Fall 2021 Events
Registration is required for all events.
Three common mistakes PhDs make when starting their job search
Over the past four years, the Beyond Prof team has interviewed hundreds of PhDs about how to make a successful career transition. Through this research, we’ve learned what makes, and breaks, a non-academic job search.
In this webinar, L. Maren Wood, PhD (Founder of Beyond the Professoriate) will share with you these results. After attending this webinar, you’ll be able to:
• Identify common mistakes PhDs make when applying for non-academic jobs.
• Apply proven strategies so that you can avoid making these mistakes.
• Recognize the most critical piece of a non-academic job search.
• Identify resources in Aurora that can help you in your job search.
Replay available.
Mistakes PhDs make when translating their academic skills into industry
The job search process is persuasive communication: you want to convince a hiring manager that you’re the right fit for the job! To do this, you need to provide evidence to the employer that they’ll find convincing, and present that information in a way that will make sense to them.
If you’re struggling in your job search, chances are you’re not making that connection for the employer. Join L. Maren Wood, PhD (Founder of Beyond the Professoriate) to learn how you can be a stronger job search candidate. After attending this webinar you’ll be able to:
• Recognize the challenges PhDs have when communicating their skills to employers.
• Describe the importance of translating academic skills into the language of employers.
• Apply strategies to effectively communicate value and skills to employers.
Replay available.
How to tell your career transition story
October 7
11 am - noon
Zoom
You’ve spent the last several years succeeding in academia, but now you’re ready to do something else! But how do you explain your academic career and its connection to your job beyond the professoriate?
In this webinar, L. Maren Wood, PhD (Founder of Beyond the Professoriate) will help you craft a compelling career transition story that you can use on your LinkedIn profile, when networking, in cover letters, and in job interviews.
After attending this webinar, you will be able to:
• Identify your reasons for leaving academia.
• Describe the components of an effective PhD career transition story.
• Write a draft of your PhD career transition story.
• Identify resources in Aurora that can help you.
Register through Aurora. Replay available after the live event.
Résumés and cover letters for graduate students and professionals
October 11
3:30 - 5 pm
6171 Helen C. White Hall
If you are a graduate student or you have several years of work experience under your belt, then this résumé and cover letter workshop is for you. We’ll review résumé content and design, discuss the best ways to align your qualifications with the position description, and learn how to build an effective argument in your cover letter, persuading decision-makers that you are the best person for the job. Please bring your own résumé and cover letter to discuss.
This workshop is hosted by the Writing Center.
Three ways to fight back against imposter syndrome in your job search
October 14
11 am - noon
Zoom
Are you reading job advertisements and feeling overwhelmed by all the things you DON’T know? We get it. Starting a new career can mean starting over, learning new tools, and developing new skills. The good news is that you love learning and you know how to research solutions to a problem!
In this webinar, L. Maren Wood, PhD (Founder of Beyond the Professoriate) will provide you with tips and strategies for overcoming feeling like an imposter as you explore new career fields and begin applying for jobs outside of academia. After attending this webinar you’ll be able to:
• Describe imposter syndrome and its negative impacts on your job search.
• Develop strategies to counter the negative effects of imposter syndrome.
• Manage your own self-doubt and imposter syndrome.
Register through Aurora. Replay available after the live event.
Five steps to take now and improve your online professional profile
November 4
11 am - noon
Zoom
LinkedIn is one of the fastest growing social media platforms. It’s the number one place companies post jobs, and it’s where recruiters look for talent. You want to be on LinkedIn, confidently connecting with professionals, sharing resources, and connecting with recruiters. How can you make the most of your LinkedIn profile?
In this webinar, L. Maren Wood, PhD (Founder Beyond the Professoriate) will share with you five action steps you can take today to build a LinkedIn profile that will get you noticed and connected by professionals in career fields of interest. After attending this webinar, you will be able to:
• Identify the purpose of an online professional profile.
• Apply successful strategies to build your personal brand online.
• Develop a plan to maintain and enhance your presence online.
• Identify resources in Aurora that can help you in your job search.
Register through Aurora. Replay available after the live event.
“What can I do with my PhD?”
November 11
11 am - noon
Zoom
A PhD can set you up for an academic career, but what else can you do with your PhD? How can you identify other careers that align with your skills, values, and interests?
In this webinar, L. Maren Wood, PhD (Founder, Beyond the Professoriate) will talk about what employers value about your graduate education and training, and how to identify career opportunities where you’ll thrive. After attending this webinar, you’ll be able to:
• Recognize the biggest mistake PhDs make when beginning a nonacademic job search.
• Demonstrate the important of values and skills in determining a career.
• Use an effective set of criteria when evaluating potential career options.
Register through Aurora. Replay available after the live event.
Here’s what NOT to do in 2022 and your job search
December 2
11 am - noon
Zoom
As a busy graduate student or postdoc, it can be tempting to delay preparing for a career until after you’ve completed your degree or postdoc. There’s so much to do to successfully finish your research, publish papers, and defend your dissertation.
But did you know it can take six or more months of active job searching to land a job? This is why it’s important to schedule time in your schedule to lay the foundation for a successful job search starting today. In this webinar, L. Maren Wood, PhD (Founder, Beyond the Professoriate) will help you design a plan for a professional job search for 2022. After attending this webinar, you’ll be able to:
• Identify the biggest mistakes PhDs make in their job search.
• Summarize the components and timelines of an effective job search.
• Develop SMART goals and a plan of action for your job search.
• Identify resources in Aurora that can help you in your job search.
Register through Aurora. Replay available after the live event.
More events >>
Browse more events and workshops for graduate students on the Graduate School Events Calendar.
Fall 2021 Webinars by Beyond the Professoriate
Webinars are held via Zoom and will be recorded. Advanced registration is required for day-of attendance.
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October 23, 11 am - Leaving academia? Here’s what you need to do to prepare.
Leaving academia can feel overwhelming. It’s a big decision, and you want to make sure that you’re making the right choice. Plus it takes a lot of time (about 6 months to find a job).
You want to make sure you’re planning and preparing well in advance so that you can make a successful career transition from your current position to a new, meaningful, career where you can be paid for your education and training. Join L. Maren Wood, PhD (Founder of Beyond the Professoriate) for this interactive webinar so that you can be confident in your decision and knowledgeable about the steps you need to take. In this webinar, Maren will:
- Explain the importance of the 4 stages of PhD career transition to your job search.
- Describe how this 4-step process can land you a rewarding career that is intellectually engaging.
- Identify your next steps.
- Explain how Beyond Prof’s programming can help you in your career transition.
Register for Leaving academia? Here’s what you need to do to prepare.
Beyond the Professoriate Career Assessment
Take the five minute quiz. Discover three steps you should take next in your job search.
Aurora
Aurora by Beyond the Professoriate offers on-demand video seminars to help graduate students across disciplines launch a successful non-faculty job search. Video seminars are taught by PhD experts working beyond the professoriate. Topics include career exploration, hiring and negotiating, and online job search strategies. Learning prompts help students apply this new knowledge to their own job search.
Past events in this series
When possible, the Graduate School Office of Professional Development video records professional development events and posts them to our YouTube Channel. Below are two examples from the Beyond the Tenure Track series.