Job Search After Graduate or Professional School

Beginning an industry job search requires preparation and organization.

• Review job search strategies and resources

• Access Nittany Lion Careers to search over 30,000 employers looking for Penn State talent

Think about your strengths and goals.

Conducting a directed academic job search is key in finding a teaching opportunity that suits both you and the institution. Consider some key components before starting to search:

• What are your areas of strength?

• At what level do you want to teach? Consider teaching at the undergraduate or graduate level, a community or 4-year college, or a position that is research or teaching focused.

• Where do you want to teach? Consider size of institution, small town or urban environment, and if the institution is public or private.

• Is tenure the goal?
   

Gather your application materials.

For an academic position you may be asked to provide all or some of the following:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)

• Cover letters

• Letters of reference

• Transcripts

• Philosophy of practice

• Writing samples

• Lesson plans

• Student evaluations

Short for postdoctoral fellow, a post-doc is a research appointment of a fixed length of time. It provides Ph.D.s with the opportunity to continue their research in an area of expertise or gain experience in new areas prior to an academic or industry career.

Most post-doc opportunities are provided by an institution and finding one will be similar to an academic job search. Start early as some openings are filled a year or two in advance.

Make your job search an organized and well-planned hunt for the perfect opportunity. Learn about effective job search strategies.

On-Campus Resources

• Penn State Career Fairs

• Career Services

• Career Days Prep Workshops

Industry and Company Guides

• GoinGlobal
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• Careers-Internet.org
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Job Boards

• Nittany Lion Careers

• Penn State University Jobs

• Career Builder

• College Grad

• GoinGlobal

• Indeed

• Monster

• Simply Hired

Non-Profit Opportunities

• Idealist

• Peace Corps

• AmeriCorps

State and Local Employment Agencies

• State & Local Government

• Pennsylvania Job Seeker Portal

• American Staffing Association

Understand Your Rights

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

• Americans with Disabilities Act

• Human Rights Campaign

• U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Academic Job Search

• The Chronicle of Higher Education

• Higher Education Recruitment Consortium

• Academic Employment Network

• Academic Jobs Today

• Academic Keys

• Higher Ed Jobs

• PhDs.org

• National Postdoctoral Association

Becoming a great interviewee takes time and practice. Learn what employers are looking for and how to get started.

On-Campus Resources

• Career Services Mock Interview Program

• Career Days Prep Workshops

• Professional Attire Closet

Practice Interviewing

• InterviewPrep

• Common Interview Questions

• Preparing for Case Interviews

Accepting an offer can be an exciting and nerve-wracking. Advocate for yourself with research and data when negotiating.

On-Campus Resources

• Career Services

• Penn State Financial Literacy & Wellness Center
  Learn about loan repayment, budgeting, and saving to get an idea of what your salary goal should be

• Penn State Post-Grad Data

Research Averages for Position and Location

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

• National Association of Colleges and Employers Salary Calculator

• GoinGlobal
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• Salary.com

• Glassdoor.com