Resources for Non-Academic Career Planning

Self assessment is the first step of career planning, especially when your trainee is interested in something outside of academia. 'Self assessment' is one's ability to reflect and articulate one's values, interests, abilities and personal work style. This step is often overlooked when students and postdocs are thinking about their career choice, but it's important since their responses serve as their criteria to evaluate the pros and cons of different career paths and specific jobs.

**Note that some IDP tools (like MyIDP) start with this step, and this step can be helpful for any career path.**

A wide range of career opportunities are available for PhD-trained researchers in academia, industry, policy, consulting, education, business, law, and government, and more. 

OCPD offers resources that your trainees can use to explore career options that match their skills, interests, and values. They also provide access to structured career exploration programs, UCSF student and postdoc groups, and professional career counseling.

Of particular note here would be two structured career exploration programs.

** Data show that structured participation in a career exploration program does not increase time to degree.**

Once they've narrowed their career path to one or two choices, it will be time to prepare for what a career transition would look like after graduation. This means that they will determine the skills they need to be competitive, develop those skills while at UCSF, and find connections and build a community to help them succeed in that career path. Topics covered by OCPD include:

• Determine the skills and experiences needed to succeed in a job
• Start developing skills and gaining experiences
• Gain practical experiences at UCSF
• Discuss your career transition decision
• Communicate how you will use your research skills in your new career

In order to job hunt effectively, it's essential to know the job application process used in non-academic sectors. Here, OCPD recommends methods to gain an understanding of what to expect for different types of jobs or different sectors. Also listed are resources about the importance of networking, job boards, and services provided by OCPD (like help with CVs, resumes, and cover letters).

Networking suggestions:

• LinkedIn (OCPD offers suggestions on how to use LinkedIn appropriately and effectively)
• UCSF Connect