Embarking on a career path can be a daunting task for students. Navigating the myriad of options and understanding your own skills and interests requires careful planning and the right resources. Fortunately, numerous career planning tools are available to guide students towards a fulfilling and successful future. This article highlights some essential career planning tools designed to empower students in making informed decisions about their professional journeys.
Self-Assessment and Exploration Tools
Understanding yourself is the crucial first step in effective career planning. Self-assessment tools help you identify your strengths, weaknesses, values, interests, and personality traits, which are all vital in determining suitable career paths.
The Foundations of Successful Career Planning and Development Course at the University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Doctoral and Postdoctoral Career Development is a fantastic resource. This credit-bearing course is specifically designed to equip graduate students and postdocs with foundational skills in self-directed professional development. It focuses on building your capacity for self-directed career development, fostering lifelong career management habits, maximizing your scholarly training success, and ultimately shaping positive career outcomes. This course provides a structured approach to self-assessment and career exploration, setting you on the right path for long-term career success.
For those exploring non-academic career options, Versatile PhD stands out as an invaluable online community. Specifically tailored for doctoral students, this platform opens doors to the world of non-academic and non-faculty careers, broadening your horizons beyond traditional academic roles.
The PhD Futures Now! podcast is another excellent resource, particularly for Humanities students. It delves into the diverse career landscape available to graduates with advanced degrees in the humanities. This podcast, part of the Humanities Without Walls Consortium project, showcases the breadth of opportunities and helps students envision diverse career trajectories.
Humanities PhD students at the University of Pittsburgh also benefit from direct advising and coaching through the Humanities Engage grant project. Access to a Senior Director of Graduate Advising and Engagement provides personalized guidance and support tailored to the unique career paths within the humanities.
Individual Development Plans (IDPs)
An Individual Development Plan (IDP) is a powerful tool for proactive career planning during your graduate studies. It encourages students to intentionally set career goals and develop strategic plans to achieve them. An IDP facilitates the process of assessing your skills and values in relation to your career aspirations and helps document your progress in acquiring necessary skills sought after by employers, including both in-depth research expertise and broader transferable skills. IDPs serve as an effective communication tool between students and mentors, fostering collaborative discussions about research and career goals.
For a quick introduction to IDPs, the University of Wisconsin-Madison Graduate School offers a helpful narrated slide show here.
The University of Pittsburgh provides a specific IDP template designed to assist graduate students in defining professional objectives, evaluating their skill sets against career goals, and creating actionable plans to gain the competencies needed for career success.
Domain-Specific IDP Tools
Recognizing the diverse needs across disciplines, the Dietrich School Office of Graduate Studies recommends domain-specific IDP tools:
For Humanities and Social Sciences, ImaginePhD is a highly recommended career exploration and planning tool. Developed by experts from over 50 universities under the Graduate Career Consortium, ImaginePhD is specifically tailored for PhD students and postdocs in these fields. It allows users to assess their career-related skills, interests, and values, explore relevant career paths within their disciplines, establish personalized goals, and plan their next career steps. Its widespread adoption across the USA and beyond speaks to its effectiveness in career planning for humanities and social sciences students.
For Natural Sciences, myIDP is a well-established and interactive career-planning website designed for doctoral students and postdocs in scientific fields. It guides users through a four-step process: self-assessment, career exploration, goal setting, and implementation. MyIDP provides a structured framework to navigate career planning within the sciences.
AURORA, an eLearning Career Exploration Platform from Beyond the Professoriate, offers a comprehensive approach to career development. AURORA assists students in:
- Exploring diverse career paths: Learn about various career options and hear firsthand accounts from PhD holders working in those fields.
- Developing job search skills: Acquire essential skills and materials for job applications, such as resume writing, interview techniques, and networking strategies.
- Translating academic skills: Learn how to effectively communicate your academic experiences and translate them into valuable workplace skills that employers seek.
To access AURORA through the University of Pittsburgh portal:
- Login to my.pitt.edu.
- Click “Browse Categories” under the search bar.
- Click “Careers” in the dropdown menu.
- Click on the “AURORA” link.
Additional Career Development Resources at the University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh offers a wealth of additional resources to support student career development:
The Career Center provides comprehensive career services for graduate students, including resume and CV assistance, mock interviews to hone your interview skills, and career counseling.
The Center for Doctoral/Postdoctoral Career Development (DPCD) is dedicated to meeting the career development needs of early career scholars across all disciplines within the university. Their website features event listings specifically for doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers, offering workshops, seminars, and networking opportunities.
The Clinical and Translational Science Institute’s (CTSI) RCR Workshops focus on research ethics through lectures and case study-based workshops. While not directly career planning, understanding research ethics is crucial for many career paths and enhances your professional development.
The Office of Academic Career Development’s (OACD) Research Series is tailored for professionals in the health sciences, providing tools, resources, and support to achieve leadership potential in biomedical research, education, and clinical practice.
The Writing Center offers specialized services for graduate students, including one-on-one tutoring to improve writing skills, dissertation boot camps for intensive writing periods, and dedicated writing days. Strong writing skills are fundamental for success in many careers.
The University Library System provides extensive services and programming for graduate students, including workshops on scholarly communication and publishing. Their Dissertation Writing and Graduate Study Rooms offer dedicated spaces conducive to focused work.
Conclusion
Effective career planning is an ongoing process that is crucial for student success. Utilizing the diverse range of career planning tools and resources available, especially those offered by the University of Pittsburgh, can significantly empower students to make informed decisions, develop essential skills, and confidently navigate their path towards a fulfilling and impactful career. Take advantage of these resources to proactively shape your future and achieve your career aspirations.
