EMBODY THE PROFESSIONAL
2011 Purdue Conference for Pre-Tenure Women
Friday, September 23, 2011
10:45 – 11:45 a.m.
Veronica Rahim and Ileana Cortes Santiago
Six (6) Strategies to Embody the Professional
Identify your desired direction(s):
 Academia
 Research institute
 Industry
 K-12
 Government
 All or some of the above
Convey your desired message through sharp, professional documents:
 Focus the document to have a results, contributions, and accomplishments orientation
 Have a 2nd or 3rd pair of eyes review your professional documentation
 Collaborate to ensure your job letter (academic appointments), cover letter (industry), resume or CV are ready
Understand the navigation and application process:
 Seek out the “norms of navigation” and maximize those opportunities
 Network with people to ask a question and maintain a connection of mutual interest
Establish a positive lasting impression in your professional projection:
 Your Look – Attire, hair, accessories, make-up, hygiene
 Your Talk – Conversation quality
 Your Walk – Confidence level (walk tall, keep shoulders back, maintain eye contact, among others), focus,
follow-up and follow-through
Personify the owl not the ostrich in the world of work and academia:
 Be aware of the environmental culture – sometimes you fit and sometimes you do not
 Be mindful of the politics that permeate through every environment – may play a key in your survival or demise
 “I didn’t know…” and “No one told me…” are not excusable exclamations in this arena – just know!
Examine financial realities regarding your situation that may shape your priorities and decisions:
 Familial situation – Single w/ child(ren), married w/ or w/o child(ren), financially stable, family obligations
 Loans galore, tied to a location, commuting
 Fellowship, grant, part/full-time job, teaching assistant
Nine (9) Things to Keep in Mind in Graduate School
Consider your introduction:
 Greet, shake hands and introduce yourself to peers, classmates, administrative personnel, and professors
Engage in conversations with your classmates (i.e., share ideas, interests, and areas of expertise):
 Some of the best opportunities I have had began over a cup of coffee or a brief talk before class
 Avoid undermining your capabilities, skills and assets by highlighting weaknesses
Develop support communities:
 Consider working on projects with peers or offering a workshop in your colleague’s institution/school
 Collaborative Work = Team Player
 Offer feedback and/or peer review on grant proposals, abstracts, posters, and book reviews
 Exchange information on funding opportunities such as travel grants, fellowships, and conferences
 Share costs of traveling by forming groups to cover gas and lodging
Focus on building an effective CV by attending workshops, applying to small scale and/or large grants, and
fellowships:
 First-Year Student: keep evidence of workshops and symposiums attended (even if you are not
presenting), in addition to teaching demonstrations (e.g., PDF copy of program, ask department secretary
to send you a confirmation email, keep certificate of participation)
 Second-Year+ Student: document poster presentations, panels, forums, and certifications by saving hard
copies of evidence in a binder, building an excel archive, or creating a word document list
 Step out of your comfort zone from time to time! (e.g., take workshops on developing leadership skills,
learning a new computer programs/application, obtaining a special certification)
Consult professors, ask questions, and send invitations:
 Offering a presentation or workshop on campus? Invite your advisor, head of department, or dean!
 Important: keep your advisor and key professors informed—an email takes a minute or less (e.g., “I was
invited to offer a short talk on X and Y at Banana College,” “I just submitted a proposal for T Conference.”)
Maintain a sharp personal and professional appearance – Let your identity shine!:
 Enjoy social media but be cautious and smart with your clothing choices
 Do not forget your Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace profiles are a part of who you are
Assess your environment and choose your language of communication accordingly:
 Important: Consider addressing people formally until given “green light” that you can use their first name
 Always proofread your emails and letters, especially if you are applying for a job/assistantship
 Always include a greeting and a farewell
 If you need to discuss a delicate matter, do it in person not electronically
 Thank people for their time and effort
Diversify your experiences and extra-curricular exposure:
 Keep track of conferences and events
 Join professional associations and graduate student forums
 Sign up to be a graduate student proofreader/reviewer for a journal
Aim high and do not forget why you chose your career path!
Veronica N. Rahim
Career Services Consultant
Center for Career Opportunities (CCO)
Purdue University
vrahim@purdue.edu
Ileana Cortes Santiago
Ph.D. Student
College of Education
Purdue University
icortess@purdue.edu