Prepare to Be a Professional: A Wolfram Guide for Postgraduates and More
This post, excerpted from a longer post on the Wolfram Blog and written by Bailey Long and Kathy Bautista, contains a bevy of tips for new grads. The original post can be viewed here and is well worth reading in full!
It’s a beautiful spring day. Your robe and cap are a little itchy, but you don’t mind. You know your family will be taking an excessive amount of pictures, but that’s OK. You are graduating! Years of dedication and hard work have paid off and you’re about to walk across the stage with your diploma and start summer vacation! Wait — summer vacation? Do you even have a summer vacation now? What’s next? Should you look for a job or should you focus on bolstering your resume first? So many questions….
“So what’s next for you?”
If this scenario sounds familiar, you may feel overwhelmed — and you aren’t alone. Finding that next step doesn’t have to feel like such a daunting task. With the help of Kathy Bautista from the Wolfram academic programs team, we have invited five of our fellow Wolfram associates, experts in mentorship, postgraduation education and professional development, to share their insights on preparing for the next stage of life.
Meet the Experts
Cliff Hastings
Director, Sales & Strategic Initiatives and Parkland College Head Volleyball Coach
Jamie Peterson
Director, Wolfram U and Computational Learning Savant
Kayla Moore
Global Recruitment Manager and Internship Aficionado
Rory Foulger
Manager, Precollege Educational Programs and Wolfram Emerging Leaders Program Champion
Yi Yin
Academic Innovation Programs Manager and Self-Described Tech Evangelist
What Should My Top Priorities Be as a Recent Graduate?
Cliff: If you’ve finished your education, regardless if you’ve already landed a job or are still looking, the Wolfram Early Professionals Program is a great resource. Not only do you get Mathematica, but you also get an invitation to a LinkedIn group to learn about networking and job opportunities. You’ll find links to exclusive trainings and new webinars on there as well, so you can continue to build your skills.
Rory: Outside of getting that connection, I’d also say your priorities really depend on where you want to go. If you’re into academia, then finding great places to continue your education is most important. If you’re trying to get a job, then networking and relationship building are really important.
Kayla: If you are looking to jump into the workforce, your top priorities should be updating everything you need before you start applying — resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, everything.
Rory: And, if you think you are interested in doing further education, it’s also important to know you don’t have to do that as soon as you finish your undergraduate degree. Getting a job first, or even doing a master’s part time while you have a job can be a really valuable way of approaching your academia with your professional life. That’s what I do. I have two master’s degrees now and I’ve been doing them part time with full-time pay. You can get a job, you can get further education or you can do both!
Cliff: Either way, maintaining your personal development and understanding yourself will pay off in getting yourself established in this new phase of life — including job or grad school interviews.
You should have a well-prepared answer to “Tell me about yourself.” If you don’t practice an answer to that question that is succinct, complete and displays your sense of professionalism and passion, it’s an immediate turnoff.
Your answer should be a 30–60 second rundown on how you want present yourself and what you want people to know that is not in your resume or cover letter. Your answer should help the interviewer think, “This person is well-spoken, mature and presents themselves well.” These are all things that anyone who is conducting interviews for any job, grad school or anything else is going to want.
Rory: Which reminds me, if you’re currently in college, look for year-round internships where you can work part time at a company or try to connect your thesis or capstone to a company. That’s what I did with Wolfram. I worked part time here, they paid me to write my thesis and then they hired me. It was great! Try to connect to companies you care about or are interested in. You want to be connected, so try to get part-time work for that last year of college, then during that summer, write your thesis on a topic that is relevant to what you want to do.
Cliff: You should also think about how to couple your degree with your personality and communication skills. My distinguishing characteristic is not that I’m the most technical or that I’m the best communicator, but that I’m quite good at both worlds. That is a very difficult thing to find in the world and a way to differentiate yourself.
I would also say don’t feel like you need to look for your dream career or job immediately upon graduation. Find a job that will challenge you and help you answer what you don’t want to do.
I think everyone tries to look for their dream job immediately, but it tends to be fraught with failure or disappointment. I think people in their 30s tend to be much happier when they have understood what it is they don’t want to do and are then able to articulate what it is they do want.
Yi: I’d also recommend following some newsletters or going to industry forums to follow up with what’s happening. There will usually be gaps between your academic program and industry trends. Especially in tech, things can move so quickly.
Attending events or extra classes from a program like Wolfram U will help you dig deeper into these trends and see what’s happening outside of what you learned in the classroom. Staying informed can help you draw a narrative of how you can contribute to the industry.
Jamie: Whatever you choose, don’t stop learning just because your classes are over. From a professional and personal development point of view, you want to keep staying relevant and abreast of the latest technology. You may have finished your coursework, but your real-world learning has only just begun.
How Can I Find Jobs That I Actually Want and Am Qualified For?
Yi: I think the most important thing is to understand what is needed in the industry. The tech industry especially is so dynamic. Understand what’s going on and then how to design your own path. You may have better luck finding entry-level positions that require a broader range of abilities like technical skills, people skills and business acumen. A lot of people-oriented jobs, or students with STEM degrees, may not consider it, but that’s currently what the industry needs.
Kayla: Of course, companies will have their own pages like the Wolfram careers page. A lot of schools will have their own job boards too. Handshake is a really big one, and other platforms, like Symplicity, are more college oriented. If I’m posting a position there, I’m going to be posting one that is more entry level. Sometimes they do have positions that are for alumni, but utilize those resources when you can.
There are also often whole centers dedicated to helping students after graduation, which can be super helpful. Definitely take advantage of those resources.
Cliff: And, if you have Mathematica and Wolfram Language experience, you can find internships and entry-level career opportunities from Wolfram and a host of other companies looking for graduates with these skills through the Wolfram Early Professionals Program LinkedIn group.
Yi: You should also meet with the people you want to be. Socialize with people in your dream company or in the industry you want to be in. To meet with them, I think the best way is to go to conferences. Some students may get tunnel vision and think, “There’s no point with me visiting my dream company’s booth, or that conference, because they’re not hiring.”
I think just talking to people, no matter what their position is, will help you know more about the culture or product that will aid you down the line and maybe even find you a job that might not be posted on the internet — but because you know people, there may be a job you’re qualified for.
Kayla: And don’t be afraid to take a step back and see what you want your career trajectory to be. For example, if I was a new grad and I wanted to be a director of HR, there’s no way I could immediately do that. I can, however, take a step back and say, “What’s a good position that will help me get the experience to create a pathway to get to that point?” Maybe an HR assistant isn’t what my “dream job” is, but that’s a great start to get you on that path to get what you want.
Cliff: When I interviewed for Wolfram, my interviewer and I did a good job of defining all of my skills, even if I didn’t think those skills matched what a software company would have wanted.
I grew up on a farm and I was shocked to realize that the skills I gained from that would be valuable to Wolfram. They wanted to find a technical person who could communicate well, wanted to travel the country and could work on large vehicles at the same time. So, in the end, my job was driving the MathMobile around the country and presenting Mathematica.
The only reason it all worked out so well, though, was because I was able to present myself and all the skills I could bring to the table clearly and efficiently.
Yi: In a similar direction, there are some students who attend the Wolfram Summer School who do really awesome projects, and we end up creating a position for them because they have a lot of potential.
Kayla: When you’re being interviewed, that’s also your opportunity to interview the company. Do you align with them? Are they doing things that excite you and that you want to see in the world? Is that a team you feel you’re going to fit in with? I’m always a little disappointed when people don’t have questions at the end of a call, especially if it’s someone we haven’t talked to before. Even asking questions like “How do you like it? How was starting out for you? How is it for other new grads for start?” can be great.
Cliff: I think young people tend to not know what their skills are — and if they don’t know, it’s very difficult for an interviewer to understand why they are special or unique. Understand who you are and what you bring to the table. At that point, I think the rest kind of plays out.
What’s the Best Way to Network and Connect with People in My Field?
Kayla: If you have a dream company and they have a strong online presence, watch their YouTube videos and comment on them. Stephen Wolfram will sometimes ask us to reach out to people who interact on his livestreams or other videos when people comment.
Do what you can to spark those connections. Sometimes people reach out to me who say, “Hey, I’ve been talking to this person on LinkedIn. They’re really interested in what we do.” Even those little things can go a long way. LinkedIn and other platforms have a lot of different groups you can join to meet likeminded people.
Jamie: Oh, yes, we have a Wolfram U LinkedIn group where you can join discussions or follow posts. You can also participate in professional opportunities or events, like online webinars or Daily Study Groups, which are not just for students! Use resources like Wolfram Community to connect and share ideas. The Wolfram U group hosts many discussions on Community for Daily Study Groups, interactive courses and more.
Kayla: I know Wolfram Community is unique to Wolfram, but platforms like that are really great ways to start talking to people, get an “in” and start connecting with others. Programs like the Summer School are a great way to get recognized and get an “in” with Wolfram folks, even if it doesn’t necessarily mean employment right away.
Rory: Yeah, and the academic programs are often a mix of students and professionals. You get to talk to people and get to know people in environments that aren’t formal networking events. People appreciate building actual relationships rather than exchanging business cards and following each other on LinkedIn. You’ll get so much more from a real relationship with more experienced people in your field and finding people and mentors. You can talk to them about your shared directions and maybe get a mentor out of it. Avoid networking events, form relationships.
Most industries will also have minority groups for you to join, like African Americans in medicine, women in STEM, neurodivergent people or physically disabled people in whatever industry, which is great for networking but also for seeking help and advice on specific issues and perspectives.
Jamie: And don’t forget how important your connections — even the ones online — are. Keep your mind open to opportunities and be aware of the full scope of where your interests lie. My son recently graduated and ended up deviating from the path he planned to follow with his degree. He pursued an opportunity to job shadow at a construction project and was like, “Wow. That’s what I want to do with my days.” He has found his calling. I’m really proud; it takes some real soul searching.
It doesn’t end there — check out the original post for even more great advice, including how to create a standout resume, what it’s like working in the software field, and more!
