MPS in Management students

The SC Johnson College of Business Career Management Center helps MPS in Management students prepare for a focused job search, stronger interviews and a successful career launch. Before you arrive on campus, you can take practical steps to build your professional brand, strengthen your resume, grow your network and prepare for recruiting. Use this page as a starting checklist.

Build your career plan

Career preparation begins before your first class. Investing time now can help you enter the program with more confidence, make better use of career resources and be ready when recruiting opportunities begin.

Start with the Cornell Career Services Career Development Kit. This resource is designed to help you make the most of your Cornell experience, explore what may be possible after graduation and take specific steps toward your career goals.

As you work through your plan, focus on three questions:

What kinds of roles interest you?

Which skills and experiences do you already have?

What do you need to build, practice or clarify before recruiting begins?

Draft your resume

Begin drafting your resume before you arrive. Use the appropriate MPS resume template and update your resume with clear, specific evidence of your experience, skills and results.

Resume templates

What to include

Use concise accomplishment statements that show results, not just responsibilities. Quantify your impact where possible, choose strong action verbs and write with your target reader in mind. If you are changing careers, make sure your achievements are understandable outside your previous industry and avoid unnecessary jargon.

Contact information

Include your name, email address and preferred phone number. Use your Cornell email address unless another professional email address is more appropriate for a specific employer.

Education

List institutions and degrees in reverse chronological order. Include your graduation month and year, or expected graduation month and year. When relevant, include majors, minors, concentrations, honors, awards, named scholarships, special programs, study abroad experiences and a GMAT score only if it is 700 or above.

Work experience

List roles in reverse chronological order. Include the company name, job title and years held. For less familiar organizations, add a brief description of the industry, size or target market.

Other relevant information

You may also include relevant languages and proficiency levels, professional affiliations, certifications, community service, athletic or artistic interests and hobbies you can discuss knowledgeably.

Strengthen your network

Networking can help you learn about job functions, industries, organizations and geographic markets. It can also help you understand company culture, identify skills needed for specific roles and prepare for stronger interview conversations.

As you transition to Cornell, leave your current employer or undergraduate institution on good terms. Thank mentors, supervisors, faculty and others who have supported you. These relationships may become important sources of references, referrals and career advice.

Before the program begins, reconnect with undergraduate classmates, reach out to alumni and begin researching the industries and organizations that interest you. The Johnson Getting Down to Business Workbook includes networking best practices, sample outreach emails and guidance for informational interviews.

Prepare your professional presence

Your online presence should reflect how you want to be seen as a professional. Review public-facing social media profiles and update, hide or remove anything you would not want a potential employer to see.

LinkedIn is also an important tool for career research, networking and recruiting. Create or refine your profile so you are ready to connect with classmates, faculty, former supervisors, internship employers, colleagues and professionals in your fields of interest.

LinkedIn checklist

Add a work-appropriate profile photo.
Customize connection invitations instead of using the default message.
Ask for recommendations from supervisors or colleagues when appropriate.
Join groups and follow companies that align with your career interests.
Follow Cornell groups such as the Cornell University Alumni Network, Cornell University Job Connection and Cornell Johnson.

Cornell students have access to LinkedIn Learning. Consider reviewing LinkedIn Learning videos on building and optimizing your profile for recruiters.

Get ready for interviews and professional settings

Professional presentation matters in recruiting. Invest in comfortable, neutral-colored dress shoes and professional interview attire. Fit is more important than brand, so consider working with a tailor or sales associate to make sure your clothing fits well.

Many employers expect business formal attire for interviews, briefings and other recruiting events. Cornell offers professional clothing resources for students, including The Wardrobe, a student-run organization that provides free professional clothing, and Big Red Threads Hosted by Hilton, a clothing closet in Statler Hall 237 that loans professional apparel to students for interviews, information sessions, Distinguished Lectures in Hospitality Management and other recruiting events.

Both resources are available to all SC Johnson College of Business students.