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 (fall and winter) and Doctoral students (fall and summer). 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.

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. Career Working Groups are offered for master's and doctoral students on a rotating basis.

The next Career Working Group for Doctoral Students will meet on Wednesdays from May 20 - June 24, 2026. The application can be found in the Doctoral Session section below - apply by May 4 for priority consideration.

The next Career Working Group for Master's Students will take place in fall 2026. 

“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.”

The Art of Introducing Yourself 
Wednesday, January 7th - 11:00am-12:00pm (weather delay)
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.

Using LinkedIn to Support Your Job Search
Wednesday, January 14th – 10:00-11:30am
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.

Connecting with Professionals in Your Field
Wednesday, January 21st – 10:00-11:30am
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.

Is This the Right Job for Me?
Wednesday, January 28th – 10:00am-12:00pm
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. We will close with reflections about the program and conversation over lunch. 

Apply
The application has closed for this series. 
 

The Art of Introducing Yourself 
Wednesday, May 20th – 10:30am - 12:00pm
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.

Using LinkedIn to Support Your Job Search
Wednesday, May 27th – 10:30am - 12:00pm
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.

Connecting with Professionals in Your Field
Wednesday, June 3rd – 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. 

Using an IDP to Plan Your Career
Wednesday, June 10th – 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. 

Deconstructing Your Job Description
Wednesday, June 17th – 10:30am - 12:30pm
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. 

Portfolio Review and Celebratory Meal
Wednesday, June 24th – 10:30am - 12:30pm
After weeks of building LinkedIn content, contacts, potential career fits, and the confidence to put it all in motion, you will share your work and receive feedback from a supportive group of peers and instructors over a celebratory closing meal. 

Apply
Apply now to participate in the 2026 CWG. Apply by May 4, 2026 for priority considertion.