Cornell SC Johnson’s Career Management Center (CMC) staff works tirelessly for your success from the moment you join the Johnson community. Your relationship with the CMC begins before you get to campus, with powerful advice and guidance to help you reach your greatest goals—from the C-suite to your own growing enterprise. Through the CMC’s Integrated Career Management Program, you’ll gain expertise and experience to help you focus your job search, ace any interview, and continue climbing and achieving throughout your career.
Early access
In the spring the CMC will give you access to online workshops and webinars aimed at jump starting your résumé and interview prep. Our spring/summer New Student Guide email newsletters will also feature regular updates from the CMC; these are designed to help you stay on track with your pre-arrival recruiting preparation.
Investing time in your career preparation before you arrive will make your initial entry into MBA life far smoother, and will give you a serious edge in recruiting. Finally, the CMC will also keep you updated on early internship recruiting opportunities.
Start now
There’s no better time to start building your brand and preparing for the job search than right now. Here are some things you can do before you make your way to campus to get started on the right track.
Review our in-depth guide
Wondering how to craft the perfect Johnson resume, write a cover letter, come up with Problem-Action-Result Statements, and shine in an interview? Find tools and advice relevant to the current market in our 2025-2026 Getting Down to Business Workbook.
Cultivate your network
Take time to reconnect with former managers and co-workers or undergraduate friends and classmates. Tell them about your Cornell MBA plans and ask them to keep you in mind for internships or opportunities in the next year.
Develop a career search plan
Start mapping out your career interests and goals. Get organized for your upcoming job search by filling out your Individual Career Plan. You will review this with a CMC Advisor after you arrive on campus.
Clean up your online image
Make sure your searchable public online persona reflects how you would like to be seen as a professional. This means Facebook and other social networks—set anything you would not want a potential employer seeing to private or delete it.
Refine your LinkedIn profile
Include work-appropriate photo (we will take professional photos of each student during Orientation)
Expand your network connections, and personalize your connection requests
Gather recommendations from current and past managers and colleagues
Incorporate job responsibilities and quantify successes
Join groups that spark your interest. Here are some Cornell groups we recommend you follow:
Your resume should be ready by early fall, so start working on it now. Employers have requested a consistent resume format, so be sure to use the official Johnson Resume Template.
Dress the part
Invest in comfortable black dress shoes and a good suit. Work with a tailor or sales associate to confirm that your suit fits you correctly; this is far more important than the brand of the suit.
Most employers still require business attire for interviews and many banks even expect students to be dressed up for briefings. Check out these professional dress tips covering female and male stylings.
Leave a good impression
Make sure you leave your current employer on good terms. You never know when you may need a reference or referral.
These programs and events are recommended by the Career Management Center (CMC) and would welcome applications from our students. For questions or support, please email the CMC.
Opportunities will be shared as we learn of them, primarily in the spring.
