Your Good Work questions, my answers!

To close out the year, I am delighted to answer a mix of the questions that have come my way ?? since I started this newsletter:? on burnout, grad programs, getting published, choosing our #goodwork focus, and more.? Below find my “quick take” answers.? Come back to future issues to see where we go from these jumping off points.

Welcome to the third issue of Good Work with Dr. Amy Cabrera Rasmussen. On a weekly basis, this newsletter delivers inspiration, practical tips, and opportunities for those who want good work that is good for them too. I am so glad you are here!? Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss a thing!

Let’s do this! I love a good Q&A session!

?? What should I do if I love my good work, but I am also experiencing burnout???

A version of this question was asked by a few different readers– from students to faculty to folks in non-profit and government contexts–? so we will definitely do a longer piece on it in the coming weeks.?

• For now, I will say that if you feel burned out, that is real.? It is not uncommon among folks doing good work because we tend to commit so much to what we are doing and to believe in our work’s?impact.? For instance, we often work directly with people we know are counting on us.? We also may have our personal identity very much tied up with our work.? But if you have become mentally and physically exhausted, it is time for some changes!? Because while you may not see a light at the end of the tunnel, you truly cannot go on forever in this burnout mode.? While it will be hard to hear, your body or your mind (or both) will start to pay the price.? I know this to be true first-hand.
• The one small step that I suggest you do now is to look at your schedule for the coming week or so and see what could be postponed or cancelled.? Promise me you will pick at least one thing.? Reach out to the person you have an appointment with and say– would you mind if we push back a week?? Skip the webinar and watch the recording later.? Take that self-imposed deadline and give yourself some breathing room.? I have started doing this recently, and not only does it just give me immense joy to remove one thing from my schedule, but doing so makes life suddenly feel more spacious.?

Moving forward, you will need to look closely at how you are spending your time, see the reality of your over-extension, and then you will need to start prioritizing your self and your health.? But more on this in a coming issue!

?? I know I want to continue my education but am not sure what sort of graduate program to consider.

I believe strongly that the complexity of the contemporary moment requires us all to build new combinations of expertise and knowledge.? Whether you have graduated from high school, are in community college, have a four-year degree, or continued your education beyond your bachelor’s, there is a path for you to a Good Work career.? But it is true that degrees, certificates, credentials are often needed to gain entry to these roles.?

If you want to pursue your education or continue learning through an advanced degree, there are many options to untangle.? You will need to weigh their costs and benefits, and your own goals.? I will do all I can to empower you by sharing what they are and help you to figure out which one is right for you.??

One by one we will discuss the alphabet soup of MA, MBA, MS, MSW, MPP, MPA, and MPH, EdD’s, JD’s, PhDs, among others! Along the way, I look forward to showcasing some folks who are in these various roles.

• For now, if there is a program or degree that has caught your eye, do your homework on it.? Look at the courses that are required and the faculty who teach them.? Try not to get your heart set on one yet: look at at least two or three similar programs.? Consider the aims that the program says it will help you accomplish via your studies.? Do the course topics sound interesting?? Do the faculty seem engaged with their students?? Are alums in careers aligned with the program goals (and your own)?? Consider reaching out to the program advisor with emailed follow-up questions or to ask for a short meeting.
• If you have not yet narrowed it down to a specific potential degree, come at it from the other direction. Look at the types of jobs you are interested in and see what sorts of degrees people who are in those roles tend to have.? Check out profiles here on LinkedIn for instance!? Is a doctoral degree required, or will a master’s do?? Do most people have the same “major” as an undergrad that they pursue in the master’s, or is it a combination?? Is a degree required, or are people certified in a different manner?? Consider reaching out to one of these folks for an informational interview via Zoom or over coffee.??

?? I am in graduate school and I would like to get published in an academic journal. Do you have any tips???

It is true that increasingly, doctoral students on the job market are expected to show their ability to publish their research in academic journals. Often this process takes quite a while from submission to full acceptance, and so it can feel like you have to get hustling right away.??

For those in the first few years of their doctoral careers, I recommend three main strategies to get the ball rolling without putting too much pressure on yourself:??

1. Build relationships.? Connect with your faculty, seeking out their advice on your course work, your professional path, and ask about the potential for opportunities to assist them on their research projects.? Connect with your classmates and those further along in their degrees to learn from their experiences.?
2. Start writing regularly.? Take the initiative and start organizing fellow like-minded students into a regular writing group.? It can start with your course assignments and transition into a dissertation and journal article writing group over time.? Maybe your program will kick in for some coffee or treats if you meet regularly. I have found personally that such a group can be an important source of community, solidarity, and accountability-- and grad students love free snacks.??Those folks can become lifelong friends. I know this personally as well (and still cannot say no to a free snack).
3. Start finding resources to support your research and writing efforts.? Apply for fellowships and grants that will give you the time you need to focus on your dissertation and to potentially convert some of that work into journal articles.? Time will be your most precious commodity, so applying early and often to various funds and programs will be worth the investment and probably help you to refine your project in the process.

In an upcoming issue, I will share more tips, including from those who have been successful at publishing while in grad school.? So, stay tuned.

?? I care about so many issues.? How do I decide which one to get to (good) work on?

First, I want to acknowledge that I know what it can feel like to be overwhelmed with the options. There is good reason while it feels that way, especially today with so many challenges and so much division around us.? And getting started can feel harder than ever in this circumstance where the stakes feel so high.

Even so, I think the best way to start is to take the pressure off of yourself.??

• Know that there is no right answer.? There are many challenges in the world today, and they all deserve our attention.? It is likely that there are a number of issues that you could choose to work on that would bring you a great deal of satisfaction and also contribute positively to the world.??
• There does not have to be a single answer.? While building expertise on an issue is important, there are many jobs that will actually allow you to have an impact on multiple issues.? You will also have seasons to your career, and you can shift gears as you need to and wish to do, as issues become more salient to you or your community, or the country or the world.
• Most important problems are large and complex.? No one is going to be able to solve any problem or challenge on their own, so by definition it cannot be your sole responsibility.? We all have a role to play in making improvements to intractable issues.

I might suggest that you start to narrow things down by doing the origin story activity I shared last week.? You can find it here. I think it may help provide some clarity.

?? I feel like I don’t really know what good work jobs are out there beyond the basics!? Can you expand my sense of things?

I always encourage anyone who wants a career where they can work on matters of societal importance to think broadly.?

• I can say with confidence that there are a ton of good work jobs out there that you absolutely do not know even exist. ? Entire organizations and agencies doing good work that you have never heard of at all. I will work to shine the light on those roles and sites as much as I can and to show you where to look.
• There are also many roles for everyone from accountants to zoologists that can contribute to good in the community and world.? Sometimes it is not the exact job that someone is doing, it is the purpose to which they put their skills, the way that they do it, or the place or entity where they are doing it.? Nonprofits need folks who are good at keeping the books, for just one example!
• In addition, there are roles that will exist in five or ten years that no one has even thought of today.? And we do not need to passively await the emergence of these roles– there are people out there now who are redefining what good work is and can be.? We can be part of it through this Good Work community, the media can help set raise up issues of new importance, higher education leaders can be part of it by facilitating folks gaining knowledge and nimbleness. And just as they have throughout history, policymakers can invest in certain types of good work careers.

I will be showcasing much of this to you here in this newsletter and as part of my larger Good Work Project.? So, stay tuned!? Every day I am inspired by what I see in the world, and I know you will be as well.

?? BUT WAIT, BEFORE I GO...

Here are your little items for the week...

?? Just for fun: Watch this video of University of California at San Diego School of Medicine student admissions reps calling newly admitted students.? Could you picture yourself getting a call like that? It just puts a smile on your face to see and hear.

?? A great resource: ?For those in and training to be in academia, I suggest checking out the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity.? Many campuses now have memberships, so check out the list on the website and see if you can access it for free.? I found its resources vital, especially in my lead up to tenure.? They offer suggestions for how to plan out successful semesters, creating a writing practice, dealing with the unique aspects of academic life, and more. If your campus does not have membership, be proactive and see if you can find an office that will sponsor you as a pilot.

???? One more nudge: To pose a question of your own that you would like answered in a future issue of the newsletter, share it here.

Next time, I will share a fun way to make 2025 a year for good work.? See you then!

All my best,

Amy

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