GRADUATE CAREER SERVICES

Students are encouraged to engage with the Career Services office to strengthen their professionalism and prepare for careers in public service and international affairs. Career Services uses 12Twenty, an online career management system, to share job and internship postings, event details, career resources, and to collect application materials such as resumes and cover letters. Some events require RSVPs. Please only submit an RSVP if you plan to attend. Submitting an RSVP without the intention of participating is considered unprofessional and may reflect poorly with the facilitator or employer.

• Jobs and Internships from organizations looking for Aggies: Explore 60,000+ positions posted annually by 4000+ enterprises
• Networking: Use the Employers tab to connect with recruiters and managers focused on Texas A&M
• Events: Find employer information sessions offered virtually and on-campus
• Interviews: Qualify for on-campus interviews scheduled by employers through the HireAggies system

Must see tools under the Resources Link

• Careershift: Powerful aggregator identifies companies/organizations, job and internship listings with up-to-date contact information. Access the hidden job market using our networking strategy while leveraging hiring needs and e-mail addresses for employees in most organizations.
• GoinGlobal: Explore City and Country-based guides and a global employer directory with over 10,000 resources for finding employment in the US and abroad.
• Includes ‘must know’ protocols and cultural information, guidance for international CVs, and access to their H1B database information.
• Career Finder: Workplace Interests and Values Assessment resource to help you learn how you relate to the world of work.
• Vault: Provides Industry Guides introducing operations, work environment and roles for over 200 industries. Gain detailed insights into the consulting and legal professions along with some insider perspectives from former employees.
• Mock Interview: Virtual Mock Interview tool to help you optimize your interviewing skills using video recording for playback and assessment.

Having a knowledge of the specific skills (also referred to as Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities, or KSAs) you bring to the workplace will allow you to apply for positions you are truly qualified for. A Skills Portfolio is included below for you to use in determining your own skills. Information about KSAs required for jobs in specific areas is included in the Career Interest Groups section of the website.

• Skills Portfolio

NOTE: A list of action verbs is provided here for building your Skills Portfolio.

Now that you have prepared a Skills Portfolio, the Resume Guide below provides guidance for preparing your resume by describing your skills. Keep in mind that although a resume format is provided below, there are a number of resume formats to choose from. Be sure to have other individuals (classmates, friends, etc.) check your resume for appropriate grammar, spelling, format, etc. before you send it to prospective employers.

• Resume Example

• Resume Guide
• Action Verbs

Often the most daunting task of applying for a job is writing the cover letter and following appropriate email etiquette. Some tips to remember are these:

• The convenience of email makes it the ideal choice for communicating with potential employers.
• Tailor your cover letter to the specific job you are applying for. Hiring managers can spot a template a mile away and will often overlook your letter if it looks like a form letter
• Always, always, always send a cover letter when applying for a job. Not doing so makes you look lazy and uninformed about the process for applying for a job.
• When in doubt, include a cover letter. Even if it’s optional, submitting one shows initiative—and it’s better to have it and not need it than to skip it and leave the employer wondering why it’s missing.
• Proofread your cover letter and emails carefully—and ask someone else to review them too. Spell check won’t catch everything, and small mistakes can leave a big impression.
• Email on Tuesday-Thursday to avoid the beginning of week or end of week inbox influx.

Remember that the responsibility to follow-up falls on your shoulders. While hiring someone is important to the organization, the hiring process can easily get bogged down, and it is up to you to jump start it again. Email is an excellent way to make contact with individuals in a quick and noninvasive manner. The Office of Student Services recommends following up two weeks after submitting your application materials. Always review the posting for follow-up instructions—some may ask you not to follow-up or include important deadlines to keep in mind.

Having successfully navigated the application process, now your attention turns to preparing for and successfully completing the interview(s).

Individual mock interviews and additional interview information can be scheduled and obtained by emailing awinterrowd@tamu.edu.

When you receive a job offer, knowing your experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and the salary range for a similar position can go a long way in helping you secure an employment package that meets your needs and rewards your education and/or experience. The following links may be helpful in researching appropriate salary ranges and in successfully negotiating your salary and benefits package.

• Salary Paycheck Calculator
• Cost of Living Calculator
• Take-Home Paycheck Calculator

Meet with the Bush School Career Services team and other faculty/staff to make personalized networking connections.

Connecting with The Association of Former Students at Texas A&M University. Although you may not have gone to A&M for your undergraduate degree, you are a part of the Aggie Network and Aggies like to help other Aggies! The online directory of Former Students is a great tool for identifying contacts. In addition, check out the networking organizations (listed in the A&M Clubs section of the Association’s website) in the major cities. Listen to what people say they do for a living during introductions, and talk to those Aggies who are in your field of interest.

Maintain your existing contacts by periodically updating them on progress in your graduate program, internship, and career goals.

Talk to your classmates about their previous experiences and utilize their networking contacts as appropriate. This includes talking to second year students who have completed an internship at an organization/agency that is of interest to you. Remember to treat someone else’s contacts with the utmost respect as they are trusting you to do so.

Establish new networking contacts by:

• Attending career panels, networking events, and public presentations offered through the Bush School and Texas A&M University.
• Meeting with the Career Services team to develop a plan for expanding your network. (This takes work from you!)