Workshops and Programs

Workshops and Events

The Office of Career and Professional Development in The Graduate School delivers workshops and hosts events related to areas of career and professional development for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.

CPD Core Workshop Series

See below for descriptions of our core workshop series, which rotate every academic year. Note that while these workshops are open to any graduate student or postdoctoral scholar, they are particularly aimed at students in their first two years of graduate school or in their first year of their postdoctoral appointment.

You can also request workshops for your classes or student groups using this form. If you are interested in requesting a workshop on a topic that you do not see below, please reach out directly to Kristyn Lue, our Program Manager for Career and Professional Development (kriselue@umd.edu).

Many graduate students at UMD fund their studies through graduate assistantships. Beyond helping you pursue your graduate degree, assistantships can be a valuable component of your career and professional development journey.

In this workshop, you will learn about the different types of graduate assistant opportunities available on campus, and the professional expectations associated with different types of assistantships. You will also learn how graduate assistantships can help you develop skills for a variety of different careers.

This workshop is best suited for graduate students and who are wondering:

What types of graduate assistantships are there, and how do I find opportunities?
How can I be successful in my graduate assistantship?
How can my role as a graduate assistant connect to my career and professional development?

This workshop is held during the Fall Semester.

This workshop is best suited for graduate students and who are wondering:

What types of graduate assistantships are there, and how do I find opportunities?
How can I be successful in my graduate assistantship?
How can my role as a graduate assistant connect to my career and professional development?

This workshop is held during the Fall Semester.

Graduate students and postdoctoral scholars benefit greatly from effective mentorship. Research has increasingly shown that there are advantages to having multiple mentors, or in other words, having a mentoring team.

In this workshop, you will learn about the importance of establishing multiple mentoring relationships to support your growth and development. You will also learn about the qualities of effective mentors, and how to establish effective mentoring relationships.

This workshop is best suited for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars who are wondering:

How does a mentor differ from an advisor or supervisor?
Why is it important to find mentors?
How do I cultivate effective mentoring relationships?

This workshop is held during the Fall Semester.

Most of us have heard advice about the importance of professional networking for career development, but the idea of networking can still cause a lot of anxiety and uncertainty.

In this workshop, you will learn about the value of networking for your career and professional journey. You will also learn strategies for making professional connections and building authentic relationships with people in your network.

This workshop is best suited for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars who are wondering:

Why is networking important for my career exploration and development?
How do I navigate networking events and opportunities in an authentic way?
What strategies can I use to effectively build and maintain my professional network?

This workshop is held during the Spring Semester.

Graduate students and postdoctoral scholars have no shortage of professional development opportunities and resources available to them. At times, it can even be overwhelming to sort through your options and think strategically about gaining the skills and knowledge you need for your career development.

In this workshop, you will learn the differences and connections between professional and career development. You will also reflect on your career goals, identify areas of skill development and professional growth, and develop strategies for finding helpful professional development opportunities at UMD and beyond.

This workshop is best suited for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars who are wondering:

How does professional development relate to my career goals?
What professional development opportunities are available to me as a graduate student or postdoctoral scholar at UMD?
How do I decide what professional development opportunities are most useful for me?

This workshop is held during the Spring Semester.

Through assistantships, research labs, coursework, and service experiences, graduate students and postdoctoral scholars build a variety of skills during their time at UMD. However, it can be difficult to figure out how to highlight the skills you have built when transitioning into an internship or job search–especially if you are applying for something that is not research-focused.

In this workshop, you will learn how to identify the transferable skills you have developed as a graduate student or postdoctoral scholar. You will also learn strategies for effectively articulating these skills in your job materials.

This workshop is best suited for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars who are wondering:

How do I transition from my graduate program or postdoctoral position to a new role?
What transferable skills have I developed during my graduate or postdoctoral journey?
How do I write about my transferable skills in my job documents?

This workshop is held during the Spring Semester.

Beyond the Professoriate Watch Parties

Every semester, Beyond the Professoriate hosts a series of live webinars that UMD graduate students and postdoctoral scholars can attend for free. Following each webinar, The Graduate School also hosts a watch party of the recording and facilitates a discussion on the topic.

Check out the Fall 2026 Beyond the Professoriate events, and see below for the Fall 2026 Watch Party Series schedule. The Watch Parties will take place on Wednesdays from 10 AM - 11:30 AM. RSVP here.

September 9: How to Use the PhD Career Training Platform in Your Job Search
September 23: Is a Faculty Job Right for You?
October 14: The Key Difference Between Academic and Nonacademic Hiring — and What It Means for Your Job Search
October 28: Going Beyond Subject Matter: How to Identify Skills Employers Want
November 11: How to Research Career Options in Industry
December 1: Building a Network to Help You in Academia and Beyond

Accelerate to Industry (A2i)

Since May 2023, UMD has been one of 42 academic partners of the Accelerate to Industry (A2i) program. The A2i program, which is funded through a National Science Foundation Innovations in Graduate Education (IGE) grant, is a bold new approach to workforce training for graduate students and postdocs. The program is housed at NC State University (NCSU).

Through our partnership with A2i, graduate students and postdocs have access to professional development opportunities hosted by NCSU that allow you to prepare for industry careers. See below for the Fall 2026 Career Insights workshops that NCSU is hosting. Please note that these workshops will be held virtually and will not be recorded. Attendees are also asked to have their cameras on during the workshops. Register for the workshops.

September 10 from 3 PM - 4:30 PM

Have you ever considered the difference between being a manager and being a leader? This workshop provides an overview of the distinct characteristics associated with each of these roles. Information about the four general leadership styles will also be provided. Participants will be able to identify when to manage and when to lead as well as learn the type of leadership styles that resonates best with them.

September 11 from 1 PM - 2 PM

What changes when you move from graduate school to industry? How can you intentionally build a career that grows with your interests, strengths, and aspirations? In this panel, industry professionals will share their career journeys, reflect on the transition from academia to industry, and discuss the non-technical skills that have accelerated their growth. Through candid stories and practical insights, panelists will explore how careers evolve over time, how to approach pivotal career decisions, and how to navigate opportunities, challenges, and change with purpose.

September 25 from 1 PM - 2 PM

Curious about how your research can carve an independent path outside traditional corporate or faculty tracks? Learn more about the concept of Traversing the Valley of Death, the systematic process of proving, packaging, and translating complex academic theories and deep research into structured enterprise assets. You will discover a practical roadmap to scale the real-world impact of your knowledge frameworks, allowing you to build a career path you completely own, control, and monetize.

October 16 from 1 PM - 2 PM

In this session, hear firsthand reflections on the lessons learned during the transition, what life in industry is really like, and the skills and mindsets that make the biggest difference. Through personal experiences and practical advice, you'll gain insights to help you navigate your own career journey with greater confidence and a clearer understanding of what to expect beyond graduate school.

October 22 from 3 PM - 4:30 PM

Leadership is often associated with vision, influence, decision-making, and the ability to inspire others. While these qualities are undoubtedly important, they are built upon a more fundamental foundation: self-awareness. Before leaders can effectively guide others, navigate conflict, build trust, or create meaningful change, they must first understand themselves. This workshop provides a framework for how to build self-awareness so that one can become a more effective and engaging leader.

October 30 from 1 PM - 2 PM

Your graduate degree prepares you with valuable skills but your career path may take you in unexpected directions. Learn how a recent graduate student leveraged transferable skills, embraced continuous learning, and navigated new opportunities on the path from graduate school to a career in the data and AI industry. You'll leave with practical strategies for identifying skill gaps, using feedback in interviews to grow, and confidently pursuing careers across a variety of industries.

November 6 from 1 PM - 2 PM

Great research can only make a difference if people understand why it matters. In this session, we will discuss practical strategies for explaining complex research in clear language for audiences beyond your field, which could include industry partners, policymakers, funders, and the public. Participants will leave with simple techniques to reduce jargon, show why their research matters, and communicate effectively in a variety of professional settings.

November 13 from 1 PM - 2 PM

The skills you develop in graduate school are highly valued by employers. Learn how research, problem-solving, communication, and analytical thinking translate into success in the corporate world. You'll leave with practical insights on how to showcase your skills and confidently navigate today’s job market.

Signature Programs

Academic Job Documents Retreat

The Graduate School provides comprehensive support for doctoral students and postdoctoral scholars interested in academic careers. The Academic Job Documents Retreat is open to doctoral candidates who are ABD and postdocs in ALL disciplines. The goal is to help you navigate the entire process and feel more prepared for the faculty application cycle (typically in late summer/early fall). The retreat provides community during the process in addition to feedback for your individual applications.

This retreat is held twice a year: once in the summer, and once in the fall.

Doctoral Career Pathways Conference

The Doctoral Career Pathways Conference is a unique opportunity for UMD graduate students and postdocs to learn about available career paths and network with UMD alumni. Professional development activities will also be available for students and postdocs to review their resumes, take care of their mental health, and get a professional headshot.

This event brings together alumni, current doctoral students, and postdocs to:

learn about the wide variety of career paths available to those with doctoral degrees;
gain knowledge about the work alumni do and the skills necessary for success in their chosen career path and industry;
allow alumni to speak about opportunities at their organization; and
create an opportunity for networking and advice sharing among all attendees.

Check out our previous conferences:

2025: April 25 kick-off event, May to July for the mentoring program
2024: April 22-26
2023: May 3-5
2022: Getting from Here to Career
2018-2020

This event is held every other year, and will return in Spring 2028.

Alumni Mentoring Program

Through the Alumni Mentoring Program, doctoral and postdoctoral mentees have a chance to connect with alumni mentors in relevant fields. This connection allows mentees to explore their future career interest, and practice networking in a low-stakes and supportive environment. Although mentees and mentors may not perfectly align in their research backgrounds or career paths, mentors and mentees will ideally learn from each others’ perspectives and approaches to career decision-making.

Mentor and mentee pairs who are accepted into the program are required to do the following:

Attend the kickoff meeting (in-person for those local to the DMV, and virtual for those outside of the DMV)
Meet independently at least three times during the program

This event is held every other year, and will return in Spring 2027.