Coursework and Training

Just as the educational groundwork that you laid in high school contributed to being accepted into university, and to how well you do in university, the coursework you sign up for now will have a major influence on your long-term career success. Coursework in university builds a foundation of knowledge that you will use throughout your career, so once you identify what kind of career you're looking for, you should start to tailor your classes to suit it. Are you interested in becoming a science journalist, editor, or fundraiser? If so, then make sure you taking writing and English classes in addition to your science classes. Are you interested in the idea of interdisciplinary research? If so, then make sure you take courses from a range of science departments, not just those in your major. Do you want to teach at the college or high school level? Find out whether you can enroll in education courses at your university.

Remember that in addition to technical skills, there are interpersonal skills that you need to learn in order to have a successful career. These include:

• how to get along well with others, even those who can be difficult;
• how to communicate your work well both verbally and in writing;
• how to be reliable as a worker, showing up on time, working hard, and doing your work well;
• knowing how and when to ask for help;
• knowing how to build a network or contacts and supporters in your field.

All of these skills are important in the workplace, and can make or break a career depending on how well they are mastered. For example, I know a scientist who couldn't communicate well verbally because of some quirks in his speech patterns. He will probably never be perfect in his speech, but because he was aware of this challenge and sought training to address it, he did improve his speech and was successful in obtaining a faculty position that includes teaching students. So make sure you are honest with yourself about your non-technical weaknesses, and take advantage of the great resources your institution has to help you work on them.