Beyond the Professoriate

The curriculum in the Beyond Prof PhD Career Training Platform is designed to move you through the four stages of the PhD career transition with purpose and strategy. Learn which of the four stages you are at by taking this quiz, and the platform will tell you which course is right for you. 

Are you wondering what you can do with your degree? The video library features 1:1 interviews with PhDs from all academic disciplines. It is designed to help you explore career options and gain advice from PhDs who have successfully built meaningful careers.

You can filter videos by "academic disciplines" and "values and interests" to identify PhDs who find meaningful work in and outside of academia and learn more about their career transition journeys. 

1. Discovery stage: start here if you aren't sure about your career options

• Introduction to the professional job search
• Identify your transferable skills
• What will the world pay you to do

2. Research stage: start here if you know what career fields interest you

• Introduction to the research stage
• Getting started with LinkedIn
• How to write resumes

3. Implement stage: start here if you've already chosen a career field and are applying for jobs

• Introduction to the implementation stage
• How to modify your resume in 2 hours
• How to build and grow your network
• The hiring process

4. How PhDs build careers:

• Video interviews with Arts & Humanities PhDs
• Video interviews with Social Sciences PhDs
• Video interviews with Biological Life Sciences PhDs
• Video interviews with STEM PhDs

1. Evaluate stage: start here if you are wondering if a faculty career is right for you.

• Introduction to the evaluate stage.
• What career is right for you?
• Readiness for the academic job market.
• Make a plan for your job search.

2. Apply stage: start here if you are preparing application documents for a faculty job search.

• How to write a cover letter.
• How to write a teaching statement.
• How to write a diversity statement.
• How to write a research statement.

3. Demonstrate stage: start here if you have a first-round or on-campus interview.

• First-round interview.
• Preparing for a campus visit.
• Teaching demonstration.
• Job talk.

4. Pivot stage: start here if you are considering a second or third year on the academic job market.

• How to decide if you should stay in academia.
• How to pivot out of academia.
• What to do if you’re still feeling lost.

The academic job market is more competitive than ever. Get ready to go on the job market by attending the 2023 Academic Job Market Boot Camp. Designed to help you stand out as a candidate, this boot camp will demystify the various documents that make up an application package. 

To build on this virtual learning opportunity, the Graduate School and TLTC will provide those interested in going on the academic job market this year with three opportunities to work on documents and an application package, including local UMD teaching philosophy workshop and faculty panel, and two office hour blocks for you to receive feedback. Please see more information and register by 5 PM, August 18, 2023.

November 6-10, 2023 at 12 pm ET daily | Registration

After years invested in academia, it can be daunting to launch a professional job search. This can be especially true for humanities and social science PhDs, who lack a direct path to industry. This week-long interactive workshop series is designed to demystify the PhD career transition process and provide clarity for academics looking to make a career transition.

These virtual workshops are designed for doctoral students, PhDs, postdocs, and faculty in the Humanities and Social Sciences who want to gain confidence in their skills and make a plan for their non-academic job search. Can’t make it live? All workshops will be available as a replay. Register in advance to receive notifications. 

• Monday, Nov. 6: How graduate students can decide between an academic and non-academic career.
• Tuesday, Nov. 7: How faculty can move from academia into a nonacademic career.
• Wednesday, Nov. 8: How to identify new career fields where you’ll thrive.
• Thursday, Nov. 9: How to build a network outside of academia.
• Friday, Nov. 10: Leaving academia: what to do if you’re feeling lost

Please save the date, and you will see registration details here once the date gets closer or see reminders from the Graduate School's Grad Pathways Newsletter.

Remaining 2023 live events

Time Management for PhDs (12 PM-12:45 PM, Wednesday, September 13) | Registration 

This virtual workshop is designed for doctoral students, PhDs, and postdocs from all academic disciplines who are wondering:

• How do I balance research, teaching, and the other demands of my doctoral program or postdoc position?
• How do I find time to work on job searching while also honoring other commitments such as family, relationship, exercise, etc? 
• How do I maintain a healthy work-life balance?
• What are some time-management techniques that can work for me?

How to Set Yourself Up for Career Success After Your PhD/Postdoc (12-12:45 PM, Wednesday, September 27) | Registration

PhDs and postdocs are busy. There’s so much to do NOW that it’s hard to think long term. What will you do after your PhD? But a job search can take months. You need to start thinking about your options today. If you are wondering about the questions below, this workshop is for you:

• How do I find time to add job searching to my already busy to-do list?
• How can I make choices about coursework and research now that will set me up for future success?
• What do non-academic employers want to see in PhDs transitioning out of academia?

Publish or Perish: Academic Publishing Demystified (12-12:45 PM, Wednesday, October 11) | Registration

To land a tenure-track job, you’ve got to publish. To be successful, you need to know where to submit your work and what academic publishers are looking for in submissions. This interactive workshop will explain the academic publishing process to you. You’ll learn tips and strategies to help you be successful as a scholar.

How to Network When You Don’t Have a Network (12-12:45 PM, Wednesday, October 25) | Registration

Fact: studies show that up to 85% of jobs are filled through networking and referrals. But what happens if you don’t have a network, or the only people you know are academics? This interactive workshop will show you how to start building a network of professionals working in career fields that interest you. You’ll learn how to network authentically and avoid the “yuck” that can come when networking is done wrong.
 

First-Round Interviews on the Academic Job Market (12-12:45 PM, Wednesday, November 15) | Registration

Congratulations! You’ve landed a first-round interview with a hiring committee. But in a brief interview, how do you convince them that you’re the candidate they need? This interactive workshop will show you the ins and outs of academic job interviews, whether they are conducted virtually or in-person.

What We Learned About Job Searching in 2023 ((12-12:45 PM, Wednesday, December 13) | Registration

Layoffs, rebounds, AI, a near recession. Everything about today’s job market feels like it’s in flux. So how have the events of 2023 impacted job options for PhDs? Join the entire Beyond the Prof staff as we reflect on what we learned in 2023 and how you should approach your job search in 2024. 
 

How to Decide Between an Academic or Non-Academic Career

every Wednesday in March 2024 at 12 pm ET daily (March 6, 13, 20, and 27) | Registration TBA

11th Annual Online Career Conference for PhDs 

May 6-11, 2024 | Registration TBA