Career Exploration Seminars & Workshops

The Exploring Careers seminars and workshops are designed to enhance your exploration and knowledge of various career paths. From the Career Development Seminar — which is taught by industry professionals and exposes you to a range of fields (including government and nonprofits, publishing/science reporting, consulting, and equity research/intellectual properties) — to the STEM Strategic Career Planning workshop, which focuses on careers outside of academia available to STEM graduates, these events will equip you with new information about specific career paths to help guide your future career pursuits and decisions. Note: we are planning to announce a Winter event dedicated to career exploration for Humanities and Social Science PhDs; stay tuned for updates.

Career Development Course

Sept. 15 – Dec. 15 (8 sessions on Wednesdays from 5 – 6:30pm)

Facilitator: Mao Yinghui; Speakers: Various

Explore various career options, network and learn what a 'day in the life' looks like from industry professionals in a variety of popular PhD fields. This Career Development course, organized by the Office of Graduate Affairs, explores a different career field in each session, with each session run by industry professionals. 

Registration: Email Mao Yinghui at: [email protected] to be added to the course. After being added, you will receive the link for all sessions via Courseworks.

STEM Strategic Career Planning Part 1: The Universe of Careers Outside of Academia Available to STEM Graduates

The two-part STEM Strategic Careers Planning Workshop Series will take place on Nov. 9 and 10. The workshops will cover careers outside of academia, and how to harness skills as a STEM graduate to land those careers. Though attending both workshops is strongly encouraged, attendance at the first workshop is not required to attend the second workshop. (To register for Part 2, please navigate to the Career Planning page from the IDP Program page).

Part 1: Tuesday, November 9, 11:30 AM – 1 PM

Register here

View Part 2 Here

Graduate students and postdocs often don’t start thinking about their job search until towards the end of their education or training. Due to time constraints, their career planning then often lacks a strategic perspective and sufficient preparation which can result in missed dream-job opportunities. This workshop, led by Josh Henkin of STEM Career Services, starts by introducing a strategic approach to building career skills and planning for career success as early as possible during academic training to enhance and build a professional reputation.

In addition, because many trainees have limited knowledge of the types of careers available upon completion of their education and training, the workshop addresses knowledge gaps and introduces attendees to the numerous and diverse career paths they might pursue outside of academia. Attendees will be introduced to career assessments they can immediately utilize to identify their professional skills, interests, and values. Attendees will also learn about strategies and tools to use in their search for novel careers, as well as techniques to pinpoint career passions to guide career decisions.

About the speaker:

Josh Henkin, PhD is the founder of STEM Career Services. In addition to having earned a STEM PhD, completing a postdoc, being awarded an AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowship and holding numerous jobs using technical skills in the private sector, Josh has over 15 years of experience reviewing resumes and interviewing candidates as a hiring manager.

PhD Pathways: Career Exploration – STEM Careers

Register here

Monday, December 6

4 - 5PM

Are you considering your post-PhD or post-Postdoc job prospects, but feeling unsure of your options? Join GSAS Compass, the Office of Graduate Career Development, for a STEM-specific career exploration workshop that will introduce self-assessment tools, career planning strategies, and job search resources to help you research and explore a range of career paths and feel more prepared for life after Columbia. These sessions are appropriate for PhD students or Postdocs in any stage of their program or training. 

 

PhD Pathways: Career Exploration – Humanities & Social Sciences

Register here

Tuesday, December 7

4 - 5 PM

Are you considering your post-PhD or post-Postdoc job prospects, but feeling unsure of your options? Join GSAS Compass, the Office of Graduate Career Development, for a Humanities and Social Sciences-specific career exploration workshop that will introduce self-assessment tools, career planning strategies, and job search resources to help you research and explore a range of career paths and feel more prepared for life after Columbia. These sessions are appropriate for PhD students or Postdocs in any stage of their program or training.