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!
 
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.