Doctoral Timeline
Coursework (early years)
Attend or use online career workshops. Use resources to help you survive and thrive in grad school.
Get familiar with the MIT Careers Office resources, programs and services.
Plan your course of study with your advisor.
Attend department orientations, training sessions.
Attend talks on various fields with student groups such as MIT GSC, MIT SEBC and Tech Link.
Meet peers from many departments.
Qualifying Exams
Academia
Develop your CV. Attend a CV workshop. Visit the Academic Careers website
Attend conferences in your field.
Gain experience as a teaching assistant.
Seek experience overseeing undergraduate research.
Develop your teaching portfolio through the Teaching & Learning Laboratory
Attend MIT presentations on academic careers.
Industry
Seek internships in industry.
To broaden your exposure to career options, explore the Externship Program offered during IAP by the Alumni Association.
Attend panels on career opportunities outside the lab.
Read about academic and nonacademic career options.
Take additional coursework in areas to expand your marketability and skills (finance, entrepreneurship, management).
If you are doing research that has industry applications, build industry contacts. Gain experience presenting your work to people in industry.
Attend career presentations sponsored by your department. Learn about careers alumni have pursued.
Attend events on many career topics.
Dissertation
Attend or use online version of career workshops on the job search process (resumes, interviews, negotiating offers). Attend presentations by employers.
Use alumni networking to research career fields.
See online workshop, Graduate Students - Jump Start Your Job Search - Making Use of Hidden Resources and print the handouts.
Meet with a career advisor to discuss your career plans.
Polish your interviewing skills. (See academic interview tips, and online interview workshop)
Seek advice on publications.
Develop your network of employer contacts by attending various events.
Academia
Begin researching postdoctoral options. See MIT postdoctoral resources. Once accepted by a lab, consider funding sources (apply 6-10 months in advance).
Participate in the hiring process for any new candidates for faculty positions in your department. Attend their job talks.
Ask your advisor for advice about pursuing an academic career. Discuss your career plans with your advisor.
Develop your publications.
Industry
Seek faculty contacts who have connections with industry.
Final Stage of Dissertation
Arrange a mock interview to polish your interview skills.
Use the CareerBridge system to arrange on campus interviews.
Ask for critique of cover letters for job search.
Network with students who have done internships or interviewed in various fields. Learn about case interviews.
Attend career fairs.
Last updated on Wednesday, October 01, 08 at 02:19:28 PM EDT.
