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!

What Kinds of Assistantships Are Available – and How Do You Get One?
Friday, August 15th - 12:00-12:30pm (online)
At UMass, assistantships fall into three categories: teaching, research, and projects (usually involving work in a campus office). Most are offered through your department, but a very limited number of project assistantships are posted broadly each year. Join this short workshop to learn more and ask questions!

Negotiating a Job Offer
Thursday, August 21st - 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 Cover Letters
Thursday, September 11th - 11:30am-1:00pm (515 Goodell)
Crafting the perfect faculty cover letter can be stressful! What do I write about? Should I use letterhead? How much of the cover letter overlaps with my statements? Come to this workshop for an outline of cover letter expectations and get all your questions answered!
 
Tailor Your Faculty Application: Highlight Your Fit Without Wasting Time
Tuesday, September 16th - 12:30-2:00pm (515 Goodell)
As you read the job ads for an “Assistant Professor,” you are faced with interpreting vague job descriptions and scrolling through college websites in hopes of finding something to help your application stand out from the pack. Learn to tailor your application in this workshop! We will look at how certain words in job ads carry important information and how these minor differences should change your application.

Resume Basics
Wednesday, September 17th - 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.
 
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.
 
Faculty Job Document Drafting Party
Thursday, September 25th - 11:30am-1:30pm (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.
 
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.
 
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. 
 
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!
 
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.