Job Search Strategies for Graduate Students

 
   

Graduate students may be committed to a career in academia following graduation, or if the job market in a discipline is particularly tight, a job search can be broadened beyond academia.  Please choose from among the following topics for more information: 
 
   
bullet Academic Job Search
bullet Non-Academic Job Search
   

ACADEMIC JOB SEARCH
 

If you are committed to a career in academia following your graduation from Rutgers, consider these key steps:

bullet Schedule an appointment with an experienced career counselor to discuss your job search.  
bullet Open your credentials file by going to http://www.interfolio.com. The Rugers Credentials Service is now online through a partnership between Career Services and Interfolio.com.
bullet Read the Chronicle of Higher Education weekly.  Available at 46 College Avenue or the Busch Campus Center office.
bullet Check the education job listings at 46 College Avenue.  Positions are organized into four binders:  college teaching, college administration, general teaching and general administration.
bullet Review academic journals for job openings, leads and networking ideas.
bullet Network regularly with professors, graduate student colleagues, and recent graduates who attained full-time or part-time positions at colleges and universities around the country.
bullet Attend academic conferences to expand your network and visibility.
bullet Conduct research into the academic job search at any of Career Services' career libraries (46 College Avenue and Busch Campus Center).  The Kilmer Library's "Career Collection" may also have some helpful books. Visit academic web sites on the Internet.
bullet Consider positions in higher education administration if the job market in your discipline is extremely tight.  Again, check the Chronicle.  The Sunday Star Ledger (education section) and Sunday New York Times are good resources for the New Jersey/New York metropolitan area.
 

NON-ACADEMIC JOB SEARCH

If the job market in your discipline is particularly tight, you may wish to broaden your job search beyond academia.  Here are some steps to consider:

bullet Schedule an appointment with an experienced career counselor to discuss your job search.  
bullet Attend any Career Services seminars scheduled each semester, especially those geared toward graduate students.  See our "Events" calendar for details.
bullet Pick up a free copy of the Rutgers Career Services Guide.  It contains information on resumes and interviewing.
bullet Participate in InterviewTRAK, the Rutgers on-campus interviewing program, to interview on campus.  Many employers seek candidates who are pursuing graduate degrees. 
bullet Submit your resume to the Rutgers Resume Database.  Employers use this computerized resume database to identify candidates.  This is the same database as KnightTRAK.
bullet Attend one or more career days to meet employers, submit resumes and discuss job opportunities.
bullet Review online listings, powered by MonsterTRAK.
bullet Purchase one or more copies of Job Choices, which contain detailed profiles of hundreds of employers seeking university graduates.  Available at Career Services for $1.00.
bullet Conduct research into the job market at any of Career Services' career libraries (46 College Avenue and Busch Campus Center).  The "Kilmer Library's Career Collection" may also have some helpful books and articles on computer.
bullet Visit company and job listing web sites on the Internet.  Stop by Career Services for a brochure highlighting top job search sites. Also, see our Career-related Links section in this web site.

 

Updated 7/27/04

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