Advice in Just Four Steps
Focus
Focus on Your Need
So you want advice. Great! What kind exactly? Do you want to learn more about a career or field? What about a specific org that one of our alums works at. Maybe you’re thinking about grad school and you could use some insider knowledge. Focus on the topic of a chat you wish to pursue may be.
Prepare
Prepare Your Questions
Work & Career
Work and Career chats will help you get the lay of the land when thinking about bursting into a field, sector, or industry. Whether you’re trying to make a major transition or just take your career to the next level, it’s a great idea to talk to people in our network.
- What personal qualities and skills are essential to succeed in this career/field/industry?
- What is the typical career path for people in this career/field/industry?
- What is the normal salary range for entry level and after five years?
- What is the job market like right now in this career/field/industry?
- What is the job outlook in this career/field/industry?
- What do you like about this career/field/industry?
- What don’t you like?
- Based on my current skills, experience and education, where do you see that I might fit in with this type of company or industry or position?
- Can you suggest anything I might do to make myself more marketable for this field or job or company?
- Do you think it is reasonable for me to be considering a career in this profession?
- What else do you think I need to know in order to make an intelligent decision about going into this field or industry?
- What journals or magazines should I be reading?
- What professional associations might be appropriate for me to join?
- What attributes and skills have contributed to your success in this field?
- What training or education have you had which you would consider important for this job?
- How did you get into this field?
- How do you spend a typical workday?
- What kinds of work activities are you involved in or responsible for?
- What do you most enjoy about your work?
- What is least rewarding?
- What qualities or skills or experience do you seek in candidates for ____ here at your company?
- When your company is looking for a ____, how does it go about locating and attracting prospective candidates?
- How difficult or easy is it to find qualified candidates?
- What is the organizational structure of this organization?
- What haven’t I asked that you would ask in my place?
- Who else do you suggest I talk to?
Grad School
The weird, esoteric process of shopping for a grad or doctoral program is wildly stressful. Whether you’re just wondering if it’s for you or you need guidance on picking the program that will define your next 2-7 years, it’s a good idea to talk to one of our number.
- Why did you decide to go to grad school?
- Why did you choose your particular program?
- How is it different from undergrad?
- What helped you prepare for your GRE and other prerequisites?
- What helped you survive once there?
- Why did you decide to go to grad school?
- Why did you choose your particular program?
- How is it different from undergrad?
- What helped you prepare for your GRE and other prerequisites?
- What helped you survive once there?
- Why did you decide to go to grad school?
- Why did you choose your particular program?
- How is it different from undergrad?
- What helped you prepare for your GRE and other prerequisites?
- What helped you survive once there?
The shift from college life to the “real world” can be jarring and the comfort derived from talking to someone who’s done it themselves cannot be understated.
- What did you do right after graduation?
- Did it take a while to find a job?
- How did you find a job?
- How did you make friends in a new place?
- What was the biggest hurdle in leaving college/home?
- What should I be excited about?
Contact
Contact Someone Cool
Use the Career Advice Network
The UC Santa Cruz Alumni Office has invested in an alumni connection platform called FirstHand. This software acts as a directory alumni looking to give advice to folks like you. Using this tool you can browse hundreds of UCSC alumni, and, most relevant here, filter by GIIP and Everett Program alums!
The software takes care of all the communication and scheduling for you, so it’s easier than cold emailing someone. Every advisor on the platform designates what services they’re willing to do. These include:
- Being successful at work
- Work-life balance
- Transitioning from school to work
- Career conversations
- Resume/CV critique
- Cover letter critique
- LinkedIn profile critique
- Mock Interview
- Job Search
Create an Account
Search Google for “ucsc career advice network” or just click here, and click the “Create an Account” button. Sign up with your email or use your LinkedIn account.
Edit your Profile
Add as much information as you’re comfortable with.
Find an Everett Alumn
We recommend you search through the entire directory to find people to talk to, but also know that you’ll have an instant affinity with grads of Everett. To find them, use the search filter controls. Find us by selecting “Groups > Associations > Everett Program”
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Choose the Service and Contact
Each person chooses what they want to talk about (see above). When you choose to contact a person, you get a list of times they’re available and the platform will go out and contact then for you. You don’t even have to talk directly until it’s time for your call!
Debrief
Debrief Your Experience
- Review your notes
- Write for a few minutes about how you felt you performed
- Did you stutter?
- Did you ask follow up questions?
- Were there many uncomfortable silences?
- How could you do better next time?
- Spend a few minutes investigating any companies, people, reports, etc. that they mentioned
- Decide what your next step is
- Send your interviewee a thank you email
If the person gave you sage advice and/or you feel that you made a connection, send them an update once you hit a milestone relating to something you talked about. If at all possible, set a calendar reminder for things that have predictable deadlines. Some milestone examples include:
- After getting great scores on your GRE or LSAT, let them know that their talk made you confident to hit the books
- If you get a job in an industry they discusssed, let them know about it. Let us know too!