Tips for Navigating Post-Graduation Life

Check out this exciting research opportunity!!! ...and if you are a grad student or academic, you've probably heard the above phrase a zillion times. And while some "research opportunities" truly are both exciting and are good opportunities worth considering, many simply amount to doing free labor. I made a post about this recently on another platform and got challenged (by someone who seemed to be an academic) on this premise. They argued (quite vehemently) that volunteering to work on a research project could indeed lead to good professional outcomes after grad school. Which I guess is true based on what you're comparing it to (like watching TV?). So here are three things you could do as a grad student that could actually propel you into the next phase of your career after grad school: 1. Create a network with industry PhDs from your field We are out here! All you have to do to find us is search your degree ("PhD in XYZ") on LinkedIn and find folks with your academic background who now have cool industry jobs (you will need LinkedIn Premium to see some of this information - get a free one month trial to try it out). Reach out and introduce yourself, ask us to briefly chat about our careers, and you'll be miles ahead of the competition both in terms of knowledge and network (see "internal referrals") when the day comes for you to exit academia. 2. Learn the exact tools that are used in relevant industry jobs Did you do Step 1 and now know what jobs you could get one day? Good; now find some job postings for those job titles and see what tools they require you to use. Hint: They probably are parallel tools to what you are learning in academia but NOT the exact same. I taught myself SQL and R when it came time for me to go on the job market. The years I spent in academia learning Mplus and SPSS just didn't matter because the industry I wanted to work in (healthcare data) didn't use those tools. If I would have learned this while I was a grad student, I could have shifted the time I spent on academically-oriented tools to industry ones - still completing my research duties while also building a skill and knowledge base that would be valuable after academia. 3. Do a career-relevant internship in industry There are lots of companies these days that are interested in having current grad students work with them on data and research-related activities. And many times you'll actually get paid! When building that network of industry PhDs, ask about internship opportunities. It can be a great way to get a foot in the door with a potential future employer as well as gain real-world experience. TLDR: 1. Don't wait until you need a network to build a network. 2. Don't spend extra time on tools used only in academia; try to use tools relevant to industry. 3. Get an industry internship. Those are my tips. Other PhDs who are already in industry: What are some ways grad students could prepare themselves? LMK in the comments!

So What Comes Next After Graduation? ( an International Students perspective) Graduation is a monumental milestone, but what comes next can be daunting, especially for international students. Here’s a strategic approach to life after graduation: 1️⃣ Evaluate Your Career Goals 👉Reflect on your long-term professional aspirations. ✔️ Identify your passion and desired industry. ✔️Set clear, achievable career objectives. 2️⃣ Understand Visa and Work Authorization Options 🔹Research pathways like Optional Practical Training (OPT) and H-1B visas. 🔹Consult your university’s international student office for guidance. 🔹Stay informed about country-specific work permits and regulations. 3️⃣ Network Actively 🔹Leverage connections with professors, advisors, and alums. 🔹 Attend industry events, seminars, and webinars. 🔹Engage on platforms like LinkedIn to build professional relationships. 4️⃣ Tailor Your Job Search 🔹Craft a strong resume 🔹Write personalized cover letters for each application. 🔹Prepare thoroughly for interviews by practicing common questions. 5️⃣ Consider Further Education or Certifications 🔹Explore opportunities for additional degrees or specialized certifications. 🔹Evaluate how further education aligns with your career goals. 6️⃣ Plan for the Long Term 🔹Decide whether to stay in your host country, return home, or explore other options. 🔹Weigh the pros and cons of each choice carefully. 7️⃣ Stay connected with friends and family. What are your plans after graduation? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments! 🔄 Repost to help a friend :) #GraduateSchool #InternationalStudents #CareerPlanning #PostGraduation #Networking

Are you looking at your next career steps? Here are some gentle reminders to help avoid burning out in your job search: 1. Take time to discover what you really want to do next (helps tremendously with resume prep and interviews) ✅ Take self assessments. Understand your skills, interests, and values. ✅ Research a variety of career options. Career panels. Read job ads. Identify what is interesting and what is not. Do informational interviews. ✅ Network! Connect with people even if you haven’t set on a career sector. You never know who you meet today who will impact your career in the future. ✅ Leverage LinkedIn! Be active. Share info. Share or comment on people’s posts. Make sure your profile is “all star.” ✅If you message someone who doesn’t respond, check their activity! If they haven’t posted in a while, they aren’t using LinkedIn. Try their email! Still no response, write someone else. It may have nothing to do with you so try not to take it personally. ✅ Build your skills! Is there something you want to learn or something you found as a gap from reading job ads? Start now. 2. Be focused in your job search. Pick a sector (as narrow as possible). Be picky about what you actually apply to. Sort job ads you read into Yes, Maybe, and No. Apply to every Yes. Apply to some Maybes. Ditch the Nos. 3. Actively applying but not hearing back? Get feedback about your resume and cover letters, or other application materials. Make sure to tailor every resume. 4. Actively applying but not getting job offers? Get feedback on your interview techniques. Practice a mock interview. Try the new AI tools! 5. Do remember that many individuals are applying and #3 and #4 may not be about you. The job market is volatile with layoffs at some and hiring at others. You’re also competing with individuals just graduating or finishing postdocs as well as those changing jobs. Practice self care! 6. Need a job sooner? Consider relaxing some of your criteria or apply to more Maybes (#2). Consider intermediate job steps. Connect with your network. Do remember that once you hit submit, you’re no longer in control of the hiring timeline. Which of these ideas resonate with you?? Please repost if this is useful. #phd #postdoc #jobsearch #careerexploration

A few tips for graduating students getting ready to ramp up their job search this semester: 1. Create different variations of your resumes for the different role profiles (engineering, product, finance, etc) you’re interested in and organize them in a resume folder in Drive/in your files. This will help you apply to a wider range of roles faster and will help ease the barrier of applying (it’s a draining process!) 2. A valuable and productive day of job searching doesn’t always include submitting applications. As mentioned above, the search process can be exhausting, so it’s important to safeguard your energy while keeping momentum. Spend a few hours just researching companies and different roles with no expectation that you’ll be submitting an application. This will help you consider and discover opportunities you haven’t in the past and will also continue propelling your search without requiring all that much effort 3. Networking events and careers fairs can be the worst, especially when it’s close to graduation and there’s a lot of pressure to land a job. To help make these experiences more tolerable and productive, it can be helpful to go into them with a concrete plan and clear goals. Example—I want to talk to 3 companies I’m interested in, 2 companies I don’t know much about, and establish an email connection/intro with at least 3 recruiters. Accomplishing these smaller goals will help you focus and leave you feeling fulfilled after what can be draining events 4. Parallel network! Your peers are just as (if not more) valuable to you in your job search as recruiters/mentors. Ask around your college/orgs to get more intel on which companies are hiring and how to best navigate desired applications. We’ve all sent cold reach-outs to recruiters and professionals to ask a few questions—don’t be afraid to do the same with your peers! 5. Finally, and most importantly, be kind to yourself. The job search is just one of many priorities in your life and all of it together is grueling. Make time every day, even if it’s just a little, for wellness and self-care

This past week I had the privilege of watching my oldest graduate from University. He now starts his next phase of life. As I watched the thousands in his class on campus heading out into the market, there are some non-negotiables that I would prescribe for all taking this next step: -             See how hard, long, and focused that you can work. Set an early pace, because it will be hard to pick up your pace, even in just a few years. Others will put limits on themselves, and there is where the distance between you and the competition becomes massive. -             Commit 30 minutes per day to reading or audio books. Your drive to work, in the gym, your drive home. Start the path to being a life-long learner. Most commit the error of abbreviating their learning after graduating. -             Be fearless with taking on tasks and activities that you are not good at. You once sucked at everything you are good at today. -             Read autobiographies. Not as gospel, but as guidance for the way people thought, acted and recovered. Success leaves clues. -             Bodyweight or resistance training 4x per week. Whitepaper after whitepaper shows anaerobic training increases blood flow to the brain and increases cognitive capabilities as well as fights off later in life mental acuity degradation. -              Food is fuel. A majority of your daily feedings should be to fuel your vessel, not to simply consume something. Not all consumption is the same. Enjoying a meal is a different activity than fueling the thing that carries your brain and determines your performance. -             Discipline beats motivation. Commit to whatever you do. No exceptions. If it is important, time-block it off on your calendar. Lists of “to-do’s’” get negotiated, time-blocks do not. -             Commit to 30 minutes of writing per week. Read current events, articles, op-eds, and write about your chosen profession and the economic, social, political, and international activities that may be influencing it. It will increase your knowledge in daily conversations and allow you to see the horizon before your competition. -             Believe in the power of compounding. As a minimum, do all the above every day, week, month, and year for the rest of your life and you will have the freedom that most will not. Lets compare notes in 20 years :)

As numerous college graduations unfold, I'm reminded of my post-graduation days, filled with the urgent quest for a meaningful job. Drawing from years in business, I'd like to share some advice with new graduates about navigating the early stages of their careers. First, don't fixate on your first job title. What matters more is that the role (hopefully) aligns with your field and that you give it your all. My journey began in Geneva, Switzerland, as a graduate student eager to become a journalist. I wanted to work as a researcher at the 1986 Summit between Reagan and Gorbachev. Instead, I was offered the "Head of Food Catering" position at the hotel housing our NBC team. I was initially disappointed, as I had set my sights on research. Nonetheless, I embraced the role with dedication, running the catering operations seamlessly and building relationships with all the NBC anchors and producers. (A bonus for me was that I had food service experience: my dad owned a diner where I had worked!). My efforts did not go unnoticed; my NBC boss, who later became my mentor, assured me that I was destined to be a globe-trotting producer. Only later did I learn that the usual head of catering, a VP of Operations at NBC, was on maternity leave, and they specifically wanted me to step in. This experience taught me that sometimes the full story isn't immediately apparent, and allowing the universe to guide your path can lead to unexpected opportunities. Here's the takeaway: excel in whatever role you find yourself in. Approach each day with enthusiasm and leave with a sense of achievement. Be the reason others smile. Streamline processes, innovate systems, and make a tangible difference. If your role isn't quite what you envisioned, communicate your aspirations to those you impress along the way. Your dedication can pave the way for future opportunities. Remember, every position you hold is a stepping stone toward your ultimate career goals. Commit to making a stellar impression and seize the opportunities that come your way. #mentorship #careeradvice #careertips #jobtips #firstjob #newgraduates #worktips #successmindset

At the recent Harvard WECode: Women Engineers Code Conference, I heard many students discussing their experience looking for a job. At this particular time, exploring job opportunities can be taxing - as you navigate a hiring landscape that has become increasingly automated. Students expressed angst. They spoke in sometimes emotional terms, that applying for hundreds of jobs can be mentally and emotionally taxing especially when you don’t hear back. Most of the time, rejections and silence have nothing to do with you. While the goal may be to secure a position at a big tech company, it’s important to consider that some of these companies are currently not hiring and, in some cases, laying off. But the skills from a CS degree are still in high demand, it just looks different right now. Here are three pieces of advice for your job-hunting journey: 1. Customize your resume for each company Take time to differentiate your resume and cover letter for each job you’re applying to. Instead of using the same resume for every application, customize it, including experience or classes that are relevant to the organization. Putting in the extra effort can significantly increase your chances of securing an interview.   2. Make connections In an increasingly automated world, the personal touch often yields results. If you are a student, take time to make personal connections to people you know who’ve graduated and are working at the company you are considering. Ask your faculty advisor. If you’re further in your career, contact former colleagues who may be working at the company and ask for advice about open positions.    3. Think beyond the high-tech giants Consider companies in various industries that have integrated technology into their operations. Fields like healthcare, real estate, direct-to-consumer, and startups can offer exciting opportunities for career growth. Lastly, keeping an open mind throughout your job search matters. Embrace the journey, remain adaptable, and be willing to explore different paths to find the right opportunity.

A recent conversation with a mentee trying to navigate the next steps in their career reminded me of an essential rule I always emphasize: You own your career, therefore you have to be in the driver's seat. They recently received some feedback from their manager that was confusing as it didn’t align with previous feedback. The conversation on next steps was very vague. Reality check: waiting for clear guidance or validation from others can leave you stuck in neutral. Instead, you must proactively manage your own career path. Here are a few things I suggested: 1. Do a Self-Assessment You need to understand your strengths, weaknesses, passions, and career aspirations. Identify what excites you and where you see yourself in the future. Remember they can all change due to new experiences and gaining new skillsets. 2. Seek Constructive Feedback While feedback from leadership is valuable, it’s important to triangulate. Reach out to mentors, peers, and others in your function that you admire for their insights. Feedback is just one piece of the puzzle. Use it as a tool for improvement, not as a definitive roadmap. You never know when you might run into an unconscious bias. 3. Continuous Learning and Development I’m ever curious and always looking for learning opportunities. Look for opportunities to learn from other functions. The business world is continusly changing, and staying on top of the game, requires investing time to learn. Stay informed about your current industry trends but also look for best practices in others. 4. Advocate for Yourself People can’t read your mind, so they don’t know what your career goals and aspirations are. Don’t be afraid to articulate them to your leadership. Express your interest in new projects, responsibilities, or roles that align with your goals. 5. Adaptability and Resilience Career paths are rarely linear. My own has been a lattice. Be adaptable. Embrace challenges and view setbacks as learning experiences. Being in the driver's seat of your career means taking an intentional role in your professional development. While others can give you guidance, the ultimate responsibility for your career lies with you. What else would you tell him?

Feeling lost about life after college? Tired of scrolling through job sites? Here is advice from Dr. Robert Cialdini that'll make employers see you as a must-have asset. 🔑 1. Be a Giver, Not Just a Taker Ever held the door for someone and they did the same for you later? That's Reciprocity. Share your skills and knowledge freely. Help a classmate with a project, or volunteer. You'll become the person people want to help in return. 📝 Action Step: Share a helpful article or tool with your network this week. You give value, they get value. Win-win! 🔑 2. Small Steps Lead to Big Leaps Ever notice how one episode on Netflix turns into a binge? That's Commitment & Consistency. Start by connecting with professionals in your field. Then, maybe ask for an informational interview. Small commitments lead to big opportunities. 📝 Action Step: Follow 5 thought leaders in an area of interest to you this week on LinkedIn. Leave thoughtful comments. 🔑 3. Show, Don't Just Tell You trust a restaurant more if your friends say it's good, right? That's Social Proof. Gather testimonials from professors, internship supervisors, or group project members. 📝 Action Step: Ask one professor for a LinkedIn recommendation. 🔑 4. Be the Expert You Already Are You don't need a Ph.D. to be an authority. Got a class project you aced? Share it! That's how you Build Authority. 📝 Action Step: Write a LinkedIn article about a project or subject you're passionate about. 🔑 5. Be Relatable People vibe with people they like. Be yourself, share your journey, and you'll attract the right opportunities and people. That's Affection. 📝 Action Step: Share a personal story or lesson learned this month. 🔑 6. Act Now, Not Later Ever snagged something because it was the "last one left"? That's Scarcity. Use this principle when reaching out for job opportunities. Let them know you're considering multiple options. 📝 Action Step: In your next job application, subtly indicate you're actively exploring various opportunities. 🚀 Summary: Stop stressing about job hunting. Focus on these principles and you'll not only find a job but also become an asset that companies will fight over. So, ready to be the next big thing employers can't ignore? #CollegeLife #CareerAdvice #Influence #RobertCialdini #JobHunting #LifeAfterCollege

With nearly half of workers planning to look for a new job in the year ahead, now is the time to prepare — not just react. A new Bankrate survey finds that nearly half of those in the workforce expect to be on the job hunt over the next 12 months. About 44% say they’re likely to ask for a raise, with younger workers leading the way. Some 27% say their concern about job security has increased since the start of the year. 18% of those working or looking for work say they’re likely to relocate for a job. Whether you're actively exploring new opportunities or just working to stay ahead of the curve, here are some actionable tips: Align Your Skills with Market Demand: Take stock of what you bring to the table and how it aligns with industries in need and the possible shape of the job market in the future. Investing in skills like data analysis, project management, artificial intelligence or digital communications can widen your career runway. Don’t forget about trades given the ongoing need for all kinds of workers requiring less than a four-year college education, many of which pay well. Build and Maintain Your Network: Opportunities often arise through relationships. Stay in touch with colleagues, mentors, and peers. If college educated, connect with your school’s alumni office or placement professionals. Don’t hesitate to offer help, too. Paying it forward is a great investment that builds on your brand and earns goodwill. Stay Ready: Even if you're not actively searching, keep your resume fresh, your portfolio current, and your goals top of mind. That way, you're ready when the next door opens, if one behind you closes unexpectedly. The labor market has been cooling from the “red hot” days of a couple of years ago. Preparation, skills attainment, and engagement are akin to having a career insurance policy.