The action plans below provide concrete steps you can take now to develop the insights, experience and connections to pursue academic and non-academic careers.
The Early Years
(Coursework, Pre-Generals Requirements, Approx. G1-2)
Explore Options
- Attend departmental events to learn about potential fields of study
- Develop connections with your faculty and classmates
- Sign up for the Graduate Career Development newsletter
- Read graduate alumni profiles on Career Compass to learn about career paths
- Attend the Undercover Bosses event in spring to see what skills employers are seeking from applicants with advanced degrees
Build Experience
- Complete your Handshake profile and schedule an appointment with a graduate student career advisor
- Check your departmental emails for professional development programs
- Register for a City Trek during Wintersession to compare and contrast different work environments, missions and industry roles
Plan Next Steps
- Talk to your faculty about opportunities for summer research and review resources on industry internships
- Attend the “Beyond the Lab” Wintersession program on how to convey your academic work to a non-academic audience
- Make an appointment in Handshake to meet with a graduate student career advisor to discuss your goals and interests for the next few years of your studies
The Middle Years
(General Exams, Post-Generals Requirements, Approx. G3-4)
Explore Options
- Ask your advisor for suggestions about professional organizations you should join and conferences you should attend to expand your network of contacts
- Meet graduate alumni through the Career Chats program
- Attend employer information sessions and site visits to learn more about industry recruitment cycles
- Attend the Fall HireTigers Career Fair and Spring Networking Fair to learn about jobs outside the academy for advance degree holders
Build Experience
- Take on leadership roles in graduate student groups to expand your skills beyond research
- Present at Princeton Research Day (early May) to showcase your work
- Meet with a graduate student career advisor to review your CV and/or resume and discuss skills and characteristics you want to further develop
Plan Next Steps
- Apply to micro- or summer internship opportunities as allowed by your academic department to explore career options
- Review job descriptions of roles that interest you to start building specific career vocabulary
- Look at academic position announcements for your field to gauge the current hiring market
- Meet with a graduate student career adviser to discuss application processes and timelines across industries, e.g., post-doc research, university administration, government, arts, business
The Later Years
(Dissertation, FPO, Approx. G5+)
Explore Your Options
- Meet employers across a wide range of sectors at Princeton career fairs
- Ask alumni about their career journeys to inform your exploration
- Stay abreast of trends in your fields of interest, attend conferences, follow organizations and prominent individuals, and read relevant literature
Build Up Experiences
- Find opportunities to publish and present your work, getting help from your faculty advisor to target events and publications
- Used LinkedIn Learning, Udemy and Forage to develop or increase specific skills
- Meet with a graduate student career adviser to review your application documents, prepare for interviews and evaluate job offers
Plan Next Steps
- Attend the Center for Career Development's Academic Job Search Bootcamp in August
- Attend the Center for Career Development's workshops on CV/resume writing, cover letter writing and interview preparation for non-academic employment
- Meet with a graduate student career adviser to consider factors and values that may influence your next steps, such as the type of work environment, geographic preferences and partner/family needs