For many graduate students the next big step is entering the job market. To help them get started the School of Graduate Studies is hosting its second annual Career Week for Graduate Students and Post-Doctoral Fellows from Oct. 19-23.

The week is comprised of a series of workshops that focus on how to apply skills acquired during graduate training to various career options and how to best market those skills.

“Graduate study is not only about pushing the boundaries of discovery and deepening knowledge and its application, it’s also about preparing our students for what comes next,” says Brenda Brouwer, Vice-Provost and Dean of the School of Graduate Studies. “The SGS Career Week provides a series of workshops and hands-on sessions designed to expose students to the skills and strengths acquired in their academic training that will position them for success in a variety of career settings and to learn strategies for networking, self-marketing, and career planning. It’s a fantastic opportunity to think about the future and where your graduate degree might take you.”

Workshops will cover a wide range of topics including how to utilize online tools to promote your skills in a changing labour market, jobs in academia, teaching dossiers, and identifying your skills.

There will also be special sessions for graduate coordinators and students with guest speaker Anne Krook, who has extensive experience in the post-secondary and IT sectors.

The week will conclude with a networking reception on Friday, Oct. 23 from 4-5:30 pm at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre. Participants will meet local employers and alumni of Queen's graduate programs to expand their network and explore career opportunities. In this guided networking event, each employer or alumnus will offer up a valuable tip for finding a career that perhaps students and post-docs never knew they were trained to do.

With such a broad range of topics and information, graduate students are sure to find something of value.

A full schedule of the week's events can be found online at queensu.ca/exph/career-week/.