From the Director On behalf of the University Career Services (UCS) staff, I am pleased to present the 2009-2010 Career Guide. Our staff of career professionals seeks to help you bridge excellence in education with excellence in professional opportunity. We invite you to visit UCS at our main office located at 620 Lincoln Street or at our Career Lab, located at the Main Library, 2N.
Last year’s dramatic economic downturn
arrived on our doorstep just as the school year was starting, significantly impacting all members of the Northwestern University community. This year, though the downturn has moderated, we can expect continued changes in the job market as many uncertainties remain. During times of economic volatility, early and ongoing career preparation is especially vital to future career success.
The Career Guide is most valuable when used
as a complement to the full array of services, pro-
Contents Staff, Services, & Programs............................................................ 2 UCS Staff list...................................................................... 2 Practitioner Staff. ............................................................ 2 Undergraduate & Graduate Student Services. ................ 3 Alumni career Services...................................................... 4 Career Development....................................................................... 5 Career Myths. ..................................................................... 5 Career Development Process............................................ 6 Choosing a Major............................................................... 8 Researching & Exploring Careers................................................... 9 Informational Interviews. ................................................ 9 Networking......................................................................... 11 experiential learning & internships................................. 13
Professional Application Materials............................................... 15 resume. ............................................................................... 15 curriculum vitae. ............................................................. 26 cover letter..................................................................... 28 References........................................................................ 30 Interviewing Basics........................................................................ 31 Interview Process. ............................................................ 31 types of interviews.......................................................... 33 common interview Questions. ......................................... 36 Thank-you note. ............................................................... 37
at each level of your academic and professional life.
Post-Graduation Planning............................................................ 38 Job Search process.......................................................... 38 job search process for Graduate students.................. 39 job search process for international students........... 41 working abroad............................................................... 42 hiring & recruiting cycles................................................ 43 job offers & negotiations............................................... 44
graduate & professional school
application process...................................................... 45
Taking Time Off.................................................................. 48
grams, and special events offered through UCS. Our long standing relationships with employers, academic units, and the Northwestern community ensure comprehensive and personalized assistance We encourage you to register with us at
www.northwestern.edu/careers. Registering with our office will provide you access to job postings, online resources, walk-in hours, special events,
Sample List of Employers............................................................. 49
and more. Registration also ensures that you will receive weekly email updates identifying career opportunities and events.
On behalf of the entire staff, I welcome you to
UCS and encourage you to visit us often! Lonnie Dunlap, Ph.D. Executive Director
It has been a pleasure to serve another year as the Chair of the Career Guide Committee! The returning committee members – Rachel Garson, Cynthia Graham, and Jeremy Hopkins, continued to provide invaluable contributions. Our new member, Christina Siders, eagerly assumed important tasks and quickly became a valuable addition to the committee. I commend each committee member for the many hours they spent helping to create this quality publication. As always, the Guide has many other contributors who were involved in making this publication a success. Betsy Bishop, Lonnie Dunlap, Ph.D., Anita Norman, Mary Lou Taylor, Sara Schmidt, and Dianne Siekmann all assisted in significant ways. Additionally, I want to thank the UCS staff members who provided feedback, ideas, and suggestions to enhance this publication.
Tamara Johnson, Ph.D., Chair 2009-2010 Career Guide Committee