Last year, I felt torn between a need to be productive and a need to take breaks from studying. We all need breaks, especially coffee breaks. But then there can be this sense of guilt or concern of “Oh no! I am not doing my homework!” or other similar exclamations. This often connects to the conflict that, while courses are the first priority for the next 8 months, soon finding a job will also be competing for your attention.
Thus, I want to suggest a way for you to both be productive and to take a break from that book you’ve been staring at all week.
These are three small things that you can do and work on that are 1. not all about school and 2. productive for life in and after Maph.
1. Join Linkedin
Creating a profile on Linkedin is a pretty simple way to start thinking about and creating a professional presence. It can be a fun “memory lane” trip to list previous work experiences and to even go through what your skills are, etc. And you can follow the MAPH Group as well as University of Chicago Alumni, so when we start talking about networking and informational interviews you will already be a step ahead. Yes, Linkedin will send you many emails and yes, you’ll need to select and upload a photo of yourself. But it is worth it!
2. Join Twitter
Guys, the biggest difference between my entry and exit of MAPH is that I got twitter. And a masters. And some knowledge. But mostly, the Twitter.
This is an easy way to establish your online, social media presence but also a great way to stay up to date on things in Chicago, at your favorite bookstore, and here at the university. Admittedly, I mostly use Twitter to tweet at or about Bob’s Burgers. But by following your beloved MAPH central @themaphnest and other places on campus, you can quickly learn about events, and even advertise your own. Twitter can be a savvy way to improve your expertise with social media, which is pretty much always a plus when it comes to jobs.
Some suggestions:
The Poetry Foundation: @PoetryFound
UChicago: @UChicago
Time Out: @TimeOutChicago
Smart Museum: @SmartMuseumUChi
The Chicago Reader: @Chicago_Reader
And perhaps most importantly, @chiftf_uchicago. This will tell you what food trucks are on campus, for those days when it is too cold/tired/trucks smell good.
3. Keep thinking about and exploring careers and opportunities after Maph. If the job stuff stresses you out too much, then listen to that and focus on the present. But it can be fun to think and read about possible career paths and different fields you may not have considered pre-MAPH. Look at resources like the Chronicle of Higher Education, Chicago Artist Resource, etc. If you are interested in museums, read through the sites and blogs of the museums here in Chicago, or elsewhere. You can also run through the UChicago Alumni database. There are a ton of resource online, which all require little effort. But they can have a big payoff, giving you a sense for the field or even a specific job within that field.
These are simple ways in which to get a feel for what is out there. Even if you plan to pursue a PhD, you’ll have at least a year, if not more, between MAPH and that program.
See you guys at MAPH Alumni Careers Night on November 12th, from 5-8:30!