UW-Madison graduate students get access to information resource on non-academic jobs

Cutbacks at colleges and universities have made a tight job market in the social sciences and humanities even tighter, and yet many graduates with advanced degrees eventually find challenging, rewarding work that uses the skills they honed while getting a Ph.D.

Although graduate students in these fields have traditionally searched for jobs in academia, current economic realities are forcing them to look much more broadly, says Eileen Callahan, director of graduate student professional development at University of Wisconsin–Madison.

To make life easier for these students, the university’s Graduate School has just begun offering access to premium content at the Versatile PhD website.

The website contains real-world advice from job-holders about finding work outside colleges and universities for people with advanced degrees in the social sciences and humanities, with a growing emphasis on the natural sciences.  To access the premium content users log in with their NetID here.

Website creator Paula Chambers will give two presentations on campus on Thursday, March 15:

•  A lunch conversation at 1 p.m. for faculty and staff about the pleasures and perils of discussing non-academic careers with graduate students, at the Wisconsin Idea Room – room 159, in the School of Education.
• A talk at 4 p.m. to graduate students and post-doctoral fellows at the Pyle Center.

“The academic job market is really challenging,” says Callahan, “and we all know people with advanced degrees who have prospered in jobs outside academia. The Graduate School wants to make sure graduate students know about the range of jobs that is out there, and how to get them.”

The VersatilePhD website contains extensive postings  and advice from users who have found jobs in disparate agencies and industries, Callahan notes. “We want our students to benefit from the experience of their predecessors.”

Two other upcoming talks on campus will focus on economic and vocational aspects of higher education:

• Wednesday, March 14: Laird Boswell, professor of history and director of graduate studies, will discuss the value of graduate education, and how to get the most from a graduate degree during a time of crisis; 12:00 p.m., room 460, Memorial Library.
• Thursday, March 22
: Michael Klein, professor of international economic affairs at Tufts University, will discuss the all-important first job, touching on job search issues, dealing with setbacks and disappointments, and alternative employment opportunities; 12:15-1:30 p.m. School of Education, Wisconsin Idea Room.