1. Dr. Sundar ChristopherATS 782-01 sundar@nsstc.uah.edu Navigating Graduate School and Beyond: Sow Well Now To Reap Big Later Sowing (S.W.O.T.)

2. Dr. Sundar Christopher sundar@nsstc.uah.edu Assess S.W.O.T. Elements Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats

3. Dr. Sundar Christopher sundar@nsstc.uah.edu Why S.W.O.T? Maximize strengths Minimize and overcome weaknesses Identify opportunities Mitigate threats Reevaluate periodically.

4. Dr. Sundar Christopher sundar@nsstc.uah.edu Strengths and Weaknesses Work on weaknesses as well as strengths Computer programming Communication Readjust until you overcome weaknesses

5. Dr. Sundar Christopher sundar@nsstc.uah.edu Benefits of programming course Acquire solid programming skills Boost confidence Tackle programming problems Develop analytical skills

6. Dr. Sundar Christopher sundar@nsstc.uah.edu Have a clear understanding of career objectives and the skills required Many people are poorly informed about their careers and advancement opportunities. Careers are becoming self-managed E-tools are available to help put the student in the driver’s seat

7. Dr. Sundar Christopher sundar@nsstc.uah.edu Assess career development plan Where do I want to be? Where am I now? How am I going to get there?

8. Dr. Sundar Christopher sundar@nsstc.uah.edu Where do I want to be? List short and long-term career goals Determine what kind of career progression you expect to follow (linear, expert, spiral, transitory) Establish what you are looking for in an initial post-graduation job

9. Dr. Sundar Christopher sundar@nsstc.uah.edu Determine your career progression Linear – Movement up an organizational hierarchy (traditional) Expert – Devotion to an occupation and building knowledge and skill Spiral – Lifelong progressions of periodic moves across related disciplines and specialties Transitory – Progression of frequent moves across unrelated fields (untraditional)

10. Dr. Sundar Christopher sundar@nsstc.uah.edu Where do you want to be? List short and long term career goals Determine career progression (linear, expert, spiral, transitory) Decide what you want in initial post-graduation job

11. Dr. Sundar Christopher sundar@nsstc.uah.edu Where are you now? List your strengths List your weaknesses and how you can overcome them List opportunities available to you List threats (those things outside your control that may keep you from succeeding)

12. Dr. Sundar Christopher sundar@nsstc.uah.edu How are you going to reach your goal? Outline a course of action taking into account the threats you face Focus on one or two areas you want to develop. Consider ways to leverage your strengths Consider ways to overcome your weaknesses List specific action steps you need to take

13. Dr. Sundar Christopher sundar@nsstc.uah.edu Food for thought Is SWOT really necessary? How could it be detrimental to your career to work only on strengths and ignore weaknesses? How does your “ideal world” career differ from your “real world” career? What are some threats in graduate school? How are these different from those after graduation?

14. Dr. Sundar Christopher sundar@nsstc.uah.edu Avoid the resume Do well enough in graduate school so that the resume/CV is only a placeholder or formality Employers should be looking for you…not the other way around Establish a strong communication and publication record

15. Dr. Sundar Christopher sundar@nsstc.uah.edu Elements of attractive CV/Resume Good publication record Proposal writing experience Proven communication skills Teaching experience Service history

16. Dr. Sundar Christopher sundar@nsstc.uah.edu Bottom Line: Know where you want to work. Determine what that future job entails. Build those assets in graduate school. Sow well now to reap big later!