Embedded Files
We encourage you to explore career options throughout graduate school, and to explore many options in parallel. Gather as many data points as possible so you can made well-informed career decisions!
We encourage you to explore career options throughout graduate school, and to explore many options in parallel. Gather as many data points as possible so you can made well-informed career decisions!
Explore Options in 2 Stages
Explore Options in 2 Stages
Once you've identified a career path you'd like to learn more about (either via self-assessments or some other venue), the next step of exploring options can be split in two parts: gathering information and reflecting on whether this is a viable option for you. This cycle of gathering information and reflecting can (and should!) be performed multiple times - at least once for multiple different career paths.
Part 1: Gather Information
Part 1: Gather Information
There are many sources of information that you can use to gather informations about career paths, described below.
Articles, Books, & Podcasts
Articles, Books, & Podcasts
Articles, books and podcasts are good for learning general information about what that job entails, and settings that one could do that type of work in. Information about careers can become dated quickly, so be mindful of the publication date. Example sources of information:
The 'Read About Careers' section of myIDP
UCSF's 'Career Every Month' career path features
The OPD Library has several books on career options available to be checked out
Podcasts like Beyond the Lab and the Hopkins Biotech Podcast
Career Panels
Career Panels
The OPD maintains an archive of recorded career panels, which cover a wide variety of career paths. Career panels are useful for learning about a career path from current professionals, and generally provide information about many aspects of a career path: day-to-day work, scope of the role within an organization, hiring processes, etc. These are a great way to get current information without having to expend a lot of energy.
Informational Interviews
Informational Interviews
Informational interviews are conversations with the goal of the interviewer (you) learning about the interviewee’s (a professional with a career you’re interested in) career path or current role. These are great because the information is current, you can tailor the questions so you’re learning about what’s most important to you , and you get the bonus of building your network of contacts in a job sector you’re interested in. Not sure where to start? Check out the OPD’s seminar on Informational Interviews and Networking to learn more (UMN login required to view).
Job Postings
Job Postings
Looking at job postings can provide a practical information that can aid your career exploration. You can learn what companies are frequently hiring for certain position types, what types of titles are used for roles you’re interested in, whether a specific type of job is geographically restricted to a few hub regions, and key skills that you’ll need for those roles. Doing this early is best, because you have time to adjust and explore careers based on what you learn. Platforms like Indeed or LinkedIn are good starting points!
Tip: Set Goals to Avoid Overload
Tip: Set Goals to Avoid Overload
Breaking down the process of gathering information can help provide structure and avoid activity overload. Try creating SMART (specific, measurable, actionable, realistic, and timely) goals to separate this process into discrete, manageable tasks. Some example SMART goals for career exploration:
Search job boards for 30 minutes every week during February and compile a list of 10 companies that I'm interested in working at.
Watch XYZ career panel before September 30 and take notes on my career exploration notes document.
Send emails to 6 people in the next three months to ask if they will do an informational interview with me.
Need some support? Reach out to the OPD! We can meet with you to help you set goals, discuss your progress, or serve as an accountability buddy throughout the process.
Additional Online Resources
Additional Online Resources
Career Possibilities for Biomedical Scientists (example position titles)
Beyond the Professoriate (Online training platform for exploring careers and learning job search strategies)
Part 2: Reflect
Part 2: Reflect
As you gather information about careers, it’s important to reflect on what you’re learning. Often, career exploration is an iterative process that requires learning about multiple career paths to be confident about moving forward with one or two paths that best suit you. By reflecting on what you’re learning, you can get a better sense of your priorities and you’ll likely become more efficient at exploring careers. The University of California San Francisco Office of Career & Professional Development has developed this Career Exploration Roadmap that shows the entire career exploration process, including some reflection questions that can help you in processing what you’ve learned. Generally, try to have specific answers to these questions: Why do you like the career path(s) that you like? Why don’t you like the career path(s) that you don’t like? How can you maximize the elements you enjoy, and minimize the elements that you don’t?
Example reflection questions
Example reflection questions
Would this career let me do work I find interesting or exciting?
Would this career involve a tolerable amount of work I do NOT find interesting?
Do I like the people I would work with? Do I want to be like them?
Do I actually like doing typical tasks?
Does this career suit what’s important to me?
What do I need to do to make myself marketable, and am I willing to do it?
Have my answers to the questions above been confirmed by multiple knowledgeable sources? (If the answer is no, gather more information!)
Once you've identified one or more career paths that you'd like to pursue, you're ready to move on to Step 3: Career Transition!
About the Office of Professional Development
About the Office of Professional Development
The University of Minnesota Medical School's Office of Professional Development (OPD) for Graduate Students and Postdocs supports the professional development of trainees by providing resources in the areas of career exploration and readiness, teaching and mentoring, wellness, communication, and leadership and management. The OPD works in collaboration with the BGREAT programs' leadership, the Associate Dean for Graduate Education, the Graduate School, and other units with the University of Minnesota to support biomedical graduate and postdoctoral training.
Page updated
Report abuse