The Master’s Life Design Hub (MLDH) Career Journey is a step-by-step roadmap designed to help you turn your master’s degree into meaningful career outcomes. From your first weeks on campus to your first day on the job, this journey outlines the key actions, milestones, and resources that support your professional development.
YEAR ONE (Fall to Spring Semester)
Career Foundations – Build awareness of career pathways and activate every tool you’ll use across the program.
WHAT YOU DO
- Attend New Student Orientation
- Activate Handshake, VMock, LinkedIn Learning, Interstride & OneHop
- Build your first resume and use VMock’s AI feedback
- Create and optimize your LinkedIn profile
- Attend the Career Accelerator Bootcamp
- Schedule your first 1-on-1 coaching appointment
- Begin browsing and connecting alumni on OneHop
WE SUPPORT YOU WITH
- Career Accelerator Bootcamp sessions
- Orientation workshops (resume, LinkedIn, career tools)
- First 1-on-1 career coaching appointment
- Resource activation walkthroughs
YOU’RE ON TRACK WHEN…
- All 5 platforms below are activated and explored
- Resume v1 is complete with a VMock score
- LinkedIn profile is live and complete
- You’ve identified 3–4 career pathways that interest you
- First coaching appointment is booked or complete
WHAT YOU DO
Phase 1 Milestone: Identify 3–4 career pathways aligned with your skills and interests + Tools activated + LinkedIn live + First coaching session complete
Handshake
VMock
OneHop
Interstride
Professional Engagement – Strengthen your professional identity, start networking, and become a competitive internship applicant.
WHAT YOU DO
- Refine resume with VMock feedback (aim for 85+ score)
- Attend MLDH Career Pathways events
- Conduct 2–3 informational interviews / coffee chats
- Practice interview answers using VMock video mock interviews
- Attend Fall Career Fair and speak with at least 5 employers
- Begin applying for spring/summer internships
- Draft and refine your 60-second elevator pitch
WE SUPPORT YOU WITH
- Industry Career Series (employer-led sessions)
- Alumni networking panels
- Mock Interview Events with real feedback
- Fall Career Fair access
- Coaching sessions: resume, pitch, job search strategy
YOU’RE ON TRACK WHEN…
- Resume reflects your skills and goals confidently
- You’ve had at least 2 informational interviews
- You can deliver your elevator pitch without notes
- You’ve applied to internships on Handshake
- You’ve attended at least 1 career fair and networked
Phase 2 Milestone: Competitive resume + interview readiness + active internship applications + Networking begun + Elevator pitch ready + Applications submitted
Handshake
VMock
JHU Smile
Internship Activation – Secure an internship or applied professional experience — this is your primary goal for Spring.
WHAT YOU DO
- Tailor your resume to 3–4 specific industries or roles
- Apply aggressively to summer and fall internships
- Attend Spring Career Fair
- Follow up with every employer contact within 48 hours
- Explore applied projects, research, or SMILE opportunities
- Prepare for and participate in internship interviews
- Use Interstride for international opportunity guidance (if applicable)
WE SUPPORT YOU WITH
- Spring Career Fair
- Employer information sessions
- Application and offer coaching
- Specialized coaching for tailored resumes
- SMILE experiential learning program
YOU’RE ON TRACK WHEN…
- You have a confirmed internship or applied project
- Your resume has 3+ tailored versions for different roles
- You’ve attended the Spring Career Fair
- You have a clear start date for summer experience
Phase 3 Milestone: Internship or applied experience secured for summer offer confirmed · Start date set · Experience begins
Handshake
VMock
JHU Smile
YEAR TWO (Summer to Spring Semester)
Experience Development – Apply your academic knowledge in a real-world setting. Build relationships. Track everything.
WHAT YOU DO
- Start your internship
- Show up as a professional — be reliable, curious, proactive; Contribute meaningfully to real projects and team goals
- Build strong relationships with supervisors and mentors
- Track your achievements with specific metrics weekly
- Request feedback mid-internship and at end
- Connect with co-workers on LinkedIn
- Start drafting how this experience updates your resume
WE SUPPORT YOU WITH
- Alumni mentoring through OneHop platform
- Reflection tools for tracking your growth
- Career advising check-ins available by request
YOU’RE ON TRACK WHEN…
- You have 3–5 bullet-ready accomplishments with metrics
- Supervisor knows your name and your value
- You’ve connected with 10+ professionals on LinkedIn
- You’ve drafted updated resume bullets before returning to campus
WHAT YOU DO
Phase 4 Milestone: Internship complete with measurable accomplishments documented + Metrics tracked + Relationships built + Resume ready to update
Handshake
VMock
OneHop
Interstride
Career Positioning – You are no longer an intern — you are a full-time candidate. Reposition everything to reflect that.
WHAT YOU DO
- Rewrite resume to feature internship accomplishments with metrics
- Update LinkedIn with new experience and headline
- Define 3–5 target companies and research their hiring timelines
- Attend Fall Career Fair and focus on full-time roles
- Apply to full-time positions aligned with your career goals
- Write targeted cover letters for priority applications
- Attend advanced mock interviews and technical prep events
- Follow up with all career fair contacts within 48 hours
- Track applications in a spreadsheet — every deadline, every status
WE SUPPORT YOU WITH
- Career strategy coaching (intern → full-time candidate)
- Fall Career Fair & employer networking events
- Behavioral mock interviews and connecting with alumni/employer led technical interview prep sessions.
- Industry-specific networking events
- On-campus and virtual employer info sessions
YOU’RE ON TRACK WHEN…
- Updated resume and LinkedIn reflect internship results
- You have 10+ active applications in progress
- You’ve attended at least 1 career fair and followed up
- You can articulate your professional narrative in 2 minutes
- Interviews are being scheduled
Phase 5 Milestone: Active full-time candidate with strong narrative and multiple applications in flightResume updated + Applications active + Interviews scheduling
Handshake
VMock
OneHop
Career Outcomes – Secure your offer. Negotiate confidently. Transition into your career with purpose.
WHAT YOU DO
- Attend Spring Career Fair for any remaining opportunities
- Prepare for technical and case interviews with focused practice
- Reconnect with alumni and previous professional contacts
- Participate in final-round interviews
- Evaluate job offers on growth potential, culture, and total compensation
- Negotiate salary and start date professionally
- Accept your offer and complete First Destination Survey
- Prepare for onboarding and professional transition
WE SUPPORT YOU WITH
- Offer evaluation coaching (what to look for, what to ask)
- Negotiation strategy workshops
- Behavioral mock interviews and connecting with alumni/employer led technical interview prep sessions.
- Spring Career Fair
- Transition coaching for first-job readiness
YOU’RE ON TRACK WHEN…
- You have received and evaluated at least one offer
- Offer negotiation is complete
- First Destination Survey submitted
- Start date confirmed — you’re ready
Phase 6 Milestone: Full-time offer accepted — career launched + Offer negotiated + Survey complete + Ready for Day 1
Handshake
VMock
OneHop
What 24 Months of Intentional Action Produces
3-4
Career pathways explored and refined by end of Year 1
1+
Internships or applied professional experiences completed
10+
Meaningful professional relationships built via networking
Unlimited
Resume, interview, and negotiation skills that last a career