Published Monday, May 31, 2004
So, I’m Graduating…Now What?
By Joanna Durham
APPIAN STAFF WRITER

On June 10, 2004, 692 students are slated to graduate with masters or doctorates of education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE).

The question looming on the minds of many graduates is “What will I do next?”

The answer to this question is both difficult and personal, but as we move out into the world it is a good idea to learn from those who have gone out before us. Monster.com, one of the most famous web services for career changers, cautions that the job market is no longer subject to national boundaries.

Monster.com’s “salary negotiation expert” Paul W. Barada explains, “The demand for individuals with very specialized skills and high levels of training and experience far exceeds the supply, even in the world economy.” He recommends compiling a list of your skills and accomplishments or anything that shows how you’ve exceeded expectations in previous jobs.

“Since the list is based on a proven track record, it shows employers what you are capable of doing,” but adds, “Ultimately, the job seeker who can demonstrate the most adaptability will be the most marketable as the global economy continues to evolve.”

Of course, professors at HGSE have plenty of advice for new graduates. Assistant Professor Suzanne Grant-Lewis offers the following suggestions on the job search:

1. Treat your interview session as a two-way street. Not only are they interviewing you, but you are interviewing the people at the organization to determine if there is a good fit.
2. Never go into an interview without a list of the major points you want to be sure to make. Also, be sure you have 1-2 questions. Both things indicate that you are serious about the job and that you have initiative.
3. Do your homework! Know something about the people interviewing you.

And Thompson Professor Richard Murnane reminds us that we aren’t in this alone. “Take care of your friends,” he says.

For those of you out there who are still unsure of which direction you would like your career to go there are some options out there for you. The Career Services Center offers career counseling for students and alumni. They will also look over your resumes and/or cover letters before you send them off to employers.

The Alumni Advising Network is available for those who want to have conversations with people in the field. Just go to the CSO website and click on Alumni Advising Network; then identify your areas of interest. The site will provide a list of alumni currently working in that particular field. This could be a very valuable way to learn more about the industry before accepting a position.

On a more philosophical note, the Reverend Peter J. Gomes of the Harvard University Memorial Church spoke to new graduates in a recent sermon. He discussed walking away from Harvard with great expectations. “Expect greatness out of yourself out of the realm of surprise.”

He explained, “Be prepared for that which you are unprepared.” Be ready to work beyond your comfort zone. “When the stakes are high and you have no preparation and no experience, that is when you experience the greatest thrill of life.”

And Associate Professor of Education Fernando Reimers also speaks of a higher purpose for graduates of HGSE: “You have chosen to work in that most difficult task of building the future as you educate the young. Develop the discipline to stay focused on the long-term purposes of your actions, which is to say of the educational enterprise of which you are a part.”

He adds, “Strive to keep your mind on the things that you know in your heart are truly matter: to love, to be of service, to be fair, to be compassionate, to think with moral clarity. Have the courage to challenge the established ideas, including your own. In that light, the more mundane concerns of packing your belongings, if you should move, of finding a job, or paying your debts are really of little consequence in the bigger plans you had of yourself when you arrived in Appian Way.”

Professor of Education and Social Policy Gary Orfield reminds us that our search for fulfillment won’t always be easy. “If you plan to fight to change an institution, don’t assume that they are going to treat you well and be ready to accept defeats and reverses without giving up or losing your vision and caring about people.” He also speaks of perseverance, “Change rarely comes on the first try and it is how well you deal with the reverses and how strongly you hold your vision that will matter in the long run.”

The possibilities are endless and the job market is more overwhelming today than ever before. However, it is an exciting place to be for those who market themselves well. And for those of you who will be working with children, Reimers emphasizes actions over words.

“Always live up to that highest sense of purpose, do it for yourself and for your students who will learn more from watching you make choices and live your life than from anything you can say to them,” he said.

Perhaps, there is no one better to offer advice than Donald Trump. As a commencement speaker at a recent graduation he recommended, “Do what you love; love what you do; [and] always get a pre-nup.”

Joanna Durham, an Ed.M. candidate in International Education Policy, is a member of the Appian Board of Editors.