long term career objectives for phd

Free PDF: The 4 questions every SOP must answer → Master’s or PhD

How to Write a Smart Career Goals Statement in Your Grad SOP

• By Jordan Dotson
• Updated: July 1, 2024

Let’s be honest. Unless you’re a future university professor, then chances are you’re hoping grad school will kickstart a rewarding, well-paid career. This is obvious if you’re targeting a professional-track master’s, like an MHA or MS in Marketing. But even if you’re a Physics mad scientist, I’m guessing you’re at least contemplating a career in industry, no? Either way, if grad school is the obstacle between you and the job of your dreams, then writing a smart career goals statement in your SOP can go a long way toward making that dream real.

In fact, clarifying your career goals might be necessary if you’re applying to competitive master’s programs. It shows that you’re a sharp, long-term thinker, and that you understand how grad school will prepare you to make a difference in the suit-and-tie world.

Unfortunately, I’d estimate that 3/4 of grad applicants don’t do this . Maybe more. And that’s a shame. Luckily, this article will prevent you from making the same mistake. With the tips, templates, and examples below, you’ll have everything you need to convince grad schools that you’ll be the shining star of their next class.

What does a Career Goals Statement look like?

Let’s see a few examples. One of my former students, a financial engineer, wrote the following in the SOP that earned her admission to multiple top-5 schools:

“After graduation, I plan to launch an analyst career in Singapore, hopefully in a buy-side investment firm like Stark Capital or Redstar Securities. Southeast Asia still has tremendous potential for social development, and I envision a career in asset management because I believe in the potential of impact investing to address issues like healthcare accessibility.”

Another student, Yichen, whose entire SOP you can read here , wrote the following to get admitted to his #1 target MPH program:

“My long-term goal is to participate in research on genetics and disease in either orthopedic hospitals or the pharmaceutical industry. I am deeply interested in applying data analysis and modeling to the field of bone health, and hope to participate in research on prevention of long-term disease and occupational health issues.”

For comparison, a wonderful CS scholar wrote:

“Upon graduation, I aim to pursue software developer roles in EdTech companies such as Gotham-based Wayne.ED or Tate. As revealed during the COVID pandemic, the education sector has lagged in adopting secure digital technologies, but GU’s interdisciplinary approach will enable me to aid in building learning ecosystems that meet the heavy demands of overpopulated urban school districts.”

How Should I Write My Career Goals Statement?

I recommend you start with this template:

Upon graduation, I hope to attain a _____ role in a company like _____ or _____, both of whom are currently developing fascinating new ______ solutions applicable to the _____ industry.

Thus, the final version may appear something like this:

Upon graduation, I hope to attain a Senior 3D Designer role in a company like Stark Innovations or Oscorp, both of whom are currently developing augmented reality training platforms applicable to the space mining industry.

Use your own words. Don’t just copy this statement outright. I can’t tell you how often I see SOPs on Reddit that wholesale copy-paste the text from sample essays on this blog. It boggles my mind. Even if grad programs aren’t using AI plagiarism checkers, why would you want to risk someone reading your SOP and saying: “Waitaminute, I’ve seen these sentences ten times! Plagiarizing heathen! Reject! Reject! Reject!”

What Key Elements Should You Think About Conveying?

• A Specific Job Title

If you don’t know what kind of job you want in the future, then why would a grad program take you seriously? Show them that you’ve formulated clear, mature, and reasonable goals. Use Indeed or ZipRecruiter to find your “dream job.” After all, that’s why you’re going back to school, isn’t it? To get your dream job?

• One or Two Potential Employers

It’s easy to say that you want to work as a “software developer” or “health administrator.” But if you’re applying to a MSCS or MHA program, well, that’s fairly obvious, isn’t it? Go further. Tell them where you want to work in an ideal world. Maybe even tell them in which city or country. This only gives them a clearer picture of the ultimate impact you want to make. Don’t be rigid and say you WILL work in these employers (presumptuous much?), but the more detail you can provide, the better.

• Why These Employers?

It would seem naïve (if not obvious) to just say: “I want to work for SpaceX!” Go further. Tell them WHY you want to work in these target employers.

The best way to do this is to connect the companies to the #1 most important sentence in your SOP: the “Sentence of Purpose.” (If you haven’t read that article, I suggest you read it now.) This sentence is a thesis statement that explains the problems you want to learn to solve in grad school, and what you hope to achieve afterward.

Imagine that in your Sentence of Purpose you told the reader you want to work in California coastal ecosystem preservation. Now, imagine that in your Career Statement, you told them you want to work somewhere like the Orange County Sanitation District. Now, tell them WHY you’ve pinpointed this public agency as a potential employer.

Perhaps you want to be a phytoplankton specialist, and the OCSD just released a new initiative to mitigate the effects of wastewater on the local phytoplankton community. When you explain this in your SOP, the admissions committee is going to think:

“Wow, this guy has really done his research and knows what he can achieve. I like him.”

Where to Place Your Career Goals Statement?

Honestly, there are a few places you could work this in. Some students do so deftly in their Sentence of Purpose, at the end of their Frame Narrative Introduction, then weave it throughout the SOP. This, however, takes keen writing skills.

Other applicants include it in their Conclusion paragraph. That’s a solid option, especially if you’ve got a tight word count.

The easiest way, however, if you’ve got the space beneath your word limit, is to include a short paragraph between your “Why This Program” section and Conclusion. At this point in the essay, you’ve explained your credentials in chronological order. Thus, it feels natural to transition ahead and explain the jobs you’ll apply for in the future. This, after all, is your ultimate “purpose.” Describing it here makes it very easy to then sum up your SOP in a concise, meaningful conclusion.

Whatever you do, however, limit this paragraph to no more than 3 sentences. (Just like in the examples above.)

In the end, your SOP should look something like this:

You want a job.

I know it. You know it. Grad schools know it. They want you to get a great job too! (Hence why they publish a “Career Outcomes” page that lists all the fancy places their graduates go to work.)

Certainly, your intellectual proposal or research questions are still the TRUE distinguishing feature of your SOP. But if you’re applying to career-oriented programs, or plan on working in industry after graduation, your intellectual proposal is necessarily tied up with the problems you want to solve in the  professional world.

Including a smart career goals statement in your SOP will show grad programs that you understand this, and convince them that you’re mature enough to handle the work ahead.

Make sure to include:

• A specific job title;
• One or two potential employers;
• And an explanation for WHY you’re targeting these employers.

Do that, and next year, Dream University might feature your handsome, smiling face on their own “Career Outcomes” page.

Still unsure how to explain your career goals in a smart, persuasive way?

In my  FREE PDF , I share the 4 questions that every statement of purpose must answer to convince grad schools that you’re ready for—and deserve—an amazing career.

Check them out now!

How are you going to write a Career Goals Statement in your SOP?

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Home / Graduate Student Career Resources / Resources / PhD Students

PhD Student Career Planning Timeline

No matter where you are in your doctoral degree, you can start preparing to find a career or job after graduation. See our guided timeline below for some ideas about how to prepare. You can also use our checklists to help you prepare for your job search.

Explore Our PhD Timeline:

• Years One-Two
• Years Three-Four + 

Years One-Two:  

Build Your Network

• Create a LinkedIn Profile and update it regularly.
• If you don’t already have an advisor, find an advisor who fits your academic interests and personal mentoring style. Ask them to connect you with other faculty or staff members who might be of interest to you.
• Evaluate your network using our Building and Evaluating Your Personal Network worksheet or on your own. Identify where your network is strong and make a plan to strengthen your network where it is weak.
• Conduct informational interviews with relevant companies and/or positions.
• If applicable, join professional organizations to expand your network.
• If applicable, attend professional conferences to learn more about your field and to network.
• Introduce yourself and get to know other graduate students and faculty in your department and around campus.
• Attend networking events on campus and throughout your own personal network (such as your undergraduate alma mater, conferences, industry events, professional associations,etc).

Plan for Success

• Create a long-term timeline that spans the entirety of your projected PhD degree (approximately 5-7 years depending on your department and personal schedule) that outlines your goals and deadlines for completing your degree. 
• Familiarize yourself with your department’s cycle of regular deadlines, research & travel grants, and fellowships and grants.
• Explore the Career Center website to learn about informational interviews, networking, and other pertinent information for job seekers.
• Draft a Master List of your past experiences for fodder to make your Resume.
• If you have a CV, convert it into a resume . Explore making several resumes for several types of positions.
• Do some self-reflection and research to determine possible companies or organizations of interest or desirable career paths or positions. Ask yourself what kind of lifestyle, locations, and career you’d like to have. Determine what steps you can take now to work towards these goals.

Gain Experience and Transferable Skills

• Research and apply for summer internships, jobs, and/or volunteer work to explore and hone your transferable skills.
• Visit the Career Center to identify transferable skills and help with your application materials for summer opportunities.
• Consider taking on a leadership role on campus through the Graduate Student Association , the Graduate Student Commons , or in a low-impact departmental or campus committee .
• Consider participating in the Graduate Division’s Graduate Student Leadership Certificate Program .
• If possible, do an internship, volunteer work, or hold a part-time job while you earn your degree to expand your network and skills.

Years Three-Four + :

• Update your LinkedIn Profile regularly.
• Continue to conduct informational interviews if necessary.
• Continue to attend networking events on campus and throughout your own personal network (such as your undergraduate alma mater, conferences, industry events, professional associations,etc).
• Adjust and update your long-term PhD completion timeline with appropriate goals and deadlines.
• Make drafts of cover letters and resumes for job applications.
• Ask trusted colleagues or mentors to critique your materials.
• Submit your documents to this form for a critique of your application materials.
• Monitor your desired job field to anticipate any developments and stay involved in contemporary conversations.
• Look at the current job market for the industries or positions you’re interested in and assess what skills you possess and where you could improve your skills to make your future applications stronger.
• When necessary, contact potential letter recommenders and/or references to meet with them, update them on your goals, and provide an updated resume.
• Continue to self-reflect on the progress you’ve made and your future goals and desired lifestyle. Ask yourself there are any adjustments you want to make and how you can make those adjustments.
• Visit the Career Center to identify transferable skills, get help writing your application materials for jobs and/or summer opportunities.

Final Year:

• Update your LinkedIn profile regularly.
• Continue to attend networking events on campus and throughout your own personal network (such as your undergraduate alma mater, conferences, industry events, professional associations, etc).
• If applicable, attend job fairs and networking events geared towards job seekers meeting recruiters.
• Create business cards to bring with you to job fairs or to give out when requested.
• Alert your network to let them know you are on the job market.
• Create a calendar with job application deadlines.
• Apply to jobs.
• Adjust and update your long-term PhD completion timeline with goals and deadlines.
• Balance your time between job seeking activities and finishing your dissertation.
• Visit the Career Center to practice interviewing.
• Visit the Career Center to have a Career Coach critique your application materials.
• Learn about negotiating a job offer .
• Learn about job salaries in your field.
• Bring your resume , business cards, research employers in advance, and attend job fairs on campus or elsewhere.
• Contact recommendation letter writers and/or references to keep them appraised of your progress.
• Research and apply for summer internships, jobs, and/or volunteer work to explore and hone your transferable skills if you haven’t secured a job or if your job doesn’t start until the fall.

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Last modified: October 14, 2021 109.248.223.228