Year by Year Career Checklist - Graduate Students

As you progress through your graduate studies, it is important to take concrete steps to planning your future career by developing your skills and participating in career-related events. The following is a suggested timeline of specific activities and tasks that will help you reach your engineering career goals. Continue to read emails from the engineering career center which provides information concerning jobs, fairs, workshops, and networking events.

All Years MS and PhD Students

  • Maintain regular contact with your faculty advisor.
  • Attend various workshops resume, career fair prep, interview skills, and job searching and negotiations.
  • Attend company information sessions to build relationships with recruiters and learn more about what companies are doing in your field of interest and gain an understanding of the skills and competencies they look for when hiring candidates
  • Attend the Engineering Career Fair in the fall and the Campus-Wide Fair in the spring.
  • Follow up with companies you meet at information sessions, career fairs, or interviews. Make sure you present yourself in a professional manner—through phone conversations, email, thank-you notes, or in person.
  • Attend academic conferences and network with colleagues from other institutions.

Checklists by year:

  • Begin your resume—attend a resume workshop.
  • Develop your LinkedIn Profile.
  • Join and participate in professional associations, engineering student societies, or other student organizations.
  • Plan a related work experience (research position or internship) for the summer if you are not already doing research through your degree program. Go to the Engineering job board, Handshake, at UMass.JoinHandshake.com.
  • Learn master’s degree requirements and thesis information by visiting the Graduate School website.
  • Update and polish your resume.
  • Update your LinkedIn Profile.
  • Continue to participate in professional or other engineering student societies.
  • Start to prepare for life after UMass! Determine what kinds of positions, industries or types of research you are most interested in. Start your search on Handshake, the College of Engineering job board at: UMass.JoinHandshake.com.
  • Reach out to alumni from your department that are working in academia or industry. This is a great way to network and also a resource for job search advice.
  • Prepare to take the FE exam if your job requires a PE (Professional Engineer) as many companies require this for employment. The FE is a computer-based exam that is administered year-round by NCEES (National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying). Advanced Registration is required
  • Decide whether to pursue a career in industry or academia by attending a workshop held by the Engineering Career Development and Experiential Learning Center.
  • Begin your resume or CV by attending a workshop.
  • Begin considering what other application materials will be needed for your future career and begin developing these. For example, a career in academia will require a teaching statement, research statement, dissertation abstract, and letters of recommendation among others.
  • Develop your LinkedIn Profile.
  • Join and participate in professional associations, engineering student societies, or other student organizations. 
  • Pursue fellowship opportunities.
  • Prepare a timeline for degree completion.
  • Learn your program’s policy on dissertation committee members and start forming your committee.
  • Learn doctoral degree requirements and dissertation information by visiting the Graduate School website.
  • Update your resume and CV.
  • Update your LinkedIn Profile.
  • Continue developing any application materials.
  • Pursue fellowship opportunities.
  • Make sure you are clear on dissertation formatting.
  • Update your resume and CV.
  • Update your LinkedIn Profile.
  • Continue developing any application materials.
  • Reach out to alumni from your department that are working in academia or industry. This is a great way to network and also a resource for job search advice.
  • Consider presenting your research at an academic conference and network with colleagues from other institutions.
  • Pursue fellowship opportunities.
  • Note any academic or industry deadlines for next year. Many academic deadlines occur in the fall of your final year.
  • Polish your application materials including your resume, CV, and any additional materials.
  • Reach out to alumni from your department that are working in academia or industry.
  • Consider presenting your research at an academic conference and network with colleagues from other institution
  • Make sure you are aware of all dissertation and graduation deadlines.