Thu, Feb 12 | 2:00 PM
Fulbright Virtual Information Session (Virtual)

Wed, Feb 18 | 1:30 PM
Careers in Patent Law for PhDs & Postdocs
In-person, E19-202 (Ford Building)

Mon, Feb 23 | 12:00 PM
Physician Lunch & Learn with Dr. Lucy Shen
In-person, Rogers Building (7)

Mon, Feb 23 | 5:00 PM
Legal Career Options for STEM Students
In-person, Maclaurin Buildings (4)

Tue, Feb 24 | 6:00 PM
Infinite Careers: Francesca DeMeo — Research Scientist at MIT & CEO of NoStove, Inc.
In-person, location TBD

*not on flyer

Wed, Feb 25 | 1:00 PM
Explore Fulbright: Turkey (Türkiye)
In-person, Rogers Building (7)

Fri, Feb 27 | 10:00 AM
How to Succeed in Your Squiggly Career
In-person, Maclaurin Buildings (10)

Fri, Feb 27 | 2:00 PM
Coffee Chats with Alpha AI Engineering (For 1st & 2nd Years)
In-person

The program will be hosted in-person on the Florida State University campus from May 28-June 18, 2026. There is no application fee and the program is offered at no cost to participants. On-campus apartment-style housing is provided, and each participant will receive a meal card for the duration of the program.  

The application deadline is March 27, 2026, however, students are encouraged to apply early as the admissions team begins reviewing applications in January.  Interested students may find more information, including the online application at www.law.fsu.edu/slp.

Undergraduates can apply for reimbursement up to $200 dollars to offset the cost of professional development. CAPD will consult with Student Financial Services to prioritize applicants with the highest financial need.

The professional development must occur within the academic year between September 1 -June 30. See timeline for application deadlines.

Need-based Undergraduate Professional Development Fund
Eligible activities include:

• Fees for DOMESTIC professional conference registration
• Programs or workshops (not already offered at MIT)
• Lodging or transportation associated with attending an in person domestic professional conference
• Legal name change
• Professional attire

Process:
Complete this online application. You will receive an acknowledgement once your application has been submitted. Please refer to the award cycle chart below for information on when to expect an update on your funding request.

Submit receipt(s) from the professional activity. If the activity occurs after the application deadline and your application was accepted, the associated receipt must be submitted to capd-undergrad-pd@mit.edu within two weeks of completing the experience in order for the approved reimbursement to occur.

Reimbursement issued for professional attire and legal name change may be subject to taxes. Reference MIT’s Office of the Vice President for Finance for guidance on how to report this income on your taxes. 

Review the chart below for award cycles and deadlines. The professional development activity must occur within September 1 – June 30.

From the moment you apply for a position, it is wise to be prepared for an eventual offer and possible negotiation. Here are six things you can do to better prepare for negotiating an offer:

2. Identify salary range

Establish a budget

You need to know what you need to not only survive, but to thrive, in your job. Setting a budget can help you accommodate estimated and expected costs for food, housing, transportation, savings and other needs.

Here are some resources to help you set a budget:

• Pay Check City – provides a free payroll calculator for taxes in all 50 states
• Nerd Wallet – a cost-of-living calculator that helps you compare two different cities
• MIT Living Wage Calculator – helps establish the basic need level based on location
• MIT Federal Credit Union – tips on creating a budget, including links to additional budget tools and resources

Compile salary data

There may be multiple sources to find information about salary. The more information you gather, the more confident you might be in the salary you can expect.

• Job posting: this may be the most reliable source of information, but can be quite a wide range depending on the position.
• Salary tools: here are some tools that can also help you identify additional salary ranges for different positions:
  • MIT Survey Data – reported salaries are aggregated from student and recent graduate responses
  • Glassdoor
  • Salary.com
  • Payscale.com
  • Levels.fyi
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics – the Occupation Outlook Handbook includes salary information for different occupations
  • O*Net – the Occupation Information Network provides both median wage information along with state-by-state ranges
  • Some job boards, like Indeed, may estimate salary for certain positions if not included. You may want to be wise against relying to much on estimated data.
• Networking contacts: peers and alumni (from LinkedIn, the Directory, and Advisors Hub) might give you additional insights about the salary ranges for certain positions.

Set your confidence

Most likely you will receive a variety of salary ranges from the different sources. However, by overlaying the different ranges, you might be able to generate a confidence interval for what might be the most common salary range you might anticipate.

Keep in mind that the higher end of a salary range (75 percentile) is common for higher-skilled or more experienced workers, while the lower end (25 percentile) might be more entry-level. Try to avoid discounting your skillset or experience, but knowing this might help you feel more prepared in advocating for a salary increase.

6. Negotiate

What can I negotiate?

While not everything in your offer is negotiable, it is good to know what you might be able to factor into a negotiation or not.

Usually negotiable	Sometimes negotiable	Usually non-negotiable
Offer deadline	Telecommuting/hybrid work	Vacation/PTO
Start date	Position title	Health insurance
Salary	Primary work location	Retirement plans
Signing bonus	Performance review timing	Non-disclosure agreements
Relocation bonus	Non-compete agreement timeframe	Other benefits applicable to all

Do not worry if you do not know what all of these mean right now. You can take time to learn about them and meet with CAPD for guidance.

Plan your strategy

While you have done a lot of preparation work already, it is always a good idea to plan your strategy for the actual negotiation.

Consider different scenarios and how you might respond to each (if it comes up):

• What if they only give me 48 hours to decide? (e.g. an “exploding offer”)
• What if I got another offer at a different company?
• What if they say they don’t have the budget to increase my salary?
• What if they offer other perks like bonuses?
• What if they offer to think about a raise in the future instead of increasing my base salary now?

You will want to think about who might be the best person to discuss your offer with. This person could be a recruiter, HR manager, or hiring manager. Usually this is the same person who sends you the offer, but regardless you can ask them.

Finally, practice will help you become more proficient. So strategize with the help of friends, mentors, and CAPD.

Negotiate

Negotiations can feel daunting, but you have already done some good work in preparation for this moment. As you enter into the negotiation, here are some tips to help you feel more confident:

• Leverage your research – by doing pre-work in establishing appropriate wage levels, you should feel empowered to request what you feel is reasonable.
• Be prepared to set a “first offer” or clarify their offer – You might need to propose an amount that is close to your “ideal” but still falls within your identified range to target. Have confidence in your research but be prepared to back up your request with a rationale based on your skills, experience, or abilities.
• Listen and address their concerns, but advocate for yourself – ultimately, this is a discussion where you and your prospective employer can find a mutually agreeable outcome.
• Be prepared for them to say no – even if you do not get the salary you are hoping for, you still have a choice in the matter and can decline.

Countering objections

A negotiation is usually a discussion, and to navigate the discussion you will want to prepare yourself to respond to potential objections. Here are some things to keep in mind as you discuss the offer:

• Understand their objection(s) – you might ask clarifying questions to understand their hesitation of rationale.
• Lean-in on your research – use your research into the salaries you have found and share with them insights and clarify any discrepancies.
• Promote your value – highlight the skills, competencies, or strengths you bring that can add immediate value.
• Propose alternatives – identify and suggest other ways they can improve the offer (i.e. signing bonuses, housing allowances, stock options, etc.)
• Stay professional throughout – avoid getting too emotional or careless during the process

Reaching for your goal

Negotiation is about finding a mutually-agreeable outcome, or a “win-win” situation.

Hopefully through the discussion with your prospective employer, you have had a chance to find a way for you to walk away happy with the offer. However, you always retain the power to walk away from an offer if it is not satisfactory.

Follow-up

Sometimes you might need to revisit the negotiation more than once.

Regardless of the outcome of the negotiation, it is wise to get any revised terms in writing. They might ask for verbal acceptance before they send a revised offer letter, so take notes so that you know what you have also agreed to.

Once you sign and return your offer letter, you have committed to the opportunity.

Declining an offer

If you are declining an offer, you should inform the recruiter as soon as your decision has been made and if you have a conversation, follow it up with a well written thank-you letter.

Reneging: is it really that bad?

(From the Recruiting Guidelines for Students): Accepting an offer is a commitment to the employer. Reneging on an offer could be seen as an ethical and possibly legal violation of that commitment. If you are not ready to make that commitment, do not accept the job offer. CAPD considers reneging a serious ethical breach, except under dire circumstances. Reneging may result in the forfeiture of your right to participate in any additional campus recruiting. Before making a decision to renege on an offer, meet with a Career Services staff member to weigh your options and determine the best course of action.

Advocating for your salary after the offer

Just because you have accepted an offer does not mean that your salary can no longer be affected. You can continue to advocate for your salary throughout your career. Here are some tips that might help:

• Generate a “brag sheet” – keep track of your accomplishments, accolades, and awards. If you have performed well, capture those metrics to present to your supervisor or leadership to advocate for salary increases, bonuses, and promotions.
• Monitor your company’s performance and profitability – timing your advocacy around periods where profits are high or performance is good is wise. Be mindful of asking for salary increases during periods of decline.
• Revisit your values – overtime, what is important to you might change. Early in your career, you might want to pursue high salaries; and later you might want more schedule flexibility.
• Continue to advocate for yourself beyond your current position – sometimes you might need to change companies to positively affect your salary over your career.

Final thoughts

• Have self-compassion – in any point within your career, you may not get everything perfect, and may make some mistakes. Keep on advocating for yourself as much as you can and seek support as you need.
• Show gratitude – gratitude is a powerful social lubricant and may make encounters a lot easier and less stressful. Show appreciation and give thanks as you navigate any process.
• Leverage your network – finally, you are not alone! Your network and the resources of MIT can help you along the way.

Here is a copy of the slide deck if you would like to revisit other parts of the presentation:

CAPD understands that you might need additional support with navigating the job/internship negotiation process. If you would like to discuss your specific needs related to an offer or negotiation, schedule an appointment with a Career Advisor on Handshake.

Education

• Oakland University – Bachelor of Arts, Anthropology
• Michigan Technological University – Master of Science, Industrial Archaeology
• MIT – Doctor Of Philosophy, STS – Science, Technology, and Society

Bio

Renée Blackburn is a Transportation Specialist in the Federal Government. Her work focuses on roadway safety and innovative research. Projects she’s worked on include the National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS), Reconnecting Communities Pilot Grant Program, and, currently, ARPA-I.

She holds a BA from Oakland University in Rochester, MI, an MS from Michigan Technological University, and a PhD from MIT.

What motivates you to do the work that you do?

My biggest motivation is to create a safer, more equitable, more accessible world for all people. I do that through my work in transportation, but transportation intersects with almost every aspect of our lives: from housing; access to food, medical services, school, work, and community; and so many other things. All people need safe, reliable, and connected transportation systems, whether that be for walking, biking, driving, taking transit, etc. I continue to do this work because we can see throughout history the effects that policy decisions have had on certain communities and it is important to continue working to correct the harms that were done.

Making decisions, especially important-feeling career decisions, is really challenging for people at all stages of their career. What strategies have you used to make career decisions?

It’s good to think of your short term goals, but you’re going to spend a lot of time working so whatever you choose you should personally feel at peace with the work that you are doing. If you find the work you are doing morally objectionable, no amount of money will make you happy. The best path to a happy and fulfilled life, is to fill it with activities, people, etc that fill you up in a positive way. This is how I approach all decisions. We do live in a capitalist society, but again, having (and hoarding) the most money will not make you happy and will not solve the world’s problems. So, in reality, it’s a deeply personal discussion that you have to have with yourself – what matters most to you in life? what fulfills you? and move in that direction. And also recognize that as you continue to grow and age, the answer to that question can and will change.

How have your career experiences been shaped by intersections of your identity, including but not limited to gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, nationality, disability, and veteran status?

I was a first generation college student and, from a young age, I wanted to go to college. I would talk about it but I never felt that I was taken seriously, I think for two reasons: 1. I was a child and, even though I was smart, I was often dismissed by adults; and 2. I was a girl. I planned for college after high school, but it became evident that I didn’t have the resources or the family support to make it happen. So I waited – I went to college in my early 20s after working various jobs for a couple years. By this point a lot had occurred in my young adult life family-wise, but I made this choice and changed my life path completely, which eventually led me to MIT. These experiences (and others) have continued to influence my career and how I interact with others.

What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve received?

I’ve had some really insightful mentors, both informal and formal, and I’ve appreciated their words of wisdom, their experiences, and their suggestions. During a career transition in late 2021, I mentioned to my mentor that I thought I should focus more on some of my weaknesses. We’d recently been discussing strengths and weaknesses so this was fresh on my mind. She said to me, why put too much energy into your weaknesses, into areas that you just do not enjoy working on, when you can put that into your strengths and make them stronger? I will always remember this. I now don’t think about the “negative” and how to improve, but think about where I am strongest and how I can hone those skills more. It makes me feel more accomplished and makes my professional life more enjoyable.

What career advice do you have for current MIT students, or those interested in entering your industry?

It’s a tough time to be in public service, but it’s still worth it. The folks I work with are some of the smartest, most resilient, and most dedicated people I’ve ever met. We come to work each day to solve a problem that’s facing our country that we care deeply about and work through a variety of challenges in order to solve it. It is a very rewarding career path.

What do you like to do outside of work for fun/relaxation/inspiration?

There is a lot going on in the world – I’ve been purposely reducing my screen time lately (and not using my phone before bed), which means I have more time for hobbies. Having a good work/life balance is so important, and creating that habit when you’re young is key. At the moment, I spend my time outside of work with my animals (2 cats, 1 dog), reading, putting together LEGO sets, playing D&D on Wednesdays, and pursuing other creative outlets that make me happy (music, crafting, home renovation).

Last edited: October 2025

Note: Renee’s comments are her personal opinions and do not represent the views of the U.S. federal government or the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Networking. For some it is a loaded word that induces a visceral sense of dread, while for others it is a natural part of the workday. In reality, networking is nothing more than the practice of cultivating personal and professional connections, though building a strong network takes time and intentional effort. In this article, I will discuss strategies, best practices, and opportunities for building a network at your university and beyond, including: 

• When to begin networking;
• How to identify your reason for networking;
• How to use different types of online networking platforms;
• How to craft effective outreach messages using the GREAT framework; and
• How to prepare for and make the most of face-to-face networking opportunities.

Find your reason to network, and start early

Before the job search

While many people might realize the importance of networking in the midst of a job search, it’s never too early to begin building and expanding your network. The goal need not be immediate; having a strong network can have future value you may be unable to recognize in the present. Creating a strong network is important for all types of career paths, whether you’re pursuing industry or academic professions. 

For those pursuing careers in industry, you can start learning about different professional trajectories or roles from the people who work in those positions. Or, for those in academia, you can gain exposure to new ideas and research collaborations even before any specific project emerges. In fact, each of these motivations have guided my own networking activities. For example, in the fall before graduating with my Master’s degree, I used the strategies I share in this article to connect with individuals working in industries and positions I was interested in potentially pursuing, knowing that I had many months left before I needed to have a job secured. 

There are many reasons to network, and being specific about your goals will guide your journey!

During the job search

During your job search, or in the months leading up to one, networking can help you narrow your search, and boost your application. Tapping into your network might allow you to learn about opportunities that might not yet be publicly posted, which is especially important for more senior roles. A referral from a current employee could also push your application to the top of the stack, making networking an important way to improve your odds of getting that first interview. 

No matter what stage in your career you find yourself, taking some time to reflect on your future goals is important to focus your networking efforts. The aim of networking is to make connections and have conversations that help you achieve your goal. 

So before you embark on your networking journey, it is worth taking the time to reflect: 

• What are your short- and long-term career goals?
• Why do you want to expand your network? 
• What do you want to learn and who can provide that information?
• What is the timeline you are working with? 
• What would success in this networking process look like in a few months? A few years?

In the rest of this article, I will focus on how to network effectively using common online platforms such as LinkedIn, connecting on video calls, and when attending in-person events.

When it comes to building your network, cast a wide net. Even your current network probably includes more people than you think!

Build online connections

Online networking is one of the most convenient and low-barrier forms of networking. The three most important platforms are LinkedIn, Handshake, and your university’s alumni network.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn has become a near-universal job board while also facilitating professional networking through the “connections” feature. When looking at a job posting or a company’s page, LinkedIn will list your connections, company alumni, and university alumni who have some affiliation with the company. Recruiters and hiring managers may also reach out to you via LinkedIn, and in my experience this can be a great way to initiate a conversation after sifting through the uninteresting and irrelevant messages. 

Handshake

Handshake shares LinkedIn’s role as a widely used job board, but is targeted toward students and recent graduates. That means that posted jobs are often a better match for early career job seekers. Additionally, your university might publish lists of companies interested in hiring alumni as well as those attending upcoming job fairs, as the MIT Career Advising & Professional Development (CAPD) Office does. For more information on this platform, check out the MIT CAPD’s guide to Handshake. I have found Handshake to be very useful for determining which jobs and career events are of interest. 

Alumni databases

Lastly, I strongly recommend that you investigate your university’s online alumni network. For example, the MIT Alumni Advisor’s Hub is an excellent resource for MIT students to directly connect with MIT alumni, who have signed up to be listed as “advisors” for students and fellow alumni. While the site assigns scores to advisors based on the similarity of their experience with your interests, you can also search for specific terms, such as job title or company. An advisor’s profile will detail their work and educational experience, list specific conversation topics you can reach out about (e.g. career conversations, mock interviews, work-life balance, etc.), and allow you to suggest times that would work for both of you to meet online. I met with several people from the Advisor’s Hub, and found all of my conversations to be encouraging and helpful! If you’re not sure whether your university has an alumni database, contact your school’s Career Services program or your department’s academic administrator. 

Craft your GREAT message

Regardless of which platforms you use for online networking, in order to initiate a connection you will need to send an introductory message to someone that you don’t know. For many people, this is one of the least familiar and most intimidating aspects of networking, which can be a substantial barrier to making new connections. It is important to keep in mind that most people want to be helpful and are willing to share their experiences, especially when engaging with those that are early in their career! That being said, you will need to show that you are being thoughtful and intentional in your outreach, or to put it more bluntly, that you are someone worth investing time in. It goes without saying that kindness on your part is the best way to ensure kindness on theirs.

In crafting your message, you must carefully consider why you are reaching out to this specific person, and why you want to have a conversation. Remember too that your initial message should be short–you just want to initiate a conversation, not give a monologue! Fortunately, most effective messages share a similar structure. To remember the key parts of an effective message, I’ve created a helpful mnemonic: GREAT.

Greetings. Just like any other interaction, start with saying hello! If you don’t know this person, you might want to give a brief introduction: “I am a graduate student at MIT studying X with a background in Y from Z.” If you are reaching out to an existing connection, give them a short professional update, if relevant: “Since I saw you last, I’ve graduated with my Masters and have recently begun my job search.”

Reason. Explain the context of why you are reaching out to them, specifically: “I saw that you recently began your role as Lead Engineer at the Tech Institute.”

Express interest and purpose. Express interest in their position, company, or research, and state what you hope to learn from them: “I am very interested in becoming an engineer at the Tech Institute, and would love to hear about your background and how your experience brought you to your current position.”

Ask for a response. Be very explicit about what you are asking this person to do, so they know the desired outcome of this initial outreach: “Would you have time for a 30-minute conversation some time in the next couple weeks?”

Thank you. Remember that this person is volunteering their time to help you, so you should express gratitude. But as always, don’t over do it: “Thank you in advance for your time, and I hope to connect soon!”

 If you can remember these key ingredients you will send GREAT messages. The GREAT framework is applicable for many kinds of messages, including this example email I drafted:

In this example email, my subject line – “MIT CEE student looking to connect over climate tech experience” – immediately indicates who I am and why I am writing to this person. Inboxes can pile up quickly and you want to ensure your message gets read.

Some further advice to keep in mind when connecting online: 

1. Once you set a time for a meeting, do not change it. The other person is volunteering their time, so be sure to be respectful. 
2. Try to cultivate a genuine connection by expressing real interest and showing enthusiasm in a way that is authentic for you. If the conversation content is not interesting, that could indicate that the role/industry is not the right fit, or that you might try reaching out to someone else to hear a different perspective.
3. Don’t forget to follow up with a “thank you” email. This is especially important if you want to reinforce next steps, such as getting further connected with someone else or securing a referral. If you do get connected with someone else, you can mention that in your outreach message: e.g. “Celeste recommended I contact you to learn more about your experiences in the industry.” 

Connect face-to-face

Conferences, workshops, and other presentations are ripe with networking opportunities. Whether you set up a video call with a new connection or are attending an in-person event, face-to-face networking is an essential skill. This type of networking might happen after fornal talks or poster presentations at conferences, or at booths during job fairs. Deliberately seeking out new connections during events like these is one of the best ways to introduce yourself to new people and build confidence. Thankfully, these types of conversations are expected and wanted by attendees!

Formal presentations

For example, after someone delivers a talk, it is very common for audience members to linger and chat about the work. This provides the perfect opportunity for you to ask the speaker any questions you didn’t have time to ask, or connect with them about their paper that you recently read. If they are already surrounded by other interested attendees, don’t be afraid to join the conversation. You can also ask for their contact information, and offer yours as well, to follow up later. 

Poster sessions

Poster sessions also provide a great opportunity to connect with people working in your field. Depending on the conference, you may be able to read abstracts ahead of time to plan who you want to connect with. While visiting their poster, you might ask for their contact information to follow up later. You can let them know why you want to connect, such as whether you’re hoping to learn more about their research project and/or professional experience.

Networking events

Many conferences also have dedicated networking sessions. Structured networking events can be intimidating, but remember that everyone is there to talk to new people. The conversations can be fluid and natural! Don’t be afraid to share information about yourself, which can be a great way to elicit information from others. Worlds are very small, so someone may know your colleague or advisor, or may have some sort of connection to your alma mater. Asking questions is also important. The more questions you ask, the more you learn about others, and the more you share about yourself, the better connections can be made.

Prepare an elevator pitch

During any introductory conversation, whether at a conference, job fair, or online, you will likely be asked some variant of “tell me about yourself.” Without preparation, this seemingly straightforward prompt can leave even the most sure-footed networker tongue-tied. Where do I begin? What should I highlight? These are the types of questions you will answer for yourself by preparing your elevator pitch.

As concisely as possible, you need to get across:

Who are you? What is your background?
What do you do? What is your current role? What are your research and/or professional interests?
What are your skills? Is your skillset aligned with the requirements of the role and/or company of interest?
What are you looking for? This is where you bring in your ask, whether that involves a new position, collaboration, exploration, or specific information.

Adapt to your audience and context

The way that you end your elevator pitch will vary depending on the audience, setting, and your goal. The following table summarizes some common settings, and bolds key words and phrases for each. 

Although you want to enter networking situations with your key points in mind, you will likely not be able to give your entire elevator pitch verbatim. Instead, allow the content to flow throughout the course of the conversation. The quantity and depth of information that you share about yourself will depend on the nature of the interaction– the audience and context– but it’s always a good idea to keep in mind the key highlights of your background. This will enable you to selectively share specific information about yourself and your goals throughout the conversation.

Be sure to ask questions

During your conversation, whether in an interview setting, job fair, or informal chat, beyond sharing your elevator pitch you should also come prepared to ask questions. Questions are not only a great way to resolve any uncertainties you might have, but they can be a great way to demonstrate interest and set yourself apart from others. For instance, a question can help you demonstrate knowledge on a subject, show particular insights on a field or topic, and express genuine curiosity. Your questions should be tailored to the specific individual or group you are addressing, and the labs/companies with which you are engaging. Common themes involve daily activities, team dynamics, and growth opportunities, which otherwise might be difficult to deduce from a job listing or lab/company description on a website. As mentioned earlier, asking questions also communicates your curiosity and desire to learn from your audience. 

Follow through with your networking goals

Networking can feel overwhelming, but building your network is as easy as these four steps:

1. Find your reason to network.
2. Identify opportunities to connect with others.
3. Craft your story.
4. Start networking!

To help jumpstart your journey, I’ve created a Networking Plan worksheet. After answering these prompts, you’ll be ready to start building a network in a deliberate, goal-oriented way.

You can download a .pdf of this worksheet at the end of this article.

Take the journey in stride

It is crucial to be intentional about each of these steps, and know that while a strong network will take time to build, in the end it will be worth the effort. There might be unanswered messages, awkward conversations, or people you wouldn’t want to talk to again, but that’s all part of the process. Building a network is all about preparation and proactive outreach. If you start early, you will have time on your side. 

Finally, remember that your network also includes the social connections you make outside of formal networking situations. The relationships that you build in school and the workplace could be some of your most important professional connections, so it could pay off to take some time to meet new people, join organizations and clubs, and have fun. 

Lastly, remember to seek out resources that will prepare you for effective networking. The MIT CAPD has compiled a plethora of networking resources, and you ask your peers, instructors, and mentors about their own networking approaches. If you are an MIT student or postdoc seeking help with networking you can also make an appointment with one of our Comm Fellows. We are happy to help you identify opportunities, craft messages, and practice networking!

Resources and Annotated Examples

About the author

Trevor Cambron is a 2nd year PhD student in the Terrer Lab

Trevor is an MIT Presidential Fellow in Dr. César Terrer’s lab. He graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelor of Science with Honors in Earth Systems and a Notation with Distinction in Science Communication. His research centers around the impact of global change on terrestrial ecosystems, and leverages machine learning, remote sensing, and data assimilation to address fundamental uncertainties in the carbon cycle. Currently, he is focused on the role of nutrient availability in constraining the land carbon sink.

Trevor has experience publishing scientific manuscripts, delivering research talks, giving poster presentations, and engaging with public-facing science communication.

You can make an appointment with Trevor using our online scheduler, or contact him at: tcambron@mit.edu.

Ultimately, you get to choose what and how you include your experiences and accomplishments on your resume or CV, and what you share in conversations. However, if you are concerned about conscious or unconscious bias in the hiring process, here are some considerations to minimize potential impact on your application:

1. Determine your comfort level with disclosure

Your ability to perform a specific task or job is not necessarily determined by personal characteristics. Sharing about your participation in some affinity/identity-based groups might reveal information about you that you may be uncertain about disclosing.

While many identities are protected under certain employment laws and regulations, this varies by state and country, so you may need to conduct additional research to help you decide when and how you might want to disclose identifying information. Consider the broader social, political, and economic climate on the local and national level, and how these factors might influence a company’s policies, hiring trends, and supports for identity/affinity groups.

2. Align your values

How important is it at the job that you obscure or hide an aspect about yourself? How important is it for you to be able to share this aspect of your identity at work? What professional persona do you want to bring to this workplace? These questions will have very individualized answers, and there is a wide spectrum of what might feel right for you — and that’s okay. Some people want to fully align their personal and professional personas at work, while others feel more comfortable having a professional identity while keeping some aspects of their life outside of work private.

This may become more or less important to you as factors outside of your control may affect your decision. Current events, the economy, political/organizational climates, and the job market might be some factors that may influence your choice.

While there is merit in helping to make change on the inside, working to support an organization that does not fully value you can be challenging. Find the degree that you feel comfortable with sharing aspects about you, keeping in mind that what may feel right for others may not feel right for you — and that’s also okay.

3. Make it relevant

What knowledge, skills, and abilities are important for this job? Your application, interview, and related discussions should focus primarily on how you are prepared to tackle the needs that the organization has identified through the job description. If you held a treasurer role in an organization, and your skills/accomplishments from that experience do not support the needs outlined in the job position, you may not need to include it. Focus on identifying the information that is necessary for them to know.  

Ultimately it is up to you as a candidate to determine what is best for you. If you need additional support on this topic, schedule an appointment with a career advisor, and we can discuss your unique experience in the job search.

“When McMillan isn’t in class or hanging out with her sisters, she’s in the library studying for the Law School Admission Test. She is determined to use her legal education to focus on education policy reform. “As a kid, I had mentors and teachers who advocated for me in ways I could never have imagined. I want to be able to pay it forward and help every student get that kind of access, too,” she says.”

Read the full article on MIT News.

Education

• MIT, Mechanical Engineering, 1996
• Georgia Tech, Mechanical Engineering, 2003

Dr. Rebeccah Brown is the Vice President of Global Regulatory Affairs for MIMEDX, a biopharmaceutical company developing, manufacturing and marketing regenerative biologics utilizing human placental allografts for multiple sectors of healthcare. She is responsible for executing regulatory strategy and advancing regulatory approvals for MIMEDX products worldwide.

Dr. Brown has over twenty years of experience leading teams to produce innovative and impactful products, with a focus on regulatory strategy and approvals for the past decade. She has worked at companies ranging in size from 12 employees to 120,000, in roles related to Product Development, Intellectual Property, Quality Assurance, and Regulatory Affairs. She holds numerous US and international patents.

Dr. Brown holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she was a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, and a S.B. in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She serves as the Chair of the Georgia Institute of Technology Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering Advisory Board, a member of the Georgia Tech College of Engineering Advisory Board, and is co-founder and past Chair of the Women of Woodruff organization.

Is there anything you wish you had done differently or more of while you were at MIT?

When I was at MIT, I was very focused on doing the best I possibly could. It seemed like I spent most of my time outside of class doing problem sets or studying. I remember making time, once, most likely my senior year, to hear a famous architect speak on campus. It was an amazing lecture and I still remember key messages. I know there were frequent opportunities to attend special lectures, or other ‘extracurricular’ functions all the time – but I never took advantage of it, since I was too ‘busy’ studying. I wish I could go back and tell my undergrad self to go to anything and everything that sounded interesting – that you would be unlikely to have these opportunities again once you were out in the real world.

What motivates you to do the work that you do?

The company I work for develops, manufactures, and distributes medical products. We can see the direct impact on patients. We hear their stories and bring them or their doctors in for presentations to our employees. I’m motivated by these patients, but also know how critical it is to continue to advance medical science since I’m aging and will most likely be using some of these new and exciting treatments in the future!

Making decisions, especially important-feeling career decisions, is really challenging for people at all stages of their career. What strategies have you used to make career decisions?

After what I considered my first critical career decision (what undergraduate school to go to!), I realized, more often than not, that whatever I was choosing between were amazing options, that there wasn’t going to be a ‘wrong’ decision. I could waste hours debating between two things, when in reality, both were excellent. That understanding allows me to ‘go with my gut’ more often, and move quickly to whatever my next challenge would be. Analysis paralysis is not helpful in moving forward!

What professional development experiences or opportunities shaped your early career?

By the time I graduated with a PhD, I’d had a variety of experiences that helped guide me to my current career. During undergrad, I spent a summer working at a national lab, and right out of undergrad at MIT, I worked for Hewlett Packard. I loved my job and was exposed to how an extremely large corporation functioned. During grad school at Georgia Tech I did an international internship and decided to go to a start-up afterward graduation. These very different experiences gave me exposure to how to operate (and survive) in a variety of situations. It also taught me what to look for – how to find a job and craft a position were I would be most satisfied and successful.

What professional development activities do you find really useful these days?

At this stage in my career, professional development comes through growing relationships throughout my industry (and outside of it), and giving back to our industry and the patients it serves through work with various advocacy groups. I attend several annual conferences that are critical to this development.

What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve received?

“Don’t burn out.” You are worthless to your company if you burn out, so do not work ALL of the time. Work most of the time, and work efficiently, but if you find yourself working late every night with no end in sight, change something. This has helped me many times, over the years, to decide to close my computer for the night earlier than I would have, had I not received that advice early in my career. I think it’s why I’m still with my current company, 19 years later! There’s never an end to the work – you have to know when to stop for the day.

What do you like to do outside of work for fun/relaxation/inspiration?

Reading, gardening, and walking are all good ways to decompress. I also tend to a small flock of ten chickens and manage our historic real estate investing LLC to keep active.

Last edited: April 2024