Preparing for your Career - Part 2 (What are the best take-aways from your College / Institute)

I have had innumerable students asking me if school and college grades are important. To be employable, a "Professional story" will give you a head start. Grades provide the only tool to evaluate your capabilities and sincerity in the absence of the Professional Story and some validation of your claims in your CV. 


Building your Professional Story.
If you are still in your college or institute, after doing the homework described in the previous post, it is time to begin building your story.

First, review all your subjects / courses. Identify those which are relevant and learn the concepts thoroughly. You should go well beyond just what is taught in the course and learn the terminology and tools.

Next research the area:Understanding the context and reading about practical situations where the concepts are employed is essential. If you are talking about finance and simple models, a good place to get a wealth of information is Prof. Damodaran's site and blog.  Read knowledge @ Wharton, HBR, McKinsey & such websites specifically looking for articles relating to your interest.

Then, Start writing an essay about what you want to be, why and what you have learned about that area. Show this to your classmates, professors and any senior professional in the field. A couple of false starts should not deter you. This is how you build a support network.

Good grades are obviously better than bad grades but with a proper story, you can explain away many poor grades. You must do well at least in some subjects.

Participate in professional activities in your area of interest.Join professional associations Even if nothing is available, try and start a local professional group in your class This greatly adds to the story and is easier than you may imagine.

Leverage your alumni associations, build peer groups - device methods to connect with your class and from other institutes –organize festivals; seminars etc

Develop an effective personal system - find the best personal management system that enables you to:

• Prioritize
• Take notes
• Track and manage your projects & tasks
• Manage your time

Once done DON’T change it except to tweak for technology.

Remember, your institute is the best place to learn concepts, build a network and choose a career path.

In the next post we will look at some career areas.