| November Greetings from Grad Career Services
Have you revised your resume and/or CV lately? This month we're diving into resume essentials, with the goal of sprucing up your document in a short amount of time. We'll also talk about tailoring correspondence (cover letters, emails) to get a better response rate. Plus, check out great resources for PhDs and postdocs: ImaginePhD (humanities/social sciences) and myIDP (sciences).
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ImaginePhD
for PhDs and postdocs in the humanities or social sciences
Create a free account with ImaginePhD to access the following:
- Assessments: 3 online assessments allow PhD students to self-assess their career-related skills, interests, and values, which will then be compared with Imagine PhD's Job Families
- Job Families: Explore potential careers by reviewing 16 Job Families relevant to humanities and social sciences. Each contains detailed info about types of careers and resources to help you explore, connect, build skills, and apply for positions. You'll find sample career packets with job descriptions, cover letters, and resume examples.
- My Plan: Create an individual development plan (IDP) and set specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-based goals to advance in your grad program and career.
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| myIDP
for PhDs and postdocs in the sciences
Similar to ImaginePhD, myIDP, brought to you by Science Careers offers free tools including:
- Exercises to help you examine your skills, interests, and values
- A list of 20 scientific career paths with a prediction of which ones best fit your skills and interests
- A tool for setting strategic goals for the coming year, with optional reminders to keep you on track
- Articles and resources to guide you through the process
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Spotlight on ... Resume Refresh: The Essentials
It's hard to find time for a resume overhaul. And hey, good news: most of the time you don't need a complete overhaul. Instead, take a half hour (or less!) to go through your document, focusing on ways to keep it current and dynamic. Consider the following:
P.S. This spotlight closely relates to our FAQ of the Month ... read on!
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| FAQ of the Month
What are the best ways to tailor cover letters/networking emails? And do I HAVE to do it?
Yes, it's tempting to create a "general" cover letter and use it for different jobs. Similarly, it's easy to draft an email template and send it to multiple networking contacts. Resist the temptation! Think about how you'd feel in this situation ...
You receive two letters (or emails): #1 is clearly meant for you, while #2 is generic and could be going to anyone & everyone. Which is more likely to get your attention? (Easy answer!) Consider doing the following to show a potential employer or networking contact that you're paying attention:- Cover the basics. If possible, always address a piece of correspondence to a specific person vs. "Dear Hiring Manager" or "To Whom It May Concern"
- Speak to your audience. Show that you know something about the employers/individuals to whom you're writing. What's happening with their organizations lately? How do your professional or personal pursuits sync with what's important to them?
- Pass the test. Pretend to remove the individual/employer name from your letter or email. Can you still tell that it's intended for one particular individual/employer? If so, you've probably done your homework. If you're unsure, try to come up with additional ways to customize your message.
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| Tuesday Professional Development Series and Wednesday Career Webinars
Participate in FREE hour-long teleseminars (Tuesdays, 1 pm EST) led by Alumni Career Services advisors and webinars (Wednesdays, 8 pm EST) featuring career authors and experts.
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| Career Fairs, Events and Special Opportunities
Jorge Cham of PhD Comics -- Wednesday, December 6, Details TBA
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| Featured Listings in Handshake
Producer -- Citadel Communications, Providence, RI
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| Want to network with Tufts alumni in your field?
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| Grad Career News is a publication of the Tufts Career Center Grad Career Services is a resource for MA and PhD students in AS&E and the SMFA. Contact us for assistance as you navigate your career path. In-person, phone, email and Skype appointments are available.
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