Career Course
The primary purpose of the course is to help each student develop a personalized professional development plan that will map out goals and objectives for gaining experience and ultimately finding a job. In addition to the general orientation and online tutorials, the course includes interactive sessions that review key concepts in the job search process and give students the opportunity to work together on fine-tuning key job search strategies by researching a key employer, briefing other students interested in this sector and writing a targeted résumé and cover letter. The final stage of the course will be an individual meeting with a career counselor to review each student's professional development plan and career goals for the year.
Self-Assessment Review
Career Services offers two self-assessment tools for current students seeking to clarify and explore their career goals: Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), and CareerLeader. After taking these online assessments, students may attend a workshop to learn about the results and then they meet with a counselor to discuss any impact the results may have on their professional development and career choice. First-year M.A. students may meet with a counselor after they complete the Career Course.
Drop-In Appointments
These are best suited for a student who has already developed a strategy for a job or internship search and needs to review application materials, follow up on a specific topic from a previous meeting, or discuss a specific question. Students receive a weekly e-mail from Career Services with updates on appointment information and other important matters.
Counseling Appointments
These appointments are designed to support students throughout the development and implementation of their internship or job search strategy. Some of the common issues covered in these sessions include:
- Preparing a professional development plan
- Researching sectors, fields and employers
- Providing linkages to SAIS alumni and professionals in all fields and sectors
- Identifying and pursuing year-round or summer internships
- Assisting with the job hunt process
Mock Interviews
Students can schedule a time to conduct a mock interview with a counselor. Students will need to provide a job description of the employer of interest and any application materials. The meeting will include practicing interview questions followed by feedback on content and presentation style in the mock interview.
