Professional Development

grad forum

Professional Development

Libby Cox and Lisa Thai
Libby Cox and Lisa Thai

Professional Development Award

April is National Counseling Month, a time to recognize the transformative work of professional counselors who help individuals gain insight, develop strategies, and find solutions to life’s challenges. 

Learn more about how the Professional Development Award helped two graduate students in the UO's Couples and Family Therapy program take bold steps to further the intersections between mental health and their lifelong interests.

Blending Passion with Purpose: Counseling Students Explore Innovative Paths to Healing

Graduate Resume, Curriculum Vitae & Cover Letter Review Program

The Division of Graduate Studies, through our gradCAREERS program, is reviewing cover letters, résumés, and CVs that will be used for academic-adjacent or non-academic job or internship applications. Students will either receive feedback via email or be contacted for a brief advising appointment. 

Submit your materials for review

For tips on developing your application materials, visit the Graduate Level Resume and CV Guidance webpage.

Workshops and Events

The Division of Graduate Studies is committed to helping our graduate students reach their professional and academic goals by providing workshops and opportunities that support the graduate student experience.

sport professional development event
Aug 28
Debunking Academia vs. Industry Myths: Own Your Career 2:30 p.m.

Less than a third of PhDs get tenure-track jobs. The vast majority of PhDs are left to figure out the labyrinth of a non-academic job market on their own. Yet, the industry job...
Debunking Academia vs. Industry Myths: Own Your Career
August 28
2:30–3:30 p.m.
This is a virtual event.

Less than a third of PhDs get tenure-track jobs. The vast majority of PhDs are left to figure out the labyrinth of a non-academic job market on their own. Yet, the industry job market is far from the panacea it was touted to be: intense competition, mass layoffs, dwindling job security, lack of intellectual rigor, lack of time freedom, discriminatory treatment of international job candidates. This talk by Kaidi Wu, PhD, Career Coach, will take an honest look at the challenges faced by PhDs in both academia and industry. We will explore ways to design a fulfilling career that provides financial stability for doing what you enjoy.

Register now at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dB82sgIkTWu94EB_uNhoww#/registration

Aug 29
Fall 2025 Writing Challenge for Graduate Students 3:00 p.m.

Graduate Students! The Fall 2025 14-Day Writing Challenge is an opportunity for you to experiment with daily writing, online community, and supportive accountability....
Fall 2025 Writing Challenge for Graduate Students
August 29
3:00 p.m.
This is a virtual event.

Graduate Students! The Fall 2025 14-Day Writing Challenge is an opportunity for you to experiment with daily writing, online community, and supportive accountability. It's very simple:

  • You commit to write every day for at least 30 minutes.
  • At the beginning of your writing time, you login to our online community, start the timer, complete your writing, and post your progress at the end.
  • You take 5 minutes to support other writers from across the U.S. in your group by commenting on their progress.

This is NOT for you if: 1) you don't want to post your progress on a daily basis and/or 2) you don't want to interact with other people.

If you're up for the challenge, then we can't wait for you to join us!

Sign up by August 29 at https://members.ncfdd.org/sessions/14dayfall2025. The event will run daily between September 8 and September 21. All UO students and faculty have free access to this resource. Please activate your NCFDD account before logging in. If needed, you can activate your account by visiting this link and selecting "Is your institution already a member?"

Sep 23
Graduate Student Welcome Lunch and Resource Fair 11:00 a.m.

Kick off the year right at the Graduate Student Welcome Lunch and Resource Fair! Come hang out with fellow new and returning grad students, explore the resource fair, and (best of...
Graduate Student Welcome Lunch and Resource Fair
September 23
11:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Erb Memorial Union (EMU) Ballroom (room 242)

Kick off the year right at the Graduate Student Welcome Lunch and Resource Fair! Come hang out with fellow new and returning grad students, explore the resource fair, and (best of all) enjoy some seriously delicious FREE food. You don’t want to miss it!

At the fair get connected with:

  • UO Health Services
  • Housing
  • Student Funding
  • Identity support groups
  • Career Services
  • Graduate student resources and more!
Sep 25
Job Search Strategy for International Students 2:00 p.m.

This workshop, intended for international graduate students, introduces well-established processes for positioning onerself to execute a focused and successful US-based job...
Job Search Strategy for International Students
September 25
2:00–3:00 p.m.
This is a virtual event.

This workshop, intended for international graduate students, introduces well-established processes for positioning onerself to execute a focused and successful US-based job search. Take away a four-step framework to optimize your job search game plan. Learn how to:

  • Efficiently target companies that sponsor H-1B visas and hire international students
  • Cultivate professional connections through strategic networking and informational interviews
  • Leverage your story, skills, expertise, your university network, and brand to achieve your goals
  • Practice how to use your cultural diversity as an advantage

Register for this workshop, offered by Interstride, at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_iS5PU0CsSNuRAqbjkrSPsg#/registration 

Oct 23
Grad Student & Postdoc Industry Recruitment Event 9:00 a.m.

Are you interested in exploring or finding a position in industry? The Graduate Student & Postdoc Industry Recruitment Event (GSPIRE) is the perfect opportunity for...
Grad Student & Postdoc Industry Recruitment Event
October 23
9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
This is a virtual event.

Are you interested in exploring or finding a position in industry?

The Graduate Student & Postdoc Industry Recruitment Event (GSPIRE) is the perfect opportunity for individuals with advanced degrees and training to connect with various industries and organizations. The GSPIRE will take place virtually on October 23. We invite you to join us and connect with top employers and organizations seeking bright minds like yours.

All individuals, from first-year graduate students to postdocs and alumni, are welcome to participate in GSPIRE fairs. Whether you are considering a career in academia or industry, this event will provide valuable networking opportunities and the chance to explore and secure internships or professional employment in the industry. Sign up coming soon!

Graduating soon?

Individuals who are due to graduate in Dec 2025 or May/August/Dec 2026 are strongly encouraged to submit a resume (not a C.V.). It's valuable to submit a resume even if you are unable to attend the career fair, as all industry partners will receive all resumes submitted. Submitting a resume is not mandatory for event registration, but it is recommended for individuals pursuing a career in industry, as it allows industry partners to track your progress over the next few years.

The deadline for resume submissions is Monday, September 8 at 9:00pm Pacific Time. It is advised to submit resumes early to account for any potential technical difficulties. Adding a resume on Handshake is also recommended, as it is a useful platform for job searching and applications at your level.

Oct 30
Job Search Strategy for International Students 2:00 p.m.

This workshop, intended for international graduate students, introduces well-established processes for positioning onerself to execute a focused and successful US-based job...
Job Search Strategy for International Students
October 30
2:00–3:00 p.m.
This is a virtual event.

This workshop, intended for international graduate students, introduces well-established processes for positioning onerself to execute a focused and successful US-based job search. Take away a four-step framework to optimize your job search game plan. Learn how to:

  • Efficiently target companies that sponsor H-1B visas and hire international students
  • Cultivate professional connections through strategic networking and informational interviews
  • Leverage your story, skills, expertise, your university network, and brand to achieve your goals
  • Practice how to use your cultural diversity as an advantage

Register for this workshop, offered by Interstride, at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6ghm-LvNQBaeJ6hixWcjyw#/registration

See all upcoming workshops and events

Training and Resources

From writing support to distinguished alumni speakers and from exploring your career options to planning your career, 
the Division of Graduate Studies offers a variety of resources to help get you started.

A resource to help guide grad students in their career development

Access to free platforms for training for your field and career

Take assessments to understand and confidently choose your career path