Graduate Workshops and Events
CaPS offers specialized services for graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. Workshops and Events are available throughout the year on a regular basis to help you explore career options in the industry, government, non-profit, and volunteer sectors.
For a full listing of workshops, and to RSVP, please log into myFuture -> Events.
The 2023 Grad and Postdoc Career Series included workshops to help you brainstorm, explore, and build potential career paths beyond the tenure track.
Grad Career Series will be back in Spring 2024
Past Events
If you missed an event but would be interested in attending an event like this in the future, chantelle.thauvette [at] mcgill.ca (subject: Grad%20Career%20Series%20-%20Event%20information) (let us know).
Design your Life: Exploring Non-Academic Careers
Master's and PhD graduates apply their skills in a range careers in a wide range of sectors and industries beyond the tenure track.
Grad Student Job Seekers
Are you on the job market? Whether you're looking for a part-time position to support your graduate studies, preparing your dossier for an academic career, or applying for jobs across a range of industries, this workshop shares tips to optimize your job search strategy. Bring your questions about the academic job market, the non-academic job market for graduate degree holders, internships, and the world of work.
Building an Industry Resume from your Academic CV
If your job search after graduate school includes a range of potential career paths, join us for this workshop on how to build an industry resume (or non-academic CV). Using the academic CV as a starting point, we will share strategies to highlight the skills and experience you gained in graduate school in ways that will be legible to employers outside of higher education.
Networking for Researchers
You've heard it before: networking is key to advancing your career. If you've spent the past few years analyzing data and writing papers, stepping outside of your comfort zone to expand your network may seem daunting. What does networking involve? Who should you be talking to? What should you say? Whether you're gearing up to attend an Early Career Researchers social event at your next conference or starting to message contacts who work in industry positions, this interactive workshop will help you build the skills you need to network with confidence.
Industry Insiders: A Closer Look at Careers in Art Curation (virtual)
Interested in learning more about careers in art curation? Come hear from Adam Harris Levine, Associate Curator, European Art at the Art Gallery of Ontario and get your questions answered!
Speaker: Adam Harris Levine is associate curator of European Art at the Art Gallery of Ontario, where he is responsible for European Art before 1700. He received his BA in Art History and Hispanic Studies from McGill University, an MA in Art History from the Courtauld Institute in London, and is completing his PhD in Art History from Columbia University in New York.
Industry Insiders: Policy Careers in Gender Equality (virtual)
Are you passionate about creating a more equitable society? Erin Wray (BA in History, MA in Public Policy and Administration) is a Senior Policy Analyst at Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE). WAGE is a department of the federal Government of Canada that works to advance gender equality through an intersectional gendered lens. Join us for the inside scoop on WAGE's mandate, working as a policy analyst, and navigating the federal government hiring process.
Facilitation Skills for Graduate Students & Postdocs
Successfully leading and guiding groups (including student discussions) requires a range of fairly sophisticated communication skills. Most of us are not trained facilitators: we employ strategies discovered largely through trial and error. The best leaders are learners!
This interactive session aims to build key communication (facilitation and presentation) and leadership skills. Additionally, gain enhanced awareness of group dynamics, facilitation tools (main responsibilities, group norms, debriefing models, types of facilitation and ways to facilitate), and strategies to constructively engage others.
Série Français au travail
Grad students: Learn professional communication skills while building your French vocabulary in this unique series from CaPS and le Centre d’enseignement du français. These workshops are appropriate for intermediate-level French speakers.
Pratiquer l’entrevue d’emploi
Vous apprendrez à gérer votre stress en simulant des entrevues d’emploi. Vous découvrirez également des questions à poser à la fin d’une entrevue en fonction du poste convoité. Expérience pratique garantie!
SKILLSETS offers professional development workshops for graduate students. This suite of workshops is designed to complement the research training with general transitional/professional skill development opportunities recommended for training High Quality Personnel. For a list of coming workshops, visit: Upcoming Events
Career Resources
If you are looking for publications on the academic job market, non-academic job careers, and on job search techniques:
Academic Career Series is designed for PhD students.
Academic Career Series Resources
Building Your Teaching Portfolio - Developing a Teaching Portfolio (PDF)
Building Your Teaching Portfolio Presentation - Teaching Portfolio Resources
Academic CV & Job Cover Letter Preparation Slides (Dept. of Integrated Studies in Education)
Developing a Teaching Portfolio Slides
Salary Negotiations: Because You're Worth It (Desautels Faculty of Management)
Academic C.V. and Cover Letter Preparation Slides (Dept. of Integrated Studies in Education)
Developing a Teaching Portfolio Slides
Resources for Preparing the Teaching Portfolio
Hints for PhD Defenses (the Medicine perspective)
Networking at Conferences - A Few Thoughts
The Paradox of Writing in Doctoral Education: Student Experiences
Strategies for a Successful PhD Oral Defence
Some Modest Advice for Graduate Students
Past Panel and Presentation Topics
Individual career panels and workshops designed for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.
Register for upcoming events on myFuture > Events
Graduate Career Series Resources
Career Resources – Knowledge Translation
Academic Job Search 101 - Career Resources
World Bank Group - Student Recruitment Session
Mitacs Suite of Programs and Prospecting 101
Scientific Careers at Health Canada
Leveraging LinkedIn to Win: Be-IN-Valuable!
30 Linked-Express Link-Bits
Tip Sheet - Boolean Search Tips
LinkedIn Character Limits
Past Panel and Presentation Topics
- 2021 - Industry Insider: A Look at Careers (Jan - Feb)
- 2020 - Industry Insider: A Look at Careers (Nov - Dec)
- 2020 - Industry Insider (Aug-Sep)
- 2019 - Grad Hive for International Graduate Students - 2019
- 2018 - Cegep Panel
- 2018 - Knowledge Broker Panel
- 2018 - Social Service Panel
- GCS Panel and Presentation Topics - 2014
- GCS Panel and Presentation Topics - 2013
- GCS Panel and Presentation Topics - 2012
- GCS Panel and Presentation Topics - 2011
- GCS Panel and Presentation Topics - 2010