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Starting Your Graduate Assistantship with Confidence

Your assistantship is more than a campus job, it’s your first opportunity to begin developing a professional identity. While you’re still a student, you’ll also be viewed as a colleague, representative of your department, and an employee of the university. Learning to balance these roles is one of the most valuable experiences you’ll gain during graduate school.

What Changes?

As an undergraduate, your primary responsibility was learning. As a graduate assistant, you are now expected to contribute to the success of your department while continuing your education.

You may notice that:

  • Faculty members become workplace colleagues as well as instructors.
  • You may work alongside staff who once supported you as a student.
  • Undergraduate students may begin looking to you for guidance.
  • You’ll often be trusted with confidential information.
  • Your work reflects on both you and your department.

These changes can feel uncomfortable at first, and that’s completely normal.

Navigation the Transition

Your friends are still students….

Your role has changed, even if your friendships haven’t.

  • Maintain healthy friendships while recognizing that your workplace responsibilities come first.
  • Avoid discussing confidential information with friends.
  • Remember that undergraduate students may now view you as a professional resource.
  • Set appropriate boundaries when working with classmates or friends.

Your professors may now be your coworkers…

Many graduate assistants work closely with faculty they once knew only in the classroom.

As your relationship changes:

  • Continue to be respectful and professional.
  • Be dependable and follow through on commitments.
  • Participate in conversations as a colleague while recognizing their supervisory or mentoring role.
  • Don’t assume your previous student relationship changes workplace expectations.

Your First Month Checklist

✔ Meet with your supervisor to clarify expectations.

✔ Learn your department’s communication style.

✔ Understand your work schedule and responsibilities.

✔ Ask questions early.

✔ Introduce yourself professionally to faculty and staff.

✔ Learn confidentiality expectations.

✔ Schedule regular check-ins with your supervisor.