Parallel+Career+Paths

=Parallel Career Paths=   The first step to any successful job search — whether academic or nonacademic — is careful self-reflection and assessment of values, interests, and skills. By discovering who you are and what you want, you are better able to focus your career exploration and narrow your job search options. • Self-assessment provides the material to create persuasive résumés, CVs, and cover letters. • Students who dedicate time and effort to self-assessment distinguish themselves in résumés, CVs, and cover letters, receive higher ratings from interviewers, and are offered more jobs. • After receiving jobs, students are also more likely to be satisfied because they have taken the time to find the proper fit. • In graduate school, it is particularly easy to assume you will follow in the direct career path of the professors you work with. Self-assessment will allow you to determine the nature of your academic or nonacademic path. Self-assessment requires careful analysis of everyday activities and ideas, which can be a challenge since things so familiar are difficult to dissect. Working through the self-assessment process with a friend or group can help, and the rewards of self-assessment are well worth the effort.  Self-assessment is the process of identifying: what matters most to you (**VALUES**). what you enjoy doing (**INTERESTS**). what you are good at (**SKILLS**).  • What do you care most about? • What kind of lifestyle are you seeking? • Do you require your work to satisfy intellectual or moral needs? • Do you require your work to satisfy intellectual or moral needs? • Is it important to help others? • What kind of work environment do you prefer?  <span style="color: #23272d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">During graduate school, students usually acquire sophisticated skills in: <span style="color: #23272d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">research <span style="color: #23272d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">problem solving <span style="color: #23272d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">project management <span style="color: #23272d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">communicating complex ideas. <span style="color: #23272d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="color: #23272d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Taking time to identify and articulate your skills is critical not only for successful career exploration but also for the creation of convincing résumés and cover letters. The knowledge gained during the self-assessment process also translates into greater self-confidence and savvier answers in interviews. Numerous career advice handbooks feature useful exercises to help you identify your transferable skills. We recommend Basalla & Debelius's //So What Are You Going to Do With That?// and Richard Bolles's //What Color is your Parachute?// <span style="color: #23272d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Use the following exercise to examine themes across your Values, Interests, and Skills. This should allow you to imagine career paths that will fit you best. <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">How do you come to understand the ways in which your Values, Interests, and Skills <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">intersect? How can you connect the dots? One idea is to use a mental experiment called, “The Bookstore at the End of your Mind,” proposed by Basalla & Debelius (2001). They rightly remind us that most scholars would rather read than any other activity in the world. But they also note that graduate students often read what they “have to,” not what they “want to.” <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">So they encourage you to go to the bookstore at the end of your mind and let yourself walk into a perfectly lit store with lots of comfortable furniture. They encourage the English Ph.D. to walk right past the “Literary Criticism” section and the historian to ignore the “Medieval History” section. Instead, since your professors and classmates can’t see you in this imaginary bookstore, where would you head? What book catches your eye? Are you secretly a foodie, a filmbuff, a science or political junkie? How might this knowledge help you look differently at your lists of Values, Interests, and Skills? What new ideas about work do you have? <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">|http://ttumusicology.wikispaces.com/ <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">[] <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">[|http://www.dartmouth.edu/~gradstdy/careers/] <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Values Exercise ** <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Consider the following list of work related values. How important are each of these values to you? A useful exercise is to rate the importance of each value (from 1 to 4, where 1 is not important and 4 is very important). After identifying your top ten values, rank these in order of priority. <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Skills Exercise **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">List //every// activity you’ve participated in as a graduate student (both academic and nonacademic). For example, <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">• Taken classes, written papers, conducted research, and rigorously trained within a <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">specific discipline <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">• Served as a TA for a specific undergraduate course <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">• Research <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">• Thesis/Dissertation completion <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">• Campus committees, clubs, organizations <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">• Jobs, internships <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">• Wrote a grant or fellowship proposal <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Make certain your vocabulary is active. Think beyond the activity to the process you used <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">and be thorough—it is easy to overlook tasks. For example, specific tasks for TAing a <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">course may include: <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">• ordered books <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">• planned and organized lessons <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">• photocopied material for students <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">• established reserve materials <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">• prepared lectures and discussions <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">• presented lectures <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">• answered questions <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">• met with and advised students on their progress <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">• prepared exams <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">• proctored exams <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">• graded papers <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">• graded exams <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">• maintained grades in electronic gradebook <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">• evaluated student progress <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">For example, just a few of the skills honed as a teaching assistant may include: <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">• the ability to coherently organize materials for others <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">• the ability to facilitate discussions <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">• the ability to objectively evaluate the performance of others <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">• the ability to make consistent decisions about abstract criteria <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">• clear communication skills, both verbal and written <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">• a comfortable manner of public speaking <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">• diplomacy <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">• the ability to monitor/supervise the work of others (students) <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">• time management <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">• the ability to remember large quantities of information for instant recall <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">• the ability to think quickly in a public speaking situation <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">• the ability to motivate and persuade others to participate <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">• the ability to read and understand large quantities of material quickly <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Discovering your Transferable Skills: **
 * <span style="color: #23272d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Outcomes of self-assessment: **
 * <span style="color: #23272d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Values: **<span style="color: #23272d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> Values may influence the kind of work you choose. While not everyone believes work and values must be aligned, consider the following if you do want to link your work to your values.
 * <span style="color: #23272d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Interests: **<span style="color: #23272d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> Interests are reflected in your activities and affinities. Identifying your interests often helps focus you on what ideas and pursuits keep you engaged, an important element in satisfying work.
 * <span style="color: #23272d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Skills: **<span style="color: #23272d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> The skills students have strongly influence their career options. __Transferable skills are competencies learned in one environment that can easily be employed in other settings.__
 * <span style="color: #23272d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Bringing it All Together: **
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Valuable Online Resources: **
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">____ **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Social service **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">—is it important to you to contribute to the betterment of your community, country, or world? ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">____ **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Direct contact with people **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">—do you enjoy working directly with people, either with the public or with clients and/or collaboratively with co-workers? ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">____ **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Solitary work environment **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">—do you prefer to complete projects by yourself, without significant contact or input from others? ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">____ **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Relationships **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">—is it important to you to develop personal contacts and friendships as a result of work? Is it important that your job permits time to have close personal and family relationships outside working hours? ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">____ **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Job pressure, pace, and stress **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">—do you perform well under pressure? do you enjoy a fast-paced environment? To you cope well with job stress? ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">____ **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Power/Authority **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">—do you like to make decisions, determine policies, and guide work activities and the work of others? ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">____ **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Influence **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">—do you enjoy influencing and persuading others’ attitudes and opinions? ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">____ **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Knowledge **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">—is the pursuit of knowledge and understanding of key importance to you? ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">____ **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Expertise/Competence **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">—is it important to become a subject area expert, with or without recognition? ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">____ **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Creativity **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">—do you enjoy creating new ideas, organizations, programs, works of art? ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">____ **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Aesthetics **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">—is it important to you to be involved in the study or creation of beauty, culture, truth? ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">____ **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Change and variety **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">—do you like work that is routine or do you prefer variety your work? ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">____ **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Job stability and security **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">—is it important that you hold a stable job for a long period of time with the assurance of continued employment at reasonable pay? ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">____ **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Recognition and prestige **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">—is it important that your achievements be acknowledged and respected by others? ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">____ **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Challenging problems **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">—do you enjoy problem solving? Is it important in your work? ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">____ **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Opportunities for advancement **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">—do you value the opportunity to rapidly advance your career if you work hard? ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">____ **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Excitement/Adventure/Risks **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">—do you enjoy a high degree of excitement and risk taking in your work? ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">____ **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Wealth from income **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">—are you motivated by the potential of making a large amount of money? ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">____ **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Independence **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">—is it important to you to live and work within your own priorities? ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">____ **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Moral fulfillment **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">—is it important to feel your work is in accordance with, and perhaps even furthers, your moral beliefs? ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">____ **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Physical work environment and work hours **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">—what kinds of environments do you prefer to work in? Do you prefer flexible hours or 9-5? Do you mind working overtime? Do you want summers off? ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">____ **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Enjoyment **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">—is it important to you that you derive a high level of personal satisfaction from your work? ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">____ **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Location **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">—is geographical location important to you and your family? ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">____ **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Opportunities for advancement **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">—do you value the opportunity to rapidly advance your career if you work hard? ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">____ **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Excitement/Adventure/Risks **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">—do you enjoy a high degree of excitement and risk taking in your work? ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">____ **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Wealth from income **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">—are you motivated by the potential of making a large amount of money? ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">____ **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Independence **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">—is it important to you to live and work within your own priorities? ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">____ **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Moral fulfillment **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">—is it important to feel your work is in accordance with, and perhaps even furthers, your moral beliefs? ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">____ **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Physical work environment and work hours **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">—what kinds of environments do you prefer to work in? Do you prefer flexible hours or 9-5? Do you mind working overtime? Do you want summers off? ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">____ **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Enjoyment **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">—is it important to you that you derive a high level of personal satisfaction from your work? ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">____ **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Location **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">—is geographical location important to you and your family? ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Physical work environment and work hours **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">—what kinds of environments do you prefer to work in? Do you prefer flexible hours or 9-5? Do you mind working overtime? Do you want summers off? ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">____ **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Enjoyment **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">—is it important to you that you derive a high level of personal satisfaction from your work? ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">____ **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Location **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">—is geographical location important to you and your family? ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">____ **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Location **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">—is geographical location important to you and your family? ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">1. Make a list of graduate school activities **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">2. List specific tasks associated with each activity listed in step 1 **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">3. Compile a list of skills necessary to complete the tasks **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">

* For this and more material concerning parallel career paths, see: http://www.grad.uiuc.edu/careerservices/exploration