Duke Graduate School

"The transition to industry is not as hard as you might expect because companies are looking for the same qualities that are important in graduate school. They are looking for strong foundational skills, a good work ethic, and the ability to meet deadlines and deliver projects. In some ways, it is actually easier to be successful in industry because the scope and goals of your research are more clearly defined."

“At the beginning of a new year, I implore you to resolve to take professional development seriously.  Start by practicing the habits of common decency, good manners and etiquette by attending events for which you register or RSVP!”

"I would advise students to be open to different types of opportunities, and don’t rule anything out. When people talk about their path, they often say things like, “Oh I got lucky and then this happened.” It’s not just that they got lucky. They were open and they tried different things. When an opportunity came up, they took it. You need to keep open and try different things before you rule them out."

Do you ever wish you were better at communicating your strengths to potential employers and mentors?  Lindsay Dahora, Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Immunology, shares how the CliftonStrengths assessment helped her articulate her strengths and envision a satisfying career.

"The most important thing I think you can do [to manage up] is to be open and transparent with your manager, especially if you have bad news. A lot of people don’t want to be the bearer of bad news, but the more you delay in sharing such information, the bigger the negative impact can be."