Pursuing your doctoral degree in audiology provides you with a world of new opportunities such as conducting auditory research, working as a pediatric audiologist in a large teaching hospital and the list goes on! However, as you probably already know the pressures of graduate school can lead to anxiety and stress.

That’s why we created helpful tips to hopefully ease some of the pressure and make your graduate school experience more enjoyable!

The importance of self-care
Sleep, exercise and a good diet are a must to restore your physical and mental resources. Exercise such as taking a walk, can release tension when you’re dealing with challenges from your graduate program. Don’t forget to fuel your body with nutritious food and plenty of water to help you power through your days!
There’s more to life than graduate school!
Understandably, being in graduate school demands a focus that makes it easy to block out other parts of your life. But, neglecting things, such as your social life and hobbies, can also have a negative impact on your academic demands. So strike a balance between your education, relationships, and other interests that bring you happiness.
Keep an open mind
You may have come into graduate school with a clear career goal. However, don’t be afraid to keep an open mind and change your goals if need be. For instance, you may only want to work as a VA audiologist but maybe you had a placement at a teaching hospital and found that you really enjoy the diagnostic component of audiology. Keeping an open mind can help renew your motivation and reduce the stress as you can see the new opportunities your academic endeavors can bring.
Don’t forget to celebrate along the way
Yes, your long-term goal is important, but don’t forget to celebrate your other accomplishments. For instance, acing your final exam for your AMP II class or preparing an awesome presentation on “Syndromes and Hearing Loss” for your pediatric class. After all, these accomplishments will help you reach your end goal. So, celebrate these accomplishments – no matter how big or small!
Listen to your body
Listen to the physical, emotional and mental cues that your body provides you that you may need a break, and allow yourself to have one. For example, if you’re having trouble focusing, take a few minutes and sit out in the fresh air and meditate. Sometimes, a quick break and a change of environment is all you need to get yourself back on track. Also, reach out to someone you trust whether that’s your friends, family, an advisor or anyone else.

Hopefully, these tips help ease the stress of graduate school so you don’t lose sight of your goals and why you chose to enter the audiology profession.

Adapted from: https://gradschool.duke.edu/student-life/health-and-wellness/tips-dealing-stress.

From Graduate Student to Audiology Extern: Tips for a Smooth Transition

It is time to investigate where your audiology externship will be as part of your graduate program. This opportunity is a great way to make the transition from being a full time student to to a professional audiologist. Consider this your first interview for a full time position and follow our interviewing tips.

However, going from being a graduate student to a full-time employee does take some adjustment. Here are a few basics to help with the transition.

Develop a professional persona
This should start in graduate school. Even before your audiology externship, practice professional values as you will be among potential employers and professional references throughout your graduate program. It takes more than knowledge to land a job. Be smart about impression management. Consider the following to assist in getting “professional ready”:
- Ditch informal wear. Dress for the professional part you want to play.
- Keep your deadlines to demonstrate efficiency and dependability.
- Practice listening. This skill will make a huge difference in your interpersonal relationships. Even in interviews people can fail to respond to questions because they are so eager to answer.
- Be discreet and respectful of others. Chatter, complaining, and gossip will not develop a professional reputation. You never know who will be a key player in your profession. Inspire goodwill, as it is an intangible asset.
Balance work and personal schedules
While in school, schedules were more flexible so fitting in an exercise class during the day or waking up ten minutes before class and still being on time might not have been a problem. Working full time with a more structured 9 to 5 schedule, means that you do need to juggle your schedule differently. So think about taking that 5:30 am exercise class to get to work by 8:00 am or find the dentist that offers evening or Saturday hours.
Manage your Finances
With those externships that do provide a salary, managing your money is important. Develop a budget that will help you manage your money while on your externship and when transitioning to your first professional position. There are many budget apps that are available to help you keep on top of your finances!
Stay Healthy
Having to adjust to a 9 to 5 schedule is a major transition and then trying to fit in exercise may seem impossible. Remember, there is always time, just not what you were used to as a student. There are plenty of early morning and evening classes from yoga, to a spin class to a boot camp. It is important to stay healthy.
Building new social networks
School has been part of your life and many friendships and support has been established through your school years. Your new externship may land you in a new city or state and you will need to build a new network of friends. It is important to meet people outside the office, so take some initiative and experiment with new social situations. Taking on new hobbies and being spontaneous will help you discover new interests and make new connections. Join a book club, take a cooking class. And don’t forget there are several social networking apps to use to build your network.

Adapted from: https://www.brazen.com/blog/archive/on-the-job/6-tips-for-a-smooth-transition-from-college-life-to-the-professional-world/
Adapted from: https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2015/01/05/essay-five-professional-skills-graduate-students-learn

Getting the Most Out of Your Externships

Externship experience is an important piece of your graduate studies in audiology as it provides a foundation for a successful career. University life can be quite different than the professional world, and it’s important to understand some of those differences. Use these tips to help make the most of these valuable experiences.

Ask questions…You are there to learn, so asking questions is part of your responsibility.
Meet with your supervisor – first, to clarify expectations and agree upon responsibilities. Secondly, meet with your supervisor on a regular basis to ensure both of your expectations are being met. It is also a good way to obtain feedback on your performance.
Be professional – treat your externship as a full-time job by always behaving professionally. Be on time, dress for success, avoid missing work, and project a positive attitude.
Stay organized – if you stay on top of your workload, you can look for other opportunities or projects to further your education during your externship experience.
Track your accomplishments – keep a log of procedures, evaluations, and projects performed as this is great information to include on your resume.
Reflect on your experience – be sure and ask your supervisor and coworkers for feedback on your performance so you can learn what you have done well and what areas need improvement.
Keep in touch – ask for a letter of recommendation and keep in touch so that you can call upon him/her later when a reference is required. Staying in touch with your supervisor may also keep you in mind when future opportunities arise.

Adapted from: https://www.careereducation.columbia.edu/resources/10-tips-make-most-internship https://career.berkeley.edu/Internships/IntTips