From research to resume: Grad Career Week prepares students for career paths

Graduate students at the University of Cincinnati will explore how their academic and creative work translates into professional success during Grad Career Week, March 2–6, a week-long series of workshops, networking opportunities, and skill-building sessions hosted by the Graduate College.

Designed for graduate students across all disciplines, Grad Career Week focuses on helping students transform their research, creative work, and scholarly experiences into practical tools for careers in industry, academia, and the public sector.

Throughout the week, students will participate in interactive sessions covering topics such as converting CVs into resumes, writing letters of intent, interviewing strategies, salary negotiation, and communicating complex ideas to diverse audiences. The programming emphasizes how graduate education builds transferable skills such as communication, critical thinking, collaboration, and project management, all of which are highly valued across professional fields.

Featured sessions span a range of career preparation topics across disciplines. Workshops include Turning Research Skills into a Career Advantage, led by Mike Wagner, and Simplifying Science: Translating Your Research to Accessible Audiences, presented by Tiffany J. Grant.

Additional sessions throughout the week include Converting CVs into Resumes and Writing Letters of Intent, Professional Interviewing Essentials, Five Essentials for Job Search Success, Start Smart Salary Negotiations, and The Art of Following Up: What to Do (and Avoid) After Meeting an Employer. There is also a panel discussing Careers in Public Engagement with Science.

Together, these workshops provide practical guidance on networking, professional storytelling, interviewing, and long-term career planning.

The week concludes with the Social Sciences and Humanities Co-op and Career Fair presented by the College of Arts and Sciences, where students can connect with employers seeking advanced-degree talent across industries.

To support professional branding, free professional headshots will be available throughout the week at the Bearcat Promise Career Studio in the Tangeman University Center (TUC). Headshots are available year-round to students and alumni, reinforcing the university’s ongoing commitment to career readiness beyond graduation.

Grad Career Week reflects the Graduate College’s strategic vision to connect graduate education with real-world impact by supporting student success, interdisciplinary collaboration and career readiness. By helping students translate their scholarly and creative experiences into professional opportunities, the initiative strengthens the role of graduate education in preparing future leaders across disciplines and sectors.

This work also aligns with the university’s strategic direction, Next Lives Here, which emphasizes innovation, community impact and a future-focused student experience.

The full schedule and registration information are available online on the Graduate College web page.