Career & Employment Resources
The UTM Career Centre has both in-person and online resources to give you an edge in developing and managing your career. Whether you plan on an academic path or a career outside of academia, review our offerings and services below, or contact us by phone 905-828-5451 or by LiveChat on our main website for virtual services and additional resources!
Looking for a career in academia requires a strategic, long-term approach that begins early in your graduate studies. It's a highly competitive field, with a significant mismatch between the number of PhDs produced and available tenure-track positions. A successful search involves building a strong professional profile, developing a comprehensive application package, and actively networking within your discipline.
Build a strong foundation. Prepare your academic careers.
Your academic career starts with your graduate work. To be a competitive candidate, you need to be a well-rounded scholar who excels in research, teaching, and service.
- Research: Focus on producing high-quality, publishable research. This is the cornerstone of an academic career. Aim to publish in reputable peer-reviewed journals and present your work at major conferences. A robust publication record demonstrates your expertise and potential for future scholarly contributions.
- Teaching: Gain as much teaching experience as possible. Don't just serve as a teaching assistant (TA); seek opportunities to be the instructor of record for a course. Develop a clear and compelling teaching philosophy that outlines your pedagogical approach and highlights your effectiveness in the classroom. Consider creating a teaching portfolio that includes syllabi, student evaluations, and other evidence of your teaching excellence.
- Service: Get involved in the academic community. This can include serving on departmental committees, reviewing papers for journals, or volunteering for professional associations. Service demonstrates your commitment to the broader scholarly community and your ability to contribute to the institutional life of a university.
Investigate Academic Careers.
Before starting any job search, it is prudent to investigate the career from the perspective of industry trends, employer demand and requirements to be competitive. This is especially true of academic careers today. Although the idea of becoming a professor may seem straightforward, the field of higher education is in constant flux, affecting academic job seekers in a variety of ways.
This section includes:
- Links to labour market information and analysis
- Academic job search sites
Labour Market Information
A variety of sources of Labour Market information on academic careers can help to create a picture of your potential future in academia. The federal and provincial governments issue forecasts of the demand for University Professors (National Occupational Classification Code - NOC 4121) and other allied professions which often include Post-Secondary Teaching and Research Assistants (NOC 4122), and College and Other Vocational Instructors (NOC 4131).
Although these projections are available, they may not be up-to-date or accurately reflect the demand in your field. Reading as many sources as possible and finding information on your intended discipline (if possible) is recommended for a well-informed perspective on academic career paths. Going beyond published information and talking to professors and other scholars pursuing academic careers is also highly recommended. The links below can help you access career outlooks based on government estimates, information on trends affecting employment in this field, and analyses of the academic labour market realities Canadian graduate students face today.
Government Resources:
Labour Market Trends and Analysis:
Develop a comprehensive application package.
The materials you submit for academic positions are highly specific and differ from those for non-academic jobs.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV): An academic CV is a detailed document that showcases all of your academic and related experiences. It's not just a resume; it should include your education, publications, presentations, awards, teaching experience, and service.
- Cover Letter: This letter should be tailored for each position you apply for. It needs to clearly articulate your "fit" for the department and the specific job, focusing on how your past research and plans align with their needs and strengths.
- Research Statement: This document tells the story of your life as a researcher. It should summarize your past work, detail your current projects, and, most importantly, outline your future research agenda.
- Letters of Recommendation: Cultivate strong relationships with your advisors and other faculty members throughout your graduate career, as their letters of recommendation will be critical.
Actively network and search.
Networking in academia is just as important as it is for careers in industry. Scholars who are connected and collaborative enhance their chances of progressing further and faster in their academic careers. This section provides resources to understand the importance of networking, getting the most out of networking opportunities, developing networking skills, professional relationships and becoming known as a scholar in your field.
Attend Conferences: Conferences are excellent for networking. Present your research, attend sessions, and talk to scholars in your field. This is where you can meet potential collaborators, future mentors, and members of hiring committees.
Join Professional Associations: Become an active member of the major professional associations in your discipline. They often have job boards, mentoring programs, and a wide range of resources for job seekers.
Use Job Boards: While networking is key, you must also monitor job boards dedicated to academic positions. Reputable sites include:
Additional Academic Job Sites
Also check the HR and Careers sites of the universities and colleges you are interested in. Reviewing, monitoring and analyzing them in conjunction with the academic labour market research and analysis presented above can give a more concrete picture of demand for positions in your field, employer requirements and how to meet them. Many of the sites also list non-academic positions that require advanced degrees, which can also be useful in thinking about careers in other industries.
- Utilize the Resources: Your graduate studies office and UTM Career Centre can offer invaluable support. Many provide workshops on CV writing, interview preparation, and navigating the academic job market.
Consider a Postdoc or Alternative Academic Career
Given the competitive nature of the academic job market, many graduate students pursue postdoctoral fellowships to strengthen their research profiles before applying for a tenure-track position. A postdoc allows you to gain more specialized research experience, publish more papers, and expand your professional network.
It's also important to be open to "alternative academic" careers. Many PhDs work in roles within universities that are not tenure-track faculty positions, such as in administration, research support, or program management. These roles can be incredibly fulfilling and leverage the skills developed during your doctoral training.
To look for a career outside of academia, graduate students should reframe their academic skills into a professional context, target industries that value their expertise, and adapt their job application materials for a non-academic audience. This process can require a strategic mindset shift from a focus on research and teaching to a focus on problem-solving, project management, and collaboration.
Identify and Translate Your Transferable Skills
A key challenge for graduate students is translating their academic experience into language that resonates with non-academic employers. Start by making a detailed list of your skills and accomplishments from your research, teaching, and other graduate work. Then, rephrase them using industry-friendly terms.
- Problem-Solving: Your dissertation or thesis work is a masterclass in independent, long-term problem-solving. Frame it not just as research, but as a project where you identified a gap, formulated a plan, executed the research, and delivered results.
- Data Analysis: Whether you're in the humanities or sciences, you've likely gathered, analyzed, and synthesized large amounts of data. Use action verbs like "analyzed," "modeled," or "synthesized" to describe this experience.
- Project Management: A dissertation or a multi-year research project is a major project with a defined timeline and deliverables. Emphasize your ability to manage a complex project, meet deadlines, and work independently.
- Communication: Highlight your ability to communicate complex ideas to diverse audiences, from presenting at conferences to teaching undergraduates. This demonstrates your proficiency in oral and written communication.
Explore and Target Non-Academic Industries
PhDs and master's graduates are highly sought after in a variety of sectors for their critical thinking and specialized knowledge. Researching different career paths will help you find a field that aligns with your skills and interests.
- Technology & Data Science: For those with quantitative skills, careers as a data scientist, research scientist, or software developer are excellent options. Tech companies value the intellectual curiosity and rigorous analytical training of PhDs.
- Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals: Life sciences and chemistry PhDs are well-suited for roles in research and development (R&D), clinical trials management, or as a medical science liaison.
- Consulting: Consulting firms hire PhDs for their ability to synthesize information, solve complex problems, and think strategically. These roles often involve working on a wide range of business challenges.
- Communications & Publishing: Graduate students who have honed their writing skills can thrive as science writers, technical writers, or editors.
- Government & Non-Profit: Many government agencies and non-profit organizations hire PhDs for policy analysis, research, and program management roles where their subject-matter expertise is highly valued.
Create a Professional Resume and Portfolio
Unlike the comprehensive, multi-page CV used in academia, a resume for a non-academic job should be concise and results-oriented.
- Resume vs. CV: A resume is typically one to two pages long and focuses on your most relevant skills and accomplishments, often quantified with metrics. It's a marketing document, not a detailed record of your academic life.
- Summary Statement: Start your resume with a brief professional summary that highlights your key skills and the type of role you are seeking. This replaces the academic "Research Objective."
- Quantify Your Achievements: Wherever possible, use numbers to demonstrate your impact. Instead of "Taught several undergraduate courses," write "Taught and mentored 150+ students, leading to a 15% increase in average course evaluation scores."
- Online Presence: Create a professional LinkedIn profile that mirrors your resume. Use this platform to connect with alumni and professionals in your target industries. Consider creating a personal website or portfolio to showcase projects and writing samples.
Network and Conduct Informational Interviews
Many non-academic jobs are found through networking, so it's essential to actively build your professional community.
- Alumni Networks: Your university's alumni database is an invaluable resource. Reach out to graduates from your program who have successfully transitioned to careers outside of academia.
- Informational Interviews: Request brief, 20-minute conversations with professionals in your desired field. The goal is to learn about their career path and gain insight into their industry, not to ask for a job. This can lead to valuable connections and potential job leads.
- Professional Associations: Join professional associations related to your target industry. This is a great way to stay informed about industry trends, attend events, and meet people.
Events, Workshops, & Programs
Graduate school is more than just research and coursework—it's a journey of personal and professional growth. This section highlights a variety of events, workshops, and programs designed specifically for graduate students. Whether you're looking to build academic skills, explore career pathways, connect with peers, or simply take a break and recharge, you'll find opportunities here to enrich your experience and support your success.
Appointments for Graduate Student Support
Sometimes, a one-on-one conversation can make all the difference. This section outlines the various appointment options available to graduate students, offering personalized support in areas such as career planning, employment strategies, further education, and career wellness. Whether you're exploring your next steps or navigating a challenge, these appointments are designed to provide tailored guidance and help you move forward with confidence.
Get in Touch
Have questions, need guidance, or just want to connect? We're here to help. This section provides information on how graduate students can reach out for support, whether it's through email, phone, virtual drop-ins, or in-person visits. No matter the topic—career planning, wellness, or general inquiries—getting in touch is the first step toward finding the answers and support you need.