Yes, Scholars are Using LinkedIn and You Should Too!
- | Online with OPD!
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.
Spring Shut Up & Write Tuesdays
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
Writing alongside others is a best practice for academic writing! This weekly drop-in provides time and space to write while caffeinated - come late or leave early. We'll make the coffee; you do the writing. One pre-registration for the "Spring Series" is required; attend one week or attend them all!
Negotiating a Job Offer
- | Online with OPD!
Are you hearing that you should negotiate your job offer, but feeling unsure about how to do this? If you are considering jobs outside academia or non-faculty positions inside academia, join this session to learn concrete strategies to negotiate with confidence.
Work-Life Balance
- | Online with OPD!
Academia is well-known for its high expectations, particularly when it comes to how many hours we work. How can we find a balance between our personal lives and the work we do? Finding that balance can lead to increased productivity and happiness. Come learn some tips to start on the right path.
Bring the Joy Back to Your Classroom
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
Does this sound familiar? The excitement and drive of the first weeks have worn off. You and your students feel tired, overwhelmed, and have the mid-semester blues. In this workshop, we will discuss easy mid-semester changes you can apply to your teaching. Come to regain your joy of teaching for the remainder of the semester!
A Topic is Not a Question: How to Design a Research Question
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
Determining a field or concentration for your research may be easy enough, but how do you transform a topic of interest into a specific and compelling research question? In this interactive workshop/work session we will discuss the qualities of successful research questions and why the advice to “just keep narrowing it down” can do more harm than good.
Intro to the Individual Development Plan (IDP) for Grad Students
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
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.
Spring Shut Up & Write Tuesdays
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
Writing alongside others is a best practice for academic writing! This weekly drop-in provides time and space to write while caffeinated - come late or leave early. We'll make the coffee; you do the writing. One pre-registration for the "Spring Series" is required; attend one week or attend them all!
Feedback: What Am I Supposed to do With This?
- | Online with OPD!
Do you enjoy feedback and criticism? Probably not, but a huge part of graduate and postdoctoral training is accepting and learning from feedback. This session will help you shift from a defensive position to a growth mindset and develop strategies to manage the anxiety associated with good, bad, and even just plain wrong feedback.
Creating Effective Figures
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
Creating the right figure takes time and effort, but there are some tricks to get you there faster. Are you using the right format? Are you considering the audience? What tools are available and best suited for your data? Come take this opportunity to discuss the answers to these questions and work with your data to produce amazing figures for your presentations and publications.
How to Write a (Better) Cover Letter
- | Online with OPD!
In an oversaturated job market, demonstrating “fit" is critical - and the cover letter is the best place to make the persuasive argument that you are right for this job! We’ll discuss common cover letter mistakes and discover some foolproof ways to write a cover letter that will make employers take notice. This workshop will be helpful whether you are writing your first or fiftieth cover letter! (Please note that this workshop focuses on cover letters for non-faculty jobs.)
Spring Shut Up & Write Tuesdays
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
Writing alongside others is a best practice for academic writing! This weekly drop-in provides time and space to write while caffeinated - come late or leave early. We'll make the coffee; you do the writing. One pre-registration for the "Spring Series" is required; attend one week or attend them all!
Time Management Strategies
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
Strong time management skills are a requirement for success. If you struggle with time management—or if you don’t— learn how you can do more in less time. We will talk about systems and tips to increase your productivity and leave you more time to enjoy life.
Informational Interviews: "How To" for this Important Career Exploration Tool
- | Online with OPD!
Have you heard that you should be doing informational interviews in order to explore your career options or to become a better job applicant? Not sure how to go about this? Come learn how to reach out to a potential contact, what questions to ask, and how to use the information for your job search.
Resume Basics
- | Online with OPD!
Preparing for a job or internship search? This session will talk about the differences between a CV and a resume, help you understand how employers screen resumes, and provide tips for making yours stand out.
Interview Strategies
- | Online with OPD!
The thought of interviewing can feel stressful when we don't know what to expect or how candidates will be evaluated. Whether interviewing in person or online, this session will offer a framework that can help reduce anxiety and boost confidence. If you are considering jobs outside academia or non-faculty positions inside academia, this session is for you.
Spring Shut Up & Write Tuesdays
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
Writing alongside others is a best practice for academic writing! This weekly drop-in provides time and space to write while caffeinated - come late or leave early. We'll make the coffee; you do the writing. One pre-registration for the "Spring Series" is required; attend one week or attend them all!
Teaching Portfolios
- | Online with OPD!
This workshop will explain how to develop a teaching portfolio that demonstrates your effectiveness as an instructor. Topics will include the purpose, content, and format of the teaching portfolio.
Public Speaking For the Anxious and Not-So-Anxious
- | Online with OPD!
“There are only two types of speakers in the world: the nervous and the liars.”–Mark Twain. Speaking to an audience is important for your professional life, but that doesn’t mean we get a lot of training in it. Come learn the tips and tricks that will make you a more confident public speaker, convince your audience of your brilliance, and leave a lasting impression.
Spring Shut Up & Write Tuesdays
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
Writing alongside others is a best practice for academic writing! This weekly drop-in provides time and space to write while caffeinated - come late or leave early. We'll make the coffee; you do the writing. One pre-registration for the "Spring Series" is required; attend one week or attend them all!
Individual Development Plans (IDPs) for Postdocs
- | Online with OPD!
Postdocs are planners! And the Individual Development Plan (IDP) is the gold standard for career planning in academia, business, and government. Come learn to use the IDP framework at any stage of your career to improve and meet your goals. This workshop will introduce participants to the UMass IDP, recommend resources for assessing skills, interests, and values, and offer strategies for effective ("SMART") goal setting.
Interview Strategies
- | Online with OPD!
The thought of interviewing can feel stressful when we don't know what to expect or how candidates will be evaluated. Whether interviewing in person or online, this session will offer a framework that can help reduce anxiety and boost confidence. If you are considering jobs outside academia or non-faculty positions inside academia, this session is for you.
Adopting a Growth Mindset
- | Online with OPD!
Do you take failure hard? We all do, but the most successful scholars view failure as an opportunity. Learn how to grow from setbacks by adopting a growth mindset. While a fixed mindset tells us that we cannot improve, a growth mindset makes failure easier to bear and sets us up for success.
Spring Shut Up & Write Tuesdays
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
Writing alongside others is a best practice for academic writing! This weekly drop-in provides time and space to write while caffeinated - come late or leave early. We'll make the coffee; you do the writing. One pre-registration for the "Spring Series" is required; attend one week or attend them all!
Crafting Slides for Engaging Presentations
- | Online with OPD!
Do you ever envy a presenter’s slick presentation? Do you wish you could convey your data simply and tell a great story that engages your audience? Join us to learn how to design slides that capture attention and convey your meaning!
Negotiating a Job Offer
- | Online with OPD!
Are you hearing that you should negotiate your job offer, but feeling unsure about how to do this? If you are considering jobs outside academia or non-faculty positions inside academia, join this session to learn concrete strategies to negotiate with confidence.
Managing Procrastination
- | Online with OPD!
Even with our best intentions, we often put off doing the things we need to do. Why does this happen and what can we do about it? Come learn about the science of procrastination and concrete strategies to move past procrastination into productivity.
Teaching Statements
- | Online with OPD!
A teaching statement is a critical document for graduate students and postdocs who anticipate a career in teaching, whether at the college level or elsewhere. This interactive workshop will cover the basics, as well as what makes an excellent statement stand out! In addition, we will review examples of teaching statements.
Spring Shut Up & Write Tuesdays
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
Writing alongside others is a best practice for academic writing! This weekly drop-in provides time and space to write while caffeinated - come late or leave early. We'll make the coffee; you do the writing. One pre-registration for the "Spring Series" is required; attend one week or attend them all!
Getting the Most from Your Reading
- | Online with OPD!
A lot of your time is spent reading. Is your reading productive? Learn to read quickly and effectively. Keep track of your reading and keep up with your ever-expanding field. We’ll share tips from the pros and talk about software that makes it easier to keep up and stay organized.
Communicating Your Research in One Minute
- | Online with OPD!
Communicating your research effectively can be tough, and it can be even tougher when your audience doesn’t share your expertise. Success hinges on your ability to articulate what you are doing and why it is worth doing, whether your goal is to communicate the relevance of your work, recruit a potential collaborator, impress a prospective employer, or finally have your family understand what you do. In this session, participants will draft a short explanation of their work that avoids jargon and engages audiences.
Time Management Strategies
- | Online with OPD!
Strong time management skills are a requirement for success. If you struggle with time management—or if you don’t— learn how you can do more in less time. We will talk about systems and tips to increase your productivity and leave you more time to enjoy life.
Spring Shut Up & Write Tuesdays
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
Writing alongside others is a best practice for academic writing! This weekly drop-in provides time and space to write while caffeinated - come late or leave early. We'll make the coffee; you do the writing. One pre-registration for the "Spring Series" is required; attend one week or attend them all!
Yes, Scholars are Using LinkedIn and You Should Too!
- | Online with OPD!
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.
Resume Basics
- | Online with OPD!
Preparing for a job or internship search? This session will talk about the differences between a CV and a resume, help you understand how employers screen resumes, and provide tips for making yours stand out.
Spring Shut Up & Write Tuesdays
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
Writing alongside others is a best practice for academic writing! This weekly drop-in provides time and space to write while caffeinated - come late or leave early. We'll make the coffee; you do the writing. One pre-registration for the "Spring Series" is required; attend one week or attend them all!
Interview Strategies
- | Online with OPD!
The thought of interviewing can feel stressful when we don't know what to expect or how candidates will be evaluated. Whether interviewing in person or online, this session will offer a framework that can help reduce anxiety and boost confidence. If you are considering jobs outside academia or non-faculty positions inside academia, this session is for you.
Funding Search Strategies for International Graduate Students and Postdocs
- | Campus Center 168C
Many external grants and fellowships are restricted to US citizens or permanent residents, posing a challenge for international graduate students and postdocs. This session will offer strategies to help international students and postdocs search for external funding and understand related visa requirements. Co-sponsored by the International Programs Office.
Work-Life Balance
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
Academia is well-known for its high expectations, particularly when it comes to how many hours we work. How can we find a balance between our personal lives and the work we do? Finding that balance can lead to increased productivity and happiness. Come learn some tips to start on the right path.
Working with Your Cognitive Distortions
- | Online with OPD!
The human brain is amazing! It is also full of cognitive biases that constantly get in our way. Learn how to manage your own brain and get the most out of it, since it didn’t come with a user manual. We’ll cover the most recent neuroscience findings and how we can apply them to our own lives.
Informational Interviews: "How To" for this Important Career Exploration Tool
- | Online with OPD!
Have you heard that you should be doing informational interviews in order to explore your career options or to become a better job applicant? Not sure how to go about this? Come learn how to reach out to a potential contact, what questions to ask, and how to use the information for your job search.
