Upcoming Career Preparation Workshops!

OPD helps graduate students and postdocs plan and prepare for careers beyond UMass Amherst—and it’s never too early to start!

Faculty Job Document Drafting Party
Tuesday, September 23rd - 12:00-2:00pm (515 Goodell)
Are you working on drafts of cover letters, teaching statements, diversity statements, or research statements? Have your eye on an upcoming deadline? Join us for a quiet, focused writing session where you can make real progress. You'll also have the opportunity to ask questions or get feedback on your drafts. Please feel free to bring your lunch.
 
Research Statements for the Academic Job Market
Thursday, September 25th - 10:00-11:30am (515 Goodell)
How can you make your research stand out among a sea of applications? Participants will draft language about their research that can be used in all facets of the faculty application, including the research statement, cover letter, and interviews.
 
Using an IDP to Plan Your Career
Thursday, September 25th - 12:30-2:00pm (online)
The Individual Development Plan (IDP) provides a framework for building skills with intentionality and aligning 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. 
 
Interview Strategies
Friday, September 26th - 10:00-11:30am (online)
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.
 
Connecting with Professionals in Your Field
Tuesday, September 30th - 11:30am-12:30pm (online)
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.
 
Diversity Statements for the Academic Job Market
Wednesday, October 1st - 12:15-1:45pm (515 Goodell)
If you are applying to faculty jobs, you are likely going to be asked to submit a diversity statement. In this workshop, we’ll discuss the two things that every statement should include, as well as tips and examples!
 
Teaching Portfolios: Evidence of Teaching Effectiveness
Tuesday, October 7th - 12:00-12:45pm (515 Goodell)
In this workshop, you will learn the essentials of crafting a teaching portfolio that showcases your effectiveness in the classroom. Topics will include the purpose, content, and format of the teaching portfolio, with a focus on sample syllabi and student evaluations. 
 
Teaching Statements for the Academic Job Market
Tuesday, October 7th - 1:00-2:20pm (515 Goodell)
How do you talk about teaching on the faculty job market? What are search committees looking for? 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.

Working in the US: OPT/CPT for Graduate Students
Tuesday, October 7th - 4:00-5:00pm (515 Goodell)
Ken Reade, Executive Director of Immigration Services in the Office of Global Affairs (OGA), will present the guidelines, limitations, and application strategies for working/interning in the US with F-1 or J-1 Visas. Bring your employment questions about post-graduation, internships, OPT, and CPT.
 
Negotiating a Job Offer
Thursday, October 9th - 11:30am-1:00pm (online)
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.
 
Faculty Job Document Drafting Party
Thursday, October 16th - 1:30-3:30pm (515 Goodell)
Are you working on drafts of faculty cover letters, teaching statements, diversity statements, or research statements? Have your eye on an upcoming deadline? Drop-in and work in our quiet space! You will also have the option to ask questions or receive feedback on your drafts throughout the afternoon. 

Save the Date for the virtual Teaching at Teaching Intensive Institutions Conference!
Friday, October 17th - Time TBA
Mark your calendars for this year's virtual Conference! More details coming soon; we can’t wait to see you there!
 
Connecting with Professionals in Your Field
Tuesday, October 21st - 11:30am-12:30pm (online)
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
Thursday, October 23rd - 11:30am-1:00pm (online)
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.
 
How to Write a (Better) Cover Letter
Friday, October 24th - 12:30-1:50pm (online)
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.)
 
First Round Faculty Interview Practice
Wednesday, October 29th - 12:15-1:45pm (515 Goodell)
Are you hoping to interview for a faculty job this year? Often first round screening interviews are scheduled with little notice, so it’s good to be prepared! Join us for pizza and to practice your answers to some of the most common questions. Learn the strategies for a successful Zoom or phone interview!
 
Using LinkedIn to Support Your Job Search
Thursday, October 30th - 11:30am-12:30pm (online)
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.
 
Using an IDP to Plan Your Career
Tuesday, November 4th - 10:00-11:30am (515 Goodell)
The Individual Development Plan (IDP) provides a framework for building skills with intentionality and aligning 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. 
 
Interview Strategies
Thursday, November 6th - 11:30am-1:00pm (online)
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.

 Life After UMass: Immigration Panel Discussion
Monday, November 10th - 5:30-7:30pm (S330 Life Science Laboratories)
Immigration attorney Dan Berger from the leading immigration law firm, Green & Spiegel, will join representatives from the UMass Office of Global Affairs to discuss a variety of longer-term U.S. immigration strategies. Topics will include employment-based visas, inter-company transfers, and U.S. permanent residency (“green cards”). Co-sponsored with the Office of Global Affairs and open to all international students, scholars, and postdocs. Pizza will be served.
 
Negotiating a Job Offer
Thursday, November 13th - 10:00-11:30am (online)
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.
 
Connecting with Professionals in Your Field
Friday, November 14th - 12:00-1:00pm (online)
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
Wednesday, November 19th - 11:30am-1:00pm (online)
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.
 
Applying to be a Lecturer, Instructor, or Adjunct
Thursday, December 4th - 10:00-11:00am (515 Goodell)
Many of the upcoming faculty job postings will be for adjunct or non-tenure track instructors and lecturers. In this workshop, we’ll consider the pros and cons of such positions, as well as how to tailor the application materials. 
 

Faculty Interviews: Giving a Job Talk
Tuesday, December 9th - 12:00-12:45pm (online)
At research institutions, the success of your interview may be determined by your job talk (and following Q+A). In this short session, we will discuss the expectations of your audience, the structure of your talk, and how to handle challenging questions.
 
Faculty Interviews: The Teaching Demonstration
Thursday, December 11th - 12:00-1:00pm (online)
A majority of faculty searches now include a teaching demo. Although the content of the demo is important, it is your engaging and interactive pedagogy on display. Learn how to plan a lesson that makes a positive impression on both the students and the committee!
 
Faculty Interviews: Tips for the Campus Visit
Tuesday, December 16th - 12:00-1:15pm (online)
Join us for a discussion about what to expect, how to prepare, who to impress, things to avoid, and how candidates are often judged in a faculty interview.

Resume Basics
Thursday, December 18th - 10:00-11:30am (online)
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.