The MSL program kicked off its annual series of professional development workshops earlier this month, with the first session focused how to craft strong resumes and cover letters. In the upcoming weeks, the series continues with a session on using LinkedIn effectively and another session on building your brand. By the end of the fall term, the program will have sponsored at least 10 different events and panels, all designed to help MSL students discover and pursue their professional paths.

One challenge for career programming is that our MSL students are so diverse. Some students come in with zero to little experience, and look for more of an entry level position after graduation. Others come in with substantial work experience, and look to leverage what they learn in the program to move into a high level executive position. Some folks have been working at the bench and want to move into a more of a business, regulatory, or policy-based role within the same sphere. Others have come to the MSL program to completely pivot in their careers, possibly moving into new IP or business positions that draw on their technical backgrounds.

It is the challenge of the MSL’s Director of External Outreach, Evan Goldberg, to devise programming and provide individual advising that will guide our diverse students on their unique journeys. Evan aims to meet students where they are and guide them forward, rather than to make everybody adopt the same goals or strategies. Evan spends countless hours meeting with students and providing advice on job search strategies and professional development opportunities.

Here are a few key pieces of advice from the recent session on resumes and cover letters:

1. Aim to tailor resumes and cover letters to the particular job for which you are applying. Generic templates won’t grab anybody’s attention.
2. Don’t just list the individual tasks you did in each position (e.g. ran experiments). Instead describe the impact of those tasks (e.g. ran experiments that generated data used to develop a research hub).
3. Consider writing a professional summary or an objective statement for the top of your resume that explains in a narrative form who you are and summarizes what is special about your profile.
4. Use the cover letter to show that you understand the position you are applying for and that you are a good fit for the position; match what you can do with the tasks that the particular job calls for. Don’t just repeat what is on your resume.
5. Proofread! A cover letter or resume with typos can kill your chances, even if you are highly qualified for a position.

To learn more about the MSL program’s professional development initiatives, please visit the Careers and Professional Development page on our website.