Getting Started in Grad School: 6.4 Educational and Professional Opportunities

Taking advantage of educational and professional experiences in graduate school affords you opportunities to build your network, learn more about your field, expand your cv, and much more. By developing your communication, interpersonal, intercultural, and project management skills, you can increase your employability and expand your career prospects. 

Here is a sampling of graduate student experiences you may wish to explore during your program*

• grow your instructional experience by supporting a course as a teaching assistant, teaching a course, and attending instructional workshops through the Gwenna Moss Centre for Teaching and Learning,
• collaborate in research experiences as a research assistant or co-investigator and look for opportunities to join a research group or lab in your department or college,
• seek out internships or other experiential learning opportunities (e.g., Mitacs),
• participate in events and programs hosted by Career Services,
• complete a certification that complements your core studies, 
• attend conferences to learn about the newest research in your field, meet fellow scholars, and share your research as a poster or a paper,
• enter the 3MT (Three Minute Thesis) competition,
• participate as an editor or reviewer in a journal in your field,
• get involved in your department or college (e.g., sitting on a committee), or
• study or teach abroad. 

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash

Review the list above and add other opportunities you would like to experience during your graduate program. 

What are the top three educational or professional opportunities you would like to explore in the coming months?