advanced control design techniques for noise and
vibration reduction of complex systems.
My ultimate research goal is to develop intelligent structural systems, which will contain arrays
of sensors and actuators, and embedded devices for controls and decision-making algorithms, so
that those systems can coordinate large numbers of devices and adapt themselves to uncertain
environmental changes in an intelligent manner. I believe my extensive research experience and
specialization in structural dynamics and controls will allow me to continue my research in those
areas.
I have enclosed my curriculum vitae with a list of publications, and a list of references. If you have
any questions or would like to talk with me, I can be reached by phone at (617) XXX-XXXX or
email at [email protected]. Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you
soon.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Dear Ms. XXX:
Professor XXX, a faculty member in the Electrical Engineering
and Computer Science department at MIT, suggested I contact
you. I have been meeting with Professor Gordon as a means of
exploring the field of Speech Systems Technology as a potential
career option.

Request for
Informational
Interview

He thought you would be a great resource to help me gain

insight into the field and focus my job search efforts. I realize
your time is very valuable so I am requesting to setup a brief
20-30 minute meeting at your convenience. I would enjoy a
chance to ask you some questions.
I have enclosed my resume for your review. I thought it might be
useful as a way of informing you of my educational background
and experience. I will contact your office within 10 working days
to follow up with this letter. Thank you in advance for your time
and effort.
Sincerely,
Your Name

MIT Careers Office

Sample Cover Letter

Your Name
Address
Boston, MA 02215
February 10, 2006
Engineering Manager
Company Name
Address
Los Angeles, CA 92008
Dear Engineering Manager,
I got your name from (website/ICAN/other contact person). I will be
graduating from MIT in June with a Bachelors degree in Mechanical
Engineering and am interested in opportunities at (name of company). I
am excited about the direction (name of company) is headed and read
from your website that you are continually producing innovative products
and quality customer service.
I feel that my experiences in both the workplace and at MIT have given
me the skills to make a valuable contribution to a future employer. I have
taken courses in product design and development, manufacturing,
mechanical design, and management in engineering, in addition to MITs
general Mechanical Engineering course requirements. My thesis project is
a cataract cryoprobe prototype that should make a significant impact in
third world countries, because both doctors as well as trained medical
technicians can administer this procedure. This past summer at the
Natural Energy Institute, I designed a polycarbonate pressure vessel that
will be used for deep-ocean alternative energy simulations.
I would very much like to speak with you further about how I can make a
valuable contribution to (your company). Please feel free to contact me by
phone at (617) 555-5555 or by email at [email protected]. I look forward
to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,

Your Name
Your address
Date

Your Name
Companys Address
Dear Ms. Johnson:

I completed my Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute

of Technology in 2000. I have gained ample experience in the financial investment
industry as well as a great deal of exposure to the overall functioning of a highly
successful retail business launched 2 years ago. The Analyst position in your
company seems to fit well with my experience and qualifications.

Sample Cover Letter

Through the implementation of a retail business in a highly competitive market, I

have developed comprehensive knowledge in the accounting practices of small
businesses, managing inventory to the optimal level, utilizing marketing and sales
techniques to enhance profit volume, and providing excellent customer service.
This in turn, increased annual sales to $500,000 within a 2-year time span. My
entrepreneurial talent is helping me to be successful in the modern business world,
by implementing a complete automated system in order to meet retail industry
standards.
I have also gained considerable experience and knowledge in the financial investment
sector, world custodial and foreign exchange markets during my stint at State Street
as a Portfolio Administrator, and as a Global Custody Intern at Putnam Investments.
Both of these experiences have taught me how to work in a highly deadline-oriented
environment as well as being responsible for the entire operation of multiple domestic
and international mutual fund accounts on a daily basis. This enhanced my quantitative
skills dealing with the monetary aspects and problem solving nature of the financial
industry. Providing accurate reports on the availability of money in the funds to the
portfolio managers was one key aspect of the business. This required a great deal of
accuracy and problem solving abilities, and constant interactions with top notch
traders and portfolio managers.
Dealing with various foreign exchange markets and their rules and regulations
subsequently enhanced my vision and complete understanding of highly sensitive
emerging and foreign financial markets.
I am highly confident that I can bring my skills and knowledge to best fit the current
needs and the future ventures of your company. I would welcome the opportunity to
speak with you further about my qualifications. I can be reached at 508-555-5555 or
[email protected]. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Your Name

http://web.mit.edu/career/www

Other Career Writing

Thank You/Follow-Up Email
Address
Dear Mr. Smith,
It was a pleasure speaking with you and Mr. Mansfield yesterday, regarding job opportunities at Supa Systems. I am very
interested in the work you are doing and am extremely
impressed with the advanced applications being used in
your company.
As I mentioned during our conversation, my past two summer
positions were related to the development and design of
software programs for industrial computervision experiments.
With my skills and interest in software design, I believe I could
be of value to Supa Systems.
Thank you for your time. The interview was very informative.
Please let me know if you need any more information about my
background. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Your Name

Address
Dear Mr. Smith,
I am writing to thank you for the offer to join Northeast
Electronics Laboratories as member of the research and
development staff. Unfortunately, I must decline your offer.
I have accepted a position with the energy consulting firm.

Letter Declining a Job

It was a difficult decision for me because I was both excited

and impressed by the work at Northeast Electronics. I
appreciate your giving me the opportunity to meet with you
and the members of the research staff.
Again, thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Your Name

MIT Careers Office

Chapter 5. Interviewing
Preparing for an Interview
Preparing for your first interview can be a little nerveracking. Good preparation will help you control the nervousness and maximize your chances of a successful
outcome.
One way to accomplish this is by looking at the results from
surveys of employers to discover what are the top characteristics they look for in job candidates.
Take a look at the Top 10 Personal Characteristics, start
taking a personal inventory and see how you measure up in
these categories. Think of one or two examples of how you
have proven yourself in these areas in the past and be
thoughtful about how these characteristics would be
valuable in the workplace environment that you are hoping
to get in to.
Do thorough company research including reading annual
reports, newspaper articles and trade journals. Look at the
company homepage to find out their mission statement,
long-term goals, recent press releases, and to view corporate photos. Do not limit your research only to companycontrolled information. Refer to Chapter 2: Researching
Employers.

How Employers View Candidates

Source: NACE Research: Job Outlook 2006 National
Association of Colleges and Employers.

Employers rate the importance of candidate

qualities/skills
Communication skills (verbal and written) 4.7
Honesty/integrity 4.7
Teamwork skills (works well with others) 4.6
Strong work ethic 4.5
Analytical skills 4.4
Flexibility/adaptability 4.4
Interpersonal skills (relates well to others) 4.4
Motivation/Initiative 4.4
Computer skills 4.3
Detail-oriented 4.1
Organizational skills 4.1
Leadership skills 4.0
Self-confidence 4.0
Well-mannered/polite 3.9
Friendly/outgoing personality 3.8
Tactfulness 3.8
http://web.mit.edu/career/www

Creativity 3.6
GPA (3.0 or better) 3.5
Entrepreneurial skills/risk-taker 3.2
Sense of humor 3.2
(5-point scale, where 1=not at all important and 5=extremely important)

What Happens During the Interview?

The interview process can be scary if you do not know what
to expect. To make it easier on you, keep in mind that most
interviews fit a general pattern. The typical interview will
last 30 - 45 minutes, although some may be longer. A typical
structure is as follows:
Five minutes: greeting and small talk
Fifteen minutes: a mutual discussion of your background and credentials as they relate to the needs of
the employer
Five minutes: you have an opportunity to ask questions
Five minutes: wrap-up/ discuss next steps in the
process
As you can see, there is not a lot of time to state your case.
When you do respond to questions or ask your own, your
statements should be concise and organized. But do not be
too brief. This could be your last chance to market yourself
to the employer!

The Greeting, First Impressions and Small Talk

It is a good idea to arrive at least 15 minutes before your
scheduled time. You can use the time to relax, organize
your thoughts, and even wipe your sweaty palms with a
handkerchief, if necessary. The recruiter begins to evaluate
you the minute you are identified and continues to evaluate
you in every way. For example, he or she is analyzing the
way you shake hands upon being introduced. Be firm, it
shows confidence. Do not be afraid to extend your hand
first. This shows assertiveness.
Here are some tips to ensure your first impression is a
positive one:
Appearance counts. When you look good, you feel good.
Make sure you look groomed and professional. Your
clothes and accessories should be neat, conservative and
neutral. Your clothes are your packaging and should not
take attention away from the product.
Nonverbal communication sometimes conveys a stronger
message than verbal communication. According to one
39

UCLA study, 93 percent of a persons communication

effectiveness is determined by nonverbal communication.
Eye contact and smiles can indicate a confident and upbeat
attitude. Have a firm (but not too strong) handshake and
moderate your voice to sound calm and assertive. During
the settling in stage of the interview you may engage in
brief small talk. This is a good opportunity to demonstrate
your social and interpersonal skills as well as your excitement about the opportunity for which you are interviewing.
The words you choose will say something about you, as
well as your knowledge of the industry. It is important to use
their words and talk their talk.

Strategy for Discussing Your Credentials

The main part of the interview starts when the recruiter
begins discussing the organization and asking some questions regarding your past experience related to the position
for which you are interviewing. Many times recruiters will
ask why you chose the major you did or what your career
goals are. These questions are designed to determine your
goal direction. Employers seek people who have direction
and motivation.
It is a good idea to think about what the recruiter is trying to
find out about you when they ask certain questions. For
example, if you are asked to discuss a time when you had a
conflict with a colleague, keep in mind that the recruiter is
looking for someone who is confident about his or her own
beliefs, but open to other peoples ideas as well. Most of the
time, he or she is looking for collaboration and compromise.
Always listen carefully to the question, ask for clarification
if necessary, and make sure you answer the question
completely. Give a specific example and walk through the
situation, step by step. A good story-telling technique is a
huge plus when interviewing because it keeps the recruiter
interested. So give only the essential background information and get to the point!
Your interview preparation should include identifying
examples of situations from your experiences on your
resume where you have demonstrated the behaviors a
given company seeks. Briefly explain a particular situation
that relates to the question, not a general one. Describe the
situation, tell what you did specifically, and the positive
result or outcome. Your answer should contain these four
steps (Situation, Task, Action, Result or STAR) for optimum success.

STAR Method:
Situation: Give an example of a situation you were involved
in that resulted in a positive outcome.
Task: Describe the tasks involved in that situation.
40

Action: Talk about the various actions involved in the situations task.
Results: What results directly followed because of your
actions.
Before the interview process, identify two or three of your
top selling points and determine how you will convey
these points (with demonstrated STAR stories) during the
interview.
It is helpful to frame your answer as a story that you can tell.
Typically, the interviewer will pick apart the story to try to
get at the specific behavior(s). The interviewer will sometimes ask you open ended questions to allow you to choose
which examples you wish to use. When a part of your story
relates to a skill or experience the interviewer wishes to
explore further, he/she will then ask you very specific follow-up questions regarding your behavior. These can
include What were you thinking at that point? or Tell me
more about your meeting with that person. or Lead me
through your decision making process.
Whenever you can, quantify your results. Numbers and
percentages illustrate your level of contribution and
responsibility. For example: I was a shift supervisor could
be enhanced by saying .... as Shift Supervisor, I trained
and evaluated four employees.
Be prepared to provide examples of when results did not
turn out as you planned. What did you do then? What did
you learn? Your resume will serve as a good guide when
answering these questions. Refresh your memory regarding
your achievements in the past couple of years. Use
examples from past internships, classes, activities, team
involvements, community service and work experience.

Example of a STAR Answer

Situation: During my internship last summer, I was responsible for managing various events.
Task: I noticed that attendance at these events had
dropped by 30% over the past three years and wanted to do
something to improve these numbers.
Action: I designed a new promotional packet to go out to
the local community businesses. I also included a rating
sheet to collect feedback on our events and organized
internal round table discussions to raise awareness of the
issue with our employees.
Result: We utilized some of the wonderful ideas we
received from the community, made our internal systems
more efficient and visible and raised attendance by 18% the
first year.
MIT Careers Office

Interview Preparation Exercise:

Under each of the following headings, note down some examples of your own using the STAR method:
S-What was the situation?
T-What was your task?
A-What action did you take?
R- What was the result?

Teamwork

Technical skills and experience

S __________________________________________

____________________________________________

T __________________________________________

____________________________________________

A __________________________________________

____________________________________________

R __________________________________________

____________________________________________

Interpersonal and communication skills

Personal leadership/initiative

S __________________________________________

____________________________________________

T __________________________________________

____________________________________________

A __________________________________________

____________________________________________

R __________________________________________

____________________________________________

Strong analytical/problem solving skills

Other

S __________________________________________

____________________________________________

T __________________________________________

____________________________________________

A __________________________________________

____________________________________________

R __________________________________________

____________________________________________

Develop a story around these examples to describe your strengths and practice this story with others.
http://web.mit.edu/career/www

Its Your Turn to Ask Questions

When the recruiter asks, Do you have any questions for
me? it is important to have a few ready. At this point you
are able to ask strategic questions that will elicit positive
responses from the employer. The questions should bring
out your interest in and knowledge of the organization.
Show the recruiter that you have done your homework. See
the MITCO handout Questions Commonly Asked to
Interviewers.

Wrap Up

The interview is not over until you walk out the door. The
conclusion of the interview usually lasts five minutes and is
very important. During this time the recruiter is assessing
your overall performance.

It is important to remain enthusiastic and courteous. Once

you take the cue that the interview is over, stand up, shake
the recruiters hand and thank him or her for considering
you.

Overall - Expect the Unexpected

During the interview, do not be surprised if you are asked
some unusual questions. Many times questions are asked
simply to see how you react. For example, surprise questions could range from, Tell me a joke to What time
period would you like to have lived in? These are not the
kind of questions for which you can prepare so do not
spend time worrying about them in advance. Stay cool,
think and give an honest answer. The employer will evaluate your reaction time and the response you give, but again,
there is no way to anticipate questions like these. While
these questions are not always used, they are intended to
force you to react under some stress and pressure.
During the interview, be prepared to deal with aspects of
your background that could be construed as negative, i.e.,
low grade point average, no participation in outside activities, no related work experience. It is up to you to convince
the recruiter that although these points appear negative,
positive attributes can be found in them. A low GPA could
stem from having to fully support yourself through college;
you might have no related work experience, but plenty of
experience that shows you to be a skilled and potentially
valuable employee.

Sample Questions Asked by

Employers
Personal Assessment
Tell me about yourself.
What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
What have you done that shows initiative and
willingness to work?
42

How do you react to criticism?

How would your best friend describe you?
Describe your ideal job.
Define success. Define failure.
What can you offer us?
Who are your role models? Why?
What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort?
What kind of people do you enjoy working with?
What motivates you in a job?
What types of people rub you the wrong way?
What frustrates you? (makes you angry?)
Are you a joiner or a loner? A leader or follower? A
committee member or an executive?
How do you spend your spare time? What are your
hobbies?
Talk about a time when you had trouble getting along
with a professor/ co-worker/ supervisor. How did you
handle it?
Have you ever spoken in front of a group of people?
How large?
Tell me about a leadership role you have had. What
makes a good leader?
Where do you want to be in five years? Ten years?

Education and Experience

Can you summarize your educational background for
me?
Why did you decide to attend school at M.I.T.?
Do you think you received a good education? Why or
why not?
Why did you choose the major you did?
What courses did you like the most? The least?
Describe for me the most rewarding accomplishment
since youve started college.
Describe your study habits. How do you balance study
with personal life?
In which campus activities did you participate?
What job-related skills have you developed?
How do you spend college vacations?
What extra-curricular activities are you involved in?
What have you gained from those experiences?
Have you plans for furthering your education?
If you could start college over, what would you do
differently?
Tell me about a class in which you were part of a study
group. What role did you play?
Did you work while going to school? In what positions?
Tell me about the most satisfying job you ever held?
The least?
Have you had any work experience related to this
position?
What kind of boss do you prefer?
What kind of work interests you the most?
Have you had any supervisory experience?
What frustrates you on the job?
Have you ever quit a job? Why?
MIT Careers Office

Give an example of a situation where you provided a

solution to an employer.
Give an example of a time when you worked under
deadline pressure.
Have you ever done any volunteer work? What kind?
How would a former supervisor describe your work?
Describe a time when you had to go above and beyond
the call of duty to get the job done.
Describe a time when a team member came to you for
help. What was the situation? How did you respond?

Career Ambition and Plans

Why did you choose this career field?
What type of position are you looking for?
What are your long-range and short-range goals and
objectives; when and why did you establish these
goals; how are you preparing to achieve them?
What specific goals, other than those related to your
occupation, have you established for yourself in the
next five years?
What qualities does a successful manager possess? ....
does a successful team player possess?
What do you know about opportunities in your field?
What are the most important rewards you expect from
your career?
What kind of challenge are you looking for?
What do you think determines a persons progress in a
good company?
How do you determine or evaluate success?
What are your ideas on salary?
How much money do you hope to earn five years from
now?
What personal characteristics are necessary for
success in your field?
Do you prefer to work on your own or under a supervisor?

Company or Organization
Why do you want to work for this organization?
What do you know about our organization?
What section (service or product) are you most
interested in?
Do you prefer large or small companies? Why?
How do you feel about working in a structured environment? A non-structured environment?
What do you think it takes to be successful in a company such as ours?
In what ways do you think you can make a contribution
to our company?
How long would you expect to work here?
Are you willing to work overtime?
Are you willing to work flextime?
Are you willing to go where the company sends you?
What type of work environment are you most comfortable with?
Why do you think you might like to live in the community
in which our company is located?
Why should I hire you?
http://web.mit.edu/career/www

The Close
When could you start work?
Is there anything else I should know about you?
Do you have any other questions?

Behavioral and Case Interviewing

Behavioral Interviewing is based on the premise that the
most accurate predictor of future performance is past performance in a similar situation. It focuses on experiences,
behaviors, knowledge, skills and abilities that are job
related. Employers predetermine which skills are necessary for the particular job and then ask very pointed
questions to determine if the candidate possesses those
skills. For example, if leadership is necessary for a position,
you may be asked to talk about an experience in which
you were a leader as well as what you think makes a
good leader.

Examples of a Behavioral Question

Behavioral questions can be difficult if you are not prepared. Always try to be conscious about what the recruiter
is trying to find out about you. Setting up a mock interview
with the MIT Careers Office is an excellent way to practice.
Here are some examples:
Describe a situation in which you were able to use persuasion to successfully convince someone to see
things your way.
Describe an instance when you had to think on your
feet to extricate yourself from a difficult situation.
Give me a specific example of a time when you used
good judgment and logic in solving a problem.
By providing examples, convince me that you can
adapt to a wide variety of people, situations and environments.
Describe an experience when you were faced with
problems or stresses that tested your coping skills.
Give me an example of a time in which you had to be
relatively quick in coming to a decision.
Tell me about a time in which you had to use your written communication skills in order to get an important
point across.
Give me a specific occasion in which you conformed to
a policy with which you did not agree.
Give me an example of an important goal that you had
set in the past and tell me about your success in
reaching it.
Tell me about a time when you had to go above and
beyond the call of duty in order to get a job done.
Give me an example of a time when you were able to
successfully communicate with another person even
when that individual may not have personally liked you
(or vice versa).
43

The Case Interview

Certain employersespecially management consulting
firmsuse a case interview technique to determine how
well-suited you are to performing their type of work. Case
interviews are used to measure your problem solving ability,
your tolerance for ambiguity, and your communication skills
along several dimensions (Please see: http://web.mit.edu/
career/www/guide/CaseInterResour.pdf for more
information).
In a typical case interview, candidates are first introduced
to a business dilemma facing a particular company (often
drawn from the interviewers professional experience).
Next, depending on the length of the case, you will begin a
process in which you and the interviewer engage in an open
dialogue about various aspects of the case. Occasionally,
the interviewer will help to guide the discussion but will
often expect that you ask probing questions to uncover key
information about the case facts, identify key business
issues, and discuss how you move toward a possible
resolution. In this way, employers hope to learn about your
analytical skills, specifically, how you identify, structure,
and think through problems under pressure. Consequently,
your approach to a case is more important than the specific
content of your answers. Employers encourage that you
think out loud as you attempt to crack a case because it
allows the interviewer to evaluate your thought process.
Therefore, they will also evaluate your interpersonal skills
and ability to communicate your recommendations and
solutions to the presented business problem.
While there are many types of case interviews, most will
involve at least one of the three following components:
Brainteasers
Estimation (Market Sizing) Questions
A Specific Project or Business Case
Brainteasers
Brainteasers can be little or complex logic puzzles. These
can involve using some quick math and give you a chance
to demonstrate your conceptual skills to the interviewer.
Your answers should be thoughtful and include some creativity in arriving at a solution.
Some sample brainteasers are:
Why are man-hole covers round?
If a wall clock reads 3:15pm, what is the angle
between the hour and the minute hands?
How would you weigh a plane without scales?
Which would you rather have, a trunk full of nickels or
a trunk half full of dimes?
Estimation Questions
Estimation Questions may be somewhat longer than
brainteasers and require you to be adept in both making
assumptions and working with numbers, facts, and the

unknown. Usually, with these types of questions, you will

likely need pencil and paper. Again, employers are looking
for your ability to be creative and will be evaluating your
quantitative ability very closely, so it is imperative that the
numbers and formulas you create in your solutions be
correct.
How many car batteries are sold in the US each year?
How much does all the ice in a hockey rink weigh?
Estimate the size of the DVD rental market in the
Midwest?
Project Case
The third type of question found in most case interviews
involves analyzing a project or a business case. These can
be written or verbal cases and will take anywhere from 45
minutes or longer to process with the interviewer. Cases
can be specifically created for the interview process or can
be a past or current situation affecting a business or
organization. As such, the best way to begin learning how
to approach the different types of business cases comes
with practice. Some firms will have sample cases for students to become familiar with the form, and there are many
resources available to get yourself acquainted with this
popular interview method. The following are just a few
examples of project/business cases used in a case interview setting:
Sample case #1: You are called in by Pizza Hut to help
them develop a strategy for entering the home delivery
market in which Dominos has the dominant position. As
lead consultant on this project, what would you do?
Sample case #2: Your client is a mid-sized hotel chain.
How would you develop a pricing strategy for the client?
Sample case #3: A US company who has just created a
new biotech device is thinking about expanding internationally. If its labor costs are competitive with industry
standards, what issues might influence its decision?
Your first challenge is to identify the type of problem
the case addresses and decide whether there is an
appropriate framework to structure your analysis. Popular
frameworks are often derived from business concepts and
several can be learned in the process of preparing for your
interview. For example, each of the above scenarios
addresses three different types of business situations:
entering a new market, developing a pricing strategy, and
developing a new product. Next, the frameworks that you
use to begin your analysis will allow you to push deeper into
each issue, starting with the most important first. Questions
to ask yourself about a case:

What additional information do I need to know?

What are the key issues to be addressed?
What are the key findings from the analysis?
What is my hypothesis for the solution?

MIT Careers Office

Overall, as your interview progresses, listen carefully and

clarify anything you do not understand before proceeding.
Follow the interviewers lead. Each individual will have a
unique interviewing style and take you through the case in
different ways depending on his or her priorities.

Quintcareers.com (maintains a list of companies that

use case interviews)

What Employers Look for During a Case Interview

Enthusiasm for typical consulting issues
Ability to think out loud and brainstorm
Listening skills and the pace of candidates response
Ability to restate the problem and verify the objective of
the business or project
Conciseness and focus when possible
Use of sketches, charts, or diagrams to describe your
analysis and logic
Ability to create reasonable hypotheses and put them
to the test
Ability to summarize final recommendations in a clear
and concise way, identifying which case facts lead to
your solution
Confidence in your ideas

Telephone Interviews have one advantage over the other

types of interviewsyou can have your preparation materials in front of you as the interview is taking place. Prepare
for a phone interview just as you would for a regular interview. Compile a list of your strengths and weaknesses, as
well as a list of answers to typical interview questions. (see
http://jobsearch.about.com/library/weekly/aa121000a.htm
for extra hints).

Common Mistakes to Avoid During a Case Interview

Ignoring the cues of the interviewer
Use of business terms in the wrong context
Asking open-ended questions throughout the entire
interview (or asking a long series of questions without
explaining why you need the information)
Making assumptions that utilize extremely large
numbers and percentages and not being able to use
them comfortably in your analysis
Appearing disorganized or having scattered notes on
the specific business or project case
Spending too much time analyzing the smaller aspects of
the case and not referring back to the big picture or problem
Not being able to respond well to criticism or questions
about your assumptions or your solutions
Additional Case Interview Resources
Many of the medium to large consulting firms that recruit
from universities have practice cases somewhere on their
website. As consulting firms increase their recruitment
of students from a diverse set of majors, employers are
looking to expose non-business and management majors to
the dynamics of case interviews that will help prepare
candidates for the interview process.
In addition to these websites, there are a variety of print,
on-line, and campus resources to help you.
MIT Science and Engineering Business Club
http://web.mit.edu/sebc/
Vault Guide to the Case Interview
http://www.monstertrak.com (accessible with your
MonsterTrak account, use the MIT Lucent Career
Library once you log-in)
Articles and Books published by WetFeet Press and
WetFeet.Com
http://web.mit.edu/career/www

Telephone Interviews

Prior to the Interview

Keep your resume in clear view, on the top of your
desk, or tape it to the wall near the phone, so its at your
fingertips when you need to answer questions.
Have a cheat sheet of compelling story topics that
highlight your accomplishments.
Have company information summarized including specific critical points describing the employer and the
companys products.
Have a short list of questions about the job and the
organization.
Have a pen and paper handy for note taking.
Clear the roomevict the roommates and the pets.
Turn off the stereo and other distraction.
Close the door. Place a sign Interview in progress
please do not disturb. Thanks
If you are caught by surprise at a busy time, you may
request another time to speak.
Employers use telephone interviews as a time-effective
way of identifying and recruiting candidates for employment. There are three basic types of telephone calls that
you get from employers at this stage. One of the keys to
success is to be able to identify quickly what type you are
going to be participating in.
A. Information Gathering Interviews An employer may
call in order to assess your interest in the company.
This often occurs if you are referred to him or her
through a personal contact, referral, or someone you
met at a career fair. This kind of call should be treated
as seriously as an in-depth interview. It is a good way
for you, as the potential employee, to see if you are a
good fit with the company and its objectives.
B. Screening Call Many companies use telephone
calls as a screening mechanism in order to narrow the
pool of applicants who will be invited for in-person
interviews. These are quick and the person calling
you will most likely be someone from Human
Resources.
45

C. In-Depth Telephone Interview In this case, the telephone is being used as a way to minimize the expenses
involved in traveling for the interviewer and/or the
interviewee. Depending on the type of organization
that you are interviewing with, you may be interviewed
by a hiring committee, where you will be broadcast
over a speakerphone.

During the Phone Interview

Do not smoke, chew gum, eat, or drink.
Do keep a glass of water handy, in case you need to
wet your mouth.
Smile. This may sound strange but smiling will project a
positive image to the listener and will change the tone
of your voice.
Speak slowly and enunciate clearly.
Use the persons title (Mr. or Ms. and their last name.)
Only use a first name if they ask you to.
Do not interrupt the interviewer.
Take your timeits perfectly acceptable to take a
moment or two to collect your thoughts.
Give succinct answers.
Be able to tell a brief example/story of your experiences.

Before you hang up

Thank the interviewer for the opportunity.

Get the correct spelling of your interviewers name.
Get contact information for follow-up questions.
Ask about the hiring timeline, When are you looking to
have a decision made?

After the Interview:

Take notes about what you were asked and how you
answered.
Follow with a thank you note, (see http://jobsearch.
about.com/library/weekly/aa082398.htm for further
hints) which reiterates your interest in the job.

Men
SuitsA traditional suit is preferred to a blazer. The color
should either be a dark blue or gray in either a solid or invisible plaid with a pressed long-sleeved (even in summer!)
white dress shirt. If you buy or borrow one, a conservative
sports coat and dress slacks are best.
ShirtsWhite shirts are always your first choice. Solid
blue is an acceptable alternative. If you dont own either,
you should really go buy one. Get plain or button down cotton material. Polyesters and nylon are out.
GroomingAvoid heavy cologne or aftershave.
SocksDark, neat and preferably over the calf. White athletic socks are a big no no unless you are interviewing to
be a summer camp counselor at a sports camp.
ShoesClean and polished leather lace-up black or dark
brown shoes are best. Avoid shoes with a run down heel.
NecktiesConservative silk ties are best. Be sure the tie
coordinates with the suit, is solid or has small neat patterns.
Be sure the knot is neat and centered on your neck. The
bottom of the tie should just reach your belt.
BeltsWear a black or brown belt, one inch wide, no large
buckles.
HairMen: Clean well-groomed and professional looking.
Remember, the choice to cut your hair is yours, but the
choice to hire you is the interviewers. Be sure beards and
mustaches are neat and trimmed.
AccessoriesNo flashy cuff links, rings or gold chains.
Wedding or college ring is fine. No earrings. Not even one
small one. No visible body piercing.
Women
SuitsSkirted suits are almost always preferable. A solid
navy, grey or black suit with a solid or light colored blouse is
recommended for most positions. Avoid brown, green or
pastel suits. Business dresses are acceptable in fields that
are less formal and less conservative. Avoid frilly collars
and cuffs.

Dress Code for Interviews

What am I going to wear? We get asked this question
nearly every day during the recruiting season. Basically, its
common sense. You can start by asking yourself What
kind of company will I be interviewing with? If it is a
Fortune 500 company, obviously you should wear a traditional suit. But maybe you will be seeing a funky, upbeat
software company and you heard the recruiter showed up
for interviews last year in a tie-dye shirt, sandals and
beads. Use your own discretion but we suggest you dress
the way you would if you were giving an important presentation at the company or attending a business meeting.
46

ShirtsA light colored blouse is ideal.

MakeupNatural looking and conservative. Avoid bright
colors. Use a neutral or clear nail polish on clean and manicured nails. Avoid heavy perfumes.
Hosiery Light, natural color, plain style (no patterns).
Shoes Should be conservative and compliment the color
& style of the interview suit. Low to medium heels are ideal.
Basic pumps, toes should be closed, no strappy shoes, and
avoid multi-colored trim.
MIT Careers Office

Hair should be freshly cleaned and neatly styled. Long

hair should be worn as conservatively as possible.
AccessoriesOne conservative, non-dangling earring per
ear, one or 2 rings per hand. No dangling or distracting
bracelets. Avoid purses of any size - carry a portfolio or
briefcase instead. No visible body piercing beyond earrings.

Dining Etiquette for Interviews

If you are lucky, one round of the interview process will
take place over some sort of a meal setting. This could be
the most daunting meal of your career. Mental preparation
is key! As a rule of thumb, when you face a full battalion of
knives, forks, and spoons, start with the flatware the furthest from the plate first. If you are unsure which fork to use
for your salad course, choose the one with the slightly
smaller prongs.
As soon as you are seated, put your napkin in your lap.
Sometimes, at very formal restaurants, the waiter may do
this for you. When you use your napkin, gently dab at your
lips. It is meant to catch food from falling into your lap and it
should gently dust the crumbs from your lips. When you are
finished, place your knife and fork so they lie horizontally
across your plate, and place your napkin next to your plate.
Do not refold it. Do not leave it on the chair when you get up
to exit the restaurant.
Dining Tips
If you are not sure what to order, follow your hosts lead.
If the recruiter is not first in line to order, ask him/her,
What do you recommend?
A chicken breast or vegetable plate is always safe.
Stick to soft drinks, tea, coffee, and water. Avoid beer,
wine, and mixed drinks.
Cut one bite (meat, fruit, or vegetables) at a time. Keep
your fork prongs pointed down, not up.
With dinner rolls, break off and butter one small piece
of bread at a time; avoid making a sandwich.
Never make slurping or yummy sounds.
When sharing a sauce with others, spoon some of it on
to your plate; dont dip your food into it.
If you need to leave the table temporarily, place your
napkin on your seat.
Keep your elbows off the table.
Drink from the glass to your right.
Eat at the same pace as your host or hostess.
If you are a non-smoker and your host asks for a table
in the smoking section, grin and bear it.
Be prepared to be conversational.
Skim the menu quickly; order a medium priced entre
that will be the least messy to eat.
Relax and keep the conversation focused on businessrelated or casual topics.
Say please and thank you to the waiter.
Dont talk about personal relationships, recent parties,
politics, sports, or religion.
http://web.mit.edu/career/www

Dont eat the garnish.

Dont discuss dietary restrictions; downplay your food
preferences.
Dont drink alcohol if you are under age 21; dont have
more than one drink if you are 21 or over and the
recruiter insists.
Dont argue over the check or offer to pay the tip; the
host who invited you must take care of both.
Dont eat as if this is your last meal. On the other hand,
dont dine on half a lettuce leaf. Youll make the best
impression by eating like a humannot like a wolf or a
bird.

The Site Visit/ Interview

One Step Closer
After an on-campus interview, lead candidates are usually
invited to visit the employers facility. While on-campus
screening interviews are important, on-site visits are
where jobs are either won or lost. Work with the employer
to schedule the on-site visit at a mutually convenient time.
Sometimes employers will try to arrange a site visit for several candidates to take place at the same time, so there
may not be much flexibility.
Notification of a plant trip may be by telephone or mail.
Respond promptly if you are sincerely interested in this
employer. Decline politely if you are not. Never go on a plant
trip for the sake of the trip. If you are attending, document the
name and phone number of the person coordinating your
trip. Verify who will be handling trip expenses. Most medium
and large-size companies (as well as many smaller ones) will
pay your expenses, but some will not. This is very important
because expenses are handled in various ways:
the employer may handle all expenses and travel
arrangements;
you handle your expenses and arrangements (the
employer may assist with this), and the employer will
reimburse you later;
the employer may offer an on-site interview, but will
not pay for your travel expenses.
Bring extra copies of your resume, copies of any paperwork
you may have forwarded to the employer; names,
addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of your
references; an updated college transcript; a copy of your
best paper as a writing sample; a notebook; a black and/or
blue pen for filling out forms and applications; and names
and addresses of past employers.
Once again, your role at the interview is to respond to
questions, to ask your own questions and to observe. Be
ready to meet people who are not part of your formal
agenda. Be courteous to everyone regardless of his or her
position; you never know who might be watching you and
47

your actions once you arrive in town. Treat the custodian

the same as you would the CEO. Word gets back to people
in the most interesting ways.

nice nest egg. In addition, some companies may also

include life insurance and /or relocation expenses in their
benefit packages.

Soon after the site visit, record your impressions of your

performance. Review the business cards of those you met
or write the information in your notebook before leaving the
facility. You should have the names, titles, addresses and
phone numbers of everyone who was involved in your
interview so you can determine which individuals you may
want to contact with additional questions or follow-up
information. Also, a thank-you letter should be written to
the person(s) who interviewed you and will be making the
hiring decision. Stay in touch with the employer if you want
to pursue a career with the organization.

It is also possible to work for a company and receive no

benefits whatever. This is typically the case if you sign on
as a consultant, or as a contract worker. Your salary should
be larger in this case because it is up to you to pay for
health insurance and to provide for your retirement.

The site visit is a two-way street. Just as the employer is

evaluating you, you are there to evaluate the employer and
to determine if your expectations are met for job content,
company culture and values, organizational structure, and
lifestyles (both at work and leisure). Take note of how the
employees interact with each other and their supervisors
and also assess the physical work environment.
Just as any good salesperson would never leave a customer without attempting to close the sale, you should
never leave an interview without some sort of closure. If
you decide that the job is right for you, do not be afraid to
tell the employer that you feel that there is a good fit and
you are eager to join the team.

Small companies may not have the cash flow to offer large
benefits. They may make up for this by giving stock options
(the chance to buy the stock later at an earlier and lower
price), or a new startup company may pay partly in stock or
give an outright gift of stock. Obviously, the value depends
on the success of the company.
For an index to many online salary surveys, see the
JobSmart website on http://jobsmart.org/tools/salary/ also
visit www.Jobweb.com/search/sitemap.htm
Research salaries for the industry and position you seek by
visiting:
www.salary.com
http://web.mit.edu/career/www/salary/
http://web.mit.edu/career/www/infostats/
salaryphd.html
www.rileyguide.com/salguides.html

The Art of Negotiating

Negotiating Salary and Benefits
Before you start negotiating your salary, be sure that
you have done enough research to know what you can
realistically expect. Be aware, that you will be offered a
competitive salary based on what you are worth. Not on
what you want or what others are getting for similar jobs.
Each person is unique, and the going rate is little more
than a guildeline. Salaries can vary depending on where
the job is located.
The MIT Careers Office compiles a yearly salary survey that
has been filled out by departing graduates who have been
offered jobs.
Employee benefits at most large companies are generally
worth another thirty percent or more on top of your
salary. The normal benefits include paid vacation (usually
two weeks for the first year), health insurance, tuition
assistance for courses taken after work, contributions
toward your pension, and an opportunity to buy stock in
the company with the company making a contribution
toward the purchase. If the company grows, and its
stock rises accordingly, this last benefit can become a

Once you have been offered a job, you have the opportunity to discuss with the employer the terms of your
employment. Negotiating with your potential employer
can make your job one that best meets your own needs as
well as those of your employer. To ensure successful
negotiations, it is important to understand the basic
components. The definition of negotiation as it relates to
employment is: a series of communications either oral
or in writing that reach a satisfying conclusion for all
concerned parties, most often between the new
employee and the hiring organization.
For more information see http://web.mit.edu/career/www/
workshops
Negotiation is a planned series of events that requires
strategy, presentation and patience. Preparation is probably the single most important part of successful negotiations. Any good trial attorney will tell you the key to presenting a good case in the courtroom is the hours of preparation
that happen beforehand. The same is true for negotiating. A
good case will literally present itself. What follows are
some suggestions that might help in your preparation.

MIT Careers Office

Research
Gather as much factual information as you can to back up
the case you want to make. For example, if most new
employees cannot negotiate salary you may be jeopardizing the offer by focusing on that aspect of the package. Find
out about the costs and benefits associated with the health
plan, dental plan, retirement package, leave entitlements,
and other benefits.

Psychological Preparation
Chances are that you will not know the person with whom
you will be negotiating very well. If you are lucky enough to
be acquainted, spend some time reviewing what you know
about this persons communication style and decisionmaking behavior.
In most cases this person will be a stranger. Be assured
that he or she will expect some level of negotiation, even if
it only relates to your start date. How will you psyche
yourself up to feel confident enough to ask for what you
want? How will you respond to counteroffers? What are
your alternatives? Whats your bottom line? In short, plan
your strategy.
Create a list of all the items you want to negotiate. Be sure
you know exactly what you want, not approximately. This
does not mean you will get everything you want, but having
information clearly outlined in your head will help you
determine where you can compromise in return for things
that are more important to you. Unless you know what you
want, you wont be able to tell somebody else. Clarity
improves communication, which is the conduit for effective
negotiations.

State all the items to negotiate at the beginning. Cite those

areas in which you know you already agree upon. Follow
with areas that are open to negotiation.
It is sometimes more comfortable for job seekers to make
this initial request in writing and plan to meet later to hash
out the differences. Keep in mind that the employer has
chosen you from a pool of qualified applicants, so they need
you as much as you need them.
Do not rush the process. Remember this is a series of volleys and lobs, trade-offs and compromises that occur over
a period of time. It is a processnot a singular event!
Once you have reached a conclusion with which you are
both relatively comfortable, present in writing your interpretation of the agreement so that if there is any question, it
will be addressed immediately. Negotiation, by definition,
implies that each side will give. Do not perceive it as an
ultimatum.
If the employer chooses not to grant any of your requests
and realistically, that can happenyou will still have the
option of accepting the original offer provided that you
have maintained a positive, collaborative and friendly
atmosphere during your exchanges. You can always reenter negotiations after you have demonstrated your worth
to the organization.

Money Isnt Everything

There are many things you can negotiate besides salary.
Benefits can add thousands of dollars to the compensation
package. For more information about benefits see
http://benefitslink.com/index.shtml. Some negotiation
points can include:

Dollars and Sense

Always begin by expressing genuine interest in the position
and the organization, emphasizing the areas of agreement
but allowing wiggle room to compromise on other areas.
Be prepared to support your points of disagreement, outlining the parts you would like to alter, your suggestions on
how this can be done and why it would serve the companys best interests to accommodate your request.
Back up your reasons for wanting to change the offer with
meaningful work-related skills and positive benefits to the
employer. Requesting a salary increase because you are a
fast learner, or have a high GPA usually are not justifiable
reasons in the eyes of the employer. Meaningful work
experience or internships that have demonstrated or tested
your professional skills are things that will make an
employer stop and take notice.

http://web.mit.edu/career/www

Vacation time
Paid personal leave and sick days
Medical / dental / health coverage
Child care or elder care
Discounts on the companys products and services
Gym membership
Stock options / annual bonuses
Retirement / disability and life insurance
Flexibility of hours
Relocation package
Professional memberships / affiliations
Tuition reimbursement for continued education

For tips on Negotiating Offers, see http://web.mit.edu/

career/www/salary.

There are so many

professions out there.
Why limit yourself
to just one?
You set the precedence in your career. The future is in your hands.
At McKinsey & Company, you will apply your intellect to solving the
most complex and stimulating issues of the moment. Shape and
influence an exceptionally diverse range of organizations from
every sector of industry and every part of the globe. Define your
role, your career and to a very great degree, your world.
Throughout your career at McKinsey you will receive the formal
training and personal mentoring you need to develop expertise and
strengthen your leadership skills. With each project you take on,
you'll be challenged and stretched.
Your work at McKinsey will give you the experience to help you
realize your most ambitious goals. For more information and
dates that we will be on campus, please visit our website at
www.mckinsey.com/mit

Chapter 6. Academic Pathway

Throughout your MIT career, you will make many choices related to your academic pursuits. The Careers Office can assist
you, starting in your first year when many undergraduates think about their choice of major. Later, you may consider graduate
or professional school. The materials and advice below should help you with some of those decisions.

Choice of MajorDecision Making Table

Some Considerations:

Department A

Department B

Department C

Appeal of area of study:

Will you enjoy this Major for its own intrinsic
value?
Level of challenge:
Do you think you can perform well in this field?
Is your motivation strong enough to enable you
to succeed in this Major?
Are you choosing this Major
because it is easy?
because it is hard?
Department characteristics:
How big is the department?
How do you relate to other students in this
Major?
Are the faculty accessible? Do you seek
them out for informal discussions and other
interactions?
Are there activities in the department that bring
students together?
students and faculty together?
Courses within your Major:
Will this Major help you acquire prerequisites
needed for graduate studies you may be
considering?
How many credits does this Major require to
complete a degree? Do you wish to focus largely
on one department, or do you want flexibility to
study in other departments as well?
UROPs /internship programs:
Are there opportunities for you to get experience in your Major that will help prepare you for
your potential career?
Skills:
What kinds of skills will you be developing in this
major?
Family, peers, outside influences:
How are outside pressures from family, peers
and the job market influencing your decision?
What else do you need to know to make a better
decision?

Weigh the above factors to indicate which are most important to you.
http://web.mit.edu/career/www

Graduate School Advising

You may be considering earning an advanced degree
for several reasons, including the opportunity to gain
knowledge in a particular field of interest, an interest in
expanding career opportunities and increasing earning
potential, or postponing a job search until economic conditions improve.
A 2005 survey conducted by the MIT Careers Office found
that 47% of graduating seniors planned to pursue advanced
degrees right after graduation. According to the Council of
Graduate Schools, graduate school enrollments are on the
rise, and this trend is likely to continue.
Strong undergraduate academic preparation is essential to
succeed in graduate school. Key skills for success as a
graduate student include: (1) critical thinking, (2) analytical
abilities, (3) research abilities, (4) written communication,
(5) verbal communication, (6) time management, (7) selfmotivation, and (8) self-discipline.
Range of Degrees
Graduate degrees include
M.S.= Master of Science
M.A.= Master of Arts
M.B.A= Master of Business Administration
Ph.D.= Doctor of Philosophy
Sc.D.=Doctor of Science
M.D.= Doctor of Medicine
D.D.S.= Doctor of Dental Surgery
D.V.M.= Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
J.D.= Juris Doctor
LL.M.= Master of Laws
J.S.D.= Doctor of the Science of Law
Top Ten Criteria to select a Graduate Program
Matching your career interests/goals with the program
Quality of the program Department and faculty strength
and reputation in the profession
Faculty/student ratio
Program costs
Internship or field-work opportunities
Quality of research facilities, laboratories, and libraries
Financial Aid resources
What recent alumni are doing in the field now
Can you easily make connections with alumni for purposes of discussing how graduate school may
enhance your opportunities
The best experts on assistantships and fellowships,
whether you are interested in MIT or other graduate
schools, are the staff in the Graduate Students Office
(3-138). See their website for up-to-date information on the
subject, http://web.mit.edu/gso/financialaid. They also
have various compendia listing individual fellowship programs. For information on the aid available in a particular
52

discipline, a good place to turn is the graduate office in the

corresponding MIT department.
Most graduate schools will require you to take the GRE
exams before you apply. Applications are available outside
our office, and more information is available from GRE
Online (www.gre.org) For more in depth information, see
our online workshop Applying for Graduate School at:
web.mit.edu/career/www/workshops/gradschool/.

Preprofessional Advising
The Preprofessional Advising staff works with students
interested in applying to:
Medical, dental, and other health related professional
schools;
Law school and;
Business school.
The following services are available to both current MIT
students and alumni/ae:
Walk-in Hours: 15-minute sessions, set up to answer
quick questions. Appointments: 30-45 minute sessions,
via phone or in-person. Call our front desk (617- 2534733), or come into our office (12-170) to schedule an
appointment.
Mock Interviews: 45-minute sessions to help prepare
for medical/health profession school interviews.
Credential Service: Service for Prehealth students that
stores recommendation letters at the MIT Careers
Office (12-170) and sends letters to schools through
DHL or Electronic submission.
More information on our services and upcoming events can
be found at http://web.mit.edu/career/www/preprof.
Staff:
Rachel Greenberg, Counselor for Preprofessional Advising:
[email protected]
Shonool Malik, Associate Director for Preprofessional
Advising: [email protected]
Tamara Menghi, Assistant Director for Preprofessional
Advising: [email protected]
Sarra Shubart, Administrative Assistant: [email protected]
Considering & Exploring a Professional School/Career:
Individuals interested in health related careers, law or
business careers should consider the following:
What is my motivation for entering this career?
How can I explore this career during my time at MIT?
What are my core interests and skills and how do they
align with this career?
To help answer these questions, we strongly recommend
that you set up an appointment with a member of our staff to
discuss your interest in these careers. In addition, we
encourage the use of the resources on the Preprofessional
Advising website http://web.mit.edu/career/www/preprof/
MIT Careers Office

and the Alumni ICAN database (https://alum.mit.edu/

cs/ican/index.html).

schools. http://web.mit.edu/career/ www/infostats/

preprof.html#med

Personal Statement/ Essay

Whatever school you are applying for you will be required to
submit a personal statement as part of the application process.
Graduate school application essays typically ask applicants to discuss their previous experience, future professional goals, and how they believe that the graduate
program can assist them in achieving those objectives.
Graduate programs seek individuals with clear commitment to the field, who have corresponding ideas and
aspirations. The personal statement provides the applicant
with the opportunity to articulate these goals and display
strong writing skills. Your essay should be well thought out,
concise, compelling, and interesting to the reader.
Remember, admissions officers read hundreds of personal
essays. It will be important for you to keep in mind the
following suggestions:
1. Start your essay with something that will grab the
readers attention. Personal anecdotes can often help
draw the reader into the essay.
2. Make the essay personal. Do not simply repeat the
information that can be read on your application.
Provide the reader with an inside view on your
thoughts, interests and drives.
3. Make your motivation and commitment clear to the
reader. The admissions officer wants to get a sense
from the essay that you are extremely interested and
motivated to obtain the graduate degree and will apply
the education to your professional work.
4. Create a well-written document. Your essay is a sample of your writing abilities. It is important that you
convey your thoughts clearly, with carefully chosen
vocabulary and correct grammar.
Attend the Essay Writing workshop offered by MIT Careers
Office. http://web.mit.edu/career/www/. For specific tips
on writing a personal statement for professional school,
please see our online essay writing workshop.

Prehealth Information
The following information pertains most directly to students
applying to medical and dental schools. Many of the criteria
are similar for other health related professional schools.
For more specific information on other health related professional schools, please visit our website.
http://web.mit.edu/careers/www/preprof/
Course Requirements:
There is no required major for applying to health related
professional schools. There are however, a number of recommended courses one must take prior to applying. Review
the course list online with your academic advisor and meet
with a Preprofessional Advising Staff member to help
develop your academic schedule.
Volunteer / Service Activities:
Admissions officers are interested in applicants who, in addition to having good academic credentials, are humanistic in
nature, who care genuinely about others and have shown evidence of this interest through volunteer or community service
activities. Your participation in volunteer work and leadership
activities can help develop personal qualities such as
integrity, breadth of interest, human relations skills, and
motivation towards a career in the health professions.

Prehealth Advisors
MIT draws its advisors from many groups: MIT faculty,
physicians at MIT Medical, MIT Dental, and the MITHarvard Health Sciences and Technology (HST) Program,
and research affiliates from HST, Massachusetts General
Hospital, and Brigham and Womens Hospital. Advisors
volunteer their time to discuss medical careers with
advisees and write letters of recommendation for them.
Their expectation in return: responsible, timely, and continuing communication throughout the year.

Getting an Advisor
G.P.A.
G.P.A. standards vary among different programs. While
these numerical records are an important factor, they are
not the only thing considered. Students with a range of
GPAs and test scores are accepted. Most of the time, the
average G.P.A. of students currently enrolled in the program or the minimum G.P.A. accepted can be found on the
admissions webpage. Admissions committees consider all
aspects of an application when making selection decisions.
Look at our website, to see the MIT applicant range of GPAs
and test scores that have been accepted to medical and law
http://web.mit.edu/career/www

Students who want a prehealth advisor are encouraged to

open a credential file and apply for a advisor two years
prior to the year they are interested in matriculating at a
health related professional school. For example, a person
looking to matriculate in fall 2008 must request an advisor in
spring 2006. Early registration enables the MIT Careers
Office to determine the number of advisors needed, and
provides an advisee with adequate time and opportunity to
develop a meaningful relationship with his or her advisor.
Preference is given to undergraduate and graduate students in the advisor assignment process. Local area alumni
53

may be assigned an advisor in late September, provided

that there are advisors available once all current students
have been assigned. Please be advised that we cannot
guarantee an advisor to all those with requests. Visit the
following site for detailed steps on requesting a Prehealth
Advisor and call 253-4733 to set up an appointment with a
Preprofessional Advising staff member.

Application Process
Please note: The information provided below pertains
primarily to medical school and dental school. For more
details on how to apply to other health related professional
schools, please see our website.
The American Medical College Application Service
(AMCAS) is a non-profit, centralized application processing
service for applicants to the first-year entering classes at
participating U.S. medical schools. http://www.aamc.org/
The AMCAS application will include:
Academic information from all of the colleges you
attended
Copies of all undergraduate and graduate,
transcripts
MCAT scores
Personal essay/statement
It is important to note that many admission decisions to
medical schools are made as applications are received and
reviewed. It is critical that you submit your AMCAS application as early as possible, preferably in June. Once your
AMCAS application is received it may take approximately a
month to receive a secondary application for individual
schools.
The Associated American Dental Schools Application
Service (AADSAS) is a service available to students
applying to dental schools participating in the application
service. AADSAS simplifies the application process by providing one standardized form, relieving students of the need
to complete multiple applications. AADSAS serves only as
an information clearinghouse and does not influence the
dental schools appraisal or selection of applicants. Each
dental school has the right to request supplemental information from the applicants. http://www.adea.org

Entrance Tests: MCAT and DAT

The Medical College Application Test is a standardized
examination comprised of multiple-choice questions and a
writing assessment. The test is divided into four sections.
Scores for the Verbal Reasoning, Physical Sciences, and
Biological Sciences are reported numerically, while the
Writing Sample is scored alphabetically. The MCAT is
scored on a scale of 1-45.
54

The paper MCAt exam is typically offered twice a year

during April and August. However, the paper exam will be
replaced in 2007 with a computer based testt (CBT). The
CBT MCAT will be offered several times a year, allowing
more scheduling flexibility and quicker score reporting. The
Dental Admission Test (DAT) is conducted by the American
Dental Association (ADA) and has been in operation on a
national basis since 1950. The Dental Admission Test is
administered on Computer on almost any day of the year.
The testing program is designed to measure general academic ability, comprehension of scientific information, and
perceptual ability. For more information on the DAT & the
ADA visit the following sites: http://www.ada.org/
prof/ed/testing/dat/index.asp and http://www.ada.org/.

Recommendation Letters
All applicants need at least three letters of recommendation in total. We recommend obtaining three to five letters.
Your prehealth advisors letter will count as one of your letters and will also act as a cover letter for your other recommendation letters.
It is important to choose your writers with care and good
judgment. Please be certain that the people you ask to write
letters for you will be writing the letter you expect. Meet
with them and discuss your reasons for wanting to pursue a
health career.
As a courtesy, give each recommender at least a month to
write your letter of recommendation. It is suggested that your
letters be from the following areas: science classes, humanities classes, research experiences, and community service
or leadership experiences. Letters from faculty members
from a variety of academic disciplines are very important.

Credential Service
The Credential Service is designed to provide a reliable,
efficient means of disseminating letters of recommendation
for MIT students and alumni/ae for the use of entering
Medical or other health related professional programs.
Letters are mailed or electronically transmitted to the
schools designated by the applicant, once his or her file is
complete.
Students and alums may open a file as early as they would like
to store recommendation letters for future applications to
medical or other health profession programs. It is ideal that
the credential file be opened two years prior to the year they
are interested in matriculating at a health profession school.

Secondary Applications (for medical school)

Secondary applications are received approximately a
month or more after submitting your AMCAS application.
These applications will request similar, if not the same
information, provided in the AMCAS application and will
MIT Careers Office

also request a second specific personal statement or

essay. It is important that you do not submit the same essay
you submitted with the AMCAS application. Your recommendation letters are sent to schools during the secondary
application phase.

aspects of an application, i.e. work experience, leadership,

etc., when making selection decisions. Visit the MIT Law
School applicant data for more detailed information on the
average GPA and LSAT scores. http://web.mit.edu/career/
www/infostats/preprof.html#law

Interviews

Prelaw Advisors

Interviews are required for a majority of medical and dental

schools and are the final phase of the application process.
Interviews may be held by one member of an admissions
committee or by a group of individuals. Applicants should
be prepared to discuss all aspects of their application,
including their specific interest in the institution that they
are interviewing with. It is recommended that applicants
participate in a mock interview and review the interview
workshop, as well as, the sample interview questions
sheet in preparation for a formal school interview.
http://web.mit.edu/career/www/preprof/.

Advisors are professionals within the MIT community

active in the practice of law, legal scholarship, teaching,
and/or counseling. These individuals volunteer their time
to speak with students about current trends in the legal
profession, as well as experiences they have had both in
law school and as a professional. Students and alumni are
welcome to contact one or all of the advisors to explore
their legal interests.

Prelaw Information
The Official Guide to ABA-Approved Law Schools, published by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), lists
the following as the criteria used most by law schools in
evaluating prospective students.

Personal statement
Course of study
Quality of undergraduate courses
Letters of recommendation
LSAT score
Grade Point Average (GPA)
College activities
Ethnic background
Post college activities
Uniqueness Personality
Motivation to study Law

Activities and Work Experience

Experiences both in and out of the classroom are important
in evaluating applicants. Law schools are looking for individuals that bring a unique perspective, background, and
insight to strengthen the classroom dynamic and intellectual exchange in law school. Student leadership activities,
work experiences, and personal life challenges are all elements that are considered when evaluating and making
decisions on which applicants to accept.

Prior to contacting an advisor, it is recommended that a

student do the following:
Review the information provided throughout the
Prelaw website.
Utilize the resources (books, school pamphlets, LSAT
information, etc.) available in the MIT Careers Office,
12-170.
Make an appointment by calling 253-4733 to meet with
a member of the Preprofessional Advising Staff to
discuss basic law school information and the application process.

Application Process
Applicants must obtain applications directly from law
schools online or by mail. It is important to note that many
admission decisions are made as applications are received
and reviewed. It is critical that you submit your application
as early as possible, preferably by the end of December.

LSAC
http://www.lsac.org
The Law School Admission Council (LSAC) is a nonprofit
corporation whose members are 200 law schools in the
United States and Canada. Programs and Services offered
by the LSAC:
The Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
The Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS)
Candidate Referral Service (CRS)
Law School Forums
MILE Program (Minorities Interested in Legal
Education)
Publications, Software, and Videos for Legal Education
Questions

Academic and LSAT Credentials

Your GPA and Law School Admission Test (LSAT) score is
an important factor to being competitive with other law
school applicants; however they certainly arent the only
factors considered. Admissions committees consider all
http://web.mit.edu/career/www

LSDAS
http://www.lsac.org/
The Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS) provides a
means of centralizing and standardizing undergraduate
55

academic records to simplify the law school admission

process.

help yourself in getting solid, informative letters of reference.

The LSDAS prepares and provides a report for each law

school to which you apply. Your report will include:
An undergraduate academic summary.
Copies of all undergraduate, graduate, and law school
transcripts.
LSAT scores: Up to 12 exam scores are reported in the
LSDAS report. Exam scores are averaged when more
than one reportable score is on file.
Writing sample copies: If more than one LSAT has
been taken, photocopies of the last three LSAT writing
samples are provided in the LSDAS report.
Copies of Letters of Recommendation if processed by
LSAC.

On the Letter of Recommendation Form, provided through

the LSDAS, candidates have the choice to waive their
rights to see their letter of recommendation. The assumption is that a waived letter of recommendation is bound to
be more candid. However, please note that law schools do
not hold it against candidates if they choose to retain their
rights to the letters.
A Deans letter or certificate provides information on
whether there have been any academic or disciplinary
action taken against the applicant during their undergraduate career. This document also confirms an applicants
GPA and/or class rank. To obtain a letter from the Dean of
Undergraduate Education at MIT, visit the Registrars
Academic Records office located in room 5-119.

Law School Admission Test (LSAT)

The Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) is a half-day
standardized exam that is designed to measure skills that
are considered essential for success in law school. It is
comprised of five 35-minute sections of multiple-choice
questions and is scored on a scale of 120-180. One of the
five sections is un-scored and used to pretest new test
items and forms. In addition to the five sessions, a 30minute writing sample is administered at the end of the test.
The test is divided into the following five sections:
1 Reading Comprehension
1 Analytical Reasoning
2 Logical Reasoning
1 Experimental section (un-scored section)
It is suggested that applicants take the LSAT no later than
December for admission in the following falls entering
class.

Recommendation Letters and Deans

Letter/Certification:
http://web.mit.edu/career/www/preprof/
Applicants need at least two letters of recommendation. It
is preferable to have two academic letters, however some
schools will accept one letter which is a non-academic letter of recommendation.
We recommend that you ask people to write you a letter of
recommendation early in the fall of the application year,
and give them at least one month to write your letter of recommendation.
The best recommendation letters will come from an individual who knows you best. Provide your recommenders
detailed information to ensure that your letters will have
accurate information regarding your activities, such as
dates and places you worked. If you take responsibility in
giving your recommenders solid information in writing, you

Business Information
Are you considering pursuing an MBA? Self-assessment
can help you decide if an MBA is the right degree for you. It
will also help you to convince business school admissions
counselors about your motivations for wanting to earn an
MBA. Admission counselors will look for evidence of your
professional interests and how that ties into the MBA
degree as well as your leadership potential and academic
achievement. A typical MBA candidate has several years
of full-time, post-undergraduate work experience in a
responsible capacity.
Informational interviewing is another powerful tool to help
you in this process by answering questions such as what
are typical MBA careers and which industries actively
recruit MBAs. The Institute Career Assistance Network
(ICAN) is a good place to get names of alumni/ae in the specific field in which you are interested. You can access this
database online at: http://alum.mit.edu/cs/ican/index.html.
Once you have decided that an MBA is indeed right for you,
there are many things to consider when selecting a school.
Schools vary significantly on teaching strategy, financial
aid, geographic location, student population, faculty, institution, and cost of the program. All programs are better at
some things than others. Choose criteria that are important
for you and choose a school that matches it. It is also important that you fit in with the culture of a school. Visit
www.mba.com and www.gmac.org to gather additional
information.

GMAT
The Graduate Admission Management Test (GMAT) is a
standardized assessment designed to measure the qualifications of applicants for business and management studies
program. Specifically, the GMAT assesses your verbal,

MIT Careers Office

mathematical and analytical writing skills. The test consists

of three sections: (1) Analytical Writing Assessment, (2)
Quantitative Section, and 3) Verbal Section. Total GMAT
scores range from 200-800. Two-thirds of test takers score
between 400 and 600.

References
When considering references, be sure to ask people who
know you very well. The more specific they can be about
your candidacy for an MBA, the stronger will be your
application. If the school does not specify from whom you
should obtain references, you should choose people with
whom you have worked in different settings, such as
previous employers.

Interview
The interview process may vary depending on the school to
which you are applying. For the most part, interviews are by
invitation only and cannot be requested. During the interview, demonstrate strong interpersonal skills while you
develop a clearer feeling for the school. In preparation for a
business school interview, the MIT Careers Office recommends that applicants participate in a mock interview and
review the Winning Interview Techniques workshop online
(http://web.mit.edu/career/www/).

Academic Career
Nearly half of the doctoral graduates of MIT pursue an academic
career (junior faculty position or postdoc) upon completion of

http://web.mit.edu/career/www

the doctoral degree. The Careers Office offers several services for those considering an academic career:
CV Workshop (offered each semester, and available
online at http://web.mit.edu/career/www/workshops/.
(Also see Related Links on this site.)
Workshop on Preparing for the Academic Job
Interview. Emphasis is on the on-site interview day
beyond the job talk. (Offered each semester.)
Individual advice on any aspect of the academic
career search (call 617-253-4733 for an appointment).
Academic Career Series, faculty presentations on four
different topics, co-sponsored by the Careers Office,
Graduate Student Council, and Postdoctoral Advisory
Council. (summers) http://mit.edu/provost/pds.html.
Bibliographies and web links on academic careers
http://mit.edu/career/www/, see students, graduate students, academic careers.
In addition, there are services available through the MIT
Writing Center http://mit.edu/writing (including opportunities to practice the job talk) and the Teaching and Learning
Laboratory http://mit.edu/tll.
The Office of Academic Services launched a central website to advertise fellowship and scholarship opportunities
to students. See https://mit.edu/scholarships.
Seeking a postdoctoral fellowship? See PostDoc
Resources at http://mit.edu/career/www, info & stats,
general career resources, postdoctoral resources.

58
(617) 000-0000
[email protected]

Cambridge, MA 02139

(617) 253-0000

Cambridge, MA

(Jan. 2003-present)

Cambridge, MA

Barberton komatiite bulk samples and to constrain their tectonic setting.

Employed trace element modeling to estimate the effect of metamorphism on

subduction magmas from 0 to 3.5 Ga.

Estimated the secular cooling of the Earths mantle by applying predictive model to

mantle melting.

Incorporated experimental data into a predictive thermodynamic model of hydrous

mantle melting.

Experimentally determined the thermodynamic effect of water on high degree

Advisor: Advisor Name

MIT, Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences

geochemical modeling of data.

Work involves high pressure experiments, analyses of experimental charges, and

phase relations.

source region of Aleutian arc magmas. Focus is on the effect of water on

Currently quantifying the pressure, temperature, and composition of the

Cambridge, MA

MIT, Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences

Advisor: Advisor Name

Experience

Geology Club (1996).

National Merit Scholarship (1992-1996), Awarded best senior thesis by Harvard

Phase Equilibria Experiments.

Predicted Seismic Velocity of the Mantle Transition Zone Based on High Pressure

BA, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Cum Laude, June 1996. Senior Thesis: The

Harvard University

Thesis: Petrology and Geochemistry of High Degree Mantle Melts.

Research

Awards

Cambridge, MA

Ph.D. Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, January 2003.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

and geochemical modeling.

Research focuses on the production of magmas in the Aleutian arc using experiments

Postdoctoral Researcher. Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences.

Cambridge, MA

Cambridge, MA 02140

Bldg. XX-XXX

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

0 Imaginary Ave.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Education

Home Address:

Business Address:

ANONYMOUS STUDENT 1

Presentations

Cambridge, MA

generation of Barberton komatiites in an Archean subduction zone.

Anonymous Student 1, Grove TL, Dann JC (Kaapvaal conference, 2002) The

Assisted with labs. Graded homework assignments. (Spring, 1997)

Beyond the Solar System. Teaching Assistant.

MIT, Dept. of Earth, Atm. and Planet. Sciences

sacrificing as little content as possible. (Fall, 1998)

separate classes. Challenge was to compress three semesters of work into one, while

curriculum. This was the first time this class was taught. Previously existed as three

Responsible for teaching lab component of class. Assisted in development of lab

Igneous, Metamorphic, and Sedimentary Petrology. Teaching Assistant.

MIT, Dept. of Earth, Atm. and Planet. Sciences

curriculum. Updated and revised existing lab assignments. (Fall, 2000)

Responsible for teaching lab component of class. Assisted in development of lab

Mineralogy. Teaching Assistant.

Cambridge, MA

Introduction to Geochemistry. Lecturer (1 term replacement position).

Responsible for entire curriculum. Developed a coherent framework under which
the disparate fields of high-temperature igneous geochemistry and low-temperature
aqueous geochemistry could be seen as different applications of the same geochemical principles.
Initiated use of computer modeling in teaching geochemical principles. Have
focused on teaching students fungible geochemical skills. (Jan. 2003-present)

Experience

MIT, Dept. of Earth, Atm. and Planet. Sciences

Boston University, Department of Earth Sciences

Teaching

Boston, MA

Advisor: Advisor Name

Cambridge, MA
Constrained the composition of the mantle transition zone by comparing observed
and predicted seismic velocities.
Work involved running ultra-high pressure (up to 2.3 GPa) phase equilibrium
experiments and analyzing results with electron microprobe. The measured phase
proportions and compositions were used to calculate the seismic
velocities of the mantle at transition zone pressures. The calculations were
used to evaluate various compositional models. (June, 1994 - June, 1996)

Harvard University, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences

(1996-Jan. 2003)

studies of komatiites, and development of the multi-anvil device at MIT.

Other experimental projects include the solubility of Fe in AuPd alloys, textural

of degassing and convection in the deep mantle.

Determined the solubility of He in olivine with the goal of understanding the extent

strain the temperature and viscosity structure of the sub-arc mantle.

element codes. This geodynamic study was combined with petrologic data to con-

Modeled the flow of mantle in subduction zones using pre-existing finite

Anonymous Student 1 - Page 2

Sample CV #1

See Industry Resume version of this CV on page 30.

MIT Careers Office

http://web.mit.edu/career/www

the Allende Meteorite.

Agee CB, Li J, Anonymous Student 1 (Spring AGU, 1995) P-T phase diagram for

remnant of primordial differentiation?

Agee CB, Anonymous Student 1 (Fall AGU, 1995) Upper mantle transition zone: a

komatiite magmas from the Barberton Mountainland, South Africa.

Quantitative estimates of the chemical composition and liquidus temperatures of

Anonymous Student 1, Grove TL, Dann J, de Wit M (Spring AGU, 1997)

augite compositions.

Magmatic trace and minor element abundances in Barberton komatiites inferred from

Anonymous Student 1, Grove TL, Shimizu N, Dann J, de Wit M (Fall AGU, 1998)

compositions in 3.49 Ga Barberton komatiite: evidence of variable H2O contents.

Anonymous Student 1, Grove TL, Dann J, de Wit M (Spring AGU, 1998) Pyroxene

Mountainland, South Africa.

Origin of spinifex textures in 3.49 Ga komatiite magmas from the Barberton

Grove TL, Gaetani G, Anonymous Student 1, Dann J, de Wit M (Spring AGU, 1998)

of variable water content on mantle melting.

1999) Mass transfer processes in the southern cascade subduction zone: the influence

convergent plate boundaries, Carnegie Inst. of Washington, Puerto Azul, Phillipines,

Grove TL, Gaetani GA, Anonymous Student 1, Elkins LT (Materials Recycling near

multi-anvil device.

Calibration Workshop, 1999) Precision and accuracy of pressure in a Walker style

Anonymous Student 1, Holzheid AD, Grove TL (First International Pressure

Mountainland, South Africa.

undersaturated liquidus phase relations of komatiite from the Barberton

Anonymous Student 1, Grove TL (Spring AGU, 2000) High pressure water

2000) Segregation vesicles in 3.5 Ga komatiites: Barberton, South Africa.

Dann J, de Wit M, Grove TL and Anonymous Student 1 (IAVCEI, Cape Town,

on ol-opx saturated melts.

Anonymous Student 1, Grove TL (Goldschmidt, 2001) Compositional effects of H2O

Barberton komatiite magmas.

Basalts, 2001) Petrologic and experimental evidence for high H2O contents in

Anonymous Student 1, Grove TL, Dann JC (Komatiites, Norites, Boninites and

Anonymous Student 1 - Page 3

References

Activities

Dr. Anonymous
Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Bldg. XX-XXX
Cambridge, MA 02139 USA
(617)253-0002
[email protected]

Dr. Blank
Department of Geology and Geophysics
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Woods Hole, MA 02543
(508)000-0000
[email protected]

Dr. Who
Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Bldg. XX-XXXX
Cambridge, MA 02139 USA
(617)253-0000
[email protected]

Member, American Geophysical Union, 1996-present. Communications Director,

Friends of Cambridgeport School, 2000-present. Chairman of the Board, Agassiz
Cooperative Pre-School, 1999-2000. Officer, Harvard Geology Club, 1995-1996.

Anonymous Student 1, Dann JC, Grove TL and de Wit MJ (1999) Emplacement

conditions of komatiite magmas from the 3.49 Ga Komati formation, Barberton
Greenstone Belt, South Africa. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 150, p. 303-323.

Grove TL, Anonymous Student 1, and Dann JC (2001) Conditions of magma

generation for Archean komatiites from the Barberton Mountainland, South Africa.
In Mantle Petrology: Field Observations and High Pressure Experimentation: A
tribute to Francis R. (Joe) Boyd. The Geochemical Society, Special Publication 6, Y
Fei, C.M. Bertka and B.O. Mysen, eds., p. 155-167.

Anonymous Student 1 - Page 4

Publications
Anonymous Student 1, Grove TL, Dann JC, and de Wit MJ (accepted, Feb. 2003)
Boninites, komatiites, and Archean subduction zones. Geophysical Research Letters.

MIT Department of Chemical Engineering

Cambridge, MA
Advisor: John Smith
Currently developing methodology for ribonucleic acid encapsulation in nanosphere
particles using biodegradable polymers for ultimate use in gene therapy applications.
Examining methods for chemical derivation of the polymer/RNA nanospheres for
targeting specific cell types. Work involves polymer synthesis and characterization,
GPC, cellular targeting. (August 1999 - present)

Research
Experience

Howard University, Department of Chemistry

Washington, DC
Adviser: Phillip Grey
Synthesized analogs of the natural product distamycin A, which binds to DNA in the
minor groove. Synthesis involved imidazole chemistry with amidine linkages and end
groups for electrostatic interaction with DNA. (June - August 1993)

Caltech Department of Chemistry

Pasadena, CA
Advisor: Brian Jones
Explored sequence-specific recognition of minor groove of double-helical DNAbinding properties through polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Results from this work
expanded sequence repertoire available to pyrrole-imidazole polyamides and provided
general criteria for design of future sequence-specific DNA-binding polyamides.
Determined compatibility of oligonucleotide and a polyimide binding simultaneously
in the major and minor grooves, respectively. Techniques used include synthesis,
NMR spectroscopy, HPLC, column chromatography, polyacrylamide gel
electrophoresis, solid-phase peptide synthesis including HF cleavage and
deprotection, oligonucleotide synthesis and purification, radioactive labeling of DNA,
cloning specific sequences into plasmids, DNA sequencing. (September 1994 - May
1999)

Carolyn Vogel Chemistry Scholarship (2000), Howard Advantage Student (1993), Phi
Beta Kappa (1993), General Electric Fellowship (1994-1995), National Institutes of
Health Postdoctoral (1999).

Kansai Gaidai
Hirakata City, Japan
Foreign exchange student. Studies included Japanese language and intercultural
communication. Lived with a Japanese family. (August - December 1993)

Howard University
Washington, DC
Bachelor of Science, Chemistry, Magna Cum Laude, April 1994. Participated in
summer undergraduate research program resulting in thesis and presentation. Thesis:
Synthesis of Imidazole-Containing and Amidine-Linked Analogs of Distamycin.

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, CA
Ph.D. Department of Chemistry, May 1999. Thesis: Sequence-Specific Recognition of
DNA in the Minor Groove by Imidazole and Pyrrole-Containing Polyamides.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA
National Institutes of Health Postdoctoral Fellow. Department of Chemical
Engineering. Research focuses on encapsulation of ribonucleic acid (RNA) into
polymer nanospheres for delivery to human cells. (August 1999-present)

Home Address
15 Concord Avenue
Apt. # 2D
Cornish, NH 03745
(603) 546-1290

Awards

Education

Business Address
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
89 Ames Street 61-210
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 345-6789
[email protected]

Alice Walker

Professor Z
Department of Chemistry
California Institute of Technology
400 Rodeo Drive, 44-50
Pasadena, CA 55882
908-570-0000
[email protected]

Professor X
Chair, Chemistry Department
M.I.T.
77 Massachusetts Ave., 11-22
Cambridge, MA 02139
617-253-0000
[email protected]

References

Professor Y
Department of Chemistry
M.I.T.
77 Massachusetts Ave., 11-21
Cambridge, MA 02139
617-253-1111
[email protected]

Officer, Member, MIT Association of Postdoctoral Women. Member, American

Chemical Society, 1992-present. Organized Organic Chemistry Seminar Series at
Caltech, 1995-96. Volunteered at the Hunting Memorial Hospital Extended Care.
Member, Howard University Marching and Symphonic Bands. Interests include
traveling, reading, running marathons,
hiking, backpacking, and cooking.

Cyclic Polyamides for Recognition in the Minor Groove of DNA. L. Lyne, A.

Walker , J.J. Reynolds, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA,
1998, 93, 10389.

Simultaneous Binding of Polyamide Dimers and Oligonucleotides in the Minor and

Major Grooves of DNA. A. Walker, J.J. Reynolds, Bioorganic Medical Chemistry,
1999,5,1045.

Recognition of 5-(A,T)GG(A,T)2-3 Sequences in the Minor Groove of DNA by

Hairpin Polyamides. A. Walker, B.B. Cummings, J.J. Reynolds, Journal of the
American Chemical Society, 1999, 118, 6153.

Optimization of the Hairpin Polymide Design for Recognition of the Minor Groove
of DNA. A. Walker, B.B Cummings, and J.J. Reynolds, Journal of the American
Chemical Society, 1999, 5, 118, 1047.

Synthesis and DNA Binding Studies of Imidazole-Containing and Amidine-Linked

Analogs of Distamycin A. A. Walker, A.L. Brown, and M. Kinney. Fifth National
Conference on Undergraduate Research in Pasadena, CA. April 1994.

Recognition of 5-(A,T)GG(A,T)2-3 Sequences in the Minor Groove of DNA by

hairpin Polyamides. A. Walker, E.E. Cummings, and J.J. Reynolds. Western
Biotech/ACS Regional Conference in San Diego, CA. October 19, 1998.

Howard University Department of Chemistry

Washington, D.C.
Laboratory Techniques in Organic and Inorganic Chemistry. Teaching Assistant.
Supervised and assisted students with multi-step syntheses of compounds designed to
teach general laboratory techniques. (January - June 1994)

Organic Chemistry Laboratory. Teaching Assistant.

Supervised and instructed students in organic chemistry techniques. Emphasized
keeping complete and accurate scientific notes. (January - June 1994)

Introductory Chemistry. Head Teaching Assistant.

Prepared teaching materials including problem sets and exams. Supervised other
teaching assistants and graders. Addressed individual students questions and needs.
(January June 1997)

Caltech, Department of Chemistry

Pasadena, CA
Organic Chemistry. Teaching Assistant.
Helped write problem sets and exams. Assisted students individually with homework
problems or material they found difficult to understand. (September 1998 - June 1999)

Activities

Publications

Presentations

Teaching
Experience

Sample CV #2

MIT Careers Office

Sample Statement of Research Interests

CURRENT RESEARCH
Active Control of Rotorcraft Vibration
I am currently working with Boeing Helicopters to develop advanced control techniques for control of rotorcraft
vibration, so that the vibration typically experienced by helicopters can be significantly reduced. My advisor Prof.
Steven Hall and his former doctoral students developed the X-frame actuator for those purposes, and I am working on the design and implementation of the advanced Higher Harmonic Control (HHC) algorithms using the
X-frame actuator for an MD-900 helicopter. The advanced HHC includes an intelligent anti-windup scheme, which
shows better performance than traditional discrete HHC. The intelligent anti-windup algorithm ensures that the
output signals from each controller do not saturate, so that multiple HHC systems can be implemented without
causing any difficulties. The active rotor system with the advanced HHC algorithms will be flight-tested in 2002.
Active Control of Noise Radiated from Underwater Vehicles
I have worked with Northrop Grumman Corp. and Materials Systems Inc. to develop new technology for the
reduction of radiated noise from vibrating underwater vehicles using smart structures technologies. This project
has been funded by the Office of Naval Research, with an objective of developing smart underwater vehicle
systems so that the enemy cannot detect attack in advance. My responsibility in this project is to develop the control
architecture and methodology to reduce the radiated noise from vibrating structures. In order to accomplish this,
I have designed two different controller architectures. The first one is the assembly of local controllers, which are
implemented for each sensor/actuator pair to reduce its vibration level. The second one is a global controller,
which makes the structure a weak radiator by coordinating the action of local controllers. In order to implement
the global controller successfully, I have developed a new wavenumber domain sensing method and applied it to
the feedback controller design for active structural acoustic control. The approach is to minimize the total acoustic
power radiated from vibrating structures in the wavenumber domain. The new sensing method greatly simplifies
the design of MIMO LQG controllers for active structural acoustic control by reducing the effort to model the
acoustic radiation from the structure and allowing the systematic development of state-space models for radiating
wavenumber components. Further, I have extended the concept to general complex structures, so that it can be
applied for reducing radiated noise from any vibrating structures. The new sensing method is numerically validated on a thick-walled cylindrical shell with 55 piezoelectric panels mounted.

FUTURE RESEARCH GOALS

My future research goal is to develop intelligent structural systems, from the micro-scales (MEMS) to
macro-scales (aerospace systems and underwater vehicles), which will contain array of sensor/actuator pairs
and embedded devices for controls and decision-making algorithms. Those systems should be able to coordinate
large numbers of devices and adapt themselves to uncertain environmental changes in an intelligent manner.
For this research goal, I will focus on the following three research areas. First, I will carry out research on structure/
fluid/control interaction phenomena for complex systems. The phenomena will be critical design issues in those
complex structural systems, both in micro- and macro- scales, so the fundamental understanding of the
phenomena is very important to successful implementation of the structural/acoustic control algorithms. Second,
I will extend my specialization in smart structures technologies to the development of advanced sensors and
actuators for intelligent structural systems. Since the systems will contain arrays of embedded devices, such as
micro-sensors and actuators, the development of novel sensors and actuators that can be coordinated and integrated
within the systems will be critical in future areas of research. Finally, I will continue my research on advanced
control and decision-making algorithms for noise and vibration reduction of complex structural systems. Some
of important requirements of the algorithms include: (1) the ability to handle many sensors and actuators in an
efficient manner, (2) robustness to modeling error and uncertain environmental changes, (3) the ability to modify
their functions adaptively even in the unexpected change in the plant or environment, and (4) the ability to detect
the failure in the plant and maintain the performance by reconfiguring the algorithm architecture. As mentioned
earlier, I have developed the novel wavenumber domain feedback controller design method for active structural
acoustic control of complex structural systems, which satisfies the first and second requirements. I will continue
my research to improve the performance of the method, and therefore to develop intelligent control design
methodology for complex structural systems, so that those four requirements given above will be successfully
satisfied.

http://web.mit.edu/career/www

Sample Statement of Teaching Philosophy and Interests

My goal in teaching is that each and every student leaves my classroom with a solid understanding of
engineering concepts and a sound background to analyze engineering systems. I strongly believe that a
thorough understanding of undergraduate/graduate courses is most fundamental to young engineers for
their future research. My responsibility as instructor would be to help students acquire a solid foundation
in the subject matter, and to encourage them to build confidence in their knowledge of the course
material, so that they can apply what they learned in my classroom to engineering problems with
confidence. I have a very strong undergraduate and graduate education in mechanics, dynamics and
controls. Also, I have extensive research experience in structural dynamics, acoustics, and controls,
which would allow me to teach students fundamental concepts of engineering systems thoroughly.
My primary interests in undergraduate/graduate level teaching lie in the following areas:

UNDERGRADUATE LEVEL
Mechanical VibrationThis course would involve basic introduction to mechanical vibration,
including free and forced vibration of single- and multi-degree of freedom systems, fundamentals of
frequency and modal analysis, and approximate solution techniques.
Engineering MathematicsThis course would be an undergraduate-level introduction to engineering
mathematics, including linear algebra, differential equations, complex analysis, Laplace and Fourier
transform, etc.
Feedback Control of Dynamic SystemsThis course would involve introduction to design of feedback control systems, focusing on properties and advantages of feedback systems, time-domain and
frequency-domain performance measures, stability and degree of stability, root locus method, Nyquist
criterion, and frequency-domain design.

GRADUATE LEVEL
Advanced Structural Dynamics and AcousticsThis course would first review single and multipledegree-of-freedom vibration problems, using matrix formulation and normal mode superposition
methods. Then, this would present various topics in structural dynamics and acoustics, including time
and frequency domain solution, random vibration, vibration and noise measurement and analysis
techniques, wave motions in structures, structure/fluid interaction problems, and acoustic radiation.
Control of StructuresThis course would present fundamental control-structural dynamic
interaction from a unified viewpoint, applicable to active control of flexible structures, and active
structural acoustic control of structural systems.
Multivariable Feedback Control SystemsThis course would be an introduction to the state-space
approach to control system analysis and control synthesis, focusing on design of robust controllers
for mechanical systems, including optimal control methods and the Kalman filter.
Continuous and Discrete Time Signal ProcessingThis course would provide a theoretical
foundation of signal processing techniques necessary for mechanical engineers. This course would
focus on the analysis and processing of experimental data, and real-time experimental control methods,
including Laplace and Fourier transform, spectral analysis, filter design, system identification.
These present general topics and I would be happy to teach more specific courses according to the needs
of the students and the department.

MIT Careers Office

The MIT Careers Office has a variety of

handouts to give you more information
about particular topics of interest.
See http://web.mit.edu/career/www/,
students, and tips guides.
Printable guides on additional topics
may be added to this site.
Job Search
Resumes
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Cover Letters - Tips for cover letters and more.
Networking - how and where to network.
Internships

Getting the Job

Case Interview Resources Interviewing - questions to
expect, how to dress and current interview techniques.
Salary and Benefits - negotiating and research
techniques

Academic Decisions
Choice of Major
Graduate School - tips on applying to graduate school.

Industry
Biotechnology
Consulting Industry
Environment Industry

Forward Thinking...
from
to

Problem Prototype

The technical experts at MIT Lincoln Laboratory are

outstanding individual contributors who can excel
in a multidisciplinary, team environment. They apply
the breadth and depth of their knowledge to rigorous
research and analysis of complex problems of national
interest. Then they pool their discoveries and insights,
painstakingly put them to the test and ultimately
develop not just a theoretical solution to the problem,
but a real-world, working prototype. We provide a
resource-rich environment where mentoring is part of
the culture and senior people are readily accessible.
I F YOU HOLD OR ARE PURSUING A BS/MS/PhD
IN THE FOLLOWING:

Electrical Engineering Physics

Computer Science
Mathematics
OR A COMPARABLE FIELD, WE WELCOME YOUR INTEREST.
A P P LY TO :

Government
International Development
Sports Industry - careers in the sports industry

The MIT Lincoln Laboratory website:

www.ll.mit.edu/careers/careers.html
(click on College Recruitment for entry-level opportunities)
As an Equal Opportunity Employer we are committed to realizing our vision
of diversity and inclusion in every aspect of our enterprise.
Due to the unique nature of our work, we require U.S. Citizenship.

www.LL.MIT.EDU

http://web.mit.edu/career/www

Advertiser Index
Aret Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65

McKinsey & Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

Booz Allen & Hamilton . . . . .Inside Back Cover

Merck & Co. Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64

Boston Consulting Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66

MIT Lincoln Laboratory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63

careersandcolleges.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

Raytheon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67

cbcampus.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68

Reckitt Benckiser, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67

Direct Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65

Shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

GraduatingEngineer.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc. . . . . . . . . .64

ITT Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65

U.S. Navy . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Inside Front Cover

Career Recruitment Media and Massachusetts Institute of Technology wish to thank

the above participating sponsors for making this publication available to students.

Ab 1 M COMPUTER SCIENCE AND MATH

0. p
0
1
1
Merck & Co.,
F is a global research-driven pharmaceutical 30. n
SInc.
companyCdedicated to putting patients first. Established in 1891,
Merck discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets vaccines
and medicines that deliver true advances in patient care.

OPPORTUNITIES:
Full-time positions as well as exciting opportunities for Graduate and
Undergraduate Internships.
- Mathematical modeling
- Computational biology
- Pattern recognition
- Algorithm prototyping
- Knowledge representation
- Systems engineering
RESEARCH PROJECTS INCLUDE:
- Chemical kinetics modeling
- Bionetwork reverse engineering
- PET/MRI image analysis
and systems biology
- Mass spectrometry/NMR-based - Computational immunology
proteomics/metabolomics
- Data mining
-7 M

x 10

Ab 1
EXPERIENCE/REQUIREMENTS:
1.06 Biology, or
M kComputational
- Ph.D. in Mathematics, Computer
Science,
=
p
.
75 sma students eligible for internships)
related areas (undergraduate/graduate
la
- Knowledge of C/C++, Java,pMATLAB, R, and/or Mathematica

OTHER INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY POSITIONS:

Merck
also applies many other aspects of information technology in
erya wide variety of exciting full time and internship positions.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Visit www.merck.com/careers and www.monstertrak.monster.com
Merck is an equal opportunity employerproudly embracing diversity in all of its manifestations.

MIT Careers Office

Direct Your Energy

The Direct Energy I.S. Graduate Program
Put your drive, energy and skills to work at Direct Energy! We're looking for individuals who are interested in success and want to
drive their careers forward within a challenging, rewarding and innovative organization. We would not be where we are today
without the commitment and dedication of our employees who make our company a success.
This is your opportunity to focus on career progression and personal development. This career opportunity is open to technology
students who will be graduating with a related undergraduate or graduate degree before September 2007. This Opportunity will
have you working in rotational assignments over a 2 year period. During your assignment you will work with the Energy Trading,
Risk Management, Power Plant control and Retail Business Groups, solving problems and implementing solutions.
Your technical knowledge, business acumen, presentation skills and communication skills must be exceptional. You must have a track
record of quickly learning new skills and of working well as part of a large, distributed and dynamic team.
Because this opportunity presents you with the exciting experience to work in various cities, you must be able to live and work
in both the US and Canada.
If you are interested in experiencing the excitement and opportunity of a fast-paced, rapidly expanding organization while enjoying
the stability, strength and resources of a global company, get in touch with your career center to find out about when we will
be visiting your campus.

Find out more about Direct Energy by visiting us at www.directenergy.com, and apply online to our Information
Services (IS) Grad Program by going to http://www.directyourenergy.com/opportunities.html, key
word IS GRAD.

The only thing more powerful than our systems? Your imagination.

The technologies we create define leading-edge. So do our opportunities. Join Raytheon, one of the worlds most admired
defense and aerospace systems suppliers, and apply your mind in ways that youve always thought possible.
Advance engineering with a diversity of people and talents. Take on challenges that defy conventional thinking. And meet us at
the forefront of innovation.
Visit our website below for more details.

www.rayjobs.com/campus
2006 Raytheon Company. All rights reserved. Raytheon is an equal opportunity and affirmative
action employer and welcomes a wide diversity of applicants. U.S. citizenship may be required.

Making
Better Solutions
For Consumers
At Reckitt Benckiser, we pride ourselves on our ability to think ahead of the market, produce efficient technologies and establish
true innovation.
Reckitt Benckiser is the worlds No. 1 company in household cleaning products (excluding laundry detergents)
and a leading player in health and personal care.
A truly global company with consumer-oriented vision, operations in 60 countries, sales in
180 countries and net revenue in excess of $7.5 billion.

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