--- title: 5 Tips for Landing Employment Opportunities During and After Graduate School description: Where does your graduate degree fit into you getting your dream job? Learn how earning your Ph.D. translates into a job offer you can't refuse. image: https://gradarticles.smu.edu/hubfs/Blog%20Photos/career-seeking-phd-student.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://gradarticles.smu.edu/advancing-the-field/5-tips-for-landing-employment-opportunities-during-and-after-graduate-school#main-content) [![SMU logo](https://gradarticles.smu.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/SMU%20logo.png?width=150&height=44&name=SMU%20logo.png "SMU logo")](https://www.smu.edu/) [EXPLORE SMU](https://www.smu.edu/aboutsmu) ## [Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies](https://www.smu.edu/moody/) - About Show submenu for About - [About](https://www.smu.edu/moody/about) - [Mission and History](https://www.smu.edu/moody/about/mission-and-history) - [Moody Foundation Gift](https://www.smu.edu/moody/about/moody-foundation-gift) - [Charter](https://www.smu.edu/-/media/Site/Moody/graduate/Moody-School-Charter-Summer-2021-Final.pdf) - [Director of Graduate Studies Handbook](https://www.smu.edu/-/media/Site/Moody/Moody-School-DGS-Handbook-20220811.pdf) - 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[News](https://www.smu.edu/news) Show submenu for News - [News](https://www.smu.edu/news) - [Events](https://calendar.smu.edu/) Show submenu for Events - [Events](https://calendar.smu.edu/) - [Athletics](https://smumustangs.com/) Show submenu for Athletics - [Athletics](https://smumustangs.com/) - [Research](https://www.smu.edu/research) Show submenu for Research - [Rese](https://www.smu.edu/research) - [Bush Center](https://www.smu.edu/bushcenter) Show submenu for Bush Center - [Bush Center](https://www.smu.edu/bushcenter) - [Current Students](https://www.smu.edu/infofor/students) Show submenu for Current Students - [Current Students](https://www.smu.edu/infofor/students) - [Alumni](https://www.smu.edu/alumni) Show submenu for Alumni - [Alumni](https://www.smu.edu/alumni) - [Faculty & Staff](https://www.smu.edu/infofor/faculty-staff) Show submenu for Faculty & Staff - [Faculty & Staff](https://www.smu.edu/infofor/faculty-staff) [All Posts](https://gradarticles.smu.edu/advancing-the-field) # 5 Tips for Landing Employment Opportunities During and After Graduate School [Student Experience](https://gradarticles.smu.edu/advancing-the-field/tag/student-experience) October 3, 2019 ![career-seeking-phd-student](https://gradarticles.smu.edu/hubfs/Blog%20Photos/career-seeking-phd-student.jpg) Working towards [getting a doctorate](https://grad.smu.edu/a-guide-to-choosing-applying-for-and-thriving-in-a-phd-program) is a huge step in your career journey! You are undoubtedly busy with your coursework, but likely already thinking about the next step after graduation. We know that some graduate students are working full time while taking classes, while others are looking for an internship or research opportunity to supplement their coursework. Regardless of where you are in your journey, the [Hegi Family Career Development Center](https://www.smu.edu/studentaffairs/career) is here to help. Here are five tips for landing employment opportunities and building your professional brand!  [![Learn more about what it would be like to get your Ph.D. by exploring how you might earn yours and what sort of career opportunities are available!](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3974384/7a347a95-890d-4f78-82fd-26e5a3327ba9.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3974384/7a347a95-890d-4f78-82fd-26e5a3327ba9) ## Update your resume and CV. Have your resume/CV and cover letters reviewed by a professional. Whether you are applying for a research internship or full-time job, we can help you organize and describe your experiences in a way that highlights your relevant and transferable skills. [*Pro-tip: Read this article to learn how to craft a clear and compelling CV that will convey your expertise and impress prospective employers and research sponsors.*](https://gradarticles.smu.edu/advancing-the-field/understanding-the-importance-of-crafting-a-clear-cv) ## Practice your interviewing skills. Brush up on your interviewing skills. The interview is one of the most important factors in securing a job or research opportunity. It is your chance to showcase your skills, personality, and to make a lasting impression that cannot be conveyed on paper.  You can complete a mock interview in person, or even record yourself using InterviewStream, an online interview practice tool. We are able to tailor these mock interviews to your discipline or the specific position you are applying for. ## Expand your professional network. Build and leverage your professional network. Our team will help you strengthen your LinkedIn profile, and teach you how to connect with SMU alumni and other key individuals in your industry. We assist you with identifying professional organizations in your field, provide resources, and host workshops designed to strengthen networking skills. We also encourage you to maintain relationships with your professors, who are experts in their field and have strong existing networks. They can not only offer suggestions for professionals to contact, but may be aware of additional job opportunities. *[Pro-tip: Read — 4 Tactics to Help You Build a Professional Network While Getting Your Ph.D. — for four practical things you can do now to advance your career.](https://gradarticles.smu.edu/advancing-the-field/4-tactics-to-help-you-build-a-professional-network-while-getting-your-ph.d)*  ## Explore career tools and resources. Identify the best search tools for your field, and check them regularly. Many allow you to create search alerts, that will email you with new employment opportunities. Handshake, SMU’s job and internship database, allows you to apply for opportunities, sign up for on-campus employer events, and make appointments with career counselors. Hegi can also help you identify industry-specific job boards, and even recommend employers in your areas of interest. ## Get help evaluating job offers. When you do start to receive job and research offers, it can be difficult to decide which is the best option for you (especially with all the excitement that surrounds it!) But not to worry, the team members at the Hegi Center are here to help you with your job offers. Our team members can assist you in evaluating job offers, and by providing guidance regarding salary and benefit negotiation, professional correspondence, and more. --- As a grad student and alum, you always have access to Hegi resources. You can make an appointment through Handshake (at [smu.joinhandshake.com](https://smu.joinhandshake.com/login)), or visit us during our drop-in hours Monday-Thursday 11-12 p.m. and 1-4 p.m., or Friday 11-1 p.m. and 2-4 p.m.  We hope you take advantage of this resource during your time at SMU. You can also explore one of the many educational [guides in our resource library](https://grad.smu.edu/graduate-school-resources) and [subscribe to our blog](https://grad.smu.edu/advancing-the-field-blog-subscription) to continue to receive helpful information that will benefit you during and after your time in graduate school. We're excited to see where you go!  ### **View our comprehensive resource: A Guide to Choosing, Applying for, and Thriving in a Ph.D. Program in order to determine whether or not a doctoral degree is right for your career goals!** **[![Pursue Your Career Goals](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3974384/6e8f1f35-c587-4f5b-97dd-2bedb9625c28.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3974384/6e8f1f35-c587-4f5b-97dd-2bedb9625c28)** ##### Request *more* ### information Complete the form to reach out to us for more information ###### Written By ![](https://gradarticles.smu.edu/hubfs/Paul_Jenn.jpg) [Jenn Paull](https://gradarticles.smu.edu/advancing-the-field/author/jenn-paull) ###### Published On October 3, 2019 ## More articles ###### Recommended articles for you [Chemistry](https://gradarticles.smu.edu/advancing-the-field/tag/chemistry) ### [How to Become a Computational Chemist: Seth Yannacone's Story](https://gradarticles.smu.edu/advancing-the-field/deciding-if-you-should-study-chemistry-in-grad-school-heres-seth-yannacones-story) [Read More](https://gradarticles.smu.edu/advancing-the-field/deciding-if-you-should-study-chemistry-in-grad-school-heres-seth-yannacones-story) [Ph.D. Program Info](https://gradarticles.smu.edu/advancing-the-field/tag/ph-d-program-info) ### [How to Become an Assistant Professor: My Experience Finding a Job in Academia](https://gradarticles.smu.edu/advancing-the-field/my-experience-landing-a-job-in-academia-as-an-assistant-professor-at-columbia-university) One of the great benefits of earning a doctoral degree is the range of academic positions a PhD can... [Read More](https://gradarticles.smu.edu/advancing-the-field/my-experience-landing-a-job-in-academia-as-an-assistant-professor-at-columbia-university) [Simmons School of Education](https://gradarticles.smu.edu/advancing-the-field/tag/simmons-school-of-education) ### [5 Jobs You Can Do with a Master’s in Higher Education that Spark Joy](https://gradarticles.smu.edu/advancing-the-field/simmons/5-jobs-you-can-do-with-a-masters-in-higher-education-that-spark-joy) Finding joy in your career is essential for personal fulfillment and overall happiness. When you... 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