How to Get a Job Without Connections - TheJobNetwork

How to Get a Job Without Connections - TheJobNetworkNetworking is probably the number one way to get yourself a job if you are looking. Referrals account for nearly 40% of all hiresand referred employees often get jobs quicker and make more money out of the gate. But what if you dont have anyone to refer you to a particular company or within a particular industry? If this is the case, then youll need to figure out how to get a job without connections. Luckily, weve got the right information to accomplish that. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Here are 4steps to follow to help you get a referral even if you lack the relevant connections.1. Find an InfluencerOnce youve determined theres a job opening somewhere, find someone who has influence on the hiring process for that position. Search for the position you want and the company you want in a site like LinkedIn until you find your Influencer.2. Make contactFind the contact information for that person and get in touch to set up a time to chat. This is just normal networking, remember? Easy Keep it short, sweet, and to the point. Address the new contact by name, briefly explain that youre interested in working in their company, but ask only for advice. Throw in some modest, subtle flattery to sweeten them up, and politely request a quick coffee (your treat) to pick their brain. You can use Quick question as your subject line.If you dont get a reply, dont badger themand dont worry Just find yourself another influencer in the same companyor for a different job entirely, and try again. If or when you do get a meeting, make koranvers to do plenty of homework first. That means researching the company, the field, the contact, etc.3. Prep your questionThe absolute most important question you need to ask is this What is the biggest challenge your team is facing right now? That question will make all the difference between awkward small talk and giving your new contact the oppo rtunity to open up and talk about something that matters to themand something that will be extremely informative and helpful to you. Dig in. Listen hard. And send a thoughtful thank you note.4. Strategize your solutionYouve heard from your Influencer (and new contact) what their biggest challenge is. Now figure out their solution. Reach out, research, think inside and outside the box. Put yourself in their teams shoes and consider things from every conceivable angle. Once youve got a great idea, make sure to test it through all the possible hypotheticals you can come up with. Then craft a detailed and elegant proposal.Youre going to send this proposal to your Influencer. Start a casual email, with an extra thank you for the coffee date, then say that youve been thinking about the conversation and mulling through their situation and then BAM. Explain that youve come up with a proposal to help solve their problem. Its gutsy, of course, but if your idea is goodeven if it isnt perfectit will show your value, and your Influencer will most likely share it with their team.If any or all of this goes your way, youll probably be able to follow up by inquiring about any open opportunities on this persons team (knowing already, of course, that there is one). Best case scenario Instant referral Worst case scenario youve netted yourself a new contact or two.How to get a job without connections - TheJobNetworkYouve heard the old adage a thousand times before, its all about who you know. Submitting a sleek, professional resume is obviously your first priority in the hund for a new job, but employee referrals are the job hunters secret weapon. According to a recent study by Payscale, 41% of employees who landed a job because of a referral did so through family and friends and 32% got a referral from a business contact. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) So, what do you do if you dont have any inside connections? What if youve moved t o a new city and your social circle is nonexistent at the moment? What if youre fresh out of college and you didnt network as well as you may have wanted? Dont worry. Even when you dont know anyone, getting a referral that lands you an bewerberinterview is a lot easier than you think.Message mutual friends on social mediaFacebook is clearly the dominant social media outlet, and its likely to stay that way for the foreseeable future. As such, its a surprisingly great resource for finding employment leads. Your suggested friends list is a potential job referral gold mine. You can also use the search function on Facebook in clever ways to aid in your new career quest. Find individuals by the city they live in, where they went to school, which friends you both have in common, as well as where they work.I suggest mixing and matching a few of these filters.Start off with finding people that work at the company youve been eyeing, and also went to the same university as you.Then transition to friends of friends that work where youd like to apply.If you come up empty-handed with either of those combinations, just search for people by workplaceThe biggest hurdle with seeking job referrals, particularly if youre an introvert, is reaching out to someone that you barely know. It seems intimidating (maybe even a bit rude) to message someone youre unfamiliar with, but its actually in their benefit to have you brought onto the team. Many companies have lucrative referral programs that incentivize current employees to suggest new hires.When striking up a conversation with someone you barely know or dont know at all, remember not to jump head first into a sale pitch be tactful. Break the ice by bringing up a commonality. Build a relationship before you solicit them for a job.Scan their Facebook page and see what pages they follow, what music or movies theyre interested in, anything that will make the inevitable questioning about their work much more acceptable.Open up with a m essage like thisHey there, I saw that we both know mutual friend. I also noticed youre into the same musician, book, movie as I am. Thats awesome, I love them I dont mean to bother you, but I welches curious if youd be interested in chatting for a bit about company? Wheneveryoure available, of course. No rush. I welches looking to apply there and I wanted to get your thoughts on a few things before I sent in my resume. Id love to know what you thought about album, novel, ending of movie too Thanks so much.Always be mindful of how aggressive youre coming off. Your main goal is to build a bridge with a prospective colleague. If you dont receive a response as quickly as youd like, be patient and never be too pushy.Reconnect with your universitys alumni networkUniversity alumni networks arent just for reconnecting with old college flames or long-lost roommates, theyre an ideal resource for job referrals. College is, after all, your first major networking pool and reaching out to a fello w university alum is a lot more comfortable than, say, random Facebook users. You already share a common sense of identity. Think of your alma mater as an extended group of potential colleagues.Many of these networks are designed with the specific purpose of helping students advance their careers. If youre totenstill in school, head to the career center on campus. They often maintain large databases of alumni information, so see if theyre able to get you in contact with recent graduates.Scope out the universitys website and find the alumni section. In this digital age, colleges often utilize some form of external platform that you can log into. You should have access to these areas for a lengthy period of time after graduation, but its simple to sign back up if youve been out of school for a while.Additionally, college career centers host job fairs and similar networking events that are open to the public. Consider attending one whether you live near your old school or youre in a ne w city.Scour Linkedin for employeesHopefully, youve been diligently growing your LinkedIn network. If you havent, well then, open a new browser tab and either build your profile or start expanding your network immediately. LinkedIn is hands down your best chance at securing a job referral from someone that actually works in the career field your applying to. Its perfect for when you absolutely, positively dont know a single person that can refer you for a job.Follow these stepsSearch LinkedIn for the job you want.If you already have a profile, browse your first and second-degree connections.Research what you can about the company and find someone currently employed there (either inside or outside your LinkedIn network).Politely introduce yourself and try to set up a meeting over coffee or lunchAsk specific questions related to their business.Once youve found a contact in your industry, try and set up an informational interview. This is where you field questions about the nature of t he company and their particular position. Not only will you gain valuable insight into the business, if you impress the contact well enough, you have an opportunity to be referred for the position you want.You can be far more direct with your LinkedIn pitch as opposed to the Facebook example from earlier.Hello LinkedIn Contact,Ive been following the work of company for some time now and Im considering submitting my resume for position. If you have a moment, I was interested in asking a few questions regarding the application process. It would be great to get an insiders perspective on company product as well. Were there any issues that arose with that project? Has it been successful? I appreciate your time. I look forward to finding out all that I can about company.An added benefit of cold-emailing employees like this is that its good practice for when you finally reach the interview stage. Even if you arent able to set up a meeting, that person is likely to tell you how to get in t ouch with someone that can assist you. Ultimately, thats what youre trying to accomplish.Join a meetup websiteWhats better than a networking event? I know, youre probably thinking anything is better than a networking event. However, there are a handful of websites out there that make networking much more tolerable.These sites are perfect for chatting with professionals with inside information about your industry and meeting people that can refer you to recruitersMeetup Perhaps the largest networking website out there. Meetup has a dedicated job search page to help you find business socials in your areaEventbrite Used by organizers to promote, plan, and even sell tickets (if necessary) to area eventsEventful An online calendar and local event tracking website that includes a networking categoryReddit The /r/meetups page on Reddit primarily organizes social networking events, but you never know who you might run into.There are a few things to keep in mind when joining a networking website. Be wary of only mingling with other unemployed people. Youre there to find work and neither of you are in a position to help one another at the moment.Events with low attendance can also be an issue, particularly if youre in town with a small population. Try not to waste your time if it doesnt seem worthwhile.Avoid sites like Craigslist when looking for gainful employment. While it may help with an entry-level job search, you run the risk of being scammed. I once attended what I originally thought was a networking event which turned out to be a bizarre attempt to pitch multi-level marketing (read pyramid scheme) to the few confused individuals that showed up.Getting a job referral doesnt have to be about who you know. It just takes a little initiative.About the AuthorLauren McAdams is a career adviser and hiring manager at ResumeCompanion. Shes been quoted by sites like Forbes, Huffington Post, and TechRepublic. When shes not busy helping job seekers, shes sipping on coffe e or a glass of wine depending on the time of day of course.

Why Salary is Only Half of the Total (Benefits) Package

Why Salary is Only Half of the Total (Benefits) Package It finally happened. You just received a call from the recruiter at your dream company, the place where youve invested dozens of hours researching and preparing, and likely taken a few sick days interviewing. All of your hard work has paid off and theyve offered you a job But before you sign on the dotted line, ask yourself how well do you really understand the total package of your offer?The reality is that every company thinks about total rewards - HR speak for all of the moduls of a job offer (which well cover below) - differently. And while in todays world the average tenure at a company is only a few years, consider your job offer as if it were a long term decision. What are the elements you might expect, and how should you prioritize them against each other?Base SalaryThis is the fruchtwein common and straightforward part of compensation. Your kusine salary is the fixed amount of money you receive from your employer for th e work you perform. The great thing about base salary is that its predictable - you know exactly how much (minus taxes) you are going to get in your bank account each pay period. When evaluating base salary presented to you, dont be shy about asking these questionsIs it an annual base salary or an hourly rate?Are you eligible for overtime pay in your role if you work beyond a tischset number of hours?How frequent is the pay period? (Some companies pay monthly, twice a month, or every other week.)How often is your base salary reviewed, and at what point would you be eligible for growth in your base? (Either through an annual compensation review or through performance reviews.)BonusSome roles - though not all - are eligible for a bonus on top of their base salary. There are a few different ways you might see a bonus pop up in your offerPerformance bonus This is typically awarded annually and can be determined by company goals (i.e., achieving revenue targets) or individual goals (as m easured by a performance review). This could be offered as a flat dollar amount or a percentage of your base salary. A good question to ask your recruiter is whether the bonus is a target or a ceiling - if the former, then youd have the opportunity to receive a larger bonus if you or the company outperforms goals.Sign-on bonus This is a one-time bonus that is typically paid at the time you sign the offer or within your first few months at the company. Often, a sign-on might be used to help round out any compensation that youre walking away from at your current company, or simply as an extra incentive to make your offer more compelling. With sign-on bonuses, pay attention to the fine print - fruchtwein likely, your offer letter will contain a claw back, which essentially states that youre required to repay your sign-on bonus if you leave the company on your own volition within a certain period of time (usually within the first year).Relocation bonus If youre moving cities in order to take this job, you might ask if the company offers relocation assistance, either in the form of a one-time bonus or a reimbursement of your expenses. Not all companies offer this and it may be dependent on the role or level, but its certainly worth checking.One thing to consider is that bonuses are often taxed at a higher rate than base salary, so factor that in when youre calculating your take-home pay as related to your offer.EquityThis is often the most complex part of any offer, and the element that recruiters here at HubSpot spend the most time explaining to candidates. Traditionally in the market, equity is reserved for senior hires however, more and more companies are opening up their equity pool. (In fact, at HubSpot, we make equity an element of every full-time offer, so all of our employees are shareholders.) Some things to consider if equity is a part of your offer includeIs the equity in the form of options or restricted stock?What is the vesting schedule (in other word s, when does equity convert to cash)?Is an equity grant a one-time thing that happens at the time of your offer, or is there potential for additional equity grants over time?BenefitsThis is usually an afterthought for most of our candidates, but the reality is that not all benefits plans are created equal and there is a wide sortiment of coverage options. Most commonly medical, dental, and vision are included, but also things like long-term disability, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts can be added. The biggest question is how much does this cost you? I once worked at a company where medical, dental, and vision care were completely free to the employee, while other companies may offer plans with higher premiums (monthly payments) and lower coverage (only a certain percentage of a doctors visit or a procedure is covered by insurance and youre responsible for paying for the rest out of pocket).Other benefits outside of the health sphere can include, among other things, va cation time (do you accrue Paid Time Off or does the company, like HubSpot, offer unlimited vacation?), backup care options (for a child, family member, or even pet), a retirement program, or tuition reimbursement? Pay attention to all of these things carefully, because the incentive to you - or the cost - can add up quickly.What else?You may be thinking that with all these elements of compensation weve already discussed, what else could there be? Ultimately, if youre going to make a smart decision, you should be paying attention to the other aspects of an offer as much as the financial elements. For example, you might be willing to take a lower salary if it meant that you could work remotely and not have to deal with commuting into an office. On the flip side, if you know youre going into a job where long hours are the norm, you might try to negotiate for a higher salary. You also might be in a scenario where there is no room to negotiate an offer. Thats why its important to consid er whats at stake, includingWhat level of flexibility does the company offer? Will you be able to work from home as needed or jet out for a doctors appointment with minimal issue?What stage is the company in and how does that affect your ability to have an impact?What career growth opportunities are available? Does the company have a track record of promoting internally? Will you have the opportunity to move outside of your department if you want?Do you like the people youre going to be working with - your boss, your peers, or the people youll be managing? Are they people who will challenge you, teach you, and generally be with you enjoyable to work with?Ultimately you want to be in a role and part of a company where you feel like youre having an impact, learning and growing, working with great people on a product or service youre excited about, and can be your best professional - and personal - self.The last piece of advice Ill give you is not to rush - while you may be pressured t o make a decision on the spot when you get that call from your recruiter, resist temptation and give yourself some time to consider all of the elements and always ask to see it in writing. And never, ever, resign from your current role before youve signed the offer letter for your new role. Ultimately, the decision to change jobs is anything but trivial, and the offer is a big piece of how youll make that decision, so take the time you need to evaluate all the elements, consult with your family, friends, or mentors, and get to a point where you feel great about your decision before you formally share it. Becky McCullough--This article originally appeared onHubSpot.

Australian employers prepare for growth

Australian employers prepare for growth Australian employers prepare for growthPosted October 13, 2011, by Josie Chun The majority of Australian employers are anticipating growth in the coming years and are planning to develop their talent, according to the latest Future of Talent Management report by HR firm Mercer. The survey, conducted in JuneJuly of last year, surveyed HR and talent management leaders from almost 500 organisations in Australasia covering a broad range of industries, mainly in technology, telecommunications, manufacturing, healthcare and finance. Most businesses are entering a period of growth, with only eight per cent stating that they are still suffering the effects of last years downturn. With growth on the agenda, competition for skilled workers is expected to increase significantly. bedrngnislage surprisingly, 84 per cent of Australian businesses believe that talent management will become a high priority in the next several years. Many organisations are alrea dy reporting that they cannot recruit or develop their own employees fast enough to keep pace with demand and business growth, according to Marianne Roux, Talent Segment Leader for Mercers Human Capital business in Australia. Workforce segments, skills and capabilities are still not aligned with the new business conditions for most organisations and a skills deficit is rapidly emerging across multiple industries, says Roux. Employers must therefore seek new ways to attract and retain key talent. Most businesses are planning to ramp up their staff development programs, especially leadership training (87 per cent), workforce training (83 per cent), employee engagement (83 per cent) and succession planning (80 per cent). Australian organisations must urgently identify any potential skills and knowledge gaps and put in place accelerated development programs that will address these capability gaps, says Roux. Its no surprise that leadership tops the list of priorities. The impact l eaders have on business success and organisational effectiveness is huge, and right now organisations are not sure that they have the quantity and quality of leaders they will need to succeed for the future. The priority for employers should also be to focus on the people that impact the organisations ability to perform. Many talent pipelines reflect only the leadership potential of the organisation and do not include the core, critical and technical pipelines that deliver operational excellence. These are the functions where loss of talent can make the organisation extremely vulnerable, warns Roux. Roux also admonishes businesses to be progressive if they want to stay ahead of the game. Many companies made dramatic changes to their workforces and talent programs during the downturn, but future success requires adapting to the new paradigm rather than merely reverting back to their pre-downturn model. Its a different business environment now. Were looking ahead to a period of s trong positive growth, which translates into different talent needs. Talent programs need to be reviewed and tailored to fit this new reality, says Roux. ResourcesMy first resumeCover letter for my first jobCareer Insider StoriesShelley Lask - Body Positive Health & FitnessInterested in becoming a?Human Resources OfficerGeneral ManagerBusiness ManagerAccountantOffice AdministratorPopular Career Searchesaustralian job opportunitieshighest paying jobs in australiaskills you need for the futureonline freelance writing jobs australiamillennials in the workforce statistics CoursesBachelor of Social WorkEnquire verbunden Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Health AdministrationEnquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of Criminal JusticeEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Allied Health AssistanceEnquire Online Enquire OnlineJosie ChunRelated ArticlesBrowse moreWORKFORCE TRENDSTrustworthy and open managers are most valuedTrustworthiness and openness are now seen as the most important characteristics of a good manager, according to the latest L.E.A.D. (Leadership, Employment and Direction) Survey.International studentsHelen Zhang - Exchange Student, Beijing, ChinaExchanges are amazing and fun. You get a lot of time to do other things such as travelling, but it also gives you time to reflect on your life and learn things about yourself you wouldnt have otherwise known.Career counsellorHigh school5 Things I Wish Id Known When I Finished High SchoolThey say hindsight is 20/20. Jo reflects on some career pointers she wishes shed been able to give her 18-year-old self.

Tech workers say poor leadership is number one cause for burnout

Tech workers say poor leadership is number one cause for burnoutTech workers say poor leadership is number one cause for burnoutHaving discovered that burnout is aproblem among tech workers, a survey on our Blind app aimed to find out its cause. We asked users from various tech companies to tell us their main source of burnout. Overwork, toxic culture, insufficient rewards, and poor leadership were some of the options they could choose from. The full details are provided below.The SurveyWhat is the main source of employee burnout at your current workplace?A) Work overloadB) Toxic cultureC) Lack of control and career growthD) Insufficient rewardE) Poor leadership and unclear directionF) exhaustion isnt a problem at my current workplaceG) OtherTotal Participants 9,103Survey Dates August 10, 2018 August 17, 2018Overall ResultsToday, we share the final results for this surveyPoor leadership and unclear direction was top reason for burnout. Among the companies that ranked highest for thi s option,eBay came in first followed by Salesforce and Intel.Company ResultsWe also broke down results for thetwo companies that tallied up with the most survey responses Microsoft and Amazon. Comprehensive results for each company are displayed in the charts below.According to our survey results, the top three reasons for burnout at both tech companies are poor leadership, overwork, and insufficient rewards. Discussions on Blind, particularly regarding culture atAmazonandMicrosoft, might offer some insight into why this is.This article was originally posted on TeamBlind.

Navy Diver Description and Qualification Factors

Navy Diver Description and Qualification FactorsNavy Diver Description and Qualification FactorsNavy Fleet Divers (NDs) perform underwater salvage, repair, and maintenance, submarine rescue, and support Special Warfare and Explosive Ordinance Disposal while using a variety of diving equipment. They also maintain and repair diving systems. Duties performed by NDs include Perform underwater maintenance, including propeller changes and hull repair, on ships and submarinesUse diving equipment including scuba and state-of-the-art surface-supplied diving equipmentMaintain and repair diving equipment and systemsParticipate in research and development of new diving techniques/proceduresUnderwater search and salvage operationsAct as hyperbaric chamber operators, inside tenders, and supervisors Working Environment The motto of the Navy Diver community is We dive the world over. Because divers may be assigned to any part of the world, their environment will vary as widely as water condition s cold, muddy waters where underwater tasks can be completed by feel only, or warm, tropical waters clear enough to perform underwater photography. A-School Information Second Class Diver Training, Panama City, Fla. - 20 weeksFirst Class Diver Training, Panama City, Fla - 8 weeksSaturation Diver Training, Panama City, Fla - 8 weeksMaster Diver Qualification, Panama City, Fla - 2 weeks After completion of Second Class Diver training, graduates are assigned to salvage or repair ships, Mobile Diving and Salvage Units, aviation water survival training, or to EOD/SEAL support. After as little as two years, Second Class Divers are eligible for First Class Diver training which leads to an assignment in a variety of jobs requiring advanced knowledge of diving systems. ASVAB Score Requirement ARVE103 -AND-MC51 Security Clearance Requirement Secret Other Requirements Must be U.S. citizenVision no worse than 20/200, correctable to 20/20Must have normal color perceptionMust meet physica l requirements IAW MANMEDNo history of drug abuseMust be under age 31 Candidates may also volunteer for ND during basic training at Recruit Training Center, at A-school, or at any time during their enlistment prior to their 31st birthday. In-service recruiters (Dive Motivators) at RTC give presentations on the Navys diver programs, conduct the physical training begehung tests, and assist interested people with their applications. People who enter the Navy in the nuclear, advanced electronics, or other five or six-year enlistment programs are not eligible for diver programs. This course is physically and mentally demanding, but the individual who accepts the challenges is rewarded with extra pay for diving, parachuting, and demolition plus extraordinary duty assignments. Advancement opportunity and career progression are directly linked to a ratings manning level (i.e., personnel in undermanned ratings have greater promotion opportunity than those in overmanned ratings). Sea/Shor e Rotation for This Rating First Sea Tour 36 monthsFirst Shore Tour 48 monthsSecond Sea Tour 36 monthsSecond Shore Tour 48 monthsThird Sea Tour 36 monthsThird Shore Tour 48 monthsFourth Sea Tour 36 monthsForth Shore Tour 48 months Sea tours and shore tours for sailors that have completed four sea tours will be 36 months at sea followed by 36 months ashore until retirement.

Network Administrator Job and Salary

Network Administrator Job and SalaryNetwork Administrator Job and SalaryIf you like working with both hardware and software, and enjoy managing others, becoming a network administrator is a great career choice.CIOs in a Robert Half Technology survey said network administration was one of the top three skill sets in greatest demand.And the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of network administrators will increase through 2024, with demand for those working in computer systems design and related services projected to grow as much as 31 percent.Why? Systems and networks are the backbone of any company. As companies grow, their networks get larger and mora complex, which raises the demand for people to support them.You can use our Salary Calculator to find out what network administrator salaries are in your city.Network administrator job descriptionHere are the essential qualifications for network administratorsSolid technical skills and experience with a variety of network p rotocols, software and hardware involved in LAN and WAN operations.Strong troubleshooting analytic and diagnostic skills, along with good communication abilities.Often requires individuals to be on call 24/7 in case of network failures or emergencies.A bachelors degree in computer science or information systems some companies will accept candidates with five or more years of work experience, as well as IT certifications offered by Cisco, Microsoft and others.Strong attention to detail and customer-service orientation, as well as the ability to work on a team.A typical network administrator job description includesAdministering the operation of LAN/WAN-related network services according to company policies and proceduresCoordinating and implementing network software and hardware upgradesTroubleshooting and resolving LAN/WAN performance, connectivity and related network problemsAdministering LAN/WAN security, antivirus and spam control measuresWanted great communicator whos calm under pressureIn addition to the skills listed above, the best network administrators have excellent written and verbal communication skills They need the ability to clearly articulate issues to other team members, and they should also have the ability to multi-task and have a calm demeanor in high-stress environments.While those looking to break into the field will need the technical and educational qualifications mentioned above, as well as relevant IT certifications, there are other options. Programs such as Year Up work to provide young adults with the training and experience they need to break into fields like this one.In addition to information on a starting network administrator salary and job description, youll find starting compensation for 70 IT jobs in 150 North American cities in our Salary Guide.This post has been updated to reflect more current information.

Engineering Your Graduate School Experience

Engineering Your Graduate School Experience Engineering Your Graduate School Experience Engineering Your Graduate School ExperienceSo, youre an engineer and youre thinking about graduate school. Ive been there. I actually am there, still. After completing a 2-year MS, spending two years in a PhD program that welches leid right for me and starting over in anotlageher PhD program three years ago, I have had plenty of time to ask myself important questions about my education. Unfortunately, I did not realize I should have asked myself some of these questions at the beginning of my journey. As engineers, we are taught to break down problems and questions, make aya we are aware of all of our knowns and unknowns, gather all the necessary equations, and formulate a solution. Sometimes, we forget to apply that knowledge in other facets of our lives. An engineering education does not just prepare us for a job in engineering it supplies us with problem solving skills that can help make our liv es easier in the long run.Lets start with a series of questions you should ask yourself when considering a graduate education. What is your motivation for attending graduate school? What schrift of degree will benefit you the most? Just how far do you want to take your graduate education? How will you pay for graduate school? What is your learning style? What are you looking for in an advisor? Do the programs goals and your goals have anything in common?The answers to each of these questions will be different for each person, but it is important to find the answers that best fit your situation and/or long-term goals before starting down the graduate school road.What is your motivation for attending graduate school?For me, my motivation struck me when I was in my final year of undergraduate work I wanted to become a college professor. I knew to achieve that goal I would have to obtain a PhD. My husband, a computer engineer, wanted to increase his business and management skills and ch ose to pursue an MBA. One of my college roommates wanted a specialized education in the aerospace field. Other friends were simply looking for a chance at a raise at work. Some people got their masters because their company paid for it. Others went straight into graduate school because they were not able to find a job at graduation.The first three reasons mentioned, in my opinion, are the most reasonable ones. In each my roommate, my husband and my case, we had very specific reasons for continuing our education. Getting a raise is a pretty specific reason, and if you do not have to pay for it and it will make you better at your job, more power to you. But I personally believe that graduate education is a time for you to pursue your passion. Undergraduate work is somewhat similar to high school in that you have to take some courses that you do not want to take to meet the schools requirements. If you dread the idea of taking even 25% of the classes you will have to take in graduate s chool, you are either not looking at the correct engineering program or you are not pursuing the correct field of education. A masters degree is meant to show that you have gone above and beyond to learn more about a certain field. A PhD is meant to show that you are an expert in your field of study. Those are both pursuits that require some level of passion and interest beyond earning a diploma. Take some time to figure out what that piece of paper will truly mean to you before jumping into a graduate program head first. In a recent survey, an ASME member advises early career engineers, It is best to work 2 years at least in an entry level position in your field of choice in order to know what skills or training the industry needs before running off to a random graduate program. There is nothing more disappointing that finding than your education does not adequately apply to the work you are presently doing or will be doing the foreseeable future.What type of degree will benefit yo u the most?This question follows pretty closely with the previous question. For my career aspirations, pursuing an MBA would not have helped me. I also struggled to find my niche throughout my studies. I have a BS in Mechanical Engineering, an MS in Materials Engineering, and my current PhD pursuit is in a Biomedical Engineering program. I knew I wanted to teach, but I did not know which area of engineering excited me the most. It took me a couple years (basically the entirety of my masters degree) to realize that I was most interested in biomechanics, ergonomics and rehabilitation. Luckily, I have been able to apply some of my masters education to my PhD field, but I would not say I took the most direct route. I had an opportunity to have my masters degree paid for, and I took it, but had I taken the time to really think about what I wanted to do with my life I might have chosen differently. Make sure to take time to figure out your end goal.Just how far do you want to take your gr aduate education?This question is pretty important. If I had known what field I really wanted to pursue, I could have applied to a program and done my MS and PhD in the saatkorn place in the same area of study. Instead, I spent extra time going from one school to the next. I could have saved myself some time and hassle with a more directed approach. If you are not sure why you should be getting the next degree, you should probably wait until you have a solid answer to enroll. One way to determine your interest level talk with others (students and faculty) that are currently in the program you are considering to see what resonates most with your interest.How will you pay for graduate school?I have luckily never had to pay for graduate school out of my own pocket. With all of the opportunities for funding like graduate research assistantships, teaching assistantships, NSF, NIH and other national funding sources, funding from your company, and funding from individual professors, I enco urage anyone considering graduate school to try and find some way to have your education paid for by someone else. The idea of having to take on additional student loans to spend a few more years in school and waiting even longer to have a real job was unimaginable for me. Keep in mind that you have other options than dipping into your own pocket.ASME also offers scholarships and grants.What is your learning style? What are you looking for in an advisor?These two questions go hand in hand. Are you the type of person who would like to take classes part time and do research the other part of the time? Would you rather finish your coursework as quickly as possible so you can devote your time and focus completely to your research? What many people do not realize is that your advisor will probably play a key role in how you complete your degree how quickly you finish your coursework, how much work outside of your own research you are conducting, how much time (how many years/hours per we ek) he/she expects you to devote to said research, and how much of your time is yours versus your advisors. Judah Richardson, an ASME member suggests, Do not agree to any assistant position without meeting with your advisor and the people you will be working with first. Some advisors are going to be early in their careers and still looking to prove themselves, while others will be late in their career and maybe not as concerned with leading edge research. There is also a complete spectrum of types of advisors in between. Consider this for the next two to six years (approximately) you will see this person and have to work with this person on a weekly and perhaps daily basis. That is a pretty big commitment to make if you do not really get along with that person or their style of work/research. Judah went on to say, If youre a research assistant, choose your advisor very carefully. They will have more power over your life than any other boss you will work for. I made the mistake of no t really finding out what my advisors style was at my first PhD program, and after being there for a while, I realized that we did not mesh. Had I spent a little more time investigating the situation, I might have avoided spending two years in a program and research lab that was not right for me.Do the programs goals and your goals have anything in common?Program requirements can be pretty shifty things. Judah warns, Watch out for department requirements vs. overarching graduate school requirements at your university. Faculty can have very different impressions of what is required of a student than what is, in reality, required of a student. A program can also claim to offer opportunities for classes that in actuality are rarely taught (or in some cases have not been offered in many years). Knowing whether you will actually have the opportunity to take the classes you want in the amount of time you want is very powerful knowledge when making the decision about where to attend gradu ate school.And in conclusionObviously, I do not consider myself an expert in making decisions about graduate school, unless making plenty of mistakes qualifies me as an expert. I do hope, however, that my experiences and observations may help ease the stress and burdens you might be encountering while making this life-changing decision. So, remember your engineering skills, ask yourself the important questions, good luck, and happy learning