By Jenna Yeomans | Third-year Business Administration - Marketing student
In just a few short months, I’ll be graduating from the Business Administration - Marketing Diploma program. As expected, friends and family have lately been asking “what’s next?” and my typical response has been, “I’m not sure, I’m thinking of pursuing a graduate certificate, but we’ll see.”
Being a lifelong learner is important to me and I believe in investing in education. Having said that, as much as I wish I had a concrete answer, I don’t (yet)—and that’s totally okay! With graduation approaching, I’ve been asking myself a lot of questions and exploring the options for my future. Whether you’re graduating from college or university this coming June or you’ve previously completed a post-secondary diploma or degree, these five questions will help guide your next steps.
5 questions to consider
1. How do I figure out what career I want?
Some people may already have a good idea of what they want to do after graduation, but you might not. For myself, I want to create content and incorporate writing into whatever I do. Explore job postings and talk to your professors and industry professionals about what types of jobs would suit your interests and skills. Mohawk has tools to help you discover the career that’s right for you. Through Career Coach, you can browse programs and their potential careers.
2. What skills do I need to get the career I want?
If you’ve figured out what job you would ideally like to get, you’ll now have to research what skills are required for the role. Review job postings of interest and connect with professionals in that field or industry to learn about the skills you will need. In my case, I need to know how to create different types of content effectively and write efficiently. I work on these skills in a number of ways such as reading blog posts that offer advice and reading books on a variety of subjects. I also pursue opportunities to practice my writing through writing blog posts and articles.
3. How can I get those skills?
You may have some or even a lot of the skills required for the job that you want. If there are some skills that you don’t have, they can sometimes be learned on the job. If it’s a more comprehensive set of skills, looking into graduate studies is a great next step. In less than a year, a graduate certificate gives you the opportunity to explore a specialty in your field, enhance your diploma or degree and gain on-the-job experience.
I’m considering completing a graduate certificate in Public Relations or Communications Media Practices. Both of these programs provide training and specialization in areas of interest to me.
4. What are the best ways to research graduate programs I’m interested in?
When researching a program that interests you, it’s one thing to read the program page, but there are a few more ways to gain a better understanding of the program and to help the decision-making process. Email the program coordinator and request a meeting to learn more about the program and what graduates have gone on to accomplish. You can also try to connect with students in the program on the Mohawk College Current Student Group on Facebook. Students may be able to answer your questions and give a realistic viewpoint of the program.
5. When do I have to get a clearer idea of when to apply?
Watch out for important dates for the program you’d like to apply to. Some graduate certificates start as early as May, but most start in the fall. Be sure to apply early to ensure you secure your spot!
Now that you’ve had time to read through some important questions to consider, you’re on your way to making the right decision for you. The sooner you start considering your options, the better. This will give you more time to do your research and ask the questions you need, of yourself and of others, to make an informed decision.
Lastly, I highly recommend that you explore Mohawk’s graduate programs. Whether you’re a soon-to-be graduate from college or university or you’ve previously completed a post-secondary diploma or degree, there is something for you!
