Master the Job Market: How to Get Hired & Get Paid After Grad School

During your master’s program, you immersed yourself in specialized coursework, research, and practical experiences. These types of skills may be difficult or impossible to develop outside of a graduate program. Those formulas you can solve in your sleep might be a full day’s work for a lesser-qualified applicant. Your work in grad school paid off, and you are ready to take on new challenges in the workplace.

Sure, you could have taken an entry-level job right out of undergrad and clawed your way up the ladder to a top role. But after a few years in grad school, you’ve dramatically shortened your journey to prestigious job titles and the generous paychecks they command. Having an advanced degree on your résumé is sure to pique the interest of future employers and can help you prove that you have what it takes to succeed in high-level positions.

Are you one of those impressive folks who earned a master’s while working in their field? That’s quite a feat! Now that your degree is complete, you’re ready to move up in the ranks. Some bosses offer a guaranteed raise to employees who earn advanced degrees. Or maybe you’re now eligible for a promotion. Or you can take your newly acquired skills to another company that places a premium on them.

Suppose you dream of teaching English at your local community college. Getting a master’s degree is often the only way to make this dream come true. Across industries, there are certain positions where master’s degrees are mandatory. In some cases, like healthcare or education, an advanced degree is required for professional licensing. In other cases where a graduate degree may not be required, including high-level public policy or business roles, candidates without master’s degrees won’t even be considered for open positions because they are considered inexperienced.

Graduate programs offer ample opportunities to attend conferences, guest lectures, and other events with leaders in your field. The connections you make during these activities expand your knowledge of the field and introduce you to professionals nationally or worldwide. When the time comes to start your job search, you’ll have a larger network to canvas for opportunities.

When reviewing applicants, a company focuses on how your skills can benefit them. So, make it obvious. A boilerplate résumé is a great place to start, but some extra effort here can pay off. Research the organization you’re applying to and the skills they value, then customize your résumé to highlight what makes you an ideal candidate.

Onboarding and training new hires can be time-consuming, costly, and generally kind of a hassle. By highlighting how your background will help you integrate quickly into your new office, you can add to your appeal. Emphasize your readiness to take on responsibilities and projects with minimal supervision by showcasing your experience with the technology, methods, and subject matter background needed for your new position.

If you’re leaving academia for good, you probably won’t have to deal with the pressure to publish anymore. But that doesn’t mean you should downplay your research accomplishments. The publications and conference presentations you developed during school are great opportunities to demonstrate subject knowledge, writing skills, and initiative to future employers.

It’s unlikely that the positions you are applying for benefit from superficial knowledge and one-size-fits-all thinking. So, don’t undersell your critical thinking skills and appreciation for nuance. It can be easy to speak generally of your accomplishments, but don’t be afraid to dive into the details and talk about how you keep track of all the moving parts of a project.

Term papers and midterm exams probably won’t play a huge role in your next job. But you’ve mastered plenty of skills and will continue to use them every day. Make a list and advertise them prominently. For example, maybe you’re fluent in multiple coding languages or accustomed to complicated lab equipment. Add these to your résumé to help your application stand out.

If the idea of networking makes you a bit nauseous, you are not alone. But maintaining connections really does matter. Activating your network to seek out job openings shortens your search and yields better offers. So, go through your email and coursework and make a list of people you’ve connected with through school, work, or events. Try reaching out with a personal message that reminds the recipient of your connection and offers your expertise to them and their network. This can be more effective than a general message asking for their help.

Part of earning an advanced degree is skipping a few rungs on the professional ladder. Entry-level jobs may feel more attainable, but even if your work experience is limited, you may be overqualified. Instead, don’t be afraid to reach out. Apply for mid- and upper-level positions – a lot of them – and see what opportunities present themselves. For bonus points, reach out directly to HR managers at companies you admire, expressing your interest in their work and future job openings.

Now that you have your diploma, it is time to dust off your LinkedIn profile or create an account ASAP. First, make sure your information is up to date and highlights your new skills and experience. Make sure your photo and bio are professional and in line with the vibe of your industry. Once your profile is dialed in, start reaching out. For connections you know well, a simple connection request should do the trick. But don’t hesitate to reach out to people you’ve only met once or know indirectly. Just pair those requests with a personal message introducing yourself and how you are connected.

If you’ve interned or volunteered, you have a whole organization’s worth of people who can attest to your skills. If you enjoyed the work, consider inquiring about paid positions. If you’d prefer a change of scene, your supervisors or other connections within the organization might be able to connect you with related opportunities.

Successful networking at job fairs requires more than just showing up. Prepare in advance by researching the companies participating in the event. Identify which ones you are interested in and prepare a few thoughtful questions about the positions and ideas of what you can bring to the roles. Update your résumé and have copies at the event. Wake up early so you have time to prepare, and always dress professionally.

Once you arrive, set yourself to dazzle-mode. Smile and shake hands with confidence. Try to meet and connect with as many people as possible, whether or not you think they can help with your current job search.

Your work isn’t done when the event ends. While your impressions are still fresh, reach out via e-mail and LinkedIn to follow up on possible jobs and networking opportunities.

Informational interviews and job shadowing let you learn about a role or organization that isn’t actively hiring. You’ll have the chance to meet people in the office, get a feel for company culture, and learn about positions that appeal to you. Reaching out and being proactive can be a great way to get your foot in the door or gain insight into your industry. Just keep in mind that when you reach out to a company about an informational interview or doing some shadowing, you are asking them to spend their valuable time doing you a favor. So, when you make your ask, highlight what you have to offer, demonstrate an interest in the company by asking specific questions, and make sure you are asking the right person for help.

You can use websites like Indeed to see what peers in your field are earning. Also, keep in mind that where you live can have a huge impact on your average salary. If the numbers aren’t adding up, you can also use this data to negotiate better pay.

As an in-demand talent, your future employer might offer relocation benefits, or you can ask for them as part of your salary negotiation. At a minimum, companies asking new hires to relocate tend to help cover your moving expenses. You could also ask about being flown out in advance of your move to look for housing. Depending on your situation, other relocation benefits might include temporary housing, language training, or a relocation bonus.

These incentives can range from small perks like free gym memberships to major add-ons like performance bonuses or subsidized childcare. If you foresee a PhD in your future, keep an eye out for employers that offer tuition reimbursement. Because these incentives are designed to attract and keep top talent, hiring managers typically aren’t shy about highlighting them on their job postings. This makes it easy to evaluate the value of a position’s perks compared to other jobs in the field.

While this is more of an existential question, your future employer does have a lot to say in the matter. And their demands on your time can hugely impact your quality of life. Some fast-paced environments expect employees to be in reach 24/7; others prefer you leave your work at the office and only work 9 to 5. Additionally, some employers may allow flexible scheduling or remote work. This is a good topic to ask about in your interview, and if you have the chance to chat with other employees, definitely pick their brains as well.

You’ll be spending a lot of time with your new colleagues. While you don’t need to be BFFs with the whole office, a good culture fit will make your working hours more enjoyable. For example, do you thrive in a competitive environment, or would you prefer to work collaboratively? You might also consider if the company and employees’ values and ethics align with your own.

Your first job post-graduation is a stepping stone to bigger opportunities. Ideally, your new position will offer room for promotions and increased responsibilities. If there are few paths for advancement at the company, it is important to know going in so that you can keep an eye out for opportunities with other organizations.

In many cases, your initial salary offer will be based on your education and experience. But once you are on the payroll, your future academic achievements might not move the needle. So, if you are considering earning post-graduate certificates or a PhD, find out if your new diploma comes with a salary bump attached.

It’s good to get an idea of the playing field before you develop a negotiation strategy. So, if you haven’t already, do some research on the salary range in your field. As mentioned above, websites like Indeed can help you find pay info for similar positions in your area. With a bit of digging, you might even be able to find salary info for your specific position. When doing your research, don’t forget that your master’s degree should command a higher starting salary than candidates with a bachelor’s degree.

Salary negotiations require some nuance. When you negotiate over email, critical factors like tone and subtext can get lost in translation. So, when you’re ready to talk pay, schedule a face-to-face or phone meeting. Interacting in real time helps you keep the conversation productive and on track.

Employers want the best talent they can afford, but every budget has its limits. Salary negotiations should result in a mutually beneficial arrangement. So instead of trying to put the screws on your potential boss, engage in a collaborative process by listening to and addressing their concerns. You can try highlighting skills that go above and beyond the role or adjusting your ask to replace a pay bump with things like extra PTO or a flexible schedule in order to work within budget constraints.

By now, you’ve considered standard salaries in your industry, the cost of living in your area, and the value of your experience and education. So, it’s time to pick a number. What is the lowest salary you’ll accept? During negotiations, ask for more where it makes sense, but respect your worth by accepting no less than your bottom line.

Salary isn’t just about your monthly paycheck. There are other things your employer can add to your offer to sweeten the deal. Ask about guaranteeing a scheduled raise, increased time off, performance bonuses, or more generous versions of other perks the company offers.

First things first, are you overqualified? Imposter syndrome is real, especially when it comes to the job hunt. But, if you’re applying to the right jobs and still not hearing back, you may be coming off as overqualified. You don’t need to undersell yourself to address this. Instead, make sure your résumé is tailored to the positions you are applying for by highlighting your skills and experience over your academic achievements. You can also tweak your cover letter to focus on why you want the role and what you bring to the table.

Maybe you’ve prioritized your studies the past few years by not working, or maybe you’ve been working in another field while you develop your qualifications. In either case, potential employers may have concerns about your work history. To address this, highlight experiences you’ve had working with a team, planning events, interning, or volunteering to demonstrate you have the skills it takes to work in a professional setting.

When it comes to job hunting, who you know can be as important as what you know. But, upon graduating, many students find they haven’t made many contacts outside of their department. But it’s not too late to start now. Consider reaching out to your alumni association, joining a professional organization, attending industry events, or asking the connections you do have to introduce you to others in the field.