Experience as Currency
2.5 Considering Graduate or Professional School
If you are thinking about going to graduate or professional school, here are some things to consider as you determine whether graduate school is right for you at this point in time. • Research your dream job and determine what the required and preferred TXaOLÀcaWLoQsaUe,I\oXUGUeaPcaUeeUUeTXLUesaJUaGXaWeoUSUoIessLoQaO GeJUee\oX·OOZaQWWoGoPoUeUeseaUchoQJUaGXaWeGeJUeesZLWhLQ\oXU ÀeOG s oILQWeUesW7aONZLWh\oXUIacXOW\aQGcoQQecWZLWhaOXPQLWoJeW PoUeLQGXsWU\sSecLÀcLQIoUPaWLoQ • Network with employers WoJaLQPoUeLQIoUPaWLoQaEoXWeQWU\OeYeO SosLWLoQsaWcoPSaQLes\oX·UeLQWeUesWeGLQ,QTXLUeasWoZheQWheLU ePSOo\eesW\SLcaOO\SXUsXeaJUaGXaWeGeJUeeLIaWaOO0aQ\ÀeOGs UecoPPeQGJeWWLQJsoPeLQÀeOGe[SeULeQceGLUecWO\aIWeUXQGeUJUaGaQG WheQSXUsXLQJaJUaGXaWeoUSUoIessLoQaOGeJUeeZheQLI\oX·UeOooNLQJWo move up within an organization. Graduate school is an investment of time aQGPoQe\soLW·sLPSoUWaQWWoPaNeaQLQIoUPeGGecLsLoQ • Conduct informational interviews to learn more about jobs and careers. Seek out the people who are doing the work you want to do and ask them about their educational and career paths and what they did to get to the point they are at in their careers. There may be more than one way to get to where you want to be. • If you decide that grad school is in your future \oX·OOQeeGWoWhLQNaEoXW ZhaWW\SeoIJUaGXaWeoUSUoIessLoQaOGeJUee\oXQeeGIoU\oXUÀeOG6oPe ÀeOGsUeTXLUesSecLÀcGeJUeesOLceQsXUeaQGoUceUWLÀcaWLoQs2WheUÀeOGs haYePoUeWhaQoQeoSWLoQ \oX·OOQeeGWoUeÁecWoQZhaW\oXhoSeWoGo ZLWh\oXUJUaGXaWeGeJUeeEeIoUe\oXPaNeÀQaOaSSOLcaWLoQGecLsLoQs • Determine what you can be doing now to help prepare you for the graduate or professional school application process. Talk with people you NQoZUeseaUchoQOLQeaQGÀQGoXWPoUeaEoXWZhaWJUaGXaWeschooOs are looking for within applications. This knowledge will help you explore the e[SeULeQcesLQYoOYePeQWsNLOOsaQGacaGePLcTXaOLÀcaWLoQsWhaWZLOOheOS you stand out among the applicant pool.
3.1 Maintaining Networks
$s\oXaUeOooNLQJaWWheNQoZOeGJe\oX·YeJaLQeGWhUoXJhaWWeQGLQJCaUeeU Fairs and meeting employers via informational interviews and job shadowing, it is important to not let those conversations end. Networking is key to creating strong professional relationships that can help guide your career path or even OaQG\oXaMoELQWheIXWXUe+eUeaUeaIeZJXLGeOLQesWoNeeSLQPLQGas\oX begin this stage of your career path: Build a foundation <oXPa\aOUeaG\haYeasWUoQJsWaUWheUe7hLQNaEoXWePSOo\eUs\oX have spoken to at Career Fairs, your own work e[SeULeQcesoUeYeQIaPLO\ PePEeUs%XLOGLQJaIoXQGaWLoQcaQEeaseas\ as introducing yourself, asking a question, or having a brief conversation.
Be timely Recruiters and those attending fairs may be very busy, often visiting multiple campuses each month. Reach out to your initial contacts before the foundation begins to crumble or they forget the conversation you had. It is a good idea to keep in touch over time to stay connected.
Include details Continue to develop the relationship through your communications with ePSOo\eUs WhLscaQEeWhUoXJhePaLOShoQeoUZeEsLWesOLNe/LQNeG,Q5aWheU than starting the relationship from scratch, include information from past interactions. Think about what interests you in furthering the discussion as well! Open doors Asking for a job directly can end a conversation very quickly. Think about oSeQLQJGooUsaQGWaNLQJWheÀUsWsWeSsWoEXLOGWheUeOaWLoQshLS1eWZoUNLQJ takes time and effort. Trying to take advantage of connections too soon can make you seem insincere. Nurturing a relationship and building trust and learning from your network can all help keep the conversation moving forward. Be gracious Thank employers for their time. The opportunities you have to connect with employers may be taking them away from their primary duties. Although most SUoIessLoQaOsaUehaSS\WocoQQecWZLWhWhoseeQWeULQJWheÀeOGLWLsaOZa\s appreciated to have their time recognized.
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