Non-Academic Careers
Planning for a career after grad school is a major source of stress for graduate students. It can be particularly opaque or frightening for those of us who are considering careers outside the professorate. Graduate Support is here to help graduate students explore and prepare for the myriad of professions available, whether they are in government, non-profits, or the private sector. We strongly encourage all graduate students to think early and often about their career trajectories.
What can we do for graduates? We offer support in several different areas for all graduate students, regardless of discipline. For those students who are thinking about non-academic possibilities, we provide a safe place for career path advisement designed to help you explore various career options and what they entail. For students actively seeking a position, we can also assist with the job search. We are available to look over résumés, curricula vitae, application letters, LinkedIn profiles, or other materials you are preparing. We also provides tips and strategies for marketing yourself, and the numerous skills you develop in graduate programs, in a way that maximizes your impact on the non-academic market. Even if you are certain that academia is right for you, we offer advice on ways to productively supplement your academic career journey. We also offer workshops as part of our regular schedule.
For Graduate Students
Graduate Support welcomes anyone interested in Non-Academic careers to schedule a one-on-one consultation with one of our consultants. To schedule an appointment you may email us at ctlgs@unm.edu. Please note that in-person appointments are limited during the Summer as we transition to a new workspace.
For Faculty and Departments
Graduate Support is also available to support faculty and departments in discussing the non-academic career world. On request, we can provide workshops or course visits for your students, as well as supply resources on the job search, career paths, and mentoring. We are also happy to speak with faculty who have students interested in non-academic career paths and would like support on how to better mentor their students. For more information, or to schedule our services, please contact us.
General Resources
- For help with planning for a post-graduate career, see L. Maren Wood, The PhD’s Guide to a Nonfaculty Job Search, Chronicle of Higher Education.
- For assessments of the skills and experience you gain in graduate programs, see National Postdoctoral Association, Core Competencies.
- For general support and commentary on a nontraditional career, see The Professor Is In.
- For examples of alternative career paths, see McGill University, Non-Academic Careers.
- For effective networking tips and approaches, see Sabine Hikel, 5 Networking Strategies.
- For a guide to training and professionalization in grad school, see Grad Student Professional Development Guide.
- For an explanation of how to write job application materials, see Matthew Yepez, The Job Search: Resumes and CVs.
- For a host of tips and examples from successful graduates, see Beyond the Professoriate (Subscription required).
- For more advice from the Beyond the Professoriate developers, see From PHD To Life website.
- For Resume construction templates, see Resume Genius (Subscription required).
Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences Resources
- For development of a career path and personal assessments in the Humanities and Social Sciences, see ImaginePhD.
- For examples of where graduates go after their PhD, see PHD Placement Project blogs, Chronicle of Higher Education.
- For links to organizations adjacent to academia, see Christopher Martiniano, Further Professional Resources for PhDs to Network Their Skills Outside the Academy, Connected Academics.
- For a conversation on versatile PhDs and life after academia, see Rebecca Tuhus-Dubrow, The Repurposed PhD.
- For an example of managing the job market, see Jeffrey Weingarten, Tell Yourself a Different Story: An Essay on Surviving the Job Market.
- For help managing your career path, see Bethany Nowviskie, Negotiating your Alternative Academic Appointment.
- For statistical evidence and analysis on post-doc opportunities, see Katina Rogers, Humanities Unbound.
- For examples of alternative careers, see GradSchools.com, Careers and Jobs with a Master’s in Fine Arts.
- For tips on developing your career path, see Association of Departments of English, Developing a Nonacademic Career.
STEM Resources
- For development of a career path and personal assessments in the Sciences and Engineering, see MyIDP.
- For help assessing your skills, see So You Think you Have Skills Science Magazine.
- For advisement on the job search, see Laura Bonetta, Advancing in Industry: Choosing Among Many Paths Science Magazine.
- For statistical evidence on jobs outside academia, see American Institutes for Research, The Nonacademic Careers of STEM PHD Holders.
- For analysis of STEM job outcomes, see American Institutes for Research, Leaving STEM: STEM Ph.D. Holders in Non-STEM Careers.
- For more examples of alternative careers in STEM, see Arunodoy Sur, Top 10 List of Alternative Careers for PhD Science Graduates.
- For a variety of reports on careers, see National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, & Medicine, Career Guides.
