Going Beyond Subject Matter: How to Identify Skills Employers Want

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Graduate education and postdoctoral training give Ph.D.s the opportunity to develop deep expertise in a specific subject area. But for most Ph.D.s who pursue nonacademic careers, what connects their graduate training to their professional life is not their subject matter—it is the skills, values, and interests they developed along the way.

When starting a nonacademic job search, many doctoral students and postdocs ask: "What can I do with my Ph.D.?" But that is often not the most useful place to start. A more productive question is: "What skills have I developed, and where can I apply them?"

In this webinar, you will learn how to reflect on your graduate training, identify the transferable skills you’ve developed, and communicate your value clearly to nonacademic employers—in your job documents and in interviews.

This webinar is designed for doctoral students, Ph.D.s, and postdocs from all academic disciplines who are wondering

• How do I identify the skills I’ve developed in my graduate training?
• What do nonacademic employers look for in a candidate—and how does my background align?
• How do I communicate my value to employers when my expertise is highly specialized?

Duke graduate students can attend this webinar for free, including access to replays of events when available, through The Graduate School's subscription to Beyond the Professoriate. Advance registration is required.