Find your advocate: The secret boost you need for your next move
Dr. Justin Grimes supports college students and working professionals over 30 as they pursue graduate degrees to advance their careers. With almost 20 years of experience in higher education, he brings a wealth of knowledge as an educator, degree holder, recruiter, admissions coordinator, and academic coach.
Right now, you’re asking yourself some big questions about your career and your life:
- Why am I still at this job?
- How do I figure out what I’m really good at and get paid to do it every day?
- How do I achieve a better work-life balance?
- What are ways I can bring in extra income?
- Should I go back to school even if I feel like I don’t have the time, money, or energy?
Do any of these questions resonate with you? If so, you’re in the right place.
These questions are connected to your why, or the purpose, drive, or dream that’s been lingering in the background. Maybe it’s the one you abandoned, or the one you haven’t fully uncovered.
Once you’re clear on your why, and graduate school (or another next step) seems like the right move, the next challenge is making it happen.
Many people believe success is all about having perfect credentials:
- A top GPA
- 310+ GRE, 730 GMAT, or 170+ LSAT
- Top internships
- A resume filled with working experience from elite universities or Top 100 companies.
- Recommendations from impressive people
- A flawless essay
- A strong interview
Sure, these things help. But here’s the truth: no one is perfect. Everyone has gaps, weaknesses, or flaws.
When you’re one of hundreds or thousands of applicants, what sets you apart isn’t always your resume or GPA. It’s your advocate.
An advocate is someone who has insider knowledge, influence, and the ability to speak on your behalf in spaces where you aren’t present. Advocates see potential beyond the paper, understand imperfect candidates, and know that giving the right person a chance is a smart decision.
A student with a 2.7 GPA can have just as much chance of being admitted as a student with a 4.0 GPA if they have the right advocate. Similarly, a professional with three years of experience and a master's degree may have the same opportunity as someone with ten years of experience and no graduate degree, provided they have the right advocate.
So how do you find your advocate?
- Study the people who make the decisions. Look at faculty, hiring managers, or decision-makers. Review their resumes, LinkedIn profiles, publications, and anything you can find online.
- Look for someone whose background mirrors yours. People tend to empathize with those who’ve walked a similar path.
- Show them why they should advocate for you. Write down what you’d say if you had 5-10 minutes of their time. Be specific about your ask and share something they can relate to. Ask questions, listen, and learn. Don’t simply say, “Please be my advocate.”
- Build an authentic connection. Compliment where it’s genuine, celebrate their work, and be real about your story. Advocates can tell the difference between someone who wants something and someone who has something to offer.
When should you start?
Yesterday, last year, now. The earlier you begin, the more time you have to nurture relationships, understand opportunities, and gain momentum.
Discovering your advocate is more than a strategy: it’s transformative. It amplifies potential into opportunities and turns uncertainty into decisive action.
Reflective questions to guide you:
- Who in your field or desired program has a background, experience, or path similar to yours?
- What specific value or perspective could you share that would make someone want to speak on your behalf?
- What is one small step you could take this week to connect authentically with a potential advocate?
- How can you show your “why” in a way that resonates with someone else’s story?
- If you had 10 minutes with your dream advocate, what three things would you ask, share, or learn?
Your next move starts with the people who see your potential and are willing to lift you. You have to do the work to find your advocate(s).
Mentors speak with you directly, whereas advocates may never share a thing with you but still speak about you.
You've probably heard the saying, "It's not what you know, but who you know." Well, today, your goal is to connect with someone who knows you well and can advocate for you. This person will speak to the hiring manager, admissions coordinator, or recruiter and say, "We need (insert your name) to join us, and here's why."
If you discover who that person is or what they have done, be sure to express your gratitude. Appreciation is often overlooked nowadays. Don’t be someone who acts out of entitlement instead of being thankful. A simple “thank you” can go a long way.
