About our Services
What is Career and Professional Development?
Career and professional development is the process of reflecting on one’s values, interests, and experiences, understanding careers available for one’s academic background, and gaining new skills from training and education in preparation for your future career. It is important for doctoral students and Postdocs to manage and prepare for their own careers by taking initiative and being intentional. The Graduate School has many resources to help you with your career and professional development during your time at UMD.
Where do I start?
- Doctoral students and Postdocs are strongly encouraged to develop an Individual Development Plan (IDP) during their first semester. The IDP is an evolving document that includes steps you will take each semester to achieve your academic and professional goals. To get started on your IDP, download the printable IDP template for current doctoral students or a similar template for postdocs.
- Check out our programming under 2023-2024 Topics & Calendar. Signature courses and offerings will rotate every semester, so do not worry if you miss an event. There are also several workshops and training events under the Beyond the Professoriate. Finally check out the University Career Center & The President’s Promise if you are interested in campus-wide events, such as UMD Career Fairs.
- Take 10 minutes to activate your free Handshake account. Upload your current CV and/or resume to Handshake. After logging in, explore and register for upcoming career fairs, panels, and workshops for doctoral students and postdocs.
- Review the important terms and definitions below. They will provide background information for engaging in career and professional development activities.
Important Terms and Definitions
Individual Development Plan (IDP): An Individual Development Plan is a personalized and flexible plan for navigating your academic, career, professional, and personal development during each year of your doctoral program.
An IDP is a written list of training and career goals mapped to a timeline. It serves as a framework for discussion between you and your advisor. This plan also facilitates four phases: (1) assessment; (2) career and professional development considerations; (3) goal setting; (4) implementation (Credit: UCSF’s Office of Career and Professional Development). Check out the resources page, for more information on exploring careers and creating an IDP.
CV: it stands for “curriculum vitae,” and is a document often used to capture someone’s accomplishments in one’s career. A CV is commonly used when you are applying for a faculty or postdoctoral position, or research- or teaching-focused positions within universities. You may also be required to submit a CV as part of a fellowship/grant application. Check out Beyond the Professoriate for more information on how to write a CV.
Resume: A resume intends to be a brief and targeted highlight of professional accomplishments. It emphasizes transferable skills and related experiences. It is used primarily for positions in industry and non-profit sectors. Check out Beyond the Professoriate for more information on how to write a resume. For government positions, a hybrid document that has elements from both CV and resume is common.
Cover Letter: A cover letter is a one-page document you send with your resume that provides additional information about skills and experiences related to the job you're pursuing. A cover letter is important because it serves as the first chance for the recruiter to see the qualifications that make you a good fit for the position.
Teaching Philosophy Statement: A teaching philosophy statement is a document articulating your beliefs about teaching and learning with evidence of how you enact those beliefs in your teaching. It is commonly asked for when submitting for a faculty position to demonstrate the candidate’s teaching experience and commitment to learners. Check out Beyond the Professoriate for more information on how to write a teaching philosophy statement.
Teaching Portfolio: A cohesive collection of documents that communicates your philosophy of teaching, summarizes your teaching activity, provides evidence of your effectiveness, highlights student mentorship, and demonstrates a commitment to professional development. Check out Beyond the Professoriate for more information on how to compile a teaching portfolio.
Informational Interviews: Informational interviews are scheduled conversations between you and someone whose career you may be interested in. These conversations provide structured opportunities for you to learn more in-depth about career paths, industry trends, and build connections to learn about potential job opportunities. Check out Beyond the Professoriate for more information on how to conduct informational interviews.
Postdoc: A postdoctoral scholar (“postdoc”) is an individual who has received a doctoral degree (or equivalent) and is engaged in a temporary and defined period of mentored advanced training to enhance the professional skills and research independence needed to pursue his or her chosen career path.
What is the difference between job search and career development?
| Career Development | Job Search | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Ensures that you have all the information, skills, and experiences you need to be eligible for a set of positions | Actively applying for positions |
| Timeline | Extended | Short-term process |
| Focus | Expanded | Laser focused |
| Goal | Enhance knowledge and readiness for a specific career field | Getting a job offer |
| Intensity | Less stressful and intense that conducting a job search | A high stakes and intense process |
Caring for Yourself while Developing Your Career
When thinking about your future career, sometimes it can be overwhelming, as you may not feel like you are prepared or ready for certain career opportunities. Imposter syndrome is defined as, “the condition of feeling anxious and not experiencing success internally, despite being high-performing in external, objective ways.” People with imposter syndrome often feel like a fraud or phony and doubting their abilities.
In order to deal with imposter syndrome, it is important to be compassionate to yourself and take time to share your feelings with others. Remember to celebrate your successes and let go of perfectionism. You can also talk to the Graduate School’s Academic Counselor, Simone Warrick-Bell.
Now that you have reviewed the Getting Started webpage, check back to the main page for our services.