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Job & Internship Search

Some of the characteristics of a successful job or internship search are very similar to launching a successful new business or venture. Both require taking initiative and being proactive, finding ways to stand out and differentiate yourself, and being resilient and adaptable if your first plan doesn’t come together. Your job or internship search is a "contact sport" where making professional connections will help you through every step of the process. 

 

Ready to begin applying for jobs? OCS advisers provide support and resources to help you prepare for and engage in a proactive job search, whether within or beyond academia.

Nonacademic

  • What You Can be with a PhD – Discover many career options you might consider, and see a sampling of post-PhD jobs Harvard alumni have landed. Work with OCS to imagine your own possibilities!
  • Read the OCS Building Professional Connections publication (pdf)
  • Attend nonacademic job search workshops and webinars on topics such as:
    • Resumes and Cover Letters
    • Networking
    • Career Fairs
    • Behavioral Interviews
  • Explore options:
    • Versatile Ph.D. (successful job search documents, career transition narratives, career panel discussions)
    • Career Pathways (tailored resource for diverse industry clusters, targeted towards undergraduates, but relevant to grad students)
    • Vault (career guides and more)
    • Imagine Ph.D. (career self-assessment and exploration for humanities and social sciences)
    • myIDP (career self-assessment and exploration for those in the sciences)
    • Interstride helps international students overcome job search challenges in the US job market and provides guidance for those seeking jobs outside the US
  • Attend Career Fairs, relevant to your interests.
  • Search Crimson Careers (OCS online jobs & internships database).
  • Consider the OCS Recruiting Program.
  • Explore these useful external links, a compilation of career exploration and job search links for careers in academia and beyond.
  • For help with your job/internship strategy: GSAS Express Appointments, Wednesday, 9-11am and Thursdays, 1-3pm (ET). 15-minute sessions for quick career questions or review of one document (resume/CV/cover letter). These appointments will become available for scheduling in Crimson Careers each Friday for the following week to accommodate more urgent questions.
     

Academic

  • Going on the Academic Market OCS Tutorial
  • Attend the following webinars, including:
    • Craft and Tailor Your CV and Cover Letter
    • Going on the Academic Market
    • Preparing for First Round Academic Interviews
    • Preparing for (Virtual) Campus Interviews

  • Attend these academic career panels:

    • The View from the Search Committee – Offered in the fall, a panel of Harvard Faculty discussing their experience on faculty hiring committees and sharing advice with candidates for academic positions
    • Real-Life Stories from the Academic Job Search – Offered in the Spring, a panel of soon-to-be PhDs and GSAS alumni who have successfully navigated the academic job search
      • Check the OCS Events Calendar for details (panels are not recorded, so tune in to the live events!)
  • Learn about Interfolio to manage your academic job search materials, especially letters of reference.
  • Explore these useful external links, a compilation of career exploration and job search links for careers in academia and beyond.
  • For help with your academic job-search strategy and materials, attend a 15-minute express appointment (for quick questions) or schedule a30-minute appointment through Crimson Careers