CAREER SERVICES OFFICE

Academics and Your Career Goals: How to leverage your time at HGSE

Career Services Office

U.S. Cultural CompetencyTrue or False

• It is proper to interrupt a professor or supervisor to ask questions.

• A man should extend his hand to a woman in a business meeting and offer a firm handshake.

• It is appropriate to directly express disagreement with a teacher or supervisor.

• You have a better chance of getting a position in a company if a family member is also in the company.

• You should answer questions with strong eye contact with professors and supervisors.

• Knowing a person slightly in an organization can lead to this person referring you to a position.

• Grades matter in getting a position in education.• It is proper to talk about your individual accomplishments in

casual conversations with fellow students and colleagues.

Strategic planning…

• Going back to your home country?

• Optional Practical Training?

• H1B Visa?

• Green Card?

• J1 Visa with plans to return to the U.S.?

12 Month Timeline

What you need to know to develop your timeline:• Preferred sector• Hiring practices for

this sector• Understand your

gaps in experience to the function you would like to obtain.

• Working backwards:– Fill your gaps – Develop your

professional relationships– Develop your marketing

materials– Practice for your

interviews– Apply for OPT*– Reach out to your

professional relationships– Apply with expectation

that employment will not come immediately

*If seeking in the U.S.

Challenges & OpportunitiesC

ult

ura

l Nu

an

ces Knowledge

attainment

Power distance

Individualism

Making decisionsN

etw

ork

s Cultural Rules for establishing professional relationships

Approaching new relationships

Maintaining relationships

Ed

uca

tio

n K

no

wle

dg

e Knowing your leverage points

Filling gaps in experience and knowledge

U.S. challenges and opportunities

Leveraging Your Academics for Career Success

• Educational Knowledge & Cultural Competencies'– Ask questions that relate to

your gaps in experience or knowledge.

– Develop projects around your gaps in experience or knowledge to build into your resume.

– Mimic and ask questions of the U.S. based students regarding knowledge and culture.

– Ask U.S. based students questions about their previous job searches.

• Establishing professional networks– Ask students where they

previously worked and the culture.

– Reach out to alumni in organizations to help you with your projects.

– Talk to speakers prior or after each event. Ask to stay in contact.

– Set-up a LinkedIn account to stay in touch with contacts.

– Get involved in leadership roles within your cohort.

Getting Started!

1. Programming Specific to non U.S. national students (handout)2. CSO Orientations: August 24, 10-11 AM or August 29, 3. CSO Program Orientations – check Hired and program

listservs4. 24/7 Access – Ed.M. Online Resource Center and Hired.

a) Gap Analysisb) Internshipsc) Networking resourcesd) Contacts

5. LinkedIn and Crimson Compassa) Semi- open networker – suttonva@gse.harvard.edub) Tip sheet on Ed.M. Online Resource Center

Cultural CompetencyTrue or False

• It is proper to interrupt a professor or supervisor to ask questions.

• A woman should extend her hand in a business meeting and offer a firm handshake.

• It is appropriate to directly express disagreement with a teacher or supervisor.

• You have a better chance of getting a position in a company if a family member is also in the company.

• You should answer questions with strong eye contact with professors and supervisors.

• Knowing a person slightly in an organization can lead to this person referring you to a position.

• Grades matter in getting a position in education.• It is proper to talk about your individual accomplishments in

casual conversations with fellow students and colleagues.