Deciding Your Direction

As the spring semester draws to a close and the class of 2022 prepares to graduate, the next phase of life–for many of us–is about to begin. I love hearing from my friends and peers about new job offers, apartment leases, exciting projects, summer trips, and grad school acceptances. This time of life is exciting and terrifying all the same time.  What is a better way to wrap up Deciding Your Direction than a send-off for the outgoing senior class of 2022? H ere are a few reminders and encouragements a s we all get ready to go our separate ways: 1. Know your worth  You'll likely find yourself flooded with interviews and subsequent conversations regarding your salary and position. Don't get too caught up in the excitement of a new job or new city and forget to negotiate properly. Once you've been offered a job, the company already sees your value and wants to hire you if possible. If there is something about the job offer that doesn't sit right with you, now is your chan...

This week, Deciding Your Direction is featuring an interview with Una, a Human Resources professional working in the healthcare field. Her job is a remote position, and it primarily involves conducting phone screening interviews with applicants and helping prepare new hires for working with the onboarding team. I've included our conversation below: –––––––––– Q: What does an average day look like for you? A: For me, an average day looks like calling candidates who've applied for a position and interviewing them based on specific screening criteria. Then I spend time interacting with newly-hired employees to carry out their final identity verifications and get them ready to begin onboarding. I interact a lot with the other recruiters on the team as well. Q: What is your favorite part of your job? A: My favorite part of the job is definitely the people I work with. Even though it's a remote position, I've still been able to build connections with my colleagues, which I...

For bachelor's students who are quickly approaching graduation day, it can be hard to know whether to return to school for a graduate degree. Especially in more 'arts' driven studies (e.g., business, design, leadership), it's more difficult to evaluate if it will be worth the investment. Harvard Business Review published an article that explores some of the reasons whether to pursue post-bachelor education. Among the reasons to do so are to increase your salary earning potential, set a career change in motion, and to follow a passion. At the same time however, they warn that the benefits don't necessarily always outweigh the costs. Before you commit the time and money to a graduate degree, there are a few things to decide. First, make sure you know what your (broad) career goals are. Where do you want your career to take you? Adding more education to your credentials may or may not help you achieve these goals. Do some research to see if employers in your field typ...

Featured this week is an interview with Mick, the director of a grassroots nonprofit organization that operates in the realm of human rights and legal advocacy. As is the case with many new organizations, the role of a leader often changes on a frequent basis as procedures are developed, mission statements are crafted, and new opportunities are pursued. Our interview is transcribed below: –––––––––– Q:   As the Director of a nonprofit organization, what does an average day look like for you? A : Once I get settled in at my desk, I start by planning my day. I usually spend the morning doing administrative tasks and fundraising work, then I spend the afternoon communicating with clients and collaborating with members of my team.  Q:   What is your favorite part of your job? A: I would have to say that my favorite part of my job is that I'm able to directly help families who are in need. Helping people navigate difficult circumstances is something that I find very...