Choosing a Program

Take 5 minutes or so to think about this question and write down the things that come to mind. Ideally, do this before even looking into different programs/jobs.

There is no criteria for these things to be considered "valid". As long as you believe that it is essential to your success, put it down. Try to be as specific as possible.

Keep in mind that the things you need to succeed will change over time. It's perfectly fine if you have completely different answers to this question at different points in your life.

It doesn't hurt to repeat this exercise each time you are applying to something.

Now that you have your list of what you need to be successful, it's time to take a look at the programs/organization you are interested in. 

Try to find a mission statement, which will typically be located on the homepage of their website or under the "About Us" section. This is what they claim their values are, and it may not always reflect the reality. This is a snapshot into how the organization is or what they are working towards. I would encourage you to do more research. 

You can also just do a web search of information about the program of interest to find any news articles or social media/blog posts where they are mentioned. While researching companies, it can be helpful to find information about salaries and benefits, which can clue you into the company values.

These two searches will give you anything widely available. The best information will be from people who have held similar positions to the one you are pursuing at the same organization, if you are able to find such a person. Try tapping into your networks or searching LinkedIn.

Does the information you found on the program/organization indicate that this might be a place where you will have the five things you need to succeed?

This may not always be clear. Finding your answer may take a lot of your time and energy. You will likely have to do a lot of reading in between the lines as well; this is because programs and organizations aren't always honest about their values.

Going through this activity doesn't guarantee that you will choose the right program because there are always so many other factors that we can't predict. Hopefully though, you will learn the importance of prioritizing yourself.

Additionally, you should consider what support you can expect to receive through mentorship. Although an organization may not seem like a good fit overall, having a good mentor and supportive coworkers can make a big difference. This is true if you expect to be working and interacting primarily with a small group of people.