The document provides guidance for students to develop their career and professional experiences. It prompts students to consider their goals for skill development, knowledge acquisition, relationship building, and contributions. It then lists various experience types and resources students can utilize to pursue opportunities, including internships, research, volunteering, informational interviews, and online databases. It also includes tips for outreach, applications, budgeting, and international considerations.

1. CAREER CENTER
Creating Your Own Career Development Experience
What goals, intentions, and learning objectives do you have in mind for your next
professional development experience? Use the following prompts to guide your thinking.
Skill Development | Which technical, transferable and “soft” skills do you want to utilize and develop?
(Use the Transferable Skills List as a guide or come up with your own!)
Knowledge Development | What kinds of information do you want to acquire and what concepts do you
want to understand? What can you learn that will help you develop as a professional?
Relationship Building | Who do you want/need to get to know this summer to effectively move forward
in your professional development?
Contribution | What skills, knowledge, and/or attributes do you want to contribute to the organization
or team with which you will work?
What types of experience could help you achieve some or all of these goals?
___Internship ___Research ___Externship/Shadowing ___Project
(Select all that apply)
___Part-time Job ___Travel ___Volunteer ___Enterprise
___Leadership Role ___Informational ___Independent Study ___Other:
Interviews
Who can you reach out to for information/leads?
(Select all that apply – see sample outreach email below)
___Family ___Faculty, TA ___Human Resources*
Personal: From Duke: In organizations:
___ Friends ___Staff ___Volunteer Coordinator
___Roommates ___Alumni ___Internship Coordinator
___Other Peers ___RA/RC/FAC
*This division within organizations can go by other names (eg, Talent Acquisition)
___DukeConnect.com* ___Internship Feedback Database*
What web resources will you use to generate ideas/contacts?
___eRecruiting* ___Company websites
___iNet* ___OneDayOneInternship.com
___UCAN* ___Sanford Public Policy Internship Database*
___GoingGlobal* ___Internship Series Online*
___DukeList ___Department/Faculty pages
___e-Leads* ___Industry-Specific Information*
___Idealist.org
* Available through Career Center website
www.studentaffairs.duke.edu/career

2. What are you planning to do to pursue and follow-up on this opportunity?
(Select any that apply – pick 2-3 approaches & plan timeline)
• Call • Conduct an informational interview
• Email • Apply/Submit online
• Reach out to people at special events (Career & Summer Opportunities Fair,
• Stop by in person • Ask a network contact to connect me or pass my information along
Fannie Mitchell Exchange, Information Sessions, etc)
• Mail letter & resume
• Other:
Application | Is your tailored resume & cover letter/letter of intent ready?
___Yes – resume printed on “resume paper,” if applicable
___No – head to the Resource Room for drop-in hours
___Not sure – head to the Resource Room for drop-in hours
International Students | Are you familiar with your options and the approval process?
Consult Duke Visa Services (http://www.visaservices.duke.edu) early to discuss Optional Practical
Training and Curricular Practical Training options. You must get approval for your experience.
Budget & Logistics | What costs will I likely incur with this experience?
$_____Housing
$_____Transportation to/from
internship location
Sample Initial Outreach Email
Dear Ms. Ross,
$_____Daily commute
$_____Weekly food expenses Good morning. My name is Sonya Blue and I am a first-year student at Duke
$_____If international experience, University. I was referred to you by a close family friend, Kurt Williams, who
shared that you two were graduate school classmates at Northwestern. I have
visa costs, inoculations, etc. an interest in public service and am seeking ways to expand upon my knowl-
$_____Wardrobe needs edge of and experience with non-profit organizations. Your role as the Director
$_____Financial Aid summer of Habitat for Humanity in Chicago sounds so interesting, and I would love the
contribution chance to learn more about what you do and the path you took to obtain your
$_____Other current position.
$_____Estimated Total I will be in the Chicago area over my winter break, between December 10th
and January 7th. I was hoping you might be open to having me shadow you at
How will I afford these costs? Habitat for 1- 3 days during this time frame. This would be an incredibly valu-
___Seek paid opportunities only able opportunity for me to gain exposure to the inner workings of a non-profit,
___Seek paid job alongside an as well as contribute to any projects or initiatives you have going on during that
time.
unpaid professional experience
___Apply for competitive grants Please write back at your earliest convenience to let me know what, if any,
(eg, Career Center Internship shadowing opportunity might work within your schedule. I am also happy to
Funding) share my resume upon request. I can be best reached via email (sonya.blue@
___Develop independent duke.edu) or phone (919-555-1010). Thank you and I look forward to hearing
from you soon.
fundraising campaign
___Utilize personal savings Sincerely,
___Other: Sonya Blue
Duke University - Class of 2015
sonya.blue@duke.edu
919-555-1010
* Note that salutation and content will vary depending on the nature of the contact.
www.studentaffairs.duke.edu/career