For skill identification, development, and planning:
DiscoverPD is a competencies framework and planning tool built by the Graduate School for UW–Madison master’s and doctoral students. Features include a skills self-assessment and activity tracker, customized reports and recommendations, and a database of 400+ in-person and online opportunities. DiscoverPD helps students identify and articulate transferable skills, and provides scaffolding and recommendations for planning professional development. Login to the tool at my.grad.wisc.eu/DiscoverPD, watch a 3-minute overview at youtu.be/jz1KoblmaBk, and access the Promo Pack at uwmadison.app.box.com/v/DiscoverPD.
For development of faculty and future faculty (NEW membership!):
UW–Madison now has an institutional membership to the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD), an independent organization that provides professional development, training, and a mentoring community to graduate students, postdocs, and faculty members. The site offers advice on developing a daily writing practice, dealing with stress and rejection, navigating department politics, and much more. Activate your individual account through the UW–Madison institutional membership, sponsored by the Division of Diversity, Equity and Educational Achievement, to take advantage of these resources at no cost to you.
For developing an Individual Development Plan (IDP) in the humanities and social sciences:
ImaginePhD is a career exploration and IDP tool designed by the Graduate Career Consortium. UW–Madison is proud to be a founding sponsor. ImaginePhD facilitates career exploration by inviting users to reflect on their skills, values, and interests and to investigate related careers. Its goal-setting application – My Plan – enables users to map out their next academic and professional steps.
For developing an IDP in the STEM disciplines:
myIDP is a long-standing career planning tool tailored to meet the needs of PhD students and postdocs in the sciences. Features include exercises to examine skills, interests, and values; twenty scientific career paths matched to users’ skills and interests; a tool for setting strategic goals, with optional reminders; and career exploration articles and resources.
For exploring non-academic careers:
The Versatile PhD is a web-based resource and online community for exploring non-academic careers. The UW–Madison Graduate School Office of Professional Development and the Office of Postdoctoral Studies purchase an institutional membership, which means that current students, faculty, staff and alumni get access to the high-quality PhD Career Finder on the Versatile PhD site. Access the tool through our institutional membership here: my.gradsch.wisc.edu/versatilephd.
For job searching:
Your graduate students may find Handshake beneficial in identifying employment openings. Over 2,700 job postings are currently tagged as relevant to master’s degree holders and 1,200 to doctoral. Refer your graduate students to your school/college career services office to learn more, or encourage them to login and explore Handshake at wisc.joinhandshake.com.
For Future Faculty Series
Key campus partners have teamed up to coordinate and cross-promote robust support for graduate students preparing to enter the tenure track. Sponsors include: the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning; the Delta Program in Research, Teaching and Learning; the Graduate School Office of Professional Development; the Office of Postdoctoral Studies; the Writing Center; and the UW–Madison Postdoctoral Association. Read more at grad.wisc.edu/professional-development/future-faculty.
Graduate Student Funding Support
The Office of Fellowships and Funding Resources in collaboration with other campus partners offers various funding workshops throughout the year to help prospective and current graduate students understand the funding landscape for graduate school at UW–Madison, as well as their own individual funding package. In addition, these workshops provide information and tools to help students seek funding on campus and with external agencies. Workshops are included in the Graduate School events calendar: grad.wisc.edu/events.
Dissertation Writing Camps
The Writing Center and the Graduate School are pleased to sponsor Dissertation Writing Camps each January and May. Acceptance in the program is competitive, and participation is limited to twenty dissertators per camp. Read more and apply at grad.wisc.edu/current-students/dissertation.
Read more about the Graduate School’s professional development program, including the resources listed in this document, at grad.wisc.edu/professional-development.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions. Alissa Ewer, Assistant Dean for Professional Development and Communications, may be reached at alissa.ewer@wisc.edu or 608-262-9970.