How to..get online job advice

Consult a cyber-recruiter to plan your career says Natasha Loder

Most postgraduates find they are poorly served by university careers centres. With hundreds of students passing through their doors, such centres are often simply not geared up to handling the relatively small numbers of specialist postgraduates seeking help. Yet, once out of university, postgraduates are likely to find themselves totally stuck for decent careers advice.

While there are encouraging signs that universities are taking an increasing interest in career development for research staff, they are still behind industry.

Texas Instruments, for example, is leading the way with its website, which packages serious career development advice alongside its standard recruitment pages. You can ask for careers advice from their online cyber-recruiter - a real person, learn how to use the web for job searches,get tips on getting your resume noticed, post your CV electronically to TI, or take a tour through the career mapper, an impressive set of interactive career development pages.

You can begin the process of planning your ideal career, even if you do not want to work for TI. It will, for example, assess your strengths and weaknesses on the basis of a questionnaire and recommend the type of jobs that best suit your talents.

Of course, one of TI's ulterior motives must be to recruit staff, but you do not have to want a job there to use the site.

For more info, go to http://www.ti.com