Getting ready for the job search

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Believe in yourself and don’t underestimate your skills! You will likely feel that you don’t know what you’re doing in the job search. That is ok. The most important part is simply doing it and not getting stuck trying to perfect the process. 

Work through the BIG Math Network student resources page, especially Winning at the job search. Then go more in depth with the BIG Jobs Guide – priced at $15 for students and available at many university libraries or through interlibrary loan. The Guide contains lots of helpful resources and practical tips. 

Update your LinkedIn page and web presence (e.g. homepage at your department, Github site for code samples) so that the people you meet can look you up online. 

Revise your resume to include the projects you worked on in your internship, and the skills you acquired/sharpened while on the job. Remember not to reveal any confidential information about the projects.

Reach out to your university career center or graduate college career center/advisors to learn what opportunities and connections they can offer. In addition, career centers often have helpful resources on networking and interviewing, and often can provide personalized feedback on your resume, practice interviews, etc. For example, the University of Illinois Graduate College offers many helpful resources on their career site.