Hi guys! Just wondering whether anyone has advice about exactly what I should be doing early in my grad-school career (aside from studying, of course). Specifically, I want to use this time to be proactive about establishing connections both within and outside of my small department. I'm hoping that, by starting early, I'll give myself a better opportunity and more time to build a strong CV. I'm currently a master's student, but part of my motivation stems from a desire to to develop a CV that will help me grab the attention of PhD admissions boards in a year or two. I have some specific questions which I'll list below, but I'd appreciate any feedback, regardless of whether it directly addresses those questions. Okay, here goes:
Should I be joining organizations like the MLA now, or should I focus on groups within my department?Would anyone recommend becoming an officer in my department's graduate student association?Should I be submitting any (good) paper I write for publication, or is it better to wait for a call for papers that corresponds to my research?Should I rely on my professors to help with newbie publications, or is this one of those take-the-bull-by-the-horns scenarios?
Reading these questions, I realize I sound a little like a politician; I'm not solely motivated by my desire to "get ahead." I love what I'm studying, and I love the work I do, but I'm also aware of Humanities budget cuts and increased grad school enrollment. Things are a little dicey in English departments right now; while I know it's entirely possible that I will fail to secure employment (much less tenure) at the end of this long road, I don't want to fail knowing I could have done more.