At Wentworth, graduate students bring advanced knowledge, professional perspective, and clear goals to their career journey. These resources are designed specifically for students pursuing a master’s degree.

Resume & Application Materials

Master’s-Level Resume Focus

Graduate-level resumes should clearly communicate depth of knowledge, applied skills, and professional impact.

Best practices:

• Lead with skills, technical expertise, and areas of specialization that align with your target roles.
• Highlight advanced coursework, capstone projects, research, or thesis work, emphasizing outcomes and real-world application.
• Quantify results whenever possible (e.g., efficiency gains, research findings, project scope).
• Integrate relevant professional experience alongside academic work, employers expect graduate students to show applied learning.
• Don’t just say you did it, show you did it. Add direct links to projects you’ve worked on. Host them on your personal website, GitHub, or online portfolio so employers can see your work in action. Make sure those same project links are on your LinkedIn profile too. Keep it consistent and clickable, this helps recruiters find and explore your work easily.

Optional sections to consider:

• Research Experience or Publications
• Graduate Projects or Capstone Experience
• Certifications or Licensure-in-Progress
• Teaching, Mentoring, or Leadership Experience

Tip: Graduate resumes are still typically one to two pages, with one page preferred for early-career professionals and two pages acceptable for those with extensive experience.

Cover Letters & Statements of Purpose

Graduate students should use application materials to:

• Clearly connect their advanced degree to the employer’s needs
• Demonstrate intentionality in pursuing the role and organization
• Explain transitions or specialization choices with confidence

Job & Internship Searching as a Graduate Student

A More Targeted Search

Unlike undergraduate job searches, graduate-level job searching is typically:

• More focused and intentional
• Aligned to specific functions, industries, or technical roles
• Centered on positions that require or strongly prefer advanced education

Graduate students are encouraged to:

• Identify roles where a master’s degree provides added value (e.g., analyst, engineer, specialist, researcher, project manager)
• Research how employers describe education requirements and preferred qualifications
• Prioritize quality connections and opportunities over volume of applications

Networking Is Essential

Many graduate-level opportunities are filled through:

• Professional networks
• Faculty and advisor referrals
• Industry associations and conferences
• Alumni connections

Your network should include classmates, faculty, supervisors, and professionals in your field, not just recruiters.

Using Career Platforms

Graduate students can leverage:

• WITworks for graduate-appropriate postings
• Employer websites and professional association job boards
• LinkedIn for role research, networking, and direct outreach

Interviewing at the Graduate Level

Graduate-level interviews go beyond fit and potential. Employers often assess:

• Depth of knowledge and critical thinking
• Ability to apply theory to practice
• Professional maturity and readiness for responsibility

Interview Preparation Tips

• Discuss how you have used AI in your coursework and during co-op including the tools you have used; show portfolio or project work showing AI integration
• Be prepared to discuss advanced projects, research, or case studies in detail
• Clearly articulate your role, decisions made, and outcomes achieved
• Expect technical, behavioral, and scenario-based questions
• Practice explaining complex concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences

Communicating Your Value

Employers hiring master’s-level candidates expect:

• Confidence without overstatement
• Strong communication and collaboration skills
• Evidence that you can contribute quickly and continue learning

How Job Searching with a Master’s Degree Differs from a Bachelor’s Degree

Key differences to keep in mind:

• Employers may expect clear alignment between your degree and the role
• You may be evaluated alongside experienced professionals, not just recent graduates
• Salary discussions may enter the process earlier
• You are expected to articulate why graduate education strengthens your candidacy