Spring 2022 Events
Advance registration is required for all events.
Applying for jobs and not hearing back? Here's why.
Are you one of the thousands of job candidates submitting job applications but not getting an interview? It’s time to take a step back and evaluate your strategy.
In this webinar, L. Maren Wood, PhD (Founder of Beyond the Professoriate) talks about what she’s learned interviewing PhDs at Beyond Prof, common mistakes people are making with their resumes and cover letters, and strategies you can take to avoid these costly mistakes.
After attending this webinar you will be able to:
• Identify common mistakes PhDs make when applying for nonacademic jobs.
• Apply proven strategies so that you can avoid making these mistakes.
• Develop a strategic plan for your job search.
• Recognize how Beyond the Professoriate programming helps you in your job search.
This webinar is sponsored by ETS®.
Replay available.
How Aurora can help you prepare for a job search in 2022
Join Beyond the Professoriate for an introduction to Aurora, the professional development e-learning platform for PhDs and postdocs.
Through self-paced courses and live webinars in Aurora, you’ll learn how to launch a successful job search after your PhD or Postdoc. Aurora has resources for graduate students interested in academic or nonacademic careers.
After attending this presentation, you’ll be able to:
• Describe the challenges PhDs face in their job search.
• Identify the resources in Aurora that can help you.
• Apply tips and strategies to confidently begin your career exploration and job search.
This webinar is sponsored by ETS®.
Replay available.
Overqualified or Underqualified? Which is it, and what to do about it.
PhDs are often told by employers that they are overqualified for positions. But they’re also told that they don’t have enough experience. So, which is it?
Join Beyond the Professoriate Founder L. Maren Wood, PhD, for this webinar on how to break down the overqualified vs. underqualified conundrum, and learn concrete strategies for overcoming this obstacle in your job search.
After attending this webinar, you will be able to:
• Identify the challenges PhDs face when applying for nonacademic jobs.
• Describe the importance of translating your skills into the language of employers.
• Apply strategies to communicate your value to professional employers.
• Recognize how Beyond the Professoriate programming helps you in your job search.
This webinar is sponsored by ETS®.
Friday, Feb. 11
11 am | Zoom
Recording available after the event.
How PhDs can find and build meaningful nonacademic careers
Many PhDs worry that a nonacademic job will be less rewarding and intellectually stimulating than being a professor. Beyond Prof’s research shows that PhDs ARE able to forge meaningful and impactful careers in all industries and sectors.
Join the Beyond Prof team for this webinar and learn how you can find a nonacademic career where you will thrive, engage in meaningful work, and be connected to people and projects that matter to you.
After attending this webinar, you will be able to:
• Describe how nonacademic careers provide intellectual and rewarding work for PhDs.
• Illustrate how values and motivators can be career hooks.
• Recognize the importance of identifying your Optimal Career Pathway.
• Identify resources in Aurora that can help you identify nonacademic career opportunities.
This webinar is sponsored by ETS®.
Wednesday, Feb. 16
11 am | Zoom
Recording available after the event.
Résumés and Cover Letters for Graduate Students and Professionals
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 UW–Madison Writing Center.
Wednesday, Feb. 23
3:30 - 5 pm | Online
Panel: How to Identify a Career That's Right For You
You know that PhDs can be happy in a nonacademic career, but will you be? How can you find a career that will be intellectually engaging, rewarding, and challenging? Join Beyond the Professoriate for a conversation with three PhDs to learn how to find a job that’s right for you.
After attending this webinar, you will be able to:
• Articulate the importance of values and motivators in a career.
• Conduct your own research using LinkedIn, job advertisements, and networking.
• Develop criteria for evaluating nonacademic career options.
• Recognize how Beyond the Professoriate programming helps you in your job search.
This webinar is sponsored by ETS®.
Friday, March 11
11 am | Zoom
Recording available after the event.
How PhDs can identify and communicate their marketable skills to employers
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 the Beyond Prof team 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.
• Identify resources in Aurora that can help you.
This webinar is sponsored by ETS®.
Wednesday, March 16
11 am | Zoom
Recording available after the event.
The #1 mistake PhDs make in their job search
What’s the #1 mistake PhDs make in their job search?
Hint: it doesn’t have to do with your resume. It’s not even about how many applications you send out. It has to do with HOW you’re job searching.
In this webinar, L. Maren Wood, PhD (Founder, Beyond the Professoriate) will share 8 years of research on how PhDs successfully transition into nonacademic careers. Join us to learn what the #1 mistake PhDs make in their job search is, and how you can avoid making this mistake.
After attending this webinar, you will be able to:
• Identify the #1 mistake PhDs make when starting their nonacademic job search.
• Develop a strategy to avoid making this mistake.
• Create goals for your job search so that you can effectively move forward.
• Recognize how Beyond the Professoriate programming helps you in your job search.
This webinar is sponsored by ETS®.
Friday, April 8
11 am | Zoom
Recording available after the event.
Why every PhD should be on LinkedIn and 3 steps to get you started
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, the Beyond Prof team will share with you 3 action steps you can take today to build and maintain your LinkedIn profile. After attending this webinar, you will be able to:
• Recognize the importance of LinkedIn in a nonacademic job search.
• Describe your skills and value to professional employers.
• Create a plan for updating and maintaining your LinkedIn profile.
• Identify resources in Aurora that can help you in your job search.
This webinar is sponsored by ETS®.
Wednesday, April 13
11 am | Zoom
Recording available after the event.
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.