Truth: Graduate students may feel a stigma attached to seeking non-academic jobs, so advisor support can play a huge role in how early students seek resources, and how they feel about their choices.
Belief: Professors and advisors don’t have any role to play in helping students find careers outside of the academy.
Truth: Students are already anxious about jobs, and not knowing how to prepare is often more stressful than making tangible, small steps toward a future profession.
Belief: Encouraging students to look into non-faculty careers on top of all the things they need to do for their degree will overwhelm them.
Truth: Students are concerned that if they bring up diverse careers with their advisors, their work will not be taken as seriously.
Belief: If professors are not outwardly objecting to students exploring multiple careers, students will know that they support them.
Truth: Graduate education teaches students to think critically and analytically, evaluate sources, conduct new research, and communicate ideas to diverse audiences. We need these skills in all sectors of the economy.
Belief: The purpose of graduate school is to create more professors, and if there are not enough professor positions, there is no reason for students to get the degree.