Goals
Get an advanced graduate degree
Joy did not know straight out of college if she wanted to get a JD, MA, or PhD, but she knew that getting an advanced degree would likely help her secure a higher level position in many organizations that appealed to her at the time. She decided after 4+ years of working at the law firm that she was most passionate about the business aspects of the firm and was best suited for an MBA. She was right. Equipped with her MBA from Boston College, Joy was accepted into the finance rotation program at Intel, one of the world's most reputable companies with a strong global presence.
Key to accomplishing this goal in a nutshell:
- Gain some practical working experience before you invest in the time and money to obtain an advanced degree to help you determine if the path is right for you.
- Contact the career development office at the graduate schools to which you are applying to understand the percentage of graduates that are employed within 1 year of graduation and in which sectors and geographies.
- Internships often lead to full-time employment opportunities. If you think you know where you want to be, try to secure an internship early.
- Many companies have special programs geared to recent graduates who have obtained a degree within the last 18 months. Don't miss this window of opportunity.