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 qualifications are. If your dream career requires a graduate or professional degree, you’ll want to do more research on graduate degrees within your field(s) of interest. Talk with your faculty and connect with alumni to get more industry-specific information. • Network with employers to gain more information about entry-level positions at companies you’re interested in. Inquire as to when their employees typically pursue a graduate degree, if at all. Many fields recommend getting some in-field experience directly after undergrad and then pursuing a graduate or professional degree when/if you’re looking to move up within an organization. Graduate school is an investment of time and money, so it’s important to make an informed decision. • 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 , you’ll need to think about what type of graduate or professional degree you need for your field. Some fields require specific degrees, licensure, and/or certifications. Other fields have more than one option; you’ll need to reflect on what you hope to do with your graduate degree before you make final application decisions. • Determine what you can be doing now to help prepare you for the graduate or professional school application process. Talk with people you know, research online, and find out more about what graduate schools are looking for within applications. This knowledge will help you explore the experiences, involvement, skills, and academic qualifications that will help you stand out among the applicant pool.
3.1 Maintaining Networks
As you are looking at the knowledge you’ve gained through attending Career 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 land you a job in the future. Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind as you begin this stage of your career path: Build a foundation You may already have a strong start here! Think about employers you have spoken to at Career Fairs, UW System Career Treks, your own work experiences, or even family members. Building a foundation can be as easy 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 employers; this can be through email, phone, or websites like LinkedIn. Rather 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 opening doors and taking the first steps to build the relationship. Networking 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 professionals are happy to connect with those entering the field, it is always appreciated to have their time recognized.
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