Master's Program in Finance Career Services
In addition to the CMC Career Services Office, graduate students have their own dedicated career specialist, Michelle Chamberlain, the Director of External Relations, who facilitates the development of personal and professional goals and assists graduate students with strategic decisions. The small size of the Program ensures that graduate students receive the individualized attention they deserve to prepare for successful postgraduate lives. A wide variety of career services are available to graduate students, such as:
Career Exploration
Due to their specialized training in finance and exceptional leadership skills, graduate students have promising career paths in the financial services industry, although they are qualified to work in nearly every field. The Director of External Relations assists graduate students in exploring all available career paths through individual counseling sessions and informational interviews with alumni. Furthermore, graduate students have access to a full array of career resources available through the CMC Career Services Office, including a variety of assessment tools, which identify strengths that should be leveraged, as well as areas in need of skill development.
Individualized Career and Outreach Plans
The Director of External Relations begins her work with graduate students the moment they are admitted to the Master's Program in Finance. Michelle and the students work together to establish immediate and long-term goals, along with a detailed map of tasks created to meet those goals. Additionally, a detailed outreach plan is developed to allow graduate students to begin to build and extend their own network of professional contacts.
Employment Searches
The Director of External Relations assists graduate students in targeting specific organizations, industries, and geographic areas for job placement. Due to the intimacy of the program, Michelle is able to reach out to specific organizations on behalf of individual graduate students and facilitates introductions to ensure a meaningful connection is made between the organization and the student. Additionally, graduate students have access to many employment search tools, such as a web-based job posting database, interview system and alumni database, and a full service career services center, equipped with a variety of web-based resources, library, private interview rooms, video conferencing and faxing capabilities.
Specialized Program Advising
Whether graduate students are interested in pursuing the Fulbright Scholar Program or law school, the Director of External Relations is there to assist graduate students with the application process, interview preparation, and letters of recommendation.
Internships
From the moment you are admitted to the Master's Program in Finance, the Director of Employer Relations will work with you to secure a summer internship before the Program even starts. The process begins with a career goal intake session, to ensure the clear communication of the graduate student's long term career goals. After the intake, Michelle will begin to reach out to specific employers to assist in securing a great internship that furthers the graduate student's overall career plans.
Industry Panels and Presentations
The Director of External Relations and the CMC Career Services Office provide graduate students with opportunities to learn about numerous companies through on campus, industry specific, panels and presentations. Through these events, prominent business leaders and academic figures (many of whom are CMC alumni) describe their firms, discuss career paths and answer student questions. Graduate students also have an opportunity to attend special events, such as Speaker Series programs, where past presenters have included public figures such as Bill Clinton and Bono, top educators such as Richard Thaler (University of Chicago) and Josh Lerner (Harvard) and business leaders, such as Henry Kravis (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.). In addition to learning from these distinguished leaders, graduate students are given an opportunity to network with the Speaker Series presenters through exclusive receptions.
Alumni Access
Claremont McKenna College alumni are very involved in mentoring and networking with graduate students and provide a very active role in supporting graduate placement. In addition to the numerous events which allow graduate students to interact with alumni, graduate students are able to search the College's extensive alumni database and utilize the Director of External Relations to make appropriate introductions.
Workshops
Graduate students participate in a variety of career oriented, industry specific workshops from the inception of the Program. These workshops cover topics such as networking strategies, business etiquette, resume drafting, cover letter drafting, interviewing and communication skills. The workshops are designed exclusively for graduate students in the Program and present advanced, sophisticated career tools and advice.
Networking Trips
The Robert Day School currently sponsors a networking trip to San Francisco and anticipates offering an international networking trip in the future. Additionally, The Robert Day School hosts networking receptions throughout the country and often invites graduate students to attend as event speakers. Furthermore, graduate students have the opportunity to join student organization and alumni events in various cities throughout the world.
Resume and Cover Letter Assistance
During the summer before the Master's Program in Finance begins, the Director of External Relations is hard at work assisting graduate students in compiling, editing and updating resumes and cover letters. The resume and cover letter assistance is tailored to the specific interests of each graduate student and utilizes industry professionals to ensure that feedback is relevant and significant. Additionally, all graduate students participate in a career management workshop the first week of the Program.
Interview Preparation
During the summer before the Master's Program in Finance begins, graduate students are asked to complete online, recorded mock interviews and are provided with timely feedback. Once classes begin, graduate students are also asked to complete a recorded, in-person mock interview with the Director of External Relations and other industry and career service professionals at the CMC Career Services Office, which is equipped with private interview rooms and video recording capabilities. Through this mock interview experience, graduate students are able to practice a broad range of interview styles, from behavioral to technical, and receive feedback regarding their performance.
On Campus Application Submission and Interviews
Graduate students are able to submit applications to employers representing a broad range of industries through the CMC Career Services Office. Additionally, graduate students are encouraged to participate in the on campus interview process, which allows graduate students the convenience to interview with a variety of employers on campus.
Employment Offer and Salary Negotiations
Our graduate students often have many choices during the recruiting season. The Director of External Relations works alongside graduate students to ensure that they have the necessary time and information to make a thoughtful decision about an offer of employment. Additionally, the Director will assist students in evaluating the terms of a job offer, by offering salary statistics and contacts familiar with the relevant organization.
