PhD Career Connect
Student guide
Are you a Concordia PhD candidate who has completed their comprehensive exams, a postdoc or a recent graduate eager to enhance your career readiness skills and learn about different career possibilities? If so, PhD Career Connect is the program for you!
What to expect
This isn’t your average career development program. You can expect to grow, be inspired and be surprised. After completing PhD Career Connect, you will have a clearer understanding of your skills and strengths, have been exposed to new career opportunities and have made new professional connections, beyond your academic discipline.
PhD Career Connect is an eight-week career development program that consists of weekly workshops and ends with a one-day networking conference. Workshop topics include crafting a catchy elevator pitch to confidently interact with employers, LinkedIn, and resume and cover letter workshops, as well as coaching for mock interviews and resume reviews.
During the networking event, a diverse group of employers and mentors are invited on campus to meet you. The event features PhD alumni sharing their stories, panel discussions about careers in industry, government and higher education, and ample opportunity to network.
Schedule
| Date | Time | Event |
|---|---|---|
| April 16 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Intro + PhD keynote speaker |
| April 23 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Mapping your career journey with Clifton Strengths |
| April 30 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Transforming the academic CV to a professional resume |
| May 7 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Writing a standout cover letter |
| May 14 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Working in Canada: Job searching and decoding the job description |
| May 21 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Crafting a catchy elevator pitch to effectively market yourself |
| May 28 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Optimizing LinkedIn for your job search |
| June 4 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Networking 101: What is it and how can it help with the job search? |
| June 11 | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Networking conference |
The program also includes a mock interview and resume review component.
Participating mentors
In previous editions, PhD Career Connect has strived to ensure a diverse lineup of mentors and employers that reflect the various programs and interests of our students. We have welcomed employers and mentors from the government, not-for-profit, research, industry and higher education sectors, including McGill University, Polytechnique Montreal, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Brain Canada, Scotiabank, Polystyvert, Deloitte, Elevate Psychotherapy & Wellness Clinic, TandemLaunch, Axelys, NSERC, AtkinsRéalis, Solina and many more!
Eligibility
Candidates must be:
- Currently enrolled as a PhD candidate at Concordia University and in good academic standing, or a postdoctoral fellow or recent Concordia graduate of a PhD program as of fall 2025.
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