Begin early to develop a comprehensive career plan

Congratulations! You are in a graduate program and your career future looks bright. Does this mean that you can stop researching your options and exploring the world of work? Can we assume that your plans are set and that your career goals are crystal clear? Absolutely not!

A major objective for every graduate student should be to become aware of the range of employment and professional opportunities that exist for individuals receiving a graduate degree. Think of your graduate education as a career step, not just a learning experience.

Just as you have an academic plan for completing your graduate degree, you need to develop a career plan that states your major professional goals, objectives, timelines for moving from step to step, and strategies for attaining success.

Take charge of your education and your career objectives! Don't count on others to provide career options. Develop an individual career plan to provide you with a flexible blueprint of your short and long-term professional, intellectual, and even personal aspirations. The following pages will help you with your career planning: