Envision Your Post-Ph.D. Future with ImaginePhD

Image

Some days you just have to make time and space for yourself. Maybe it’s time for a run, a yoga class, or quiet contemplation at the koi pond at Duke Gardens. These times of reflection help us disconnect from the pressures of the moment, the insistent urgency of deadlines. Used well, these moments can help us better understand ourselves by gaining a sense of perspective.

These kinds of breaks are especially critical for graduate students, whose research may focus on addressing large-scale questions by exploring and testing many data points, whether those are numbers, texts, music, or art. While graduate study trains us all in analytical skills and a culture of critique in a spirit of constant improvement, sometimes we forget to stop to reflect on what we do well, or to contemplate big-picture questions such as, “Where am I headed?”

Image

Starting on October 9, Duke Ph.D. students and postdocs have access to a new tool to help them reflect on the skills they’ve developed, their interests, and their values. ImaginePhD is a career exploration and planning tool for Ph.D. students and alumni in the humanities and social sciences. The site offers the opportunity to take a career assessment and explore common job families for Ph.D.s in these disciplines. ImaginePhD provides you with connections to resources, professional organizations and people, job advertisements, and skill-building strategies as you define your career paths of interest. You can use the tool to make a plan for continuing to invest in your professional development.

Although the tool launches to the public on October 23, Duke users have early access thanks to sponsorship from The Graduate School and the Versatile Humanists @ Duke Initiative. Developed by the Graduate Career Consortium, ImaginePhD reflects the thoughtful work of many humanists and social scientists who have gone on to pursue career options beyond the tenure-track path. I’ve been a part of the development of the ImaginePhD development team for the past four years, and I’m excited to share the tool with the Duke community. Below, you’ll find details to claim your early-access pass to ImaginePhD.

Gift yourself the time and space to reflect on what you’ve accomplished so far and where you’d like to go in the future. Imagine where your Ph.D. can take you, and begin building a plan to accomplish your vision.

Image

---

Author

Image

Melissa Bostrom, Ph.D.

Assistant Dean, Graduate Student Professional Development

Melissa ensures that all Graduate School students can identify and develop transferable skills to prepare them for the full range of career opportunities open to master's- and Ph.D.-prepared professionals. She is Managing Editor of the blog.