PLAN CAREER
Explore career options including academia, non-profits, government, and industry. Gain awareness of typical requirements and degree of competitiveness. Understand the hiring cycle in different sectors.
Jump to section:听Understanding Career Knowledge | Cultivating Career Knowledge | Quick Guide to Career Knowledge听|Taking Action | Resources | References
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Understanding Career Knowledge
As a graduate student, choosing a career can seem like a daunting task 鈥� especially in a world where the job market is highly competitive and ever-changing. There are a multitude of paths you can take, so how can you be sure which is the right one for you? Knowing yourself and what you typically excel at is a crucial part of the career planning process. It is extremely beneficial to keep in mind your evolving skills, values and interests for the most fulfilling outcome. By expanding your career knowledge, you will be able to pinpoint exactly what you will need to accomplish in order to become the perfect candidate for the job of your dreams.
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Why does it matter?
Most graduate students may not have a clear idea of what exactly they want to do after completing their degree. Although some end up pursuing a career in academia, many graduate students will choose a career outside of academia. Taking the time to consider your career options while you pursue your graduate degree will help you to have a sense of purpose and to overcome challenges when they arise by enhancing motivation. This does not mean you have to know exactly what career path you will pursue after graduation, just that investing time to think about it throughout your degree will facilitate the transition from graduate school, even if your career ideas change (which they probably will!) many times.
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Cultivating听Career Knowledge
Finding Your Match
The self, search, and synthesis model proposes that individuals gather both information about themselves and information about the world of work relevant to their current career development needs, then use this information within their own framework []. Once career information is accepted into your personal framework it becomes career knowledge. Before you dive into career research, you must dive into yourself. First and foremost, a fulfilling career is a career that ensures your happiness. Ask yourself some fundamental questions: What has made you happy in the past? What do you enjoy in your life right now? What would you like to change? []. Your answers to these questions will likely brush upon your skills, values and interests. Determining what these are for you can be done using self-assessment tools. Additionally, you can refer to the self-knowledge page for guidance or make an appointment with CaPS to speak to a career counsellor. When you begin to research career options you will find that your skills have a role in what you do, your interests have a role in where you do it, and your values have a role in why you do it and who you do it with or for [].
Dissecting Your Values
Our values typically fall under five categories:听personal, social, moral, practical and lifestyle; as seen on the tentacles of the听octopus in the diagram听[].听Career research involves a balancing act of these听five听tentacles.听While social values spark your ambition, your whole career should not be a ploy to prove yourself to others.听Leaving your personal values unfulfilled can result in a lack of happiness.听Lifestyle听values听often teeter between challenge and ease as听many听individuals听will听put in the heavy work听short-term听to achieve a听stress-free,听flexible听life long-term.听You may also听evaluate听your moral values听which could be听building for yourself, loved ones and the future of the world.听At the end of the day, your practical values听are the ones that make sure you have the basics听down-packed:听food, somewhere to live and financial security.听When听considering a career,听make a list of priorities. Unpack your values听to find out why you are really interested听and see where each听fits听on your list.听听
Career Requirements.听The world of work can be broken down into 4 sectors: Academic, Industry, Non-Profit and Government听[].听Within each of these sectors, there are many fields.听Get to understand the qualifications you will need听in order听to work in the field of your choice.听You likely chose your graduate听degree to pursue听some advanced positions.听Examine the professional certifications听that could听help you thrive in your听field of work. What licenses are required? Make sure听you find out how to legally obtain such licensing听in your area.听Canadian universities typically have two streams for academics: research and teaching; both of which require a PhD.听Faculty positions听in colleges usually require only a听Master鈥檚听degree.听However, academic careers are not restricted to becoming tenured faculty听[].听Post-secondary institutions have a wide array of听positions working in academic advising, student engagement, teaching and learning听centres, alumni relations听etc.听听
Using Transferrable Skills to Transition Out of Academia.听The听academic听sector听is not for everyone听and that is totally okay.听While academia places importance on knowledge, freedom,听focus and independence,听you may听not.听If you value听influence, ambition, fast-pace and teamwork, you may want an industry job.听If you value positive impact, variety, initiative and teamwork, you may want a non-profit job.听If you value planning, balance, security and structure, you may want a job in government.听[]听The first step听in听finding career options outside of academia is to identify skills you have acquired听as a graduate student听inside of academia.听More often than not, these skills can be transferred听quite smoothly into an industry听setting.听Some skills听learned in academia include writing, critical thinking,听reviewing and reporting.听Other field specific skills听may include data analysis, statistics, programming,听and听oral presentation听[].听Where do your strengths lie? In the IDF听Networking & Job Search听Handout, we discuss finding job opportunities that play to your strengths.听If you believe there are some skills you need听to work towards,听consult the听SKILLSETS听website for听skills building tips, tricks and workshops.听
Academic Recruitment Cycles.听听is a website that posts academic job listings. Further, it is advised that you听regularly check for postings on听the websites of institutions you听believe are a good fit for you. Most full-time faculty positions begin July 1st听with job listings being posted a year in advance,听while contract听positions听are typically posted 3-6 months before the beginning of a course听[].听Likewise, recruitment cycles can be monitored for non-academic careers.听The cycles听can be divided into quarters听with certain times of the year听such as,听summer and holiday season being听the most听active听[].听Keeping a strategic eye on these will give you an edge over the competition.听听
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Quick Guide to Career Knowledge
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- Know yourself: ask yourself fundamental questions about your happiness. Determine your skills, values and interests by taking self-assessments online.
- Prioritize your values: use the five value categories: personal, social, moral, practical and lifestyle - to weigh your priorities. An ideal career for you is a career that matches your priorities.
- Examine career qualifications: once you are familiar with your own passions and priorities, find out what is required of you to get where you want to be in your career: academic or non-academic. Figure out how to obtain the right licensure.
- Set SMART goals: comprise a list of specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound goals []. It is much easier to start with a short-term plan that will contribute to your long-term achievement as time progresses.
- Create a realistic timeline: your timeline will help you navigate the SMART goals you set in a timely manner. If you are unsure where to start, you can refer to the CaPS Career Development Timeline for Graduate Students and Postdocs.
- Reflect: regularly reflect on your current areas of expertise and what you need to work on for self-improvement.
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Taking Action
Professional Development & Training听
- Check for upcoming workshops and programs by searching for events tagged with this category: Career Knowledge
- Consult CaPS Event Calendar for a full listing of career workshops and events
- Consult SKILLSETS Training Calendar for upcoming skills building sessions
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Gaining Experience听
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Participate in听:听A听series of three workshops听that听will help you understand your personality type, skills, interests and values and how they relate to various occupations听
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Visit听: Portal for promoting job opportunities and career education听on and off campus. Participate in career events, workshops and company information sessions.听
Resources
Websites听
- 91丝瓜视频 Career Planning Service 鈥� Self-Assessment:听CaPS听has听some suggested resources for听self-assessment and a brief description of its components听听听
- :听Blog run by a career coach who helps PhD students launch meaningful careers听
- :听Descriptions for jobs at every level, including online assessment tests that will match you to potential career options听听
- :听Provides career quizzes, job profiles and听a听skills听matching tool听
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Books & Articles听
- Burnett, W., & Evans, D. J. (2016). Designing your life: How to build a well-lived, joyful life.听听
- Bolles, R. N. (2013).听What color is your听parachute?:听A practical manual for job-hunters and career-changers.听听听
- DeLuca, M. J., & DeLuca, N. F. (2001).听More best answers to the 201 most frequently asked interview questions. New York: McGraw-Hill.听听
- Kennedy, J. L. (2012).听Job interviews for dummies. Hoboken, N.J: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.听听听
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References
[1].听Ababon,听M. (2016).
[2] .听Bloch, D.P. (1989).
[3] [4]. Yale University. (2020).
[5]听 Urban, T. (2018).
[6] [8]听 Yale University. (2020).听听
[7] [10]听. Snowden, K. (2018).听
[9]听.听STUDYPUNK Team. (2017).听
[11]听.听Rossheim, J. (2020).
[12]听. Mind Tools Content Team. (2020).听
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