By Khine Thant Su, PhD Student
As a busy graduate student, it can be hard to find time to reflect deeply about your career goals. But you need to know your motivators, skills, and aspirations to find employment that satisfies your needs and aligns with your values. A good starting point in this process is to reflect on what made you choose your field of study, and what motivates you in your day-to-day work as a graduate student.
Once you’ve reflected on your motivation, here are a few next steps for self-reflection:
Know what you offer and need
If you need some structure, consider using self-assessment tools like ImaginePhD (for Humanities and Social Sciences) and myIDP (for Biological and Physical Sciences) to gain clarity on your skills, interests, and values. Once you better understand yourself, you can target careers that value your skills and meet your needs in terms of work culture, compensation, and other areas that are important to you.
Know how to market yourself
If you want to explore careers outside academia, there are many ways in which you can apply your skills in a meaningful and rewarding way. Check out the upcoming workshops How to Market Your PhD and Resume Writing for master’s students to learn how to effectively communicate your skills and value to potential employers. If you are interested in academic careers, check out the For Future Faculty series for events and resources aimed to help graduate students understand crucial topics in the academic job search.
With these strategies, you can make sure that the next role you take on will provide personal fulfillment while helping you meet your long-term career goals.
Tips for Grads is a professional and academic advice column written by graduate students for graduate students at UW–Madison. It is published in the student newsletter, GradConnections Weekly.