Blog post
Post-Graduation: Are you ready for the Canadian Job Market?
We are all in the same boat! During our graduate studies, we focus on the successful completion of our degree and our research, right? But what about our career after graduation? Are you interested in a professional career but are feeling unprepared to market yourself and navigate the job market? If so, consider applying to PhD Career Connect.
What type of careers are Concordia PhDs pursuing after graduation?
Concordia University located and surveyed 1526 PhD graduates who earned a degree at Concordia between 2009 and 2019 and produced the Global Impact Report. Findings revealed that 22% have tenure-track or permanent positions as a professor in Canada or abroad. The rest had found positions in post-secondary education; work as entrepreneurs; or have professional positions in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Aligned with Concordia’s findings, a study completed by the Conference Board of Canada also reported that less than 20% of PhDs end up in permanent positions as professors.
How do I find a career outside Academia?
PhDs face many challenges transitioning to the labor market as the orientation of PhD programs toward academic employment persists. Moreover, many PhD graduates have limited awareness of professional careers; have difficulty translating the skills gained through their PhD studies to employers outside of academe; lack professional networks; and have little experience accessing the hidden job market.
What do I need to do to prepare for a professional career?
No matter what position you’re trying to transition into, here are some basic steps to consider:
- Plan your career (self-reflection). Think about your own qualifications and professional skills and where you can imagine yourself after graduation. Ask yourself: What skills do I already possess? What is my dream job? How do my skills align with my career goal? How can I get there? Who can help?
- Translate the skills you acquired as a PhD into a skill set that is desired by the market (i.e. research, project management, teambuilding, managing teams)
- Polish your CV and LinkedIn profile
- Develop your communication and job interview skills
To support your transition into a professional career, GradProSkills launched PhD Career Connect in June 2022−a pilot job preparedness program. It is modeled after North Carolina State University’s program, Accelerate to Industry. This spring, PhD Career Connect will offer PhD candidates, recent graduates, and postdocs from a wide range of disciplines, access to seven weeks of training that focusses on career preparation and developing professional skills (March 21-May 15, 2023). From May 16 to May 18, participants will join employers for a three-day event where they will have opportunities to showcase their skills, network, learn about positions in the public and private sectors, and engage in discussions with employers. The deadline to apply for the program is February 13, 2023.
Interested in applying? Please complete the application form and submit your CV and letter of motivation (see form for details) to phd.career.connect@concordia.ca
We look forward to welcoming you to the program!