As soon as possible. Early attention to career planning and professional development is increasingly necessary in today’s competitive job markets. You play the biggest role in preparing for your professional future, so take initiative and do not allow avoidance and fear to get the better of you. Break down the process into incremental parts. Knowing where you are headed and identifying the career options you want to keep open will help guide you in choosing which programs to participate in during your time at U.Va. Take advantage of professional development programs offered by your department and other offices on Grounds, watch the GSAS Career Services Current Events, read our online materials, and feel free to meet with a graduate career adviser.
GSAS Career Services is designed to help Master's and PhD students explore their career options and identify the path/s that best suit the individual. We conduct self-assessments in one-on-one advising, expose students to strategies and techniques that facilitate career exploration, and bring students in touch with alumni, employers, and online and print resources that aid immensely in the career goal identification process.
Graduate students possess advanced skills and training that are highly valued by many employers. You will need to rethink your skills and experiences from a new perspective. Moreover, in addition to asking yourself what you can do, you should also ask yourself what you want to do. After all you have invested to get to this point, you owe it to yourself to pause and reflect on your values, interests, and skills before embarking on a job search. GSAS Career Services can help you identify your targets and create a plan for an effective job search. You may decide that you are well-trained for a particular line of work, but you would prefer to develop skills in a different area. It can take a while to shift your focus and prepare to market yourself for a new career goal. Get started early.
All interactions with a graduate career adviser are private and strictly confidential. Even though a career adviser may talk with faculty, no students are ever mentioned by name. We understand the complexities of the graduate experience and faithfully respect student rights to privacy.
The best way is to schedule a telephone appointment with a graduate career adviser by calling 434-243-4014. Email advising capabilities are very limited, but if you are out of the country, or if telephone advising is impossible, we will do our best to work with you. Please contact us.
All GSAS Master's and PhD students who are currently enrolled, conducting research off-Grounds, or newly graduated are eligible for advising services. Graduates may take advantage of GSAS career advising services up to one full semester after the completion of their degree programs (through the end of the summer for May degree recipients). From that point on, as alumni they may consult Alumni Career Services.
GSAS Career Services is located in the Office of the Vice President for Research in Varsity Hall 004, 136 Hospital Drive.