Creating a meaningful and fruitful career does not happen overnight, nor does it happen by not putting in the work during your time in school. Attending lectures, participating in class discussion, and completing assignments surely help towards attaining a degree and building the soft skills to be a successful person, but this only taps into the surface. To feel prepared to enter into the workplace, I found that engaging into career development was crucial.
One approach is to find a mentor. Whether it is a mentor in your major, intended career, or simply a peer who has the experience and advice you desire – seek out someone who can serve as your role model. I found it valuable to have multiple mentors who can could provide me insights on different aspects of graduate school, professional life, or simply navigating my home institution.
Another way to hone in on career development is to participate in certifications or workshops that build on skills that you will need in your career. For instance, a mentorship certificate can not only help you become a better mentor but also teach you how to be a great mentee to others. A workshop on how to use certain citation programs can help you organize your cited works for ongoing papers as well as long-term projects.
All in all, career development starts as early as you step foot on campus. Start thinking about how you can grow your skillset and get closer to your desired goal.
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