In this monthly newsletter sent on the final Thursday of each month, I discuss trends in higher education and share resources and information on career & professional development topics relevant for graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and those who support them.
Missed the inaugural newsletter in January? Read it here.
This month's blog post centers around a recent presentation I gave to graduate students at North Carolina State University about how to look for a postdoctoral position and make the most of this training period.
I share my own experience applying for faculty positions including the importance of connecting with faculty at institutions you are interested in applying to.
It is never too early to begin building your personal brand or professional network. Start laying the foundation for your future success TODAY. Even little actions now can pay off in the future.
While "selling yourself" may seem a bit extreme, being proactive in conveying how your skills and expertise can be valuable to a potential employer is crucial both before and during your job search.
Part of a new series from The Chronicle of Higher Education
While pursuing a staff career in higher education can be rewarding, it is often difficult work, especially during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Pathways to staff advancement are often minimal or non-existent and one can begin filling "stuck" in a role after a few years.
Resources are often hard to come by despite the important work staff perform supporting students, trainees, faculty, and other staff at the institution.
In my own field, staff working to support graduate students and postdocs in their career & professional development often must continue to do more with less. Budget reductions, staff reductions, and general lack of institutional commitment to this work can be quite demotivating and I know several people looking to pivot into different roles as they don't see a future (or the possibility of advancement) in this field.
As we navigate the great reshuffling of life priorities post-COVID, we need to think seriously about how to best support and empower higher education staff, including opportunities for their own career & professional development.
