WESTON CAREER CENTER
SPECIALIZED MASTERS FIRST STEPS GUIDE
SAY HELLO TO A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITY.
Your life-changing career
starts here.
SELF
This stage of self-reflection and
exploration into what careers
interest you, what motivates you,
what your di˜erentiating skills are,
what company cultures fit your
personality and more.
COMPONENTS
• Complete the CliftonStrengths
assessment.
• Complete the SELF section: After
completing your CliftonStrengths
assessment, use your Strengths
Assessment Guide to help you complete
this section starting on page 6.
• Send your CliftonStrengths assessment
results to your Specialized Masters
Career Coach.
COMPONENTS
• Create a personal introduction using
the worksheet provided on pages 10–
11.
• Develop a draft resume, using the Olin
SMP format, and upload it to Vmock for
a score. Send this score to your Career
Coach.
• Create a LinkedIn profile and begin
completing it with the guidance
provided on pages 14–16.
• Set up an appointment with your
Career Coach to go over your personal
introduction, resume and LinkedIn OR
participate in three Zoom calls.
COMPONENTS
• Research companies that match your
cultural and professional profiles.
• Work with your Specialized Masters
Career Coach to develop your resume
and prepare an action plan.
• Network with recruiters and practice
interviewing with WCC professionals.
• Complete Career Stamp.
COMPONENTS
• Submit applications.
• Interview with potential
employers.
• Evaluate opportunities and offers
with your Career Coach.
• Continue to network and practice
interviewing skills.
• Continue to build long-term career
goals as events and career paths
change.
• Report your offers for internships
and full-time jobs on OlinConnect.
STORY
This stage relies upon your
expanded understanding of your
skills and value in the market-
place and allows you to create a
narrative to use with interviews
and networking.
STRATEGY
In the Strategy stage, you will
build a career search marketing
campaign approach and develop
a list of target companies as well
as a networking list.
JOURNEY
During the Journey stage, you will
activate your marketing campaign,
apply for internships, interview,
evaluate and negotiate o˜ers, and
prepare for opportunities upon
completion of your degree.
The Weston Career Center CAREER SEARCH MODEL reflects the four primary stages you will experience as a Specialized Masters student through your partnership with
your Specialized Masters Career Coach. The Self, Story, Strategy and Journey model is designed to guide you from the early stages in your career search to successfully
landing internships and full-time offers in the industries you are passionate about.
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WESTON CAREER CENTER
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SMP FIRST STEPS GUIDE
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TO BEGIN BEFORE AND DURING CAREER STAMP TO BE COMPLETED AT CAREER STAMP TO BEGIN AS CLASSES START
A FEW THINGS FIRST
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WESTON CAREER CENTER
SMP FIRST STEPS GUIDE
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YOUR FIRST STEPS GUIDE HOMEPAGE:
olincareers.wustl.edu
Navigate to the Resources tab.
Here you will find links to:
• OlinConnect
• Vmock
•
Big Interview
• Careernomics
• Etc.
THE CONTINUAL PROCESS:
• After we master the Self, Story,
Strategy and Journey model, it will be
one that we will apply for your career
goals in years to come.
• Try to check in with this yearly to see
if anything has changed and if so,
how to adjust your process to reflect
your new steps and how to continue
to reach your career goals.
• This is the first step in the rest of your
lifelong career journey.
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WESTON CAREER CENTER
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If a
ll these steps feel overwhelming, you are not alone. We recommend: 30 MIN A DAY
Break down all of these steps into manageable pieces. Take 30 min on the days you have class to focus on your career search. That is the
equivalent of watching one less TV show a night! This could be spending 30 min on resumes one day or 30 min on looking up job postings.
This time will slowly add up to spending a full-time job week on job search by the end of the semester, but you won't feel overwhelmed.
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2
3
5
A QUICK CAREERS OVERVIEW
HOW TO PREPARE FOR APPLICATIONS
A step-by-step process
First Steps Checklist
Zoom Calls (URL to be provided at a later date)
C
omplete the CliftonStrengths Assessment (link can be found on olincareers.wustl.edu)
Send CliftonStrengths Assessment results to Specialized Masters Career Coach
Complete the SELF section of the Fi
rst Steps Guide (pages 6–9)
Develop a draft resume and LinkedIn profile using the guide starting on page 10
(links can be found on olincareers.wustl.edu
)
Send Vmock score and resume to your Specialized Masters Career Coach
Develop your LinkedeIn profile to incorporate your personal introduction and resume
information (see the worksheet provided)
Create a personal introduction using the worksheets provided
Connect with your Specialized Masters Career Coach for an online appointment to go
over your personal introduction, resume and LinkedIn profile OR participate in three
Zoom calls
Due Dates
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WESTON CAREER CENTER
THE COMPLETION OF
CAREER STAMP
To be completed by
BEFORE CAREER
STAMP
SEPT 10, 2021, 8am CST
SEPT 17, 2021, 8am CST
SEPT 24, 2021, 8am CST
Welcome to St. Louis and WashU
Cli° onStrengths (StrengthsFinder)
Networking and Student Panel
SMP FIRST STEPS GUIDE
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TIMELINE
All dates and formats subject to change.
SELF
:
CLIFTONSTRENGTHS
The CliftonStrengths assessment was developed to focus on how to pinpoint the strength areas of
people and expand on how they can utilize them for success and meaningful
impact. After reviewing your Signature Theme Report,
you should begin to get a feel for what some of your unique skills are and
how you can use them to change the world.
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WESTON CAREER CENTER
INSIGHTS:
THEME:
01
INSIGHTS:
THEME:
02
INSIGHTS:
THEME:
03
INSIGHTS:
THEME:
04
INSIGHTS:
THEME:
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• As you read your personalized strengths and insights, what words, phrases or lines stand out to you?
• Considering all your strengths in this insight, what would you most like for others to recognize in you? Indicate which one and why.
SELF
:
CLIFTONSTRENGTHS
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WESTON CAREER CENTER
CLIFTONSTRENGTHS RESULTS
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Reflect for a moment on where you have been, where you are going and where you want to be. Record
your thoughts below.
01
What were some of your past career
or other accomplishments that
highlight these strengths?
02
What values do you have that inform
why you may have scored highly in
these five areas?
03
What are your career goals for
one, five and 10 years from now?
How will these strengths prepare
you for these goals?
SELF
:
CLIFTONSTRENGTHS
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WESTON CAREER CENTER
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Consider how these strengths have and will set you apart to bring unique value to the world.
01
How have you seen these skills
benefit your studies or career,
and how have they played a part
in your story?
02
What is something that motivates you
or makes you passionate? How can
your strengths
play into making an
imp
act with this?
03
How could these strengths be a
unique benefit to a future team you
are on? How might they present some
challenges?
04
Have you been using these
strengths to
their maximum means?
What are ways you can continue to
develop them in this next year?
CLIFTONSTRENGTHS RESULTS
SELF
:
CLIFTONSTRENGTHS
The CliftonStrengths assessment was developed to focus on how to pinpoint your
strengths and expand on how you can utilize them for success and meaningful impact.
After reviewing your Signature Theme Report, you should begin to get a feel for what some of your unique skills are and how you can use them to change the world.
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WESTON CAREER CENTER
RESPONSE: RESPONSE: RESPONSE: RESPONSE:
01
What are the hard and so° skills
reflected in your CareerLeader
assessment results?
What would previous managers
and coworkers say about the
value those skills brought to the
organization or team?
02
What are your interests
and motivators?
What do you find energizing
and rewarding?
03
What are your short-term ideal
positions and companies?
04
What does the CareerLeader
assessment lead you to believe
about your goals?
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STORY
:
PERSONAL INTRODUCTION
Consider how the following prompts might influence your Personal Introduction. Please also reflect on your answers in the SELF section to inform your
responses and begin developing your story. Record your responses below.
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WESTON CAREER CENTER
RESPONSE:RESPONSE:RESPONSE:RESPONSE:RESPONSE:
WHO
ARE YOU?
What engaging fact can
you share that will “hook”
the listener?
What are your interests?
EXAMPLES
“I managed a mock portf
olio
of stocks as a young kid.”
“I play acoustic guitar, compete
in marathons and practice
photography.”
HOW WILL YOU
CHANGE THE
WORLD?
In what ways will your
global fluency impact your
decision-making process?
How would you like to
change the world, for good?
EXAMPLES
“Aer spending the summer conducting
real-world case studies, I’ve developed
adaptability and problem-solving skills
with a diverse team.”
“I want to have a positive social impact
on my community through my work,
leadership and service.”
WHAT DO
YOU WANT TO
ACCOMPLISH?
What are your short-term
personal and professional goals?
How will you achieve them?
EXAMPLES
“Obtain a financial
analysis internship.”
“I’m a results-driven professional
with a proven financial
background.”
WHY ARE
YOU UNIQUE?
What hard and so° skills
do you have?
What are the strengths
that di˜erentiate you?
EXAMPLES
“Financial analysis, quantitative
analysis, communication, decisiveness,
statistical soware and fluency in
two languages.”
“Leadership, confidence,
assertiveness, influence.”
WHAT DO
YOU DO?
What year are you in school,
and what do you study?
What past experiences
have you had?
EXAMPLES
“I’m pursuing an MBA at
Olin where I’ve refined my
decision-
making skills with
a global perspective.”
“I developed a regression model to predict
electricity expenses to accurately forecast
annual costs, resulting in $2.4 million in cost
savings during my internship with AB InBev.”
SMP FIRST STEPS GUIDE
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STORY
:
PERS
ONAL I
NTR
OD
UCTION
Try writing out and practicing out loud your own self-introduction.
Feel free to use these structure templates and find the one you prefer to tell your story.
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WESTON CAREER CENTER
INTRODUCTION PAST
PRESENT
FUTURE
EDUCATION
TWO RELEVANT EXPERIENCES
INTEREST
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Who are you?
Why are you unique?
What do you do/
have you done?
Where do you
want to be?
How will you
change the world?
STORY
:
RESUME
In most cases, your resume will provide a first impression of you to any potential employers.
Developing an e˜ective resume can create an impactful first impression that allows you to stand out from other candidates.
Use these recommendations and directions to create a memorable personal resume.
HEADER
• Include your name and contact information with your professional email address. Consider listing your LinkedIn.
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WESTON CAREER CENTER
PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
• This section should contain keywords that emphasize your skills and knowledge. This increases the ability of recruiters using applicant-
tracking systems to find their desired search terms in your resume. These terms should be customized for specific positions so that your
most relevant information rises to the top of the resume. Include appropriate so°w are in which you are proficient.
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
• Describe your functional skills, background and career objectives in one or two sentences.
EXPERIENCE
• List the companies where you have worked, including the city and state, and title for each position you held. Include bullet points that
describe your experience and achievements to highlight your most relevant skills, knowledge and abilities. Describe specific situations in
each position, the actions you took and the results you achieved.
• Quantify your results whenever possible and begin each bullet point with an action verb. For your present position, use the current tense, but
for other positions, use the past tense. Avoid unclear abbreviations and jargon. Use as many bullet points as necessary to convey your most
relevant and significant achievements, but make sure to avoid redundant information.
ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS
• Use this section in a manner best suited to your personal narrative. You may include student clubs and professional associations,
especially those in which you held a leadership position, as well as volunteer activities, awards and certifications. Include any multilingual skills
if you have used those languages to converse with someone in a business situation. Also be sure to include two or three unique interests.
EDUCATION
• This format should include Washington University, Olin Business School, St. Louis, MO. Use the same format for all schools you have attended.
• Degrees, majors and concentrations should be included along with the month and year you graduated.
FOR THOSE PURSUING A DUAL DEGREE WITH STEM DESIGNATION, INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
• Degree qualifies for STEM designation, eligible for 36 months of OPT (12 months of OPT plus 24 months extension).
SMP FIRST STEPS GUIDE
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WESTON CAREER CENTER
SAMPLE RESUME TEMPLATE
When complete, go to Vmock.com and upload your resume to receive a percentage grading.
You will report this back to your Specialized Masters career coach .
HEADER
EDUCATION
EXPERIENCE
PROFESSIONAL
SKILLS
PROFESSIONAL
PROFILE
ACTIVITIES AND
INTERESTS
SMP FIRST STEPS GUIDE
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WESTON CAREER CENTER
PHOTO AND BACKGROUND
looks friendly and professional.
• Use a photo that includes your head and shoulders, facing the camera, that
• Create a custom background that shows your brand.
HEADLINE
• Recruiters see this when they perform a search. There is a 120 character limit, including spaces.
• Think of it as your compelling value proposition; make it about who you are in a unique way that stands out.
SUMMARY
• Create a professional summary based on the Personal Introduction you’ve developed with your Weston Career Center Career Coach.
• Be natural, concise and selective with language so that it best represents your personality.
• Focus on di˜erentiating yourself, including who you are, the value you bring and how you can make an impact.
• Include five memorable characteristics. Consider leading with a quote, a statement that is either declarative or provocative,
a list of attributes, or your mindset at a key point in time.
• Keep in mind, this section is a keyword-searchable field and can be a rich source of keywords for recruiters seeking candidates.
CONTACT AND PERSONAL INFORMATION
• Include LinkedIn profile URL (edited for easy search), websites, phone number, email, Twitter, IM/Skype and any additional
relevant contact information.
OLIN IMAGERY IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR YOUR USE HERE:
• https://olinwustl.campusgroups.com/omc/logos-and-templates/
WORK EXPERIENCE
• List the jobs you’ve held, even if they are part time, along with what you’ve accomplished in each.
• The position title is limited to 100 characters. The description of your experience should be optimized to include keywords
for the types of roles you are seeking. Integrating multimedia is a plus.
STORY
:
LINKEDIN PROFILE
LinkedIn is an essential networking tool to use
throughout your career search process. It offers instant access to key contacts,
networks, jobs and industries. Additionally, it enables your contacts to see what people and groups you have in common,
assisting in building your network connections and maximizing your membership in relevant professional groups.
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SMP FIRST STEPS GUIDE
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EDUCATION
• List all the universities you have attended, including summer programs. If you lack a significant amount of experience,
using course-based keywords helps position you in a certain area. There is a separate section for coursework, but you are
encouraged to list key coursework in both areas.
• Include any examples of your leadership in extracurricular activities.
STORY
:
LINKEDIN PROFILE
LinkedIn is an essential networking tool to use throughout your career search process. It offers instant access to key contacts,
networks, jobs and industries. Additionally, it enables your contacts to see what people and groups you have in common,
assisting in building your network connections and maximizing your membership in relevant professional groups.
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WESTON CAREER CENTER
RECOMMENDATIONS
• Reach out to managers, professors and classmates for recommendations because recruiters find them to be very valuable.
• Recommendations provide a high level of credibility to your strengths and skills.
HONORS AND AWARDS
• List all of your publications, certifications,
courses, projects, honors, awards, patents, languages and organizations.
• Add links to any current projects in order to enhance your credibility.
VOLUNTEERING EXPERIENCE AND CAUSES
• Incorporate all the activities that help define you and what you’re passionate about, as well as the social and personal causes that drive you.
FEATURED SKILLS AND EXPERTISE
• Since you can list up to 99 skills, list as many of your skills that would be listed in job descriptions as you possibly can. CareerLeader has
a resource with valuable skill keywords listed.
• List your skills in order of importance to recruiters, regardless of endorsements.
Your top three skills are most visible and what recruiters
see when you show up in their searches.
• You are 27% more likely to be found in a recruiter’s search when you add skills and endorsements.
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WESTON CAREER CENTER
KEYWORDS
• For those switching careers or with minimal experience in their desired career field, include any pertinent courses that you have taken.
They will be considered to be keywords during a recruiter search.
ACTIVITY AND ACTION
• Spend at least five minutes a day liking and sharing content, including your own personal point of view on others’ content,
in order to increase your activity.
• Follow companies, websites and general areas of interest relative to your industry.
• Join key groups and follow industry leaders. There are over 1.5 million groups, and you can join up to 100. You can use InMail
to contact anyone in a group that you’re in for free without having to connect individually.
• Join all groups that relate to your background and your aspirational goals in your industry. Group categories relate to academic
alumni, specific industries, philanthropic pursuits, job functions and different industries. Review each group’s membership for fellow
alumni and contacts. Any posted job opportunities will then appear in your feed.
CONNECTIONS
• Aspire to make over 500 connections, including alumni classmates, professors, sta˜ and employers. Be open and outgoing.
ADDITIONAL TIPS
• Complete your profile! Users with completed profiles are 40 times more likely to receive opportunities.
• Minimize your use of adjectives and maximize your use of verbs. Study the profiles of others in the field you are targeting
to see what type of tone and wording are common in your industry.
• Personalize your profile’s URL by going to the “Edit your public profile” section in your account and privacy settings.
EXAMPLE PROFILE
REVIEW WILLIAM ARRUDA’S RECENT ARTICLES IN FORBES (personal branding and LinkedIn guru)
• “LinkedIn – How t
o Write a Stellar LinkedIn Summary”
• “15 Things You Need to Know about the New LinkedIn Interface”
PROFESSIONAL EXAMPLE:
ALLISON DIETZ – employer and industry specialist,
Weston Career Center
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisondietz/
STUDENT EXAMPLE:
HELEN (YIQIAN) HE: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yiqian-he/
AMY (ANYI) DU: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anyidu/
KEVIN (JUN) QIAN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jun-qian-kevin/
ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDED LINKEDIN ACTIVITIES
SMP FIRST STEPS GUIDE
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Take your next steps to
become a leader, for good.
Pleas
e create your personal introduction, draft resume and LinkedIn
profile and send them to your Specialized Masters Career Coach.
olincareers.wustl.edu
CLICK HERE
to view the resume/LinkedIn profile guide
