Preparing future professionals by enhancing workforce readiness

Abstract

Over the last decade, PhD trainees and postdoctoral scholars have become increasingly vocal regarding the misalignment in research training and career outcomes. With the unsettling shifts in the faculty job market, more and more new highly skilled PhDs are looking to transition into a variety of other professional careers despite lacking specific education and training for such careers.

The Graduate School at the University of Kentucky has developed a “Preparing Future Professionals” course to help combat the absence of sufficient “work ready” education and preparedness for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. This course allows students to self-reflect on potential careers and their own transferable skills, provides opportunities for student engagement with PhDs in a wide variety of careers and career development specialists, and allows students to practice critical elements of the job search process including resume and cover letter building and mock interviews. Within this article, we describe the format, topics, themes, strengths, and limitations of the course. By sharing this information, we hope to provide a template for other institutions to develop similar courses that will fulfill the needs of doctoral and postdoctoral trainees.