Why Every Doctoral Student Should Volunteer Off Campus
[...] "In the 'real world' [...] volunteering often leads to a full-time job. [...] This past August, after only three months of volunteering, I got a position as a postdoctoral fellow at the Smithsonian. My new colleagues have since told me that I was selected, in part, because I had demonstrated my interest in the institution through volunteering."
To prepare for a scenario in which you don’t receive a coveted postdoc or tenure-track job, you should consider volunteering. Here’s why:
Volunteering reminds you of your strengths. [...]
Volunteering helps you network. [...]
Volunteering demonstrates your willingness to hustle. [...]
Volunteering doesn’t mean you’re giving up on academe. [...]
Volunteering makes you a better academic. [...]
Volunteering lets you contribute to something you believe in. [...]
I am still early in my career, but I am already seeing benefits from my volunteer work. [...]
Kimberly Probolus is a postdoctoral fellow at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. She earned her Ph.D. in American studies from George Washington University.
For the full article, visit: https://www.chronicle.com/article/Why-Every-Doctoral-Student/248143