Advancing your education through graduate study is a requirement for entry into many occupations and for professional growth in many others. Use these resources to explore potential graduate programs of study and the types of careers you can pursue through them. Having a clear career goal in mind can help you select the best graduate program to position yourself for career success.

Employers are seeking college graduates with experience in their chosen fields. Experience comes in many forms including internships, research, study abroad, leadership, and volunteer services, and depending upon your career goals, you may pursue more than one type of opportunity. Begin pursuing opportunities to gain experience early in your graduate study in order to increase your competitiveness as a candidate when seeking positions at graduation.

Stand out in a sea of applicants by effectively marketing your best skills, abilities, and experiences that relate to the career you want. Highlighting your skills and experiences through your resume or CV and ePortfolio and your interest in and fit with a position through your cover letter are critical steps to landing interviews. The interview is your time to shine by exhibiting your fit with the company and the ability to outperform other candidates under consideration. Continually evaluate and update your marketing materials throughout your graduate study to reflect new positions and experiences.

The job search process takes time and a lot of hard work. Fortunately, there are many ways for job seekers to go about locating employment opportunities. To maximize your time and energy, utilize both online and in-person methods and be purposeful in identifying opportunities that mesh with your interests, education and qualifications. You are encouraged to leverage your Auburn University connections through Handshake, a job database for Auburn students and alumni, as well as LinkedIn, a professional networking site.

Welcome to the real world! Your countless hours of resume writing, applying, and interviewing have culminated in one simple phrase… “You’re hired!” Make a smooth transition from college to career by understanding your pay and benefits as well as the cost of living in your city of employment. Take advantage of technology devoted to money management to help you plan for both expected and unexpected expenses and a stable financial future.