B-2 B-Well: Help for Job Hunters

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Vocational wellness is one of the hardest spokes of the wellness wheel to balance. It hinges on a multitude of factors many of which are outside of our control. Admittedly, it can be  challenging to look for a full-time job while finishing classes, projects, or a dissertation. 

One of the best resources for vocational wellness and career support at Harvard is the Mignone Center for Career Success (MCS). Finding a job that aligns with who you are, what you need, and what you want to do can feel like shooting for the moon when you haven’t polished your professional skills. Director Laura Stark and Assistant Director Caroline Rende encourage students who are job hunting to connect with them and other staff at the MCS early and often. 

“Students feel the best when they’ve connected with us early on in their graduate work,” Stark says. “We meet them where they are at, but there is definitely a difference for those who have been baking professional development in along the way. Master’s students especially have to hit the ground running, since those program times are often shorter.”

The staff at the MCS recommend students conduct a self-assessment to help them think about their professional interests, skills, and values. The tool provides clarity on what the individual brings to the table and what career options might exist for them. It also provides language to use in resumes, cover letters, or when networking. If you are thinking of a two-pronged approach to job hunting, this tool is a great place to start and will help you exploreopportunities in academia and beyond.

Building a web of support is  important both for vocational wellness and emotional or relational wellness. Some of the resources that MCS offers include panels and workshops, such as last October’s View from the Search Committee and January’s Leveraging Your PhD. Rende and Stark also suggest students check out written guides, including Building Professional Connections and What You Can Be with a Harvard PhD.

MCS services address specific needs and populations of which students might not be aware. One is Interstride, which provides advice specific to international students. This includes connecting with employers attending the bi-annual event on job-search strategies and checking out resources on the  necessity of networking. Firsthand Advisers is another useful database of Harvard alumni  for students looking for more industry-specific advice. Here, job seekers can engage in casual career conversations, resume critiques, and mock interviews. 

Most of all, Rende and Stark want students to know that they are always available to talk. “We want to make steps feel more tangible and help lower barriers for students,” Rende says. “Finding a job is stressful, but it doesn’t have to be miserable, and you don’t have to do it alone.” 

Make an appointment with the MCS today!