Skip to main content
UMass Collegiate M The University of Massachusetts Amherst
  • Visit
  • Apply
  • Give
  • Search UMass.edu
Graduate School Graduate School

Main navigation

  • Apply
    How to ApplyAfter you ApplyInternational ApplicantsNon-Degree Students
  • Academics
    Certificate ProgramsMaster's ProgramsDoctoral ProgramsCourses
    See all academic programs
  • Student Support
    Professional DevelopmentAppointments and FellowshipsInclusionFundingPolicies
    New Graduate StudentsGraduate Student GovernmentGraduate Student HandbookGraduate Student Forms & DocumentsResources
  • Faculty & Staff
    Program AdministrationAdmissionsMentoringCurriculum ChangesForm Library
    Our DeanCurrent GPDsGrad Office ContactStaff Directory
  • News & Events
    NewsEventsAnnual Report
    CommencementOrientation

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Office of Professional Development
  3. About OPD Workshops!
  4. Career Preparation

Career Exploration and Application

Photo collage of people doing different careers

Workshops!

Here is a sample of some of our workshops that can help you on your career path. See the listing of upcoming career workshops on the Graduate School Events Page! 

Explore and Prepare for Your Career Path with Workshops like...

  • What Can I Do With a Graduate Degree?
  • Informational Interviews: "How To" for this Important Career Exploration Tool
  • Discover Your Skills
  • Yes, Scholars are Using LinkedIn and You Should Too!
  • Intro to the Individual Development Plan (IDP) for Grad Students / Postdocs
  • Decode a Job Ad: How Do I Know If I Should Apply?

Build Skills in Workshops like...

  • The Art of Introducing Yourself 
  • Developing Your Elevator Pitch

Explore also the wide range of experiential learning opportunities for UMass graduate students and postdocs!

Improve Your Application with Workshops like...

  • Resume Basics
  • How to Write a (Better) Cover Letter
  • Interview Strategies
  • Negotiating a Job Offer

Learn More about Careers in Our Career Conversations and Panels 

We have amazing professionals visit our workshops throughout the year to talk about their careers. Past guests include: 

  • Daniel Acevedo Cartagena, Apple
  • Christina Chisholm, Rutgets McNair Scholars Program and Educational Equity Initiatives
  • Emma Dauster, SciShow
  • Rodrigo Dominguez-Villegas, UCLA's Latino Policy & Politics Initiative
  • Nigel Golden, Woodwell Climate Research Center
  • Stefan Gross, Agios Pharmaceuticals
  • Lian Guo, California Sea Grant’s Science Integration Team
  • Kate Henry, Productivity Coach Eric Hintz, Smithsonian
  • Chelsea Marcho, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
  • Daniel Morales, University of Minnesota's Multicultural Center for Academic Excellence
  • Alexandria Nylen, Brown's Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies
  • Kate Perillo, Pearson
  • Maureen Piotrowski, Whitsell Innovations, Inc.
  • James Rae, Zillow
  • William Rodríguez-Reillo, Harvard Medical School
  • Dan Vahaba, Duke's Institute for Brain Sciences

Alt-Ac Working Group

Are you considering a non-faculty career? Are you interested in exploring career options in museums, administration, non-profits, policy, communication, or any hundreds of other jobs that allow you to use your amazing skills and knowledge that you have gained in grad school? The Alt-ac Working Group is a place to discuss, explore, and prepare for these careers! (Alt-ac stand for "alternative to academic jobs.") 

Join us in workshops and on slack! 

Questions? 

Please do be in touch with any questions or suggestions! Shana Passonno can be reached at passonno [at] umass [dot] edu (passonno[at]umass[dot]edu) and Johanna Yunker is at the email jyunker [at] umass [dot] edu (jyunker[at]umass[dot]edu) 

Local Navigation Links

Career Preparation
Career Exploration and Application
Career Working Group
Faculty Job Market Workshop Series
Exploring Careers in STEM 2024
TRaCE PhD Career Outcomes
Beyond Grad School: For UMass Master's Students
Beyond Prof: A Career Resource for UMass PhDs

Site footer

Graduate School
  • X
  • Find us on Facebook
  • Find us on YouTube
  • Find us on Instagram
Address

Goodell Hall
140 Hicks Way, 5th Floor
Amherst, MA 01003
United States

Info for...

  • Current students
  • Faculty & staff

Admissions

  • How to apply
  • After you apply
  • International applicants
  • Non-degree students

The Graduate School

  • About
  • Our dean
  • News
  • Events
  • Contact Us

Student Life & Support

  • Professional development
  • Funding
  • Policies
  • Inclusion

Global footer

  • ©2025 University of Massachusetts Amherst
  • Site policies
  • Privacy
  • Non-discrimination notice
  • Accessibility
  • Terms of use