The best way to make a career change, whether a move up the ladder or to a new career, is to retrain and return to school for a graduate degree. In a recession, for many students about to graduate or enduring their first year away from college, graduate school may seem like a way out of a bad job market. For others, it may feel like a necessity. In fact, according to Swarthmore College’s Career Service Office, 90% of their undergrads plan to go to graduate school in the next five years. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, of the 27.2% of Americans who attended college, 44% also have a masters, doctorate, or professional degree.

But before you choose to go to graduate school, and make that career change, make sure you have a game plan. A graduate degree in a subject you do not plan to pursue as a career is not helpful. Likewise, a graduate degree can cost a great deal of money; it is not something to be taken lightly.

There are reasons to attend graduate school, foremost among them you need retraining to reach the next level in your career. For example, if you work in business and want to move to a management position, an MBA is a good choice. Or if you are an artist and want to be an art educator, a teaching certificate will help you immensely. At its best, a graduate degree gives you the know-how and qualifications to be a professional and expert in your field.

Before You Commit

If you are pursuing a field entirely different than one you pursued in undergraduate school, do your research before applying. Even if you have studied this field in undergrad, it is always good to allow for more experience. Find a friend in your chosen field and ask him or her for an informational interview. These are helpful because you can ask your burning questions, such as “What’s the work environment like?,” “Are you satisfied with what you do?,” or “What should I know before I go to graduate school?”

If the informational interview goes well, ask that person if you can shadow him or her. Ask for a day when you two can go to work together. You can learn firsthand what a day in the life is like; instead of dreaming about your ideal profession, do it.
Depending on the field, you could even pursue an internship. Whatever your age or experience, an internship in your field can be good experience. It will even look good on your graduate school application, and show the admissions office that you are serious about your path. In some fields, like medicine, these are hard to come by. But do not be discouraged, special programs exist; all it takes to find them is a little creativity and research. You may not be able to work next to a surgeon, but you can find a place working alongside doctors at a public policy institute. Whatever the field, the benefits of an internship are enormous; even after you finish graduate school you will have the necessary contacts that will help you land that first job.

Some more ideas for finding an internship include looking through the alumni directory for fellow graduates in your chosen field, or using your professional or social network for contacts. The contacts you make among any network are invaluable, so use them.

Back to School

Some professional or graduate schools expect you to have a grounding in certain subjects before you apply. All expect you to have finished your bachelor’s degree before you apply. For medical school, you will need to have completed a set of pre-med courses, including biology and chemistry; these are the basic prerequisites you must have fulfilled before you apply. Even outside of medicine, it is always good advice to take a course to refresh your knowledge base before entering graduate school. It will give you a taste of what is to come and provide good preparation for the future.

Next, you must take graduate entrance exams. This is always a difficult step but luckily there are resources. Whether you find a course, textbooks, or practice tests, there are ways to study for these tests. I recommend researching Grockit.com, an online tutoring site, which I work for, that provides thousands of sample questions for free. Of course, I could be a little biased. Grockit offers sites for the GRE (graduate school) and GMAT (MBAs) as of now and plans to branch out into the LSAT (law school) soon.

The Application

Once you have successfully finished the research and the tests, now is the time for the application. These usually entail a personal statement, an additional essay, and recommendations from past professors or employers. This is the time to reach out to your professors and ask them for a reference. This should not be a simple e-mail, either. A call or a visit is more appropriate. Make sure they know everything about what you are up to, your future plans, and your reasons to go back to grad school. Too much information is always better than too little. If the professor or employer does not seem to remember you, do not feel obligated to use his or her recommendation. A good recommender is one who knows you well (and likes you!).

The essays should also be up to par. They are your opportunity to lobby the admissions committee and make sure they know you have thought through this decision. Have them proofread a couple of times by a good editor. Try to go near the word limit. Remember, this is your chance—make yourself look unique, passionate, and dedicated to this decision.

Finally

What comes next could be acceptance into your graduate school of choice, in which case, congratulations. Failure is also a possibility, one you have to prepare for. Remember, like in any other endeavor in life, you have to take that rejection in stride. There is always time to reapply next year. There are always more ways to prove your dedication, whether more internships, education, or test preparation. There are always ways to try again.

Graduate or professional school is a good next step on your way to a career change, and whatever people tell you, always a good idea. Just make sure you are focused on your studies, ready for the career ahead, and focused enough to appreciate it. Also make sure you are ready; it is quite a sacrifice, in terms of money and time. Whatever the economy’s status, graduate school has to mean more to you than simply a way out. It has to be something you are passionate about.

Let’s face it–you can’t stay in school forever. Sooner or later, you will have to get a job. Yikes. Just the sound of that three letter word makes me squirm. Whether you want to get a job in college to build your résumé or wait until you graduate, you will have to face the dreaded interview process.

Before we go over a few tips for acing the interview, there is one important thing you should know: interviewers can smell your fear. They secretly count every “um” you utter and every fidget you make on a tally sheet behind their desks. Their questions are impossible to answer correctly. They are malicious robots bent on world domination, fueled solely by your complete and utter failure. OK, enough of that. I’m only kidding of course.

While an interview may be intimidating, it remains a necessary process for employers to become acquainted with their applicants. Think of the interview as a chance for you to show off your most marketable qualities, not as an inquisition that exposes your weaknesses. You want to show the interviewer that you possess not only the skills and experience for the position, but also a fitting personality for the company culture. Here’s how to show those interviewers that you have the right stuff:

1. Do Your Research: Before your interview, make sure you have thoroughly researched the company you are applying for. The best place to find this information is the company website, if they have one, of course. If you are a true overachiever, you’ll want to get your hands on materials that may be available at the company. If you know anybody who is or has been an employee with the company, or who uses their resources, ask him for advice. And if you want to make somebody else do all the work, call the company and try to gather some info from a receptionist or salesperson. The more you know about the company and the position, the better you can market yourself for the specific needs of the company.
2. Dress the Part: Make sure you dress appropriately for the interview, and err on the side of overdressing. In other words,leave your Che Guevara T-shirt, ripped jeans, and worn Chuck Taylors at home. If you are applying at an office, make sure you wear a professional business suit. If the environment is a bit more lax, then slacks, khakis, button-down shirts/blouses, skirts, and dresses will work. If you are not sure, then overdress! The interviewer will not fault you for looking better than him, so go for it.
3. Get There Early: Showing up late to an interview can be the kiss of death for some applicants. Some interviewers may be merciful–others may not. It is your job to plan for those not-so-merciful interviewers. Besides, if you are early, you’ll have time to relax and review your résumé. To avoid tardiness, make sure you know exactly how to get to the company, and leave early to avoid unexpected traffic delays. If you do happen to run late, call the company and let them know.
4. Attitude is Everything: Keep in mind that everybody judges by first impressions, especially interviewers. Your attire, your handshake, your smile, and most importantly, your demeanor give off a surprisingly detailed profile of your value as an employee. It is important to appear enthusiastic about the position for which you are interviewing, even if you aren’t.
5. Know Thy Enemy: Lucky for us applicants, interviewers are not very original. They may have a few unexpected questions, but, for the most part, they all want to get a good sense of your experience and your value to the company. It is pretty safe to assume that you will be asked the painfully vague cliché, “Tell me about yourself.” So, don’t be afraid to practice answering this question in front of a mirror or during the drive there. Also be sure to review your résumé and know how to best articulate your prior work experience. Try to tailor your experience to the position you’re applying for; don’t just rattle off a list of accomplishments.
6. Take Charge: After you have been in the hot seat for a while, the interviewer will often give you the chance to ask some questions. You might think it is polite to refrain from jumping at this chance, but that’s a mistake! The offer for you to ask questions is not just a courteous gesture; it is a chance to let you show your initiative. Go ahead–ask questions about the company or the position. Did the interviewer say something that stuck in your brain? Ask about it! Show some moxie!

Now, you can exhale. Doesn’t that feel good? All of this stuff makes test prep look relaxing.