Career Advising

CSE MS and PhD Career Advising helps all current CSE MS and PhD students with planning, working on, and achieving their industry and academic career goals while becoming more self-sufficient and confident. Some ways in which CSE MS and PhD career advising helps with this include, but are not limited to: 

• Helping CSE MS and PhD students understand and navigate the US internship and full-time job market 

• Helping CSE MS and PhD students understand and implement better ways to network with employers, alumni, fellow students, faculty, campus staff, and others

• Be a bridge between CSE MS and PhD students and employers by explaining and showing both sides how to better work with each other

• Create and update career-related resources for CSE MS and PhD students such as workshops, alumni and/or employer events, and networking opportunities

• Address all career-related questions, either academic or industry-related, especially focusing on industry career questions

Please note that CSE MS and PhD career advising DOES NOT do an internship or full-time job placement. There are no units, departments, groups, or people on campus who place into opportunities. 

Past Workshops

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Career Advising (or help finding an internship or a full time job opening)

Please do not ask for "general career advising help" because this request is too general and diffuse. The CSE Student Professional Development Manager specializes in advising CSE graduate students with industry careers, so you're more likely to get better help and advice if you have more focused questions and thoughts. You are strongly encouraged to read the info in the other drop down menu boxes below BEFORE you sign up for an appointment. 

Resume Review

Can you tell me if my resume is good? OR Is my resume format okay? 

Asking this question may not result in good feedback that you can use to improve your result. The reason why is because companies expect tailored resumes that show why an individual applicant is a good fit for that specific posting at that specific company. Rather than ask this question, please read carefully the employment posting first before you start writing your resume. After that, please think how you can write or edit your resume to show an employer why you're a good fit for that specific position at that specific company. 

For help with resume formatting or other resume questions, please go to the Career Services Center, OR watch a past CSE grad student career advising workshop on this topic, OR attend a CSE 290 -Soft Skills for CS Careers - class on this topic BEFORE signing up for an appointment with the Student Professional Manager

I have specific questions about tailoring my resume to a specific tech internship or job posting. Can I sign up for an appointment? 

Yes, specific questions are a good reason to sign up for an appointment with the Student Professional Development Manager. You are also encouraged to watch a CSE grad student career past workshop on this topic OR attend a CSE 290 - Soft Skills for CS Careers - class on this topic

Interview Prep

Can you tell me what to say during a behavioral or a technical interview?

Unfortunately, there are no "right" words or scripts of what to say during any interview, no matter what type of interview it is. Good interview responses are situationally dependent. For more info about interviews, please go to the Career Services Center, OR sign up for CSE 290 - Soft Skills for CS Careers, OR watch a past CSE grad student career advising past workshop on this topic

I’ve got a scheduled interview, and I’d like to practice and discuss strategies.

Sign up for an appointment with the Student Professional Development Manager. Please note that the Student Professional Development Manager's schedule can change quite quickly, so please do not wait to sign up for an appointment. See the FAQ section under the event calendar for more info about CSE graduate student career advising appointments

I did an interview, but now I’m wondering when and how to follow up?

Sign up for an appointment with the Student Professional Development Manager OR watch a past CSE grad student career advising past workshop on this topic

Negotiation

Can you tell me what to say to guarantee more money?

Negotiation situations are always unique to that individual and that company, so there are no standard scripts or words to ensure more money. Also, there are no guarantees that negotiations will always end successfully. For more info on this topic, you are encouraged to sign up for CSE 290, OR watch a past CSE grad student career advising video before you sign up for an appointment or speak with any UC San Diego career advisor

The company said that this offer is non-negotiable. Can I still ask for more money or benefits?

No, this means that the company is not willing to enter into negotiations with you because it's the company's choice whether they want to enter into negotiations with you. It is strongly suggested that you do not keep on asking for more money or benefits in the hopes that the company will change their minds. For more info on this topic, please sign up for CSE 290 - Soft Skills for CS Careers, or watch a past CSE grad student career advising video before you sign up for an appointment with a UC San Diego career advisor

I’ve got an offer, but I’m not sure what next steps to take. Can I get help?

Yes, BUT before you sign up for an appointment with the Student Professional Development Manager, please keep these things in mind: 

1. Is the company willing to negotiate with you? Make sure that the company who is making the offer is willing to negotiate before asking for anything.  
2. Are you asking for more time? If yes, then try to focus on that first. If no, then continue talking with the company representative. 
3. Are you asking for more benefits and/or compensation? If yes, then please attend the CSE 290 seminar - Soft Skills for CS Careers OR watch a CSE grad student career past workshop on this topic before asking for an appointment. For offer specific questions, please contact the CSE Student Professional Development Manager. 
4. Have you accepted this employment offer? If yes, then you cannot negotiate because you have accepted all of the terms of this offer. Trying to change the terms of an employment agreement after acceptance is defined as reneging. If no, then you are encouraged to attend the CSE 290 - Soft Skills for CS Careers class on this topic OR watch a CSE grad student career past workshop before you sign up for an appointment with the CSE Student Professional Development Manager

Networking

What is networking?

Networking can be thought of as cultivating and maintaining professional relationships. Networking can help a lot with finding employment, and help with doing well at an internship or a full time job, and getting ahead in your career area or path. However, please note that networking can take a while, so try to be patient and plan for a long term networking strategy.

Note: networking does NOT equal asking people for employment or asking for referrals during the first meeting, or asking a company representative to follow up on your application after you have already applied. These requests are examples of ineffective or impolite networking, and asking these requests might cause you to lose face/name or get a bad reputation

For chances to practice and enhance your networking skills, you are encouraged to attend employer info sessions, tech talks, alumni or group panels, career fairs, and academic talks. All of these, and more, are great places to use your networking skills on campus. 

For more info, you can go to the Career Services Center, OR attend the CSE 290 -Soft Skills for CS Careers class on this topic, OR watch a CSE grad student career past workshop on this topic.

Can you give me a referral? OR Can you tell me who to talk to? OR Can you contact someone at the company for me? 

For all of these questions, the answer is no. These are not professional requests of the Student Professional Development Manager or any UC San Diego career advisor. For more info about referrals and/or networking, please go to the Career Services Center OR attend the CSE 290 - Soft Skills for CS Careers - class on this topic, OR watch a CSE grad student career past workshop on this topic

I’d like to practice more networking, or get more tips on how to improve my networking skills. Can I get help with this?

Yes, please sign up for an appointment with the Student Professional Development Manager. For help with improving networking skills, you can also go to the Career Services Center, OR sign up for CSE 290 - Soft Skills for CS Careers, or watch a CSE grad student career past workshop on this topic. 

Understanding the Employment Market (and steps to take)

Please do NOT ask for a career advising appointment about this topic. There are too many career advising categories, so the above ones are samples of commonly-asked questions. This term is meant to show that you can ask about more career advising topics in addition to the categories mentioned above. The above drop down menu topics are not the only career advising questions and help that you can get! CSE grad student career advising can and does cover all of these topics and more, including business communication, how to spot and deal with scams, and thinking about your long term career goals. 

If you want to ask a career advising question that is not covered by the above drop down menu topics, you can sign up for an appointment and state what is your question in the "purpose of appointment" line OR email the Student Professional Development Manager. During peak periods, such as Fall quarter/beginning of the academic year, it can take between 4 - 6 business days to receive a response. You are also encouraged to sign up for CSE 290 - Preparing for CS Careers to learn more OR watch a CSE grad student career advising past workshop on a number of different career advising topics.