Recruiting & Job Search Preparation for Master’s Students Duke University Dept. of Economics Fall 2016

Career Preparation  Why Prepare Now?  Incoming Master’s Students’ Checklist — What to Do NOW  Key Dates  Working with the Career Center  Résumés  Cover Letters  Tools and Resources

Why Prepare Now?  The recruiting process starts in September. Career preparation — resume and cover letter writing, searching for internships, networking, interviewing — begin as soon as you arrive. Securing a summer internship is the best way to get a full- time job offer. Being organized about your job search early will help make interviews and networking easier. Once you arrive at Duke, you will be busy! Adjusting to academic demands, making new friends and on campus activities will be consuming, so being prepared will help you manage your new life here. If you want to work in the United States, getting a job is a competitive process, so follow our tips for managing this process.

Checklist — What to Do NOW Watch our Recruiting & Job Search Preparation video for a brief overview of the recruiting process and what to expect this fall. Complete your professional resume and learn how to write a cover letter. This section applies only to non-native English speakers. Arrive on campus in time for your EIS (English for International Students) exams on August 18 & 19. Purchase a copy of the book “Well Said” (book & CD) by Linda Grant, IV Edition. Listen to TED Talks online to familiarize yourself with the English language. Read English language newspapers out loud to improve pronunciation and vocabulary. Plan to enroll in the GS 721 Oral Communication course in your first semester.

Key Dates  August 18 – 19: EIS Written & Oral Exams  August 22 – 26: Orientation Week  September 1 – December 1: Fall Firm Presentations  September 14: Fall Career Fair  September 15: Interviews for U.S. Summer Internships Begin  October 15: Interviews for Asia Summer Internships Begin  TBD: Alumni-Recent Graduate “Teach-Ins”

Working with the Career Center The Duke Career Center ( is a great resource. Here’s some of what they offer:  Drop-In Advising ( students/get-advice): Offered 3x/week; great for résumés  CareerConnections ( Online tool for jobs and internships posted specifically for Duke students by employers and alumni  Career Center Calendar ( Dates and links for registration for all Duke Career Center events and programs  Skills Workshops ( students/skills-workshops-graduate-students): Develop your résumé, CV, cover letter, interviewing, networking, and job search skills, and maximize your career fair experience

Résumés A résumé is a “living thing”; it should have energy and reflect who you are and what you want to do. o Start working on your resume NOW! o Must be completed by September 1, o Must be checked by the Career Center first, then Linsey Hughes or John Caccavale (when you get to campus). o Résumé Resources – Please check the Duke Economics website for a guide to résumé writing, which includes word lists and résumé examples.

Cover Letters  Helpful Hints Read job descriptions and tailor the language in your résumé and cover letter to fit. Use the same language/themes in interviews. Use a three-paragraph structure:  First Paragraph: State your reason for contacting the company, then mention your impending Duke degree and why you are well suited for the job.  Second Paragraph: Highlight your relevant experience as it relates to the job.  Closing Paragraph: Tie up the narrative and include contact information/next steps. Do not exceed ¾ of one page for your cover letter. Be concise — less is more. PROOFREAD and proofread again!  If English is your second language, be extra thorough.  When you get to campus, work with Linsey and the Career Center to perfect the cover letter language, style, and structure.

More Finance/Econ Tools & Resources  Reading List A Random Walk Down Wall Street Hedge Hunters Devil Take the Hindmost When Genius Failed  Helpful Websites DFE Career Resources Investopedia.com Glassdoor.com CNBC.com  News Sources Wall Street Journal The New York Times The Economist Albourne Village InvestorDNA.net Barron’s Financial Times The Term Sheet Watch “Squawk Box” on CNBC (TV show) Dealbook Bloomberg