SCI Career Resources

Career Planning and Exploration

The following resources are meant to be self-guided and reflect the various stages in the SCI student career development process. They range from considering what to do with your major to searching for jobs before graduation. Students are encouraged to review the resources prior to scheduling a 1:1 appointment with their Career Consultant to make a more effective appointment.  

Step 1: Explore Career Options

It’s helpful when developing a career plan to fully grasp what you can do with your degree and experience. Here are some helpful resources to explore technical, as well as more general, career options:

Step 2: Better Understand Yourself

Better understanding your personality, skills, strengths, and values will not only help you be more effective in your career planning but will increase the odds you will land in an organization or role that’s best suited for you. 

  • YouScience (free): It is especially useful for SCI students because it doesn’t just tell you that you’d be suited for a job in the tech industry, but it breaks it down into the types of roles within it (developer, analyst, product manager, etc.). To take YouScience for free, please request an invitation from your SCI Career Consultant. Undergraduate students can also request one from their academic advisor. 
  • 16 Personalities (free)
  • Big Five Personality Test (free)
  • Personal Values (free)
  • CliftonStrengths ($19.99-$49.99)
  • VIA Strengths (free)

Once you better understand yourself, you can begin to answer questions, such as: 

  • What strengths do I bring to the tech industry?
  • What motivates me to do great work?
  • What values are most important to me?
  • What do you want your life post-graduation to look like?
Step 3: Do Your Research

Now that you have a better understanding of yourself and the options available, it’s time to delve into what it would be like to work for specific companies or industries. It can be helpful to create a spreadsheet to keep track of company research, as well as track the application and interview progress with each one.  

Company research involves:

  • Curating lists based on online information from Vault, Buzzfile, the Handshake employer directory,  
  • Conducting informational interviews with industry professionals and Pitt alumni from LinkedIn and Pitt Commons
  • Attending company information sessions, workshops, and site visits via Handshake and student organization meetings 
Step 4: Create Measurable Goals

Try to break down your career planning into what’s called SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely) goals. Some examples would be:

  • In September, I will schedule an appointment with my Career Consultant in the Career Center to review my resume and how to best optimize it for summer internship applications.
  • In October, I will message two Pitt alumni on LinkedIn who are working in the robotics industry so I can learn more about the work that they do in Pittsburgh.

Try not to compare yourself to others and how far along they are in their planning but be advised that most college recruitment occurs in the fall for summer opportunities.

Step 5: Take Action

Now that you’ve done all the planning, it’s time to take action. Aim to complete 1-2 SMART career goals a semester. Check out some of these activities to get started: 

  • Join a student organization to meet others and network (SCI, university-wide)
  • Attend an employer information session
  • Apply to be in the iServe program to build confidence in your abilities and learn project management skills
  • Work on a personal project to demonstrate your skill set 
  • Make an appointment with your SCI Career Consultant.

Reach out to your SCI Career Consultant or Student Success Team if you’re feeling overwhelmed. The Wellness Center can also assist if there are other factors getting in the way of thinking clearly about your career.

Resumes and Cover Letters

Consider your resume and cover letter to be a professional marketing tool where you can best represent yourself to prospective employers, volunteer sites, graduate programs, and more. They should be concise and tailored to their target audience. 

Resume Building

If possible, keep your resume to one page showing your most relevant experiences, skills, and accomplishments. Anything that is important for employers to see needs to be on the top of the page. Graduate students and experienced professionals may require more than one page. Information commonly listed includes: 

  • Education
  • Relevant Coursework
  • Skills
  • Projects
  • Experience (Relevant Experience and/or Additional Experience: this can be international experience, study abroad, community or campus involvement, volunteering, and leadership and research opportunities).
  • Activities or Honors

A CV is more commonly requested for academic and research-based positions. This article can provide relevant tips for that format.

Writing Effective Descriptions

Highlight your accomplishments and any possible tangible results from your experiences. Instead of saying you created a social media account for your summer retail job, say you ‘Created a Facebook page to increase awareness of their downtown store, resulting in 100+ engagements’.  

If you are running low on space, dedicate more space to technical or relevant opportunities versus the more obvious duties of other jobs, like retail where it can be assumed what a cashier does every day. Use this list of Action Verbs to include relevant terms and demonstrate your skills. 

The Writing Center can assist with developing a resume and the Career Center with making revising. Both are available for online and in-person resume review appointments.

Sample Resumes
Cover Letters

Cover letters are not always required, but help provide more insight to why you are applying to the company/role, what you bring to it, and why you’d be a good fit.

It's also the perfect opportunity to include if you've been referred to the company or particular role by a current or former employee. Check out this handout to start drafting a tailored cover letter and be sure to have someone review it. For tips on how to write an effective cover letter or respond to supplemental application questions, check out this article.

Building Connections

As you progress throughout your career, it can be useful to build connections or what is referred to as a ‘professional network.’ While these individuals can be helpful referrals for employment opportunities, it’s even more essential to stay in touch to remain relevant and up to date in your field. 

Informational Interviews

These are brief conversations where you can ask a professional what it’s like to work in their role/company/industry, as well as learn more about the company culture. Sample questions to ask include:

  • What class prepared you the most for your first job? 
  • What do you like most about your current job?
  • What does a typical day at work look like for you? 
  • Any advice for someone just getting started in this field?
  • Are there any industry trends I should investigate?
  • Is there anyone else you suggest I speak with about my career interests?

If you speak with a recruiter, tailor questions towards the company itself or the opportunities they are recruiting for. Send a thank you email after your conversation and try to stay in touch.

LinkedIn

If you’re not visible on LinkedIn, you could be missing out on valuable opportunities and ways to connect with relevant professionals.

Once you’ve set up your profile, you’ll want to connect with people you already know. From there, try to expand your network to include recruiters and other industry professionals.

Students have free access to LinkedIn Learning via the my.pitt.edu portal. It’s an excellent way to build and showcase your skills (technical or not) to potential employers! 

Pitt Alumni

Pitt Commons facilitates meaningful, customized networking opportunities for students with University staff, faculty, alumni, postdocs, and friends of Pitt. 

Pitt alumni can be an excellent source of information. LinkedIn has an easy feature to search for them by what they studied, where they work, live, etc. here.

Event Participation

Attend SCI and University events like networking nights, workshops, office hours, site visits, and more. Check out Handshake and the SCI event calendar for more information. 

Professional Organizations and Groups

Here are some examples of local organizations that might be of interest: 

SCI students have access to several student organizations within the school, as well as at the university level. They also have access to discounted memberships in relevant professional organizations, such as IEEE and ACM, and can attend conferences, such as Grace Hopper and TAPIA. Information regarding sponsored conference registrations is most commonly disseminated through departmental and SCI related newsletters. 

Gaining Experience

There are many types of experiences that can benefit you professionally – internships, co-op, volunteer work, independent projects – the list goes on. Start small, build upon existing experience, and ensure you understand the recruitment process, timeline, etc. to be successful. 

College Recruitment Timeline

When it comes to college recruitment, the job search works a little bit differently, especially for the private and government sectors. For summer opportunities (both internships and full-time), a typical recruiter’s timeline looks like this:  

  • August-September: begin posting positions online
  • September-October: heavily recruit students by attending on-campus events, like career fairs, information sessions, site visits, etc. and begin to screen qualified applicants
  • October-December: continue to interview candidates and send out offers
  • January-February: start the recruitment cycle again if they still need candidates or new positions open up
  • February-June: interview and send out offers 

It is highly advantageous to start this process in the fall. It’s even more important if the type of opportunity you’re applying to involves working for the government, since clearances take a while to process. 

The average job and internship search takes 3-4 months and can consist of hundreds of applications. To expedite obtaining an experience, it’s essential to ensure application materials are tailored to the position, a referral has been listed and/or follow-up has been made with a recruiter when possible. Their information can be obtained through the Handshake employer directory, LinkedIn, campus events, and more. 

Applying: Company-First Approach

While most students apply to jobs seen online or heard about through friends, professors, etc., this approach comes at a major disadvantage. Though it takes more time initially to conduct a company-first approach, it can be highly effective in obtaining a position. Follow these steps: 

  • Reflect on the type of company you’d like to work for and the work you’d like to do.
  • Create a spreadsheet to track notes and any progress you’ve made with companies of interest.
  • Research companies using resources like Buzzfile, Handshake, and LinkedIn, as well as specialty sites on this handout.
  • Peruse job boards to better understand the types of work you’d like to do and to research the skills typically required of them.
  • Set up job alerts on Handshake, as well as on company websites.
  • Request informational interviews via LinkedIn or Pitt Commons and/or attend relevant employer information sessions and site visits hosted by the University.
  • Tailor your resume and cover letter to the type of role and the company. List referral(s) on the application and cover letter if you have one.
  • Follow up on applications you’ve submitted within two or three weeks by emailing a connection you’ve made or use Handshake’s employer directory and LinkedIn.
Market Value

The true competitive edge is being able to effectively explain what you can bring to a company and why you are a good fit in the easiest to understand terms. This should be reflected in tailored resumes, cover letters, and in how you interview.

If you want to do something extra, you can create a portfolio site on your own or for free through Adobe Creative Cloud software the university has purchased for students. The way you represent yourself will carry over into the offer process as well.

Interviews

Whether it’s a virtual screening round, a technical assessment, or an on-site final interview, it’s important to be prepared for each type. 

Preparation

Before any stage of the interview, do your research. Be prepared to answer why you were interested in that particular role and that company, as well as concrete examples of why you are qualified for the position. Most job descriptions include some relevant information. If you’ve previously spoken with someone at the company or in their field, the information provided will help you tailor your responses accordingly. 

While many technical roles do not require business professional clothing, it’s important to look polished. You don’t necessarily have to wear a suit or dress, but try to look your best. If you have questions, ask your recruiter.

Interview Types

Pre-Screening and Phone Interviews

  • These first-round interviews are usually conducted via the phone or virtually. Be prepared for 25-40 minutes of back-to-back questions, with 3-5 minutes to ask any questions you may have at the end. Prepare talking points and questions to ask the interviewer ahead of time. Try to align what you’ll be saying based on the qualifications they are looking for in the role, so it’s easy for them to understand why you’re qualified. 

In-person, On-Site or Additional Rounds

  • Usually second or third round candidates meet with their potential future coworkers and/or supervisor in either one-on-one interviews or in a panel format. The HR representative or recruiter who set up this round will usually tell you who you are meeting with and share important logistics. Arrive 15 minutes early if you are interviewing on-site and ask questions regarding attire beforehand if you have any concerns.  

Virtual Interviews

  • Make sure you have a quiet place to interview virtually. The Career Center has interview rooms available that can be scheduled in advance. These interviews tend to go quickly, so prepare for this as you would your phone interview, but make sure you’re smiling and maintaining eye contact when appropriate. 

Mock Interviews

  • Practice your responses to frequently asked interview questions out loud to build confidence and be more concise. Through the University, you have access to mock interviewing software, called Big Interview, that will let you record videos of mock interviews, as well as provide sample questions based on the type of role and industry. You can also practice interviewing with your SCI Career Consultant.
Sample Questions

These open-ended questions do not necessarily have right or wrong answers. They’re designed to get to better know the candidate. Examples include:

  • Can you tell me about yourself?
  • Why are you interested in this role/company?
  • What led to your interest in (your major/field)?
  • How did you like working at (x company)? 
  • What accomplishment are you most proud of?
  • Can you name 1-2 strengths you’d bring to this role/team?
  • Do you see any challenges with this type of role? 
  • What type of person do you find it difficult to work with? 
  • Are there any questions you have for me? 

Behavioral: Behavioral questions are often similar to these examples:

  • Tell me a time when a project didn’t go as planned.
  • Give me an example of a time when you set a goal and achieved it.
  • Was there a specific time when you were working on a team project and someone didn’t do their fair share of the work? What did you do and what was the result?  

To be concise, implement the STAR Method when responding: Situation, Task, Action, Result.  

Technical Interviewing Resources

While you are not meant to ace technical questions, it is important to show your work and how you arrived at your solutions. Practice with:  

Case Interview Resources

Case interviews are hypothetical situations that are more frequently brought up in consulting interviews. Prepare with:

Questions for the Interviewer

Interviewing is a two-way street and you want to make sure you’re also a good match for the role and company. Sample questions include:  

  • What does a typical day for someone in this role look like? 
  • How would you describe an ideal candidate for this role?
  • How do you define success in this role?
  • What do you like the most about working for this company?
  • How would you describe the company and/or team culture?
  • Are their opportunities for advancement or professional development? 

Regardless of the type of interview or format, send a thank you email 24-48 hours after each round. Reiterate what made you interested in the opening and any key points on why you’d be a good candidate.

Interview Follow-Up

Regardless of the type of interview or format, send a thank you email 24-48 hours after each round. Reiterate what made you interested in the opening and any key points on why you’d be a good candidate.

Offers and Negotiation

Students should be prepared with their salary expectations before they begin applying to opportunities, but this information is especially useful when it comes to the offer stage. 

Recruiting Timelines and Weighing Options

It’s important to know where you land in terms of the recruitment process as you start to weigh various internship and job offers. Most college recruitment, especially for technical majors, is in the fall of each year and then if employers are still in need of candidates, they’ll begin recruitment again in the spring semester.

Many will try to get you to commit to offers early and even though Pitt’s Career Center has a policy suggesting they give you ample time to decide, they do not always do so. Know that if you wait until spring to secure an offer, you do not have nearly the same amount of leverage as you would in the fall.   

Accepting an offer is typically time-sensitive, so it is a great idea to meet with the SCI Career Consultant to discuss various pros and cons your offer(s). The University has a strict policy regarding taking back agreed upon offers, so please avoid reneging on any offers. It can make you look bad, as well as Pitt. 

Salary Research

It’s important to understand the range you should request based on your unique skills and experiences. Your salary has nothing to do with how many student loans you have or your lifestyle. It is solely based on what the market is willing to offer you based on your background and the company’s hiring budget. Research each role you are applying to on Salary.com, as well as its location, in order to come up with reasonable salary ranges. There are cost of living calculators that can also help you determine living expenses in each location.  

Salary Negotiations

Get in the habit of asking if a salary is negotiable when you receive offers, and be prepared to discuss your target salary and acceptable range. If possible, you do not want to be the first person to name a number so that you have room to negotiate.  

Big Interview has some salary negotiation videos that might be helpful.

If salary is requested in applications:
Unless salary is a mandatory field, do not fill in a response. If it is mandatory and allows you to write in ‘flexible’ that is preferred, otherwise you’ll need to write your target salary or range.  

If requested in the interview stage:
Try to deflect if possible and ask for more details regarding the responsibilities before you provide a range. It’s entirely possible they want to make sure you’re satisfied with the salary before they proceed, so you could always ask what salary they had in mind before offering your range.  

During the offer stage:
Salary will be a natural part of the offer discussion, so be prepared to ask to negotiate at some point even if you are pleased with the initial amount. Thank them for their offer and tell them you need some time to think about it – usually they’ll give you a deadline in which to respond. Legitimately consider whether you want to accept the offer and what salary range you’re going to provide when you follow-up asking if the salary is negotiable. Again, try not to be the first person to name the number you’re thinking, but keep in mind most salaries are negotiable but usually not by more than $5,000-8,000 of the original amount.

Contact

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