Career Development Series

This intentionally-designed series blends OACD programming with top-rated virtual content to give advanced doctoral students and postdoctoral trainees at Pitt access to an expanded set of sessions covering a variety of career development skills, career options, and key transitional steps that will help you identify, prepare for, and succeed in landing the next step of your career (see the career-specific stage and the career transition stage of the ADAPT model for more information).

List of acronyms: BtP: Beyond the Professoriate; HSLS: Health Sciences Library System; NPA: National Postdoctoral Association; OACD: Office of Academic Career Development; VPhD: VersatilePhD.

Jan. 17, 2024 BtP: What Can I Do With My PhD

Provided by Beyond the Professoriate

Time: 12pm ET
Location: Virtual
Presenter: Beyond the Professoriate

Description: PhDs find fulfilling work in a wide range of careers, both in and beyond the academy. But how do you figure out which career path is right for YOU? Join Beyond the Professoriate in this upcoming webinar to learn how to construct your Optimal Career Pathway, a metric that will let you determine what kinds of jobs will provide you with meaningful, intellectually challenging work. This webinar is uniquely designed for doctoral students, PhDs, and postdocs from all academic disciplines who are wondering:

Which career path is right for me: academic or non-academic?
Are there non-academic careers that will give me the same intellectual challenge and flexibility as academia?
How do I search for non-academic jobs if I’ve been in academia for a while now?
How can Beyond the Prof’s training platform help me explore new career paths?

To register, log into Beyond the Professoriate, selecting "through your institution" (Pitt), and then REGISTER HERE

On Janurary 17th, navigate back to this page (bookmark it!) and use the button to join the free event. Please also be sure to mark “member@beyondprof.com” as a safe sender to receive our email reminders.

Jan. 24, 2024 OACD: Resume Writing Roundtable: Going from So-So to Stellar

Time: 3:30-5pm ET
Location: Virtual
Presenter: Carolyn Kerr

Description: Take your resume from so-so to stellar in this hands-on, highly interactive session! Facilitated by Carolyn Kerr, a lecturer in the Katz Graduate School of Business and communications consultant with The Communications Academy, you will learn how to effectively prepare and market yourself to those outside of academia.

As it is the first step in landing an interview, you want a resume that communicates your experience to employers. In this unique, flipped-class session, you will bring a draft resume and work virtually in pairs and with her professional guidance to optimize the impact of your messaging. The outcome will be a resume that you can use to launch your career. The presenter will also address questions pertaining to a range of employment communications-related topics.

You can best prepare yourself for this session by:

Converting your CV into a draft resume. Briefly review the information on this website, which provides instructions on how to do this: https://icc.ucdavis.edu/materials/resume/cv/convertingcv
Watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTGTmNuz-zo
1. Using this information, draft an industry-focused resume or one tailored to a job you have in mind
Bring your draft to this session to obtain feedback and optimize its impact!

Presenter Bio:

Carolyn Kerr is a communications specialist with decades of experience in both marketing and instructional communication. She has created or co-created workshops for clients including Ford Motor Company, DaimlerChrysler, Equitable Resources and Koppers, Inc. In addition, she has written the materials for Toyota’s Leadership training workshops. Workshop topics have covered Assessment and Selection as well as Performance Management. On the print writing side, she has completed pieces including annual reports, capabilities brochures, websites and more. In addition, she has written everything from TV commercials to training programs and how-to videos.

On the academic side, Ms. Kerr is celebrating 25 years as a part-time lecturer in the University of Pittsburgh’s College of Business Administration. She was the long-time course coordinator for Fundamentals of Business Communication, a course she co-created and continues to teach. It focuses on such areas as: interpersonal skills, written communication, presentation skills, employment communication, intercultural communication and other key business communication challenges.

Ms. Kerr earned a Master of Arts degree in Radio-Television with a minor in Journalism from Ohio University. Her area of specialization was Cross-Cultural Communications. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in education from Duquesne University.

Ms. Kerr is a past member of the American Society for Training and Development and the Society for Human Resource Management.

She has served on the boards of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Red Cross (including as Secretary and Vice Chair), Family Services of Western Pennsylvania, the Pitt News and South Hill Interfaith Ministries -- now Movement (including as Chair).

Jan. 31, 2024 BtP: 3 Common Mistakes PhDs Make in Their Job Search

Provided by Beyond the Professoriate

Time: 12pm ET
Location: Virtual

Description: Over the past seven 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. Join us for this upcoming webinar where you’ll learn the common mistakes we see PhDs make time and time again when starting their job searches. You’ll learn what strategies PhDs used that eventually led to their successful career transition, and how you can apply these strategies to your own job search. This webinar is uniquely designed for doctoral students, PhDs, and postdocs from all academic disciplines who are wondering:

What are the common mistakes PhDs make when applying for nonacademic jobs?
What proven strategies can help me avoid mistakes, and be more successful in my job search?
What is the most effective way to spend my time during a nonacademic job search?

To register, log into Beyond the Professoriate, selecting "through your institution" (Pitt), and then REGISTER HERE

On January 31, navigate back to this page (bookmark it!) and use the button below to join the free event. Please also be sure to mark “member@beyondprof.com” as a safe sender to receive our email reminders.

Feb. 1, 2024 OACD: How to Negotiate for Your Next Opportunity * RECORDING AVAILABLE*

Time: 3-4:30pm ET
Location: Zoom
Presenter: Jennifer E. Woodward, PhD

VIEW VIDEO

Description: Are you feeling nervous and unprepared to negotiate an opportunity for yourself? Whether you are seeking a job, a training opportunity, or just the chance to acquire more experience, effective negotiation skills are vital to your career, but don’t always come easily. Attend this session, presented by Jennifer Woodward, PhD (Vice Chancellor for Sponsored Programs and Research Operations), to learn how to develop a negotiation strategy that will contribute to your future success. Tips and tricks for how to negotiate while maintaining positive relationships are covered, as well as guidance regarding how to become a more confident and successful negotiator.

Presenter Bio: Dr. Jennifer E. Woodward serves as Vice Chancellor for Sponsored Programs and Research Operations and Professor of Surgery and Immunology in the School of Medicine.

Previously, Dr. Woodward was Associate Vice Provost for Research Operations, Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs in the School of Medicine, and Executive Director for Research and Academic Affairs at the Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute.

Dr. Woodward has extensive experience negotiating in an academic culture – sitting on both sides of the table. She is an alumna of ELAM, the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine program, which is a year-long fellowship for senior women faculty dedicated to developing the skills required to lead and manage in today's complex health care environment.

Dr. Woodward has received additional training in negotiation under Catherine Morrison, a nationally recognized negotiation consultant specializing in academic healthcare.

Feb. 14, 2024 BtP: How to Find a Job You'll Love

Provided by Beyond the Professoriate

Time: 12pm ET
Location: Virtual

Description: You’ve heard that PhDs can be happy in a nonacademic career, but will YOU be happy? How can you find a career that will be intellectually engaging, rewarding, and challenging? Join Beyond the Professoriate to 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. This webinar is uniquely designed for doctoral students, PhDs, and postdocs from all academic disciplines who are wondering:

What non-academic careers will be intellectually engaging and rewarding for someone from my discipline?
What non-academic careers will offer me the same flexibility and independence as a career in academia?
How to identify specific job titles worth pursuing?

To register, log into Beyond the Professoriate, selecting "through your institution" (Pitt), and then REGISTER HERE

On February 14th, navigate back to this page to join the free event. Please also be sure to mark “member@beyondprof.com” as a safe sender to receive our email reminders.

Feb. 27, 2024 NPA: The Industry Connection: Advancing Your Research & Career

Provided via the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA)

Time: 3pm ET
Location: Virtually as part of their SmartSkills Series
Presenter: David Giltner, PhD

Register Here after logging into the NPA site. If you register in advance, register for the series and save to this date.

Description: Industry collaboration is becoming a popular avenue for researchers seeking to bolster their funding and expand their programs in commercially applicable directions. Beyond the immediate research benefits, these collaborations provide invaluable industry exposure for your students and postdocs, preparing them for successful careers in the private sector. Join us to learn how to build connections with influential companies and help them see the value your research can being to them. We will outline a detailed plan you can implement to grow your own successful industry collaborations!

Bio: David Giltner, Ph.D., founder/CEO, TurningScience

Feb. 28, 2024 BtP: How to Write an Academic CV That Will Make You Stand Out

Provided by Beyond the Professoriate

Time: 12pm ET
Location: Virtual

Description: Your CV serves as a comprehensive record of your educational background, teaching experience, academic research, and scholarly service. This document represents your academic credentials when applying for postdoctoral positions or for faculty positions at four-year institutions. Join us in this webinar where we’ll review how to write an academic CV that will help you stand out in the hiring process. This webinar is uniquely designed for doctoral students, PhDs, and postdocs from all academic disciplines who are wondering:

What do I need to include in my academic CV?
How should I format an academic CV?
How can I make my CV stand out from others?

To register, log into Beyond the Professoriate, selecting "through your institution" (Pitt), and then REGISTER HERE

On February 28th, navigate back to this page (bookmark it!) and use the button below to join the free event. Please also be sure to mark “member@beyondprof.com” as a safe sender to receive our email reminders.

March 2024 Series BtP: How to Decide Between an Academic and Nonacademic Career

Provided by Beyond the Professoriate

Date and Time: 12-12:30pm ET every Wednesday in March
Format: The virtual workshops include instruction, reflective prompts and exercises, and opportunities for participants to ask questions directly to the Beyond Prof team.

Description: PhDs work wherever smart people are needed. In today’s creative economy, a faculty career isn’t the only option for PhDs who are seeking engaging and rewarding work. PhDs work in every part of the economy – industry, nonprofits, higher education, and government.

But what career pathway will be right for YOU? This special workshop series is designed to walk doctoral students, PhDs and postdocs through a series of exercises to help them evaluate career options and identify next steps in building their career either as faculty or beyond the professoriate.

Who should attend: This series is uniquely designed for doctoral students, PhDs, and postdocs from all academic disciplines who are wondering:

Is a faculty career path right for me?
What other career options are available to PhDs in my discipline?
How to identify career pathways that are right for me?
What can I do with my PhD?

Specific dates and topics:

March 6th - Introduction to Optimal Career Pathway/Career Satisfaction
March 13th - How to identify your values
March 20th - How to identify your most marketable skills
March 27th - How to research career options best suited for you

To register, log into Beyond the Professoriate, selecting "through your institution" (Pitt), and then REGISTER HERE

In March, navigate back to this page (bookmark it!) and use the button below to join the free event. Please also be sure to mark “member@beyondprof.com” as a safe sender to receive our email reminders.

April 3, 2024 OACD: Entering Mentoring: Maximizing Mentoring Skills * RECORDING AVAILABLE*

Time: 3-4:30pm
Location: Zoom
Presenters: Joseph Ayoob, PhD, Joel C. Brady, PhD, April Dukes, PhD

VIEW VIDEO

Description: Taking on the responsibility of being a mentor requires new skills and knowledge that are not typically addressed in academic training programs, though evidence-based approaches have emerged to help new mentors build and maintain successful mentoring relationships. We invite you to attend this workshop, presented by Joseph Ayoob, PhD, Joel Brady, PhD, and April Dukes, PhD, to learn about these current best practices in mentoring that will equip you with the tools necessary to be a successful mentor. You will develop vital strategies to cultivate and manage productive mentoring relationships that will contribute to the professional success of your mentees and that will provide you with personal satisfaction throughout your career.

Presenter Bios: Dr. April Dukes is the director of the Faculty and Future Faculty Program for the Engineering Educational Research Center and the Institutional Co-administrator for Pitt’s Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning.

Dr. Joel Brady is the Program Supervisor for the Graduate Student Teaching Initiative and staff liaison for the Center for Mentoring at the University Center for Teaching & Learning.

Dr. Joseph Ayoob is a Faculty Fellow for the Center for Mentoring at the University Center for Teaching & Learning; and is an Associate Professor of Computational and Systems Biology in the School of Medicine.

April 10, 2024 BtP: Overqualified or Underqualified? How PhDs Can Communicate Their Value to Employers

Provided by Beyond the Professoriate

Time: 12-12:45pm ET
Location: Virtual
Description: 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 the Beyond Prof team for this webinar on how to breakdown the overqualified vs. underqualified conundrum. Learn concrete strategies for overcoming this obstacle in your job search and how to communicate your value to employers. This webinar is uniquely designed for doctoral students, PhDs, and postdocs from all academic disciplines who are wondering:

How should I describe my skills and experience to nonacademic employers?
How do I communicate the value I bring to nonacademic positions?
How can I prove I’m a qualified candidate when I do not have direct industry experience?

To register, log into Beyond the Professoriate, selecting "through your institution" (Pitt), and then REGISTER HERE

On December 13th, navigate back to this page (bookmark it!) and use the button below to join the free event. Please also be sure to mark “member@beyondprof.com” as a safe sender to receive our email reminders.

April 24, 2024 BtP: How to Use This Summer to Prepare for Your Faculty Job Search

Provided by Beyond the Professoriate

Time: 12-12:45pm ET
Location: Virtual
Description: The academic job market is highly competitive, and you want to stand out as a candidate. By attending this webinar, you’ll gain the insights and knowledge you need to prepare application documents that will highlight your potential as a scholar in your field. This webinar is designed for doctoral students, PhDs, and postdocs from all academic disciplines who are wondering:

What are the major stages of an academic job search?
What are faculty search committees looking for in a candidate?
What documents do I need to write to prepare to go on the market?
How do I navigate interviews during the academic job search process?

To register, log into Beyond the Professoriate, selecting "through your institution" (Pitt), and then REGISTER HERE

On April 24th, navigate back to this page (bookmark it!) and use the button below to join the free event. Please also be sure to mark “member@beyondprof.com” as a safe sender to receive our email reminders.

May 2024 BtP: Career Development Conference

Provided by Beyond the Professoriate

Time: 12-12:45pm ET
Location: Virtual
Description: Attend one or all of the sessions to prepare for career success!

May 6 - What Employers Actually Value About Your Degree
May 7 - How to Write a Resume
May 8 - How to Network When you Don’t Have a Network
May 9 - Using LinkedIn in Your Job Search
May 10 - How to Find Jobs That Will Give you Stability
May 11 - Career Panels

July 17, 2024 BtP: What Nonacademic Employers Really Value About Your PhD

Provided by Beyond the Professoriate

Time: 12-12:45pm ET
Location: Virtual
Description: Much of the job search process is about persuasive communication: you want to convince a hiring manager that you’re the right fit for the job. So how can PhDs effectively communicate their skills and advanced training to employers? Join Beyond the Professoriate in this upcoming webinar where you’ll learn what employers look for in candidates, and how you can communicate your value as a PhD to employers. This webinar is designed for doctoral students, PhDs, and postdocs from all academic disciplines who are wondering:

What do employers look for in job candidates?
How do you determine what an employer wants?
How do I show I’m the right person for the job?

VIEW PAST SERIES:

Fall 2023 Career Development Series
Spring 2023 Career Development Series
Fall 2022 Career Development Series
2021-2022 Professionalism Series