Jonathan Masland is director of Tuck’s Career Development Office (CDO). Stephen Pidgeon T’07 is an associate director of the CDO and author of the books How to Get a Job in Consulting and Case Interviews for Beginners.
Question: What should every Tuck student know about the CDO?
Stephen Pidgeon: We hope they know everything about the CDO, but one thing that might not be obvious is that we’ve seen students come through on many different career paths. Whether you have an esoteric or traditional career goal, we’ve probably already worked with students in the past who were wrestling with the same issues, talking with the same alumni, and learning about the same companies.
Jonathan Masland: Definitely. No matter where you want to go professionally, we have industry-expert career coaches who can really share in-depth information about what it’s like to work in a particular industry, what recruiters are looking for, what recruiters are really thinking about, and, of course, how to effectively pursue jobs.
SP: A good question to ask us is “who’s taken this path before me?” so we can connect you with an alum who’s already taken this journey. He or she can then share the research they did, the companies they considered, and what they learned along the way.
JM: We also want to stress that, as their industry priorities evolve, students can work with multiple members of the coaching team, too. A personal relationship forms between students and members of our team. As we get to know you, we can understand and support your needs better.
SP: We all took this job because we want to help students and alumni. Don’t think that you’re being a burden or a bother whenever you need to get in touch with us, whether it’s to ask for help or just to talk through something. We are here—and happy—to help you.
JM: How we work with you will evolve over the two years as your job search progresses. For example, we might start out by providing you with information and contacts to support your initial search. Then, we could assist with all your preparation, everything from reviewing your resume and cover letter to doing mock interviews and helping you decide between different opportunities. Once you graduate, we’re also on-hand to support you as you make career transitions, too. No matter where you are professionally, we will be your biggest cheerleader and will ultimately celebrate your success.