Embedded Files
Career exploration is a critical component in getting an advantage as a job seeker in a competitive job market. Just as companies utilize customer input to achieve their
product-market fit, we should actively explore roles, industries, trends, and feedback to understand where we can thrive in our candidate-market fit. This is where your combination of skills, experiences, interests, and values align with the needs in the job market.
This process is going to involve intentional researching, networking, and self-reflection.
RESEARCH
CMU Career Destination Outcomes
Learn what types of jobs, internships, and graduate programs CMU students have pursued.
GoinGlobal
Packed with country-specific career information, each guide has been developed by a local career specialist, updated annually, and features recommended websites and detailed resource descriptions for vital employment topics
CMU Library - Career and Resource Guide
This guide is designed to help you find print and electronic resources for researching a variety of careers and jobs!
Evaluating Employment at Startups
Startups are a common career path for CMU students and graduates, explore how to evaluate these opportunities
NETWORK
WHAT IS NETWORKING AND WHY DOES IT MATTER
Networking is the process of building relationships that help you learn, grow, and access opportunities. It’s not just about “who you know”, but how you engage with people to create mutually beneficial professional connections. It’s about becoming part of the communities and conversations that shape your field.
WHAT ARE NETWORKING ACTIVITIES
Networking can be everywhere you are open to connecting with others and express curiosity. Common networking activities include:
Informational interviews – Short conversations to learn about someone’s career path and advice
Digital networking – LinkedIn or online communities where you can engage in discussions, comment on others’ work, or share your own insights.
In-person networking – Career fairs, Info-sessions, industry events, speaker panels, or informal meetups.
Professional or industry associations – formal organizations that bring together people who work in or interested in a specific field, discipline, or sector.
Peer-to-peer networking – Collaborating with classmates, research teams, or getting to know people in your program can lead to meaningful long-term connections.
WHAT IF I'M SHY OR FEEL INSECURE ABOUT WHAT I HAVE TO OFFER?
It’s completely normal to feel nervous or uncertain about networking, and it doesn’t entirely go away. You become more comfortable with it and understand everyone feels nervous from time to time. Everyone will approach this different, so if you're feeling uneasy, start small and/or bring a buddy. Role play with your career coach to knock off the rust!
A strong approach to networking is to lead with curiosity and mutual respect, genuinely wanting to learn from others while also willing to offer help when you can. A helpful emotional balance technique is to reframe any minor discomfort as a signal that you’re stretching into something new and important to you.
Step 1: Understanding Networking Goals
You do not need to have a fully formed career plan to start networking. In fact, networking is crucial in helping you shape that plan. Your goals may include some or all of the following:
Learn about real-world applications of your academic interests
Explore different roles, functions, and industries
Clarify and practice your personal narrative
Identify organizations or employers you want to target
Build a professional ecosystem that supports you throughout your career
Step 2: Define Your Network
Often, your network would love to help you and are open to ways they can pay back to the universe that helped them. When starting building your list, don’t focus on how they can help you, focus on creating a list of people that would vouch for your character or skills, or someone that previously offered support. This will create an inner circle of sorts, which you will next grow.
Get started building your Detailed Contact List, which you'll later curate in a Job Search Tracker
Step 3: Grow Your Network
Leverage CMU Programs, Communities, and Alumni to build and engage your network
U.S. City-Based and Internationally-Based Alumni Communities
CMUniverse Mentoring and Career Research Platform that allows students to professionally network with CMU Alumni
LinkedIn Carnegie Mellon Alumni Group on LinkedIn to connect with Carnegie Mellon alumni, current students, faculty and staff
Explore additional organizations and communities that align with your personal and professional interests. These may be in the form of:
Professional Associations
Economic Development or Workforce Organizations
Startup/Tech/Innovation Communities
Special Interest Groups
LinkedIn Groups
To uncover these organizations and communities, utilize Goin Global, LinkedIn, or a simple Google Search pertaining to your desired city, job type, sector/industry, and/or special interest.
Step 4: Network Intentionally
Networking is more effective when you approach it with a purpose. This means being clear about why you’re reaching out, stay organized, and following through.
Review the informational interview guide on how to start conversations and ask thoughtful questions.
Always follow up to thank them for their time within 24-48 hours, this can turn a one-time chat into an ongoing relationship
Track your connections so nothing falls through the cracks. Review how to track your networking efforts in the Job Search Tracker Guide
SELF-REFLECTION
PERSONAL BRAND
In a fast-paced hiring world where initial candidacy is represented by 1-2 pages of a person’s education, qualifications, and previous experience - your personal brand matters. The good news, you don’t need to be famous or an influencer to create a brand - your personal brand exists even if you have not actively shaped it. The other side of that, if you don't intentionally craft your personal brand to some degree, other people's perception of you may not align with your authentic self. When you take the time to shape your brand, you can stand out with clarity and confidence. That reputation may help attract opportunities in your career and life.
Personal Brand connects across several channels - from resumes, social media, interviewing, and of course networking. It’s crucial to remain credible, relevant, and genuine. Get started by reviewing the below information on defining and expressing your brand to align with your goals.
DEFINE YOUR BRAND
As you begin to shape your personal brand and your personal statement, you will want to consider internal and external perceptions. When considering internal perceptions, ask yourself the following types of questions:
How do I want to be perceived?
What do I want others to remember about me?
What are my strengths?
As you are considering your external perceptions, ask yourself the following types of questions:
How do my peers describe me?
What have previous supervisors said about my work?
What strengths or values show up most in my projects or conversations?
CREATE A PERSONAL STATEMENT
Creating a statement can help turn these abstract ideas, themes, and values into tangible statements. Practice drafting a personal statement based on the prompts below, keeping it to ~3-4 short paragraphs. This statement will help you frame the variety of ways to introduce yourself and talk about your work with confidence and clarity.
Who am I?
Preferred name, major, prior profession.
What is unique about your course of study?
Outside of the classroom.
Why am I here?
"Here" can be: online application, job fair, networking event.
Mention specifics from something that caught your eye, or things about a company, role, or community that you like.
What can I offer?
Match skills from job description with your skills.
Provide evidence through past experience, projects, research, or activities.
Love to learn more?
Mention challenges you are excited about.
Areas for growth and exposure.
How this aligns with your professional goals.
JOB DESCRIPTION AUDIT
Since the job description will highlight the major responsibilities and skill sets utilized in your target role, it can serve as a great research tool. Using this, you’ll be able to determine what you still need to learn and if you’re a good fit for the position. Job Description Audit
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