Life after graduate school

Whether you are planning to travel or take an extended vacation after graduate school, your life will ultimately become centered on finding what would perhaps be your first real job as an adult. This is, after all, the goal of graduate school—to set yourself up for success in the working world. Even if you are still a grad student, you can start preparing now for your job hunt and interviews. Here are some helpful tips that can apply to all students looking to start their careers.

Experience

Since both a bachelor’s and a master’s program usually require internships, externships or on-campus field work, you will probably leave your graduate school with a wealth of work experience with which to build an impressive resume. However, if you feel that your experience is at all lacking, look for an extra internship or volunteer work to fill in the holes. Bottom line: Make sure you have enough experience out of the gate to make employers feel less of a need to train you.

Be proactive

One of the most important things to understand about applying for any job is that you are one candidate of maybe hundreds. While your graduate school degree and experience may be impressive, it is likely that at least one person will have just as many assets as you. You can make yourself stand out by taking some initiative. Track down the direct supervisor of the position to which you are applying and call him or her to request a meeting. Also, be sure to use any networking connections you may have. Many people land wonderful jobs from being connected to friends, colleagues and professors, so use your network to get ahead.