Navigating Washington, DC after Graduate School
For the past 15 years, I have guided recent master's and doctorate graduates through the career landscape of Washington, D.C. My own experiences and the advice of mentors have equipped me to navigate the complexities of our nation's capital, which includes a vibrant ecosystem of organizations––from universities and school systems to foundations, government agencies, and political groups.
These highly educated individuals possess the advanced knowledge and skills to contribute significantly to one or more of these diverse organizations. However, the process of navigating the intricate professional landscape of D.C. and its surrounding areas can be daunting, even for the most prepared. Through this blog, I aim to offer helpful tips and insights to empower recent graduates on their professional journeys, making the experience more productive and less overwhelming.
Finding Your Compass
As a researcher, I use my values and learning questions as my compass. Being grounded in what I value and what I want to learn more about has helped me determine where I can have the greatest impact and experience the most personal and professional fulfillment. Values and learning questions are important concepts in personal development and goal setting, but they are distinct.
Values are the beliefs and principles that guide our behavior. They are what we consider to be important in life and are shaped by our upbringing, culture, and personal experiences. Learning questions are specific, measurable outcomes that we want to achieve. I wrote my learning questions based on my values. Below is my current compass.
It can be especially helpful to have a clear sense of your values and learning goals when you are faced with tough decisions or uncertainty, as they can help guide your actions and choices. It's also important to remember that your values and learning questions can change over time, and it can be helpful to periodically reflect on them to ensure that they align with your current and future self.
Here are some tips for using your values and learning questions as a compass:
Using your values and learning questions as a compass can help you stay on track in your professional journey and make a positive impact on the world.
Illustrating Your Career Pathway
In addition to defining the attributes of my compass, I have also found it very helpful to graphically depict my career path first by jobs that I have had and then by generalizable skills I have developed during different phases of my career.
The Various Roles I have Held During Different Phases of My Career
In addition to defining the attributes of my compass, I have also found it very helpful to graphically depict my career path, first by the jobs that I have held and then by the generalizable skills I have developed during different phases of my career.
Graphically depicting your career path can be beneficial for several reasons. First, it helps you (and others) to visualize your non-linear career journey and identify patterns and trends. Second, it helps you to recognize the transferable and durable skills you have developed over time that you can bring with you wherever you go. Third, it helps you to see how your different roles are connected and build upon one another, providing coherence to your professional journey.
The Transferable and Durable Skills I have Developed During the Different Phases of My Career
Transferable skills, such as effective communication, teamwork, and adaptability, can be applied across situations, jobs, and roles. Durable skills like critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving not only remain timeless but also retain their significance in the ever-evolving landscape of the workforce.
While I find these two graphics are how I prefer to illustrate my professional journey, there are other ways you can graphically depict your career path and the skills you have developed over time. One option is to create a timeline or a chronological list of the jobs you have held, along with the skills and experiences you gained at each job. You can also use a mind map or a concept map to visualize the connections between your different roles and the skills you developed in each one. If you are interested in graphically depicting your career path, here are a few tips:
Getting Smart about Organizations
With compass in hand and path depicted, I recommend next researching the different organizations that employ people with advanced degrees in education. The following is a sample of organizations in the DC area and not a comprehensive list.
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Sample of Research Universities
American University, Catholic University of America, George Mason University, George Washington University, Georgetown University, Howard University, Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland-Baltimore County, University of Maryland-College Park, University of Virginia, Virginia Tech
Sample of Large School Districts
DC: District of Columbia Public Schools; Maryland: Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Baltimore City Public Schools, Baltimore County Public Schools, Howard County Public Schools, Montgomery County Public Schools, Prince George's County Public Schools; Virginia: Alexandria City Public Schools, Arlington Public Schools, Fairfax County Public Schools, Loudoun County Public Schools
Sample of Foundations
Bainum Family Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Sample of Government Organizations
U.S. Department of Education; Institute of Education Sciences (IES): NCEE, NCER, NCES, NCSER; National Science Foundation; Office of Science and Technology Policy; U.S. Department of Labor
Sample of Nonpartisan Research and Policy Organizations
American Institutes for Research, Aspen Institute, AWS, ETS, Google, Mathematica, Microsoft, National Academy of Sciences, Pew Research Center, RAND Corporation, RTI International, SRI International, The World Bank, Urban Institute, Westat, WestEd
Sample of Partisan Research and Policy Organizations
American Enterprise Institute, Brookings Institution, Cato Institute, Center for American Progress, The Heritage Foundation
Sample of Educational Member Organizations
Member organizations abound in education and related fields. Many are based in Washington, DC. This blog summarizes more than 80 found in the DC area.
Job Posting Websites
Lastly, I recommend monitoring education job posting websites. The following is also a sample. Please let me know if I have missed any.
Interviewing
Cynthia Pong, the founder and CEO of the career coaching and consulting firm Embrace Change, unlocks the secret to acing a job interview and combating anxiety in the following NPR Life Kit video.
Feedback and comments are welcomed. - Ed
Using data to drive decision making
4 个月Still super relevant! Reflecting on your own career trajectory often takes doing qualitative research on yourself. Sorting through skills amd experiences based on different dimensions.
Lead with kindness. Listen with curiosity. Build a better tomorrow.
3 年This is terrific! I love the differentiation of role-based mapping and skills-based mapping. It's a great way to make your professional background and strengths clear to future employers!
Director, Strategic Communications and Growth
3 年Thanks for pulling these resources together