Graduate Students
Explore
Find on- and off-campus jobs, graduate assistantships, academic and non-academic jobs.
Everyone’s journey is different. Meet with a career coach via Handshake to discover your next steps – building a resume, practice interviews, connecting your major and future career, find internships, look for on and off campus part-time jobs, and more.
Take this assessment to identify what motivates you and industries / jobs that fit you best.
Graduate Assistantship
Graduate Assistantship (GA) is a great way to get experience in research, teaching, and administration. The professional skills you gain are transferable to many industries.
Check out CSU's Graduate School's website and find Graduate Assistant Job Postings
On Campus Jobs
Working on campus has many benefits — your workplace is right by your classroom, and you are mentored by staff and faculty who care about your learning and growth as a professional.
Academic Job Search
If you would like to pursue a career in academia after completing your graduate degree, there are several things to consider while evaluating your options. Do you want to focus on research or teaching? Where are academic positions posted? One way to begin acquiring this information is to begin networking with people in your department and field. You may also want to refer to your professional association’s website. The following websites provide helpful information for pursuing an academic career and include academic job postings:
Jobs Outside of Academia
Many of the skills you gain through graduate education, such as writing, research, leadership, teamwork, are transferable skills that set you up for success to further your career. You may find following books helpful to think about careers outside of academia:
- So What Are You Going to Do with That?: Finding Careers Outside Academia
- Going Alt-Ac: A Guide to Alternative Academic Career
- Career Paths after a PhD
- Including Research on Your Resume (PDF)
- Resume Guide (PDF)
More resources, helpful websites and links to job posting outside of academia
- Idealist: Jobs, internships, volunteer opportunities in the nonprofit sector
- Versatile PhD Career Finder
- Simply Hired
- Buzzfile (Georgia Tech)
- USAJobs and Go Government: Federal Government jobs as well as advice for students and recent grads
- Careers in Psychological Science: Essays from psych PhDs working in outside the academy
- Cheeky Scientists
- MyVisaJobs: Helps international students identify target employers where sponsorship is likely; includes list of Top 100 Employers of H1-B visa-holders searchable by company name, job function, city and state
Prepare
The process of searching for a faculty or research position within academia involves materials and interview practices that are unique to academia. Read the academic job search guide for graduate students.
Quick and Painless Academic Job Search Guide (PDF)
CV: Curriculum Vitae
A curriculum vitae (CV) is an all-encompassing tool used to showcase academic, research, and professional accomplishments. This document may resemble a resume, but is more comprehensive and typically used when applying for graduate schools, positions within academic institutions or areas where field-specific knowledge and expertise is required.
Academic Job Search Process (PDF)
Academic Cover Letter (University of Washington) (PDF)
Teaching Philosophy / Teaching Statement
Some universities ask for a statement of teaching philosophy and/or teaching portfolio
- Writing a Philosophy of Teaching Statement (Ohio State University)
- Writing a Teaching Statement (University of Washington) (PDF)
- Job Talks (PDF) and Teaching Demonstrations (University of Washington) (PDF)
Interviewing
Academic interviews are usually longer than traditional corporate interviews. The Chronicle of Higher Education offers valuable advice for the academic job seeker. Consult the following articles and search by keyword for more advice.
- A Guide to Campus Interviews
- A Foot in the Door at a Small Liberal Arts College
- A New View on Interviews
- Asking the Right Questions
- How to Handle Difficult Interview Questions
Interviews for Academic Careers (University of Washington) (PDF)
Academic Job Search Process (PDF)
More resources for interviewing at non-academic jobs
Free Virtual Mock Interview
Schedule a live 30-min virtual interview practice with professionals.
Job Interview Questions
Find out common interview questions specific to the position you are interviewing
for
Questions to ask the interviewer
A job interview is a two-way street. Prepare a list of questions to ask in advance.
Tip: When asking questions, state your company research, and then ask a question.
For example: “I saw in the job description that I would be working on A, B & C. How
much time will I spend on each area on a typical day?”
How to look better on Zoom interview
A Youtube video that shows how to use lighting to create a better impression in a
virtual setting
Think of your LinkedIn profile as an interactive business card. It's a summary of your professional experience, interests, and capabilities that is designed to attract the attention of important people who are searching for you online - recruiters, networking contacts, and graduate school admissions officers. Below is a list of resources for you to build a professional and effective social media presence.
