“SUCCESS DOESN'T COME TO YOU; YOU GO TO IT.”
BEFORE the INTERVIEW
Prepare for common interview questions. Refer to the Question Bank in this section for industry-specific and behavioral questions as well as questions that you may want to ask during an interview (plus a few to avoid). Study the job description to anticipate questions related to the role.
Print out a few copies of your resume, and have a notepad ready. Prepare your professional attire. Put them on and make sure they fit you well.
during the interview
Your goal is to find out if you have “chemistry” to possibly be in a long-term relationship, and both parties want to find out if you are a good fit for each other.
Think of the ideal interview as an engaging conversation. Your role is to articulate how your skills, strengths, and experience can bring value to the organization. Ask the interviewers if you can take notes.
Watch your body language to show interest in the conversation and convey confidence. Be ready to back up your resume with further detail, and speak concisely.
after the INTERIVEW
Write thank-you note to each interviewer within 2 days. Hand-written notes leave stronger impression. Customize your notes to relate to your conversation at the interview.
Reflect on your interview performance for opportunities to improve.
WEBINARS
Interviewing (12:14)
Career assessments can help individuals understand how their personal attributes impact their potential for success and satisfaction in a variety of careers and work environments. When facilitated by a Career Coach, individuals can use this information to align their personal and professional goals, explore their value in the market, and identify development opportunities.
assessments
Carey students and alumni can schedule an appointment with a Career Coach through Handshake to determine which assessments are most helpful given what they already know about themselves.
CareerLeader
CareerLeader identifies how individual interests, values and skills relate to the world of work, then generates a list of business occupations for consideration.
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
The MBTI profile reveals how we see and interact with the world, giving insight into our motivation and the motivation of others. This provides a strong foundation for personal growth and development, underpinning enhanced personal effectiveness
StrengthsQuest
StrengthsQuest helps you identify and use your talents to achieve academic success, explore careers, and understand leadership development.
Strong Interest Inventory (SII)
The SII that helps people match their interests with potential educational, career, and leisure activities, using an individual’s preferences in a variety of areas to aid them in discovering what they would most enjoy doing with their work and their free time.
Resources
- Use the Self-Discovery Questions to identifty and articulate patterns in your skills, interests, and values. You can download the PDF onto your computer and then schedule an appointment with a Career Coach to reflect and gain insights on your work.
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The O*Net Interest Profiler (U.S. Department of Labor) helps you decide what kinds of careers you might want to explore.
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The O*Net Skills Questionnaire is designed to help you use your skill set to identify occupations for exploration.
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The National Career Development Association's suggested self-assessments links will assist users in exploring careers, planning for the future, searching for employment, and finding the additional training necessary to pursue their dream. Most of these resources are free, and several were developed in countries other than the U.S.
“At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are; and you know what you want.”
Webinars
Use the online resources below to explore occupations that align with your interests and skills, while furthering your knowledge of common hiring practices in your industry.
Vault.com provides in-depth intelligence on what it is really like to work in an industry, company or profession—and how to position yourself to land that job. Access to Vault.com is provided by the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School to current students and alumni.
Follow the steps below to create your free Vault.com account today.
- The link above will take you to the Vault log-in page where you can create a free account. Be sure that you see "Access to Vault.com is provided by Johns Hopkins Libraries" in the top right corner of the webpage.
- If you have any questions or issues logging into Vault - Career Intelligence, then please email the Career Development Office at carey.careerdevelopment@jhu.edu and we will be glad to assist you.
Glassdoor helps you find jobs and companies, reviews, salaries and benefits from employees, and interview questions from candidates.
These links include many resources, services, and tools which assist users in exploring careers, planning for the future, searching for employment, and finding the additional training necessary to pursue a dream. Most of these resources are free, and several were developed in countries other than the United States. It is a great starting point for career-seekers.
Occupational Outlook Handbook (U.S. Department of Labor)
The Occupational Outlook Handbook, well known by its acronym OOH, is a guide to career information about hundreds of occupations.
Riley Guide - Career Research Center
The Career Research Center is a starting point for exploring careers that commonly require education beyond high school for entry or moving ahead. You will find the most currently available data for over 400 careers and links to over 140 career profiles that detail educational requirements, the work, and where to research further.
Join one of our 7 Networks to get the most up-to-date information on events and opportunities related to your career interests:
Consulting Network:
Consistent and active engagement in the Consulting Network will allow you to prepare for the demanding application and interview process for this industry.
Entrepreneurship Network:
Interested in starting a business or joining the start-up community? The Entrepreneurship Network provides the resources and connections you need to get started.
Finance Network:
The Finance Network offers graduates a world of possibilities to apply their financial acumen across various industries.
Healthcare Management Network:
The Health Care Management Network provides opportunities for students and alumni to better understand employment opportunities, while building a powerful personal network.
Marketing and Real Estate Network:
Whether you are interested in pursuing a career in Marketing or Real Estate, the resources and guides available in the Marketing and Real Estate Network will be invaluable throughout your job search and career management process.
Social Impact Network:
The Social Impact Network is full of opportunities across various fields including the nonprofit sector, government, corporate social responsibility, or social entrepreneurship.
Technology Network:
Far reaching across all sectors of business, the Technology Network is for those graduate students interested in information systems and technology careers.
How do I join a network?
In Handshake, when you click on your name in the upper right corner, a drop-down list appears; select Career Interests. When that webpage loads, halfway down you'll see the prompt: Which of the following choices best match your career interests? (Choose one or more)
That is where you will see the 7 Carey Networks. Simply select the network(s) you want to join and hit save at the bottom of the page.
"YOU CANNOT HIT A TARGET YOU CANNOT SEE, AND YOU CANNOT SEE A TARGET YOU DO NOT HAVE."
Once you have an understanding of your skills, interests, and values, you are ready to explore which industries and job functions allow for the best match. The Industry Insights section is designed to help you understand employers’ expectations and brand yourself accordingly through your resume, cover letter, networking activities, and interviews! The resources highlighted in this section will enable you to find comprehensive industry information including occupations, career outlooks, leading firms, professional associations, and industry-specific tips. .
Following your review of these resources, we invite you to meet with a trained Career Coach to discuss questions that you have about a particular industry, as well as to create a custom networking and job search strategy! You can schedule your appointment through Handshake.
Timing
Each industry has different times of the year in which they recruit. These Recruiting Timelines are typical recruiting patterns we see, but timing may vary by company. Use the timelines to help plan and prioritize your job search.
Exploration
If you are feeling unsure of where to begin, we encourage you to first review our condensed Industry Resource Guides on industries and functions commonly desired by Carey students and alumni.
WEBINARS
Industry Insights (8:56)
dEVELOPING yOUR BRAND
Sharing your skills and experience with an audience should be engaging and in the form of a story. Consider asking yourself "what makes me stand out," "what makes me unique," and "how can I add value to an organization?" Choose personal skills and hard skills from the self-exploration piece of the navigator and identify an experience that highlights that skill.
Use these skills and experiences to write a short paragraph of what you have to offer. Review the resources below to gain additional insight in developing your story.
How to Best Position Yourself to Succeed in the Future by Dr. Gautam Gulati
communicating your brand
Communicating your brand story is important in person and online. Remember that the way you look, your attitude, and your communication style are all a part of your message.
- LinkedIn: Your LinkedIn profile should be up-to-date and display a professional photo. Be sure to use your value proposition statement to help you develop your LinkedIn Summary section.
- Google: Google your name to see what comes up and take the steps necessary to remove anything that does not communicate your brand professionally.
- Carey The Torch: The official blog of the Career Development Office. Represents a platform where Carey students, alumni, staff, and faculty can showcase their writing skills and share stories and insights. We encourage you to consider contributing to as another resource to build your brand online and have prepared this Blog Post Guide to aid you in the process.
Everything counts when you walk through the door. Studies show that within the first few seconds people form an opinion about a person based on what they are wearing, their body language, and overall appearance. Review these resources to learn more about professional attire and confident body language.
What to Wear: Your image reflects your brand. Be sure to dress for success and for the job that you want.
The Power of Body Language by Amy Cuddy
"Body language affects how others see us, but it may also change how we see ourselves. Social psychologist Amy Cuddy shows how “power posing”—standing in a posture of confidence, even when we don’t feel confident — can affect testosterone and cortisol levels in the brain, and might even have an impact on our chances for success." –TED: Ideas worth spreading
The 7 Things Interviewers Notice First by Jada A. Graves with U.S. News & World Report
"A BRAND FOR A COMPANY IS LIKE A REPUTATION FOR A PERSON. YOU EARN REPUTATION BY TRYING TO DO HARD THINGS WELL."
In this section of the navigator, we’ll review how you can:
- Identify your core skills and experiences that make up your value proposition.
- Develop a brand story and promise to a targeted audience.
- Communicate your brand through visual, and non-verbal communication.
WEBINARS
Professional Branding (19:12)
Your resume is often the first chance to make a great impression on an employer or recruiter. Therefore, your document need to specific, unique, genuine, and professionally written without any errors.
As you apply for each position, you will want to refine and customize your resume to match the qualifications and expectations of that job. You should expect to have several versions of your resume. It is also good practice to have one general resume listing all of your experiences that is for your personal records, not to send to employers. You can use this all-inclusive master resume as your template for creating job-specific resumes.
Guidelines
- Follow these Resume Guidelines to set yourself up for an effective resume.
- When to be creative in your job search?
Bullets
- Start every bullet with an action-oriented verb. Use the Resume Action Verbs document to start each bullet with a unique verb.
- In order to demonstrate your accomplishments, use Power Bullets to capture the recruiter's attention.
VMock
We are excited to partner with VMock to offer you automatic feedback on your resume. Once you receive a score of 75% or higher, you are ready to upload your resume into Handshake!
Important Additional Information on VMock:
We have partnered with VMock to help you in your resume preparation; however, this is not a replacement for career coach feedback. You will have the opportunity to have your resume reviewed by career coaches after you have put your resume through the VMock system and you have actioned the suggested feedback. Once you have done this, you may then attend a resume review session with a career coach.
You have 10 opportunities to upload and iterate your resume to make it the best you can through VMock. We advise that you keep some of these uploads in reserve so that you can make further changes after your coaching sessions and throughout your time at Carey.
Please note that although this system will help you to develop your resume and will give you some practical feedback, you should not get fixated with the overall benchmark scores. Resumes are necessarily subjective and the system reflects this. We are therefore not aiming for 100% and if you achieve 75%, you are well on your way to a great resume.
Once your resume has scored 75%, upload it to Handshake in order to apply for internships and job opportunities.
Interested in working outside of the U.S. after graduation?
- Check out GoinGlobal for global city career guides with information around resumes, interviewing, professional etiquette and more!
- For those interested in working in China, please see our guide for crafting a Chinese resume.
- See a sample Chinese resume. There is also a Word document template available for download below.
Resume Samples
At the bottom of this page, the Carey resume template is available to download onto your computer as a Word document. Here are a few sample resumes for your review:
Samples by Industry & Function
- Finance Sample
- Healthcare Management Sample
- Government - build your resume within USAjobs
- Information Systems Sample
- Marketing Sample
- Real Estate Sample
Resources For Download
Your cover letter is often the first chance to make a great impression on an employer or recruiter. Therefore, your document need to specific, unique, genuine, and professionally written without any errors.
As you apply for each position, you will want to refine and customize your cover letter to match the qualifications and expectations of that job. You should expect to have several versions of your cover letter.
Cover letter 101
Has it been a while since you have written a cover letter or is this your first time writing one? Review the Cover Letter 101 for structure and our top 10 tips!
- Understand when it is and is not appropriate to be creative in your job search
- Review the How to be an Effective Communicator to identify resources and activities to improve your communication skills
Samples
- Traditional Cover Letter
- Creative Cover Letter
Professional and gracious communication is the key to building a strong network of people who can help you in your job search. Hopefully you are scheduling informational interviews, reaching out to connections on LinkedIn, and corresponding with individuals who can share information, give advice, and connect you with potential employers.
thank you notes
- It is critical to write a thank you note 24-48 hours after your interview. Here are some Thank You Note Templates to help you.
- In addition to send thank you notes after an internship/job interview, you need to send them after informational interviews. See the Informational Interview Thank You Templates for samples and suggestions.
linkedin/NETWORKING outreach
- Review the LinkedIn Outreach Email Templates for inspiration on sending personalized networking messages.
INTERNSHIP & JOB OFFERS
- Here are sample Accepting or Declining Offer Letters to help you craft your letter after receiving an offer.
"Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing."
You will also find sample professional emails and “thank you” notes for corresponding with employers and people in your network who have helped you in your career search.
The Career Development Office wants to help you craft and polish your documents. For individual coaching sessions, please schedule an appointment with us through Handshake.
WEBINARS
- Cover Letter & Correspondence (12:00)
- Resumes (10:17)
Start with People You Know
Engage the Carey Community
Join Professional Associations
Attend Conferences
Utilize Social Media
Resources For Download
One of the most effective ways to gather information about your target industry is to schedule an informational interview with an industry professional, so you can learn more about a particular industry or job function. This type of interview is best suited for students in the early stages of creating a job search strategy. Refer to the Informational Interview Questions resource below if you would like to prepare for this type of meeting.
Resources For Download
Be Assertive
Be Organized
Write Thank You Notes
Maintain Relationships
Resources For Download
"The richest people in the world look for and build networks; everyone else looks for work."
Networking is the process of meeting people that you have common interests with. Anyone who has made friends or who has been in any kind of relationship already knows how to network on a basic level.
Why networking?
- 93% of international students who secure jobs in the US do so by getting to know people in their industry. For domestic students that number is closer to 70%. The “conventional” method of getting a job by applying online is also not the most common way of getting a job.
- Networking is a great way to become a member of your professional community.
- Networking enables you to learn about your industry so that you can more easily navigate job interviews.
- Maybe most importantly, networking creates allies that will vouch for you when it comes time to apply for a job. A referral from a current employee is nearly priceless to human resources.
Two approaches:
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For some, reaching out to industry professionals that they have no other connection to works, particularly if they are prepared to reach out to a lot of people. On a long enough timeline, this process will yield results. It should be noted that this method might be uncomfortable for anyone who doesn’t like the idea of reaching out to a stranger.
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For others, it might make more sense to seek out people they know and have them introduce them to people they would like to meet. LinkedIn makes this process fairly straightforward by identifying 2nd degree connections (people that are on a first name basis with people that you know) and asking your mutual connection to introduce you. This requires that you leverage your existing network. With this in mind, a combination of these two strategies might be necessary for some.
WEBINARS
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Networking (16:41)
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LinkedIn (38:41)
Stay ahead of the game by being active in your job search. Participate in all that the Career Development Office has to offer.
70/30 Strategy
Target 10 Companies
Target a list of 10 companies you would like to work for, research them diligently, and find networking connections through LinkedIn, alumni, friends, faculty, etc.
Job Application Tracking Sheet
Start an Excel file (here's a sample) to keep track of your applications, websites, passwords, and networking contacts.
The resources below provide key recruiting timelines for some of the major industries, students, and alumni targets. We highly recommend reviewing the Industry Insights section to get in-depth information regarding specific industries, job functions, and numerous links to websites for job boards and networking opportunities.
ORGANIZATION
- Download the Application Tracking Sheet to keep track of your deadlines, contacts, job descriptions, etc. so that you do not miss out on opportunities due to poor organization.
Online job postings
- Read the Online Safety and the Job Search handout to protect yourself against scams
- Review some of the common online job sites and how to get regular alerts to new internship and job postings
Congratulations, you have received an offer (or more!) for your internship or job search! Now what?
- Evaluate and negotiate your offer
- Write a letter to accept or decline the offer
"The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet - keep looking. Don't settle."
Reviewing the 8 steps in the Career Navigator and our Guidebook can help you develop a comprehensive job search strategy. Our career coaches are available for meetings to help you visualize, create, and implement your customized search.
Guidebook
Download the Career Navigator Guidebook to keep track of your progress within your job search and career development process.
WEBINARS
Interview season is in full swing, and if you are new to the art of interviewing, you might not know about the different types of interviews—each one requiring a different approach.
Below, we examine the various types of interviews you may encounter while on the job hunt.
Whatever type of interview you encounter, the Career Development Office can help you prepare by discussing interview strategy and conducting practice interviews. Contact the CDO to perfect your interviewing techniques by scheduling an appointment through Handshake.
Phone, Skype, and Videoconference Interviews
- Phone: On a phone interview you are unable to see and adjust to visual cues, so be sure to pay close attention to the interviewer’s tone and the substance of their questions.
- Skype: When answering a question, look into the webcam as if that were your interviewer's eye. Use a headset to ensure that your answers are heard as clearly as possible. You may find a short delay in Skype or videoconferencing, but do not let this distract you; remain polished and articulate.
Use Interview Stream, accessed through the Career Center > Resources section in Handshake, to help prepare for your upcoming interviews prior to a mock interview with a CDO career coach.
Group Interviews
Behavioral Interviews
The theory behind behavioral interviews is that past performance in a similar situation is the best predictor of future performance. Questions in this interview format are most likely influenced by important, sought-after competencies such as leadership, teamwork, and creativity. Think of specific examples that demonstrate your hard and soft skills to prepare for this interview.
Case Method Interviews
This type of interviewing is typically found in consulting companies, but it is now spreading into financial services and banking. Initially, you are presented with a hypothetical industry-related problem. There is no right answer; instead, the interviewer is evaluating your problem solving, analytical reasoning, and interpersonal skills. This type of interviewing can be daunting and intense, but with preparation you can participate in a case method interview with the utmost confidence. Refer to the Case Interviewing Guide for more information.
Task / Testing Method Interviews
Resources For Download
While you cannot know exactly what you will be asked in an interview, you be very thorough in your preparation by studying and anticipating questions based on the job description and company/industry research. Below are sample questions to help you prepare for your interviews.
Schedule an appointment in Handshake to conduct a mock interview and discuss interview strategies with a Career Coach.
GENERAL
industry specific
“SUCCESS DOESN'T COME TO YOU; YOU GO TO IT.”
BEFORE the INTERVIEW
Prepare for common interview questions. Refer to the Question Bank in this section for industry-specific and behavioral questions as well as questions that you may want to ask during an interview (plus a few to avoid). Study the job description to anticipate questions related to the role.
Print out a few copies of your resume, and have a notepad ready. Prepare your professional attire. Put them on and make sure they fit you well.
during the interview
Your goal is to find out if you have “chemistry” to possibly be in a long-term relationship, and both parties want to find out if you are a good fit for each other.
Think of the ideal interview as an engaging conversation. Your role is to articulate how your skills, strengths, and experience can bring value to the organization. Ask the interviewers if you can take notes.
Watch your body language to show interest in the conversation and convey confidence. Be ready to back up your resume with further detail, and speak concisely.
after the INTERIVEW
Write thank-you note to each interviewer within 2 days. Hand-written notes leave stronger impression. Customize your notes to relate to your conversation at the interview.
Reflect on your interview performance for opportunities to improve.
WEBINARS
Interviewing (12:14)
You have 90 days to prove that you are a valuable asset and a great investment to the company. In the first 30 days, you want to develop relationships, build credibility, and set goals. In the first 60 days, you want to have already identified key priorities, taken on special projects, and adjusted to the culture. By the time you hit your 90 day anniversary, you want to assess your progress, complete several projects, and continue to plan ahead.
Reflect on what have you done so far to prepare yourself for this position, what expectations you have had to embrace in this new role, and consider what will make you successful moving forward. Have an agenda, plan to learn, and balance making things happen with being observant and reflective. Engage proactively with your supervisor and colleagues. To really have a breakthrough moment, you will have to negotiate and establish realistic expectations, reach consensus, and secure sufficient resources while staying prepared to work independently or under close supervision.
Top 10 Things to Do
9. Keep a journal to track observations, lessons learned, goals.
8. Invite a different co-worker to lunch each month.
7. Attend at least 2 company-sponsored social events.
6. Help plan a work or social event.
5. Join an affinity group or work committee.
4. Write at least 3 hand-written "Thank-You" notes to colleagues.
3. Seek feedback from supervisor or a colleague.
2. Contribute an excellent idea that is implemented.
1. Add what you determine is your top priority in your first 90 days that may not be listed above.
We want to stay in touch and hear from you as often as your schedule will allow. We are here every step of the way as you adjust to your new job, while applying all of the great things you learned at the Carey Business School.
Resources For Download
staying in the U.S.: opt/h-1B
Connect with OIS @ Carey for support in determining your eligibility and procedure. They issue documents required for students to obtain their visa, and help them to maintain their status once they have arrived in the United States. They also help with travel, employment authorizations, change of status, and cross-cultural awareness as well as financial concerns, health matters, housing, and other issues that may arise during a student’s stay. View the basic OPT timeline to understand the timing of the application process.
Both GoinGlobal and My Visa Jobs are great online resources for exploring work opportunities and building networks for international students who wish to stay in the U.S. or return to their countries. If you are a current student or alumni interested in gaining access to GoinGlobal, please visit the Johns Hopkins University Careery Planning website and click on the GoinGlobal link under "Hopkins Exclusive Resources".
For more information on working in the U.S., visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services page, where you can learn about OPT and H-1B.
rETURNING HOME
“There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.” ― Nelson Mandela
The Johns Hopkins Carey Business School Career Development Office is still here to support you in your career advancement after you return home via Skype appointments, which you can schedule in Handshake.
Consider the following questions:
- How have you changed since your first day in the U.S.?
- Name 3 values you have observed in Western business culture.
- Write down 3 ways your U.S. education has changed you.
- What can you offer employers in your home country?
Check out the International Student Guide on returning home via www.InternationalStudent.com for more information about adjusting when you return home.
There are many reasons why you want to stay connected to other Carey graduates. As your career progresses, others are also moving forward. You may want to work in a company that your fellow alumni are working at now, or you are looking to build a team that your former classmate wants to be part of. You may simply want to brainstorm some ideas or compare notes with others who are connected to Carey. You will also continue to have access to Handshake when you need help with your next career move.
You have the opportunity to stay connected with others by joining Johns Hopkins University Alumni Association and Carey Business School Alumni Network. You can be part of the Hopkins community through regional chapters across the country and around the world. You may also keep up with news and discussions or even and post your insights through on Carey’s LinkedIn Page.
Join our virtual community through GoHopOnline.com, where you can connect with over 1,100 Johns Hopkins alumni. Review the Networking section within the Career Navigator for strategies and samples of appropriate outreach.
As an experienced professional, your career development needs are very different from those of new professionals. You have been successful in the job search and are likely to have many accomplishments to share with others. You may be well established in your field and have a solid professional network in place. You know yourself and are confident about your value proposition.
Congratulations! You’re off to a great start. However, in today’s highly competitive job market, it is more important than ever to be proactive about managing your career, regardless of your age or stage in life. Change is the norm in organizations and even the best and most competitive employees find themselves in career transition at one time or another. In fact, the U.S. Department of Labor suggests that working professionals can expect to make two or three career changes and as many as ten job changes over the course of their working lives. So how can you best prepare for career transitions and effectively manage your career?
Consider the following strategies:
- Be intentional.
- Invest in yourself.
- Manage your professional brand.
- Know when it’s time to make a career transition and find the courage within you.
- Plan financially for life and career transitions.
Resources For Download
"IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO BE WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN."
In the Career Management section, you'll find information and resources to help guide you through any stage in your career path.