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It's a tough time to be a graduate seeking work, and if you're decided to go back to school for an Undergraduate Degree Program, you've taken a solid, career-enhancing step to put yourself above the crowd. But school will be pointless if you don't enter it with the right attitude. Here's what you need to know to make the most of your second, more focused dip into the post-secondary world: Don't quit your job, if possible
If you're in grad school, it means you've had trouble finding the kind of work you want. If you're doing shift work, or part-time jobs, then it's still possible to earn some cash while you get your education. Of course, it's likely you'll have to take on reduced hours to accommodate your classes, but it's better to earn some cash than none, and the time you put in at work is worth the exchange in financial stress. Speaking of going to class… Focus on what you can get from the program, instead of what you're putting in.
If you didn't gather it before, you're well past the point where grades are the be all end all of education, and you've likely already seen how employers don't care about your GPA. While you certainly need to go to class and put an effort in, you shouldn't be stressing about your final marks, unless you're in danger of failing. Instead, you should be focusing on what the program is giving you. If you're in a media-related postgrad, like the ones offered at Centennial College, then you should do your work with an eye towards incorporating it into your portfolio, for eventual showing off. On a broader level, focus on the practical skills you'e being taught. The "how to's," are what will set you apart from future job applicants, as well as be directly relevant to your future career. Get to know everyone
If you haven't had the importance of networking hammered into you, I'll state it again: Networking is important, and a postgrad is a wonderful time to do it, since you're meeting three essential groups of people: Students who are like you, and seeking to become working professionals, instructors who are already industry professionals passing their real expertise on to you, and professionals that will inevitably come in as guest speakers. You should get to know all three, take some cards and emails, and remain in contact, as they'll be the ones linking you to jobs. Speaking of linking you to jobs… Don't balk at the idea of a field placement
Yes, field placement, because "internship" has become a dirty word. But it really shouldn't be. The goal of a field placement is to give you hands-on work experience of the type even a school can't provide, and set you up with further networking opportunities, if you're shrewd. They don't even have to be unpaid, though that's not a universal rule. Aside from that, a good school like Centennial College will work with a student to find them the best placement possible, and monitor their progress to ensure they're in a good situation. The end goal, as with the rest of a postgrad, is to further connect you to the career you want to take.
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