Job, Internship, and Graduate Program Preparation
Whether you're seeking hands-on experience or planning to launch your professional journey, our preparation services offer the support and resources to help you attain your post undergraduate goals. Although there may be nuances to the internship, job, and graduate program application and search processes, many of the elements of the process are the same such as getting organized, preparing a strong application, and researching opportunities and programs. Check out our Steps to the Search Process below for more information.
Steps to the Search Process
- Think about how your internship will fit into your academic schedule or summer plans.
- When will your graduate classes start? Are there any prerequisites you'll need to plan around? Do you plan to apply for graduate assistantships to cover part or all of your tuition?
- If seeking credit for your internship, meet with your academic advisor to discuss how the internship will fit into your academic plan.
- Be clear on what you want to learn from the internship, job, or graduate program; the skills, interests, and strengths that you already possess and want to develop further; the program, industry, or type of work that interests you; and any locational requirements.
- Check out this LinkedIn Learning course on creating a career plan! It's free to all Cornell students, staff, and faculty with our campus subscription.
- Create a master resume that you will later change for each internship, future job, or graduate school application.
- Write your cover letter and/or personal statement and start gathering letters of recommendation (as needed).
- Review your social media accounts (e.g., Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter) to ensure your personal brand is representative of how you want to be seen by professional organizations.
- Check out this LinkedIn Learning course on digital citizenship and building your professional social media presence! It's free to all Cornell students, staff, and faculty with our campus subscription.
- Reach out to your network to talk to professionals working in your area of interest to understand what an internship or job in that space might look like and whether a graduate degree would make you more competitive.
- Ask for assistance in reviewing your application materials when appropriate.
- Check out this LinkedIn Learning course on using your professional network to find job opportunities. It's free to all Cornell students, staff, and faculty with our campus subscription.
- Review the Berry Career Institute resources page for internships and jobs.
- Talk to the Berry Career Institute staff, your faculty advisor and/or faculty members in your area of interest to learn about available internships, common jobs in your chosen industry, and whether a graduate degree is recommended in your discipline.
- Find your own internship or job by identifying organizations and opportunities that interest you, researching whether they have an internship or early career development program or, if not, contacting them to make a general inquiry about opportunities.
- Check out this LinkedIn Learning course on job search strategies. It's free to all Cornell students, staff, and faculty with our campus subscription.
- Visit with a Berry Career Institute staff member, faculty member, or trusted friend to do a final review of your documents.
- Check out this LinkedIn Learning course on personalizing a job application. It's free to all Cornell students, staff, and faculty with our campus subscription.
- An organizational system will help you track application deadlines, positions or graduate programs you applied for, dates you applied and followed-up, dates/times of interviews and contacts.
- Follow up after application submission or an interview is acceptable after several weeks, but specific instructions that state no calls or e-mails should be followed.
- Check out this LinkedIn Learning course on having and presenting a portfolio. It's free to all Cornell students, staff, and faculty with our campus subscription.
- Practice answering common interview questions.
- Review the position description and be prepared to articulate the skills and experiences you have that prepare you to deliver on the requirements and expectations of the position
- Schedule a mock interview with the Berry Career Institute to practice.
- Obtain appropriate professional interview attire.
- Brush up on your dining etiquette if a meal is involved.
- Follow up after your interviews with a hand-written thank you note or email.
- Check out this LinkedIn Learning course on preparing for a job interview. It's free to all Cornell students, staff, and faculty with our campus subscription.
- Create a list of pros and cons to determine if the internship, job, or graduate program is a good fit for your career goals.
- If completing the internship for credit, talk to your faculty sponsor to ensure it meets requirements.
- Consider whether the opportunity is financially feasible, especially if considering an unpaid internship.
- Complete the necessary internship application in the InAct portal if doing a for-credit internship or if you'd like to receive InAct transcription for your internship.
- Contact your site supervisor and discuss mutual expectations, your projects, start date (and end date for an internship), working hours, dress code, parking, and any other information that may be helpful.
- Work with your graduate program to register for classes once you've been admitted.
- Consult GoinGlobal's career guides if applicable to find more information about the place you will be interning, working, or studying. TIP: While off campus, you will need to log into Handshake to gain access to our subscription!
- Be professional by reporting to work or class on time, completing assignments accurately and on schedule, maintaining a positive attitude, keeping conversations professional, and respecting the dress code.
- Ask questions to understand what is expected of you, the organization’s mission, and how your project fits into that mission and the company's goals.
- Visit other departments to get a clear picture of the entire company and how your work affects other areas of the company.
- Keep a journal to help you remember your experiences for future application materials and interview responses.
- Start a portfolio of your completed projects if applicable.
- Cultivate good working relationships to build your professional network.