Message to Graduate Students

Just learning and getting the diploma does not mean you are done. You must look for professional or research or academic jobs. Many people wait until the last minute to think about jobs. I noticed a few Ethiopian PHDs desperately looking for a job or if they have a job, the job does not allow them to do research. Current students at Masters and PHD level feel like they have plenty of time to worry about jobs. In order to get a job right after you graduate you must do the following 1) high quality research 2) develop good relationship with fellow students and researchers 3) report on your progress to your professor as often as possible 4) develop your own professional network with people who you can seek advise or help at the time you are looking for a job. You have to do this everyday of your graduate work. “Old Boys Network” rules. Make sure you are in such network. For example when I hire postdocs, I call my network and ask them to recommend people, once I know who to hire, I put the name of this person in my proposal as potential researcher in the projects. This is how it is done. If you plan to get a random job, the chance you will get such job is almost a miracle.