Starting graduate school is a big step—and for many students, it can be both exciting and overwhelming. With new academic challenges and big expectations (from yourself and others), it’s easy to lose sight of your purpose for choosing this path.
That’s why one of the most important things you can do at the beginning of your graduate experience is to clarify your “why.” Understanding your professional motivations for being in graduate school will help guide your decisions, keep you focused, and shape a meaningful and strategic experience.
What Is Your “Why”?
Your “why” is your core reason for pursuing an advanced degree. It may be more than just “I want a better job” or “I love my subject.” Your “why” helps you connect your academic experience to your broader career goals.
Oftentimes I find that graduate students have chosen their graduate program with a general vision of where they want to go but have yet to comprehend the breadth of where they can go with that degree. It’s time to become a career detective.
Resources for a Career Detective
There are a number of resources available to help you both explore what you can pursue after your program and also align with your values. I suggest the following:
What Can I Do With This Major?: I share this resource with undergraduates, but it is also very useful for grad students as well. This site has developed a number of career categories and within those categories, you can explore specific career paths. By opening the PDFs in each career path, you can view areas of work within that path and potential employers, and as a result, begin to discern which interest you.
OnetOnline.org: Use this site to search for specific job titles and learn about current job prospects, skills needed, and specific duties.
Glassdoor: Don’t forget about money! Glassdoor not only shares salaries for jobs but you can also search to get authentic experiences and salaries where you hope to live and work.
Last but not least, Career Services and Internship have great career counselors who can partner up with you as you process this work. Schedule a Career and Life Design Appointment today!
