MCS will be closed on Monday, February 17 for the University holiday.

The Mignone Center for Career Success welcomes students from all Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (Harvard Griffin GSAS) departments and offers a wide range of services and resources tailored specifically to the needs of master’s and Ph.D. students, and Harvard Griffin GSAS alumni. Postdoctoral fellows who are alumni of either Harvard College or Harvard Griffin GSAS are eligible to use our services. All other postdocs can learn about career services at the FAS Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and the HMS/HSDM Office of Postdoctoral Fellows.

Graduate students often receive help from their departments on their academic job search. However, we offer much in the way of additional preparation to help ensure success in today’s competitive job markets within the academy and beyond.

Talk to an Advisor

Advisors work confidentially with Harvard Griffin GSAS students and alumni on a wide range of career-related issues, from self-assessment and decision-making to specific advice on resume, CV, and cover letter preparation for academic and nonacademic job searches. Advising is available in person, or by phone or Zoom.

30-minute Appointments

Schedule a 30-minute appointment through the “Schedule an Advising Appointment” link in Crimson Careers. These appointment slots become available 30 days prior. Come talk with us about any of your questions around careers within or beyond academia. We can help you imagine possibilities, strategize timelines, develop excellent job search documents, and prepare for interviews and negotiations.

15-Minute Express Appointments

For quick or relatively urgent questions, or for critique of one document (resume, CV, cover letter), schedule a 15-minute express appointment in Crimson Careers. These appointment slots will become available for scheduling each Friday for sessions the following week.

Professor in front of a class

Academic Careers

If you are planning to apply for academic positions soon or in the future, explore resources to help you maximize your opportunities in these competitive roles. Take advantage of MCS advisors and resources throughout your time at Griffin GSAS to enhance your candidacy for research and/or teaching intensive jobs in different types of academic settings.

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Beyond Academia

Are you interested in exploring careers beyond academia? Your graduate school training offers a wealth of transferrable skills that employers value across industries. Discover resources that will guide you through every phase of your job or internship search.

The PhD Balancing Act: Research, Networking, and Career Development

By Heer Joisher PhD Candidate | Cepko Lab, Harvard Medical School

Co-President | Nucleate | LinkedIn

Pursuing a PhD in STEM is a deeply personal and unique journey, with no two experiences unfolding the same way. While long hours in the …

By Caroline Rende
Caroline Rende Associate Director of Graduate Career Exploration
Read more

Preparing Proactively for a Postdoc

These are some actions a Ph.D. student can take to pave the way for a positive postdoc experience, Chris Smith writes.

“During my five years working in postdoctoral affairs at two higher education institutions, current postdoctoral associates have often shared …

By Laura Stark
Laura Stark Associate Director: Academic Careers & Pursuing the PhD
Read more

Breaking into Biotech & Pharma: Key Takeaways from Harvard Alumni Panel

Last week, we gathered for a Biotech and Pharma Alumni Career Pathways Panel, where industry professionals shared insights on navigating careers in this dynamic field. Whether you missed it or just need a refresher, here are the major takeaways and …

By Caroline Rende
Caroline Rende Associate Director of Graduate Career Exploration
Read more

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Featured Resources

Firsthand Vault Guides

Job Market InsightsIn partnership withLightcast logo

Find a career that aligns with your career interests, see current salary projects, and identify skills you need to apply for that next job or internship.

There are two ways to use this tool below:

  1. By Keyword: Search for the name of the occupation you’re interested in.
  2. By Industry: Not sure what job you’d like? Search by desired industry and see available occupations.

First, choose an industry of interest, then filter for occupation. (If you'd like to see data for a specific location only, filter by state.)

Type in a keyword to select a relevant occupation. (If you'd like to see data for a specific location only, filter by state.)

GRADUATE SPOTLIGHTS

  • Washington, DC
  • International Program Specialist - Eastern Europe & Central Asia Department of Commerce - Commercial Law Development Program
Meet Conor
Meet Yuhan
Meet Sarah
Meet Summer
  • Boston, MA
  • Research Fellow CAUSALab and Zhu Family Center for Global Cancer Prevention, Harvard
Meet Emma
  • Lecturer (Assistant Professor) School of East Asian Studies, The University of Sheffield
Meet Yookyeong
Meet Aleks
  • Cambridge, MA
  • Research Professor Mary Lou Fulton Teacher's College, Arizona State University
Meet Mary
Meet Julia
  • Berkeley, CA
  • Postdoctoral Scholar University of California at Berkeley
Meet Grace
  • Fargo, ND
  • Postdoctoral Research Fellow North Dakota State University
Meet Anna
Meet Ani
Meet Ronak
Meet Elizabeth
Meet Peter
Meet Sheng
  • Tampa, FL
  • Assistant Professor of American Politics University of South Florida
Meet Eric
Meet Ajinkya
Meet Lauren
  • Cambridge, MA
  • Machine Learning Scientist, Head of Immunoinformatics KiraGen Bio
Meet Tessa

Contact & Location

Phone
617-495-2595
Address

Harvard University
54 Dunster Street
Cambridge, MA 02138

MCS Hours

Monday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

The Mignone Center for Career Success (MCS) is committed to ensuring access to a broad range of information and opportunities across all sectors. Our website contains external content that may be useful to our learners. The inclusion of external content does not necessarily constitute endorsement, recommendation, or agreement with the information.