Ph.D. Job Search Series

The goal of this workshop series is to assist Ph.D. students in their career and professional development planning process as well as to provide students with the knowledge and practical skills associated with a successful job search. While these workshops have been designed with Ph.D. students in mind, Master's students are welcome to attend. Registration is required.

2007-08 Ph.D. Job Search Series Program

The PREPed Ph.D.: A Model for Career and Professional Development for New Ph.D. Students 
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
International Center, Spartan Room C

Writing Curriculum Vitae and Cover Letters for Impact
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
International Center, Spartan Rooms BC

Putting Your Degree to Work: Practical Career Strategies for Ph.D.s
Monday, October 8, 2007
Kellogg Center, Big Ten B

What’s Out There?: Identifying Non-Academic Options in the Ph.D. Job Market
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
International Center, Spartan Rooms BC

The Academic Job Search
Wednesday, January 30, 2007
6 Student Services Building

Networking for Ph.D.’s:  Building Relationship for Your Future
Wednesday, February 13, 2007
6 Student Services Building

From CV to Resume: Developing Written Credentials for Nonacademic Positions
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
6 Student Services Building

Mastering the Interview
Wednesday, March 26, 2007
6 Student Services Building

The PREPed Ph.D.: A Model for Career and Professional Development for Students
Dr. Matt Helm, Graduate Career Consultant

Early career planning and strategic professional development is essential to completing the Ph.D. and achieving positive career outcomes after graduation. This workshop is designed to expose new Ph.D. students to the Graduate School’s PREP model for Career and Professional development and to help students take a proactive approach to career planning during graduate school.  As part of the workshop, students will begin developing a strategic plan for their career and professional development.

Related Graduate School workshop: “From Graduate Student to Professor: Stages of Professional Development,” October 7, 2006. Presenters at this workshop will discuss and answer questions on what research reveals about the match between graduate school training and life as a faculty member, as well as on survival skills students should cultivate now to better prepare them for academic positions.

Writing Curriculum Vitae and Cover Letters for Impact
Dr. Matt Helm, Graduate Career Consultant

In developing your curriculum vita (CV), it is crucial to represent your professional experience, accomplishments, expertise, and qualities in the most impactful manner possible. This workshop is designed to help Ph.D. students learn how to present their CV’s and cover letters in the most visually impactful and strongest possible manner and to provide insight from the perspective of the search committee. Learn what the search committee is looking for and how to write your way into an interview. Participants should bring a copy of their curriculum vitae.

Related Graduate School workshop:  “Securing Academic Positions at Two- and Four-Year Institutions,” October 28, 2006.  This workshop will focus on academic cultures at a variety of institutions and enable students to decipher job ads and learn interviewing tips from faculty who will explain which candidates “got the job” and why.

Putting Your Degree to Work: Practical Career Strategies for Ph.D.s
Peter S. Fiske, Ph.D. is the founder and CEO of RAPT Industries

This is a two-hour workshop for post-docs and graduate students in all fields of science. In this workshop Peter Fiske will present a thorough and practical overview to the process of career planning and job hunting in today's job market, from the perspective of a young scientist. He will cover specific steps that young scientists can take to broaden their horizons, strengthen their skills, and present their best face to potential employers. An important part of this is the realization that most young scientists possess a range of valuable "transferable skills" that are highly sought after by employers in and out of science. He will also cover all the specifics of job hunting, including informational interviewing, building your network, developing a compelling CV and resume, cover letters, interviewing, and more. With each topic he will discuss the particular challenges and opportunities faced by those with an advanced degree in science. It is a workshop up-beat in tone and positive in outlook. Workshop includes a 35-page handout for each participant.

What's Out There?: Identifying Non-Academic Options in the Ph.D. Job Market
Dr. Linda Gross, Assistant Director of Career Services and Placement

This workshop will discuss job search strategies for graduate students seeking employment in business, government, or non-profits. It will provide information about how to begin and organize the job search, what strategies are most effective, how to research organizations, and where to find other helpful resources.

The Academic Job Search
Dr. Matt Helm,Graduate Career Consultant

In order to be successful and efficient in the academic job search process it is essential to understand the diversity of opportunities in American academia. This workshop will provide an overview of the different types of academic institutions and expose students to the perspectives and constraints faced by search committees. Students will also learn how and where to find academic job listings, how to evaluate opportunities, and how to prepare application materials. This workshop is designed for Ph.D. students who are within two years of graduating.

Networking for Ph.D.’s:  Building Relationship for Your Future
Dr. Linda Gross, Assistant Director of Career Services and Placement

In a tightly competitive job market learn how to position yourself for an effective job search.   It is estimated that 75% of all jobs are not advertised, creating a “hidden” job market.  Most people locate job openings through a networking process of referral, personal relationships, and informational interviewing.   This workshop is intended to expose Ph.D. students to a variety of techniques associated with successful networking including the art of “small talk” and how to combat fear and anxiety in the networking process.

From CV to Resume: Developing Written Credentials for Nonacademic Positions
Dr. Gwen Pearson, Field Career Consultant, College of Natural Science

This workshop will discuss the differences between the curriculum vitae and the resume, help Ph.D. students highlight their transferable skills in resume format, discuss the different types of resumes, and provide suggestions for formatting and self-promotion. Cover letter writing will also be discussed.

Related Graduate School Workshops:  “Translating Academic Success into Expanded Career Opportunities,” March 24, 2007.

Mastering the Interview
Dr. Matt Helm, Graduate Career Consultant

The interview is a dynamic process designed to help employers and candidates gauge mutual fit. This workshop is designed to help graduate students optimize their interview performance in academic and nonacademic settings and will discuss general interview questions, strategies for preparation and self presentation, recommendations about how to respond to tough questions, and topics to avoid.

Rooms open and check-in begins 30 minutes before the presentation. All sessions are free to MSU faculty, staff, and students. IF the session is held in the Kellogg Center, then parking passes for the Kellogg Center Parking Structure will be provided.

Registration is required for ALL workshops!

Register by email: gradwrsp@msu.edu; Please provide the following required information:
    your name, department, email address, and the name & date of the workshop.

Persons with disabilities should contact the Graduate School at 517-353-4738 to request special arrangements no later than one week prior to the session date. Requests received after this date will be met when possible.

The Ph.D. Job Search Series is sponsored by The Graduate School