Job Search Information

Finding the job you want takes many steps and involves many decisions. Below are four MAJOR steps designed to help you as you undertake the process of deciding the most satisfying direction for your career.  Discussing this process with a career counselor will be a significant help to you as you begin. 

For specific links on working abroad, see international careers and education careers in the researching careers section of our site.

1. ASSESS YOURSELF: This is the most important part of the job search! Understanding your values, interests, personality traits and skills are the foundation that will lead you to a great career!

A careful self-assessment will give you the tools to investigate possible career fields, prepare a competitive resume/cover letter and effectively explain your qualifications to an employer.

2. EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS:  Learn which career fields are the best fits for you by finding out as much as you can about various occupations. Your goal should be to research career fields through reading, talking to people and gaining hands-on experience.  You can accomplish this through:

• Researching Careers
• Internships and Winternships
• Talking to Tufts Alumni
• Attending Career Fairs - Check the online calendar for dates
• Attending Employer Presentations and Alumni Career Panels - Check Tufts Career Connect and our online calendar
• Using the Career Resource Library in Dowling Hall
• Using Drake Beam Morin, a resource provided by the Tufts University Alumni Association.   This web resource offers excellent job search advice and includes tips on interviewing, assessment, entrepreneurship and many other topics.  Jobscout, a job search site including over 60,000 postings from major company websites is also included. Tufts graduates use the security key TUFTS00249 when signing up as a new user.

3. MAKE DECISIONS:

• Establish your Career Goals by reviewing what you have learned through your research and comparing what you learned with your Self-Assessment.
• Focus on jobs/careers that will allow you to utilize your favorite skills. Eliminate those that are incompatible with who you are. Remember that the decision you are making now should focus on what experiences you would like to gain over the next 1-3 years.

4. SEARCH FOR A JOB:  The most successful job seekers use multiple methods to search for jobs including:

• Networking
• Campus Recruiting
• On Line Job Listings - through job posting sites and postings found on employer sites
• Targeted Mailing - contacting employers directly about possible openings
• New Article:  A Case of the "Yes, Buts?" by Susan Britton Whitcomb, Career Coach Academy
• Top 10 Tips for Career Changers