It’s no secret that doctoral students have the education and skills to move into meaningful careers beyond the professoriate. But how do you get there? Career Services, Graduate School, Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and CIRES have teamed up to offer Versatile PhD—a free online resource for the CU Boulder graduate student and postdoc community.
Available for graduate students, postdocs and alumni, Versatile PhD offers a variety of resources and professional development courses for those searching for non-academic careers. Before you can access Versatile PhD as a member of the CU Boulder community, you must first authenticate your credentials and create a profile by logging into Handshake.
After setting up your Versatile PhD profile, you will have access to many of its services including:
Résumé and cover letter samples
View authentic examples of application materials from PhDs who have secured their first jobs away from the faculty track. The examples provide insights on how they made the non-academic pivot while also describing the application and hiring process step-by-step.
Bios of PhDs in successful careers
Read inspiring, first-person stories by experienced non-academic PhDs who describe how their careers evolved after moving out of the academy, including how they secured promotions and achieved their career goals. You can also watch panel discussions that detail a wide range of doctorate-friendly careers.
Join a community of PhDs
Become part of supportive online communities where you can join discussions and network with PhDs who are outside of the academy. Attend local meetups to further develop relationships and help get your post-academic career started.
Take professional development courses
Options for Success is a six-module career exploration course that is designed to assist graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in professional development. The course covers topics from identifying viable career paths, understanding the link between their degree and the professional world and managing the transition process from academy to meaningful careers.
View PhD job postings
Members of Versatile PhD share non-academic jobs they feel are appropriate for doctorate-level candidates. The Smart Jobs page provides members with a constant flow of curated jobs and internships tailored to their interests.
