Preparing for Your Professional Journey

You will be tasked with completing four short modules.  Each module will consist of a video which will familiarize you with various professional development topics. You will be required to complete a short quiz about information presented in the module. Quizzes are not graded. You will be submitting your resume through an online platform called VMock (showed in module 2).

All four modules are available starting July 19th, 2023. We encourage you to complete modules at your own pace. Once you begin a quiz, you will only have one opportunity to complete it, and you must finish it when you start it—quizzes cannot be revisited.

Getting started is easy! Click on Module 1: Handshake to begin.

Module 1: Handshake

Learn the basics of Handshake such as setting up a profile, how to navigate the platform, and utilizing the resources to your advantage. You will also be asked to take a self-evaluation to help us understand your career readiness and preferences regarding career exploration.  Access Module 1 here.

Module 2: Resumes and cover letters

Learn how to write, format, and tailor your résumé and cover letter. Send a draft of your résumé for review.  Access Module 2 here.

Module 3: Exploring Career paths 

Explore various career paths that align with your program and identify resources to help you learn more.  Acess Module 3 here.

MODULE 4: Becoming an ideal candidate   

Learn about how you can become the ideal candidate from an ethical and professional viewpoint. Access Module 4 here. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us via email at the Heinz College Career Academy.

When will I receive an introduction to the Reidy Career Center and my Career Advisor?
During Orientation, you will receive a thorough introduction to the Reidy Career Center and your Career Advisor. Orientation will cover pertinent information such as resources, upcoming workshops, career fairs, on-campus recruiting, and our recruiting platform, Handshake.

When and how will I schedule an appointment with my Career Advisor? What will we discuss?
Following Orientation, you will have access to schedule a one-on-one appointment with your Career Advisor via Handshake. If you have a pressing concern prior to Orientation, please email your Career Advisor. Appointment topics vary and are student-directed. Most appointments cover topics such as career exploration/choosing a career path, development of resumes, internship/job search strategies specific to your background, mock interviews, job offer evaluation, and salary negotiation. There is no set number of appointments a student can have—schedule as needed.

Does the Reidy Career Center provide guidance in terms of the curriculum or choosing electives?
Your academic advisor will be the main point of contact regarding your coursework selections; however, following Orientation, we will provide you with a Course-to-Career Guide. This guide assists students in choosing courses that may be helpful for the career paths they are pursuing. This is only a guideline which will vary according to several factors: the professional and academic background of the student, the combination of courses, the specific company that the student is interested in working for, etc. We also recommended that you meet with your academic advisor and conduct informational interviews with professionals in your desired field to determine which skills you need to build upon in your coursework.

How will you help me prepare for interviews (behavioral, technical, and/or case)?
We offer advising sessions to conduct behavioral mock interviews with your Career Advisor, as well as multiple online resources to get you prepared. Online resources include Big Interview, which is a simulated, virtual mock interview, as well as Management Consulted, a case interview platform that provides the ability to practice cases and engage with current/former consultants. Technical interview resources are available online and through technical interview workshops and mock interviews conducted by alumni. Workshops conducted by staff, alumni and/or guest speakers are also offered for interview preparation purposes.

Does my Career Advisor assist with salary negotiations?
If you would like to negotiate a job offer you received, we will offer guidance on the best way to proceed with that conversation. We will not speak to the company on your behalf, but instead provide you with tips on how to present yourself professionally. Students should do research about average salaries and cost of living in geographic areas and have assessed their values to best communicate during these salary negotiations.

My background is [XYZ] but I’d like to pivot my career path to analytics, consulting, product management, security engineering, etc. Will that be possible? I have very limited work experience; how will this affect my search? How does a student’s previous work experience correlate to their post-graduation employment?
Although we cannot guarantee the specific post-graduation career of any one student, a program’s curriculum is designed to take our students in a variety of directions professionally. Your core classes combined with the electives you choose will aid you in your goals, even if you are pivoting to a new job function or industry sector. Students with an internship requirement will build their knowledge and skills further during that experiential learning opportunity. Researching the industry or job you want to enter and reading internship and job descriptions will help you understand the desired skill sets in the current market. Additionally, many facets will influence your success including, but not limited to, your academic performance, internship/job search efforts, quality of resumes, applications and interviews, participation in on-campus recruitment opportunities, alumni outreach, and overall skill set for the desired career.

What companies and roles do graduates enter and how does this differ by program?
Career outcomes and detailed employment reports are found online. The data is shared in aggregate form. Please note, we are unable to identify the alumnus in each role due to privacy.

Do employers have hiring needs in January or early spring for those students graduating in December?
Yes! It is typical for students to start their jobs as early as January following their December graduation.

How many students end up securing full-time jobs/internships of their top choice?
As you can see from our post-graduation employment outcomes, students from Heinz College are extremely successful in both the jobs they obtain and the companies who hire them. You should remain flexible and open to the types of companies and jobs you entertain, especially as you go through the recruiting process. We recommend having a career path in mind, but you should always have an alternative choice as you never know what doors will open for you.

Can I attend career fairs or other events on campus at CMU? How do I make sure I don’t miss out on opportunities?
The benefit of having dedicated staff from the Reidy Career Center at Heinz College means that you not only have access to employers that recruit with Heinz College, but you can also take advantage of additional recruiting opportunities on-campus that are offered to ALL students. This includes career fairs, employer information sessions, hackathons, and networking events. All events are posted on Handshake, and your Career Advisor will provide recommendations and guidance.

What percent of student find internships and what happens if they are unable to find one?
Historically, 100% of students find internships, as this is a requirement for all Heinz College programs that have an internship component. The Reidy Career Center has a vast array of resources to help students with an internship search, and we recommend that students begin searching upon matriculating at the beginning of their program.

How do I interact with employers?
Many ways! On-campus recruitment efforts, whether they be in person or virtual, include employer information sessions, career fairs, office hours (1:1 meetings), and on-campus/virtual interviews. We also strongly encourage you to build your professional network on your own using resources such as LinkedIn and Handshake.

When do we get access to the Handshake portal?
Access to Handshake will be given during your the Reidy Career Center Orientation.

Is there any limitation to the number of companies we can visit at a career fair or other recruiting events? If I get a job offer, can I continue to recruit to have a fallback plan?
We encourage students to explore as many opportunities and employers as they are able to during their recruitment efforts! The only limitation is the amount of time you would have during a recruiting event; however, we offer workshops on how to maximize efforts and strategize your time spent. We take professional ethics very seriously and will review this during your Orientation before classes begin. We never encourage students to continue job search efforts after they have accepted a job or internship offer, per Heinz College's Reidy Career Center Code of Ethics.

Is there a minimum GPA expected that we should maintain for being competitive in the job market?
This varies by company and industry so the short answer is: it depends. If there is a GPA expectation, employers will include this in the job posting. When you meet with your Career Advisor, you can discuss how to best leverage your GPA or other quantitative scores on your resume and on your Handshake profile for your job or internship search.

Will recruiting be virtual or in-person this year? Has recruiting been affected by the virtual nature caused by Covid and how do you anticipate recruiting to look in the upcoming year? Will the pandemic affect networking activities?
Currently, all of our advising appointments, events, career fairs, and networking activities are virtual; however, this has been an incredible opportunity to leverage even more employers and alumni participation than ever before. We have increased the amount of employers who have attend career fairs and information sessions, as well as our alumni who can participate from anywhere in the world! While we hope to get back to in-person engagements as soon as possible, we also hope to continue offering some virtual services to enhance our career opportunities for students.

What is the internship and job search timeline?
Start when your program starts. Fall recruitment is robust through November; however, employers are still hiring even if formal recruitment events have slowed. Spring recruitment begins in January following winter break and is active through April. Again, as formal recruitment events slow, employers are still posting and hiring throughout the end of the semesters, summer and over breaks. Pay attention to application deadlines.

How do I prepare for my internship or job search? When should I begin?
Before your program commences, you can prepare by updating your resume and researching companies and job descriptions, as well as attending Career Academy. Learning what interests you and what skills are required will help you prepare. Self-assessment is important. When your first semester begins, it is never too early to begin the internship or job search. Have your resume reviewed by your Career Advisor to be sure it is employer-ready and develop your search strategy, continue your research, apply to what makes sense with your goal and program’s timeline in mind, engage in Reidy Career Center workshops, fairs, events and campus recruitment efforts, and pay attention to Reidy Career Center emails.

How do most students secure their internship and/or full-time job?
A variety of resources and pathways lead to the success of our students/graduates. Handshake is a primary and very important platform for identifying internships and jobs. Company websites and job search engines also result in interviews and subsequent offers. Emails from the Reidy Career Center with alumni referral internship/job opportunities, career fairs and student’s personal and professional networks can also result in employment opportunities. Leave no stone unturned!

Do all summer internships convert to full time offers?
No, but many do! If you have a successful summer internship, you may receive a return offer of full time employment for after you graduate. Students with return offers may or may not return to that employer depending on their goals and other offers they may secure. A student should never panic if a return offer is not received as the full time recruitment efforts of companies is robust and you will actively engage in a full time job search upon returning from your internship.

How do I obtain on-campus employment if I want to work during the school year?
You can read more about obtaining on-campus employment on the CPDC's guide to On-Campus Employment for Students.

Are internships paid? Is there additional funding?
Yes, most internships are paid. There is a wide range of internship salaries depending on the sector, organization, position, and location. Work with your career advisor to determine salary expectations for the summer. If you have a low or unpaid summer internship, there are additional funding sources that can help supplement your experience. The Reidy Career Center hosts a workshop each spring to educate you on how to fund a low or unpaid internship.

Do students intern during the academic year? How do we find those positions?
Some students accept internships for the academic year, depending on their work authorization needs. Typically students can manage working 8-12 hours per week in addition to their coursework. Academic year internships can be found on Handshake, including work study and research assistant positions. Additionally, the Reidy Career Center hosts the Public Service Fair during the first week of the fall semester. This career fair is an opportunity for Heinz students to connect with local non-profit and government organizations which are recruiting for interns, work study, or volunteer positions during the fall and spring semesters.

Are there opportunities to be a Research Assistant (RA) or Teaching Assistant (TA)?
Yes. Teaching Assistant positions are emailed and promoted to current students each semester—you must first take the class before you can be a TA for it. Research Assistant opportunities can be found in Handshake and are also promoted through email by faculty and staff. You can also explore CMU’s Research Centers and Institutes and email faculty directly expressing your interest.

How do I interact with alumni?
Many ways! During your time as a student, alumni very often participate in networking events, career fairs and workshops. You can also join the Heinz College LinkedIn Group as a student and the Heinz College Alumni Mentor Program, which gives you access to talk with alumni and gain advice on your career goals. Heinz College alumni are extremely proud and supportive of current students’ efforts to obtain employment. They often share openings at their company or of other opportunities they are aware, which your Career Advisor will relay to you on a regular basis throughout your time at Heinz College via an email distribution list.

Will the Reidy Career Center provide me with career support after I graduate and leave my program?
Yes! This is a huge advantage and one we encourage you to consider as you are evaluating graduate programs. You will have lifelong access to our Reidy Career Center offerings just as you would if you were a current student.

I have questions about my Visa or work authorization. Can you help me?
Please direct all inquiries to the CMU Office of International Education.

How will the Reidy Career Center support me as an international student during my job/internship search?
Heinz College is proud to welcome many international students each year, and we strive to customize programming for those students in order to educate them on resources we have that are specific to their job search situation. We offer specialized workshops on job searching as an international student, provide alumni support, and educate employers on our robust and diverse student demographic as we build recruiting relationships.