1. Create a personal website
   1. One way to build your network and resume at home is to create a personal website with more details and pictures of your accomplishments. In addition to a LinkedIN page, a personal website can increase your chances of  having a great first impression when looking at your online presence.1 There are several commercial websites such as Wix and Squarespace that can be easier to set up. If you are looking for a more cost-effective website alternative, wordpress or some universities have services to help you build your own website on their servers.
   2. GradSWE has several resources to help you get started with building your website, including a YouTube video that our previous GMC, Carolyn Chlebek created.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhE036pkP7
      
2. Get your Professional Engineering (PE) license
   1. If you are thinking about being an engineering consultant, developing your own engineering business or looking to separate yourself from the competition. Consider taking this time at home to study for the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam. It is the first step to getting the PE license.2
3. Coding online courses
   1. There are several low cost coding sites online that are much cheaper than in-person or university associated class. One sites that some of my friends have used to learn python is called datacamp. If you take their introductory course, they will give you a discount on their lessons.
4. Take LinkedIN skill-assessment tests
   1. There are several tests on LinkedIN (full list in the link below) that will add an achievement to your skills  and endorsements. You can find these exams by doing to your profile and scrolling down to the Skills & Endorsements section. There is a button that says “Take skill quiz”.https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/111413/available-skill-assessments-on-linkedin?lang=en
5. Register for proficiency exams
   1. If you are learning a language, why not get accreditation? There is a list of proficiency exams on Wikipedia.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_language_proficiency_tests

 
References:

1. Aleksandra Tadic. “Why You Should Create A Personal Website ASAP”. TopResume. https://www.topresume.com/career-advice/why-you-need-a-personal-website-asap
2. “How to get Licensed”. National Society of Professional Engineers https://www.nspe.org/resources/licensure/how-get-licensed
3. John Jersin. “Announcing Skill Assessments to Help you Showcase your Skills” https://blog.linkedin.com/2019/september/17/announcing-skill-assessments-to-help-you-showcase-your-skills. LinkedIN Official Blog. September 17th, 2019.

Personal websites are a great way to showcase your potential to employers and research partners. GradSWE has a Youtube video explaining the many things you can feature on a personal website, like projects, experience, and leadership roles - but how do you get started? One free way to make a website is with GitHub Pages!

The easiest way to start is to begin working with an existing template. For this example, we will be using the Academic Pages template, meant for academic personal websites. There are other templates out there, but this is a popular choice among researchers.

1. Sign into your GitHub account. If you do not have a GitHub account, you can make one for free.

It has been four years since I first started my ‘back to school’ journey as an international graduate student after working full-time in industry for 2 years. And like many of us who have undertaken this path I had my own share of fears. This blog post is dedicated to sharing insights on this transition and answer some of these questions:

1. Time management: Planning is a very important aspect in graduate studies. There is always so much to do: classes, assignments, research proposals, experimentation, mentoring, meetings and the list goes on. The working hours in school are generally more flexible as compared to jobs in industry and most of the targets/deadlines are primarily self-defined. On the other hand, work in industry is mostly dictated by deadlines, regular reviews and though that experience does help in planning, graduate studies usually call for more proactive planning. If you are generally driven by deadlines it can be helpful to assign regular targets for yourself to avoid work piling up. Actively allocate time for coursework, research and also keep some time to decompress.     
2. Handling finances: The transition from a steady paycheck during a professional job to paying for school can seem particularly intimidating. Working in the industry does provide valuable experience in managing finances but keep in mind that this transition might demand better planning of finances and even living on a budget. Before taking up a graduate course, it can be worthwhile to research about the usual program time span, available funding options and the job pay benefits after graduation.  Many universities offer fellowships and funding from departments or the graduate college. Some companies even sponsor advanced degrees for their employees. Talk with your employer to explore any suitable options.  
3. Back to books: Going back to the classroom after years away from books can feel like a difficult feat and it may take some time for you to build momentum.  At this time joining study groups can be very useful. Not only can it provide support for coursework, but also serve as a good networking opportunity. Try to talk with previous students to figure out the course demands prior to taking them. If you are involved with research projects as well it might be helpful to plan coursework with your major professor. Some programs also provide options for lowered semester course work on request.
4. Preparing for life after school: Recent reports from the National Center for Educational Statistics show that employees with master’s degrees have earnings about 28% higher than those with a bachelor’s degree. If you plan to work in a specific area after graduation, an internship experience in the same area can be very insightful. Internships offer a great introduction to real life work and provide the opportunity to build your network that could lead to future job opportunities. Most employers also value a prior industry experience, even if it was not  in the same country or field, as it depicts your ability to work in teams, solve problems, and manage resources. Plan early and talk to students who have had internship experiences to choose the right ones fit for you. Keep in touch with your research group alumni as they might help as points of contact in the areas you most likely would be interested to join. The graduate career services center might also help in providing information about different available opportunities.

As rapid technological developments continue, the only way to keep up with the evolving job demands is by continued learning and the desire to gain new skills.  And even though going back to school might look intimidating, don’t let your doubts hold you back as "We can't become what we need to be by remaining what we are." - Oprah Winfrey.