Career Working Group

Plan, Develop, & Connect

Launch Your Career with Our Working Groups!

Feeling overwhelmed by career planning or not sure how to start? Don't go it alone! The Graduate School Office of Professional Development offers Career Working Groups for Master’s students (winter session) and Doctoral students (summer session). Limited Spots Available!

“It was important to learn from others’ experiences. It was also relieving to see that you are not the only one who is struggling with the job search. It encouraged us to help each other.”

Structure & Support:

Community building: Learn alongside a supportive group of peers through weekly, in-person meetings.

Accountability: Put concepts into action through interactive exercises and post-session assignments.

Expert guidance: Gain valuable insights from OPD professionals like Shana Passonno and Bryan Monesson-Olson.

Topics

Sessions combine professional skills training, career path planning, and networking strategies to help you:

  • Introduce yourself…to make a positive impression!
  • Assess your skills…do I have the skills employers are looking for?
  • Explore career options…is this the right job for me?
  • Leverage LinkedIn for professional success
  • Connect with professionals to build your network
  • Celebrate your progress!

“I feel so much more confident in introducing myself after practicing what I learned in this workshop.”

Timing and How to Apply

All Career Working Group sessions take place in Goodell Building (there is no virtual option). Students seeking online workshops are encouraged to check the OPD workshop schedule.

  • A Career Working Group for Master’s Students is offered in the winter session
  • A Career Working Group for Doctoral Students is offered in the summer session

Career Working Groups meet weekly and participants are expected to attend ALL sessions. Participation is free, but space is limited and attendees are selected through a competitive application process.

Applications for the Career Working Group for Doctoral Students (Wednesdays, May 21 - June 25) can be accessed in the Doctoral Session Details section below. Priority consideration will be given to applications submitted by May 4, 2025.

“The Career Working Group provided the motivation and tools I needed to prepare for the first steps of the job search process. I appreciated the accountability and sense of community that the group fostered.”

Introducing Yourself and Reaching Out to Others
Winter 2026 TBA
Whether hoping to meet people in your department, impress faculty, or survive a conference networking event, many of us dread introducing ourselves. But the first step in building successful relationships is making yourself visible. This session will demystify the process and provide a supportive space to practice with peers.

Once you master the introduction, it’s time to connect with professionals! Have you heard that you should be doing informational interviews to explore your career options or to become a better job applicant? Not sure how to go about this? You will learn how to reach out to a potential contact, what questions to ask, and how to use the information for your job search. Pizza and salad will be served.

Is This the Right Job for Me?
Winter 2026 TBA
Job searching can be stressful! To find the right fit, applicants must analyze job descriptions to identify which skills the employer values, assess their current capabilities, create action plans to develop skills as needed and decide if the work seems enjoyable. In this session, we’ll provide a framework to simplify the process and participants will practice on their sample job descriptions.

Using LinkedIn to Support Your Job Search
Winter 2026 TBA
Are you missing out on jobs and internships? Searching in the right place is important, and so is letting companies find you! Learn how to use LinkedIn and Handshake to find opportunities and set up a profile that will establish your reputation online. After learning some tips, you will have time to work on your profile and seek advice from instructors.

Report Out and Celebratory Luncheon
Winter 2026 TBA
Participants will start the session by sharing something they learned during the informational interviews. We will then end our Career Planning Working Group with a catered lunch and conversation. 

Apply
Space is limited and attendance is *in person* only (no virtual options will be provided). 
 

Art of Introducing Yourself
Wednesday, May 21st - 10:30am-12:00pm
Whether hoping to meet people in your department, impress faculty, or survive a conference networking event, many of us dread the process of introducing ourselves. But the first step in building successful relationships is making yourself visible. This workshop offers two parts: Part one will demystify the process to help you introduce yourself with confidence. Part two will provide an opportunity to practice with peers and get feedback. Homework: Introduce yourself to two new people this week.

Using LinkedIn to Support Your Job Search
Wednesday, May 28th - 10:30am-12:00pm 
Are you missing out on jobs and internships? Searching in the right place is important, and so is letting organizations find you! Learn how to use LinkedIn and Handshake to find opportunities and set up a profile that will establish your reputation online. Homework: Create and update your LinkedIn profile.

Connecting with Professionals in Your Field
Wednesday, June 4th - 10:30am-12:00pm 
Have you heard that you should be doing informational interviews to explore your career options or to become a better job applicant? Not sure how to go about this? In this session, you will learn how to reach out to a potential contact, what questions to ask, and how to use the information for your job search. Homework: Complete 1-2 informational interviews.

Using an IDP to Plan Your Career
Wednesday, June 11th - 10:30am-12:00pm 
The Individual Development Plan (IDP) provides students with a framework for building skills with intentionality and aligning graduate training with career aspirations. This workshop will introduce participants to the UMass IDP, recommend resources for assessing skills, interests, and values, and offer strategies for effective goal setting. Homework: Finish assessments and Draft IDP. Select a job description for deconstruction.

Deconstructing Your Job Description
Wednesday, June 18th - 10:30am-12:00pm 
In this interactive session, participants will discuss a selected job description and how it aligns with their skills, values, and interests. As a group, we will identify skills targeted for improvement and crowdsource ideas for how these skills can be developed now…during graduate studies. Participants will develop action-oriented plans for how they can develop skills (now!) that strategically align with career aspirations. Homework: Revise/update your IDP.

Report out and Celebratory Lunch
Wednesday, June 25th - 10:30am-12:00pm 
We will wrap up our Career Working Group by sharing insights from actual informational interviews conducted. We will close with some reflections about the program and a celebratory luncheon. Homework: Continue what you have learned!

Apply
All sessions take place *in person* in Goodell Building (no virtual options will be provided). Apply here.