Calling all graduate students and postdocs interested in gaining a solid foundation as you explore your career interests and look to apply to opportunities!
Career Foundations for Graduate Students & Postdocs is a series of programs to assist in preparing Penn graduate students and postdocs to explore career options, develop essential skills, and create a personalized plan for their professional future. Whether you are considering academic, industry, nonprofit, or government paths, this series provides practical tools and insights to guide your decision-making. Take strategic steps toward your career goals; program descriptions and registration links are below.
Monday, October 27th – Exploring Career Fields
Discovering Possibilities: Exploring Career Paths
1-1:30 PM Charting Your Path: Exploring Career Options for Master’s Students
This session will help master’s students identify and evaluate potential career paths by connecting their skills, interests, and values to a range of opportunities. We’ll highlight how to use the Beyond Graduate School platform to research industries, explore career fields, and learn from the career journeys of others.
3-4:15 PM From Campus to Career: PhD Perspectives on Industry Internships and Consulting Programs
Hear from current PhD students and PhD alumni who have gained real-world experience through industry internships and consulting programs. Learn practical tips for finding and applying to programs, making the most of your experience, and translating it into future opportunities.
Panelists include:
Anjali Dassarma, PhD Candidate, Annenberg School for Communication, former COMPASS Fellow Intern, Free Press
Leonardo Ferreira Guilhoto, PhD Candidate, Applied Mathematics & Computational Sciences, former AI Simulation Intern, Atomic Machines
Eleanor Johns, PhD, Senior Associate Consultant, Lumanity
Farhad Nawaz, PhD Candidate, Electrical & Systems Engineering, former Research Intern, Honda Research Institute, USA
Tuesday, October 28th – Making Connections
Building Bridges: Networking and Professional Connections
11-11:30 AM SMART Networking: Setting Goals for Meaningful Career Connections
Learn how to apply the S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) framework to build intentional and effective networking plans. This session will guide you in defining clear objectives, identifying the right contacts, and tracking your progress toward building professional relationships. Learn how to build a personalized networking roadmap to help you move closer to your career goals.
1:00-1:45 PM Leveraging Alumni Networks: From Conversations to Referrals
Discover how to connect with Penn alumni to gain insights, advice, and potential referrals as you prepare for your internship or job search. This session will cover strategies for finding alumni, starting meaningful conversations, and building relationships that can open doors. Learn how to approach networking with professionalism and purpose to maximize your chances of turning contacts into career opportunities.
Wednesday, October 29th – Common Questions
Career Clarity: Answers to Common Questions
11:00 AM-12:00 PM Ask Me Anything: Recruiter Insights
Join a recruiter for an open Q&A on how to make your applications stand out in a crowded market. Bring your questions about resume content and formatting, cover letter strategies, and best practices for catching a recruiter’s attention. Hear insider tips to help your experience and skills shine with hiring teams, and gain valuable insights into Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and the use of AI in hiring.
Christine Strogen, MBA, is a cross-industry recruiter with 10 years of talent acquisition experience in consulting, financial services, and tech. She currently works in the Executive Talent Acquisition, Tech division at Cisco. She earned her MS in Organizational Dynamics from Penn and her MBA from Arcadia University.
11 AM – 12 PM Job and Internship Strategies for International Master’s Students
Led by Penn’s International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS), this session will address the unique considerations international master’s students face in the U.S. job and internship search. We’ll review work authorization options, timelines, and employer considerations, and showcase Career Services’ Interstride platform for researching opportunities, tracking applications, and exploring global career options.
Thursday, October 30th – Preparation
Crafting Your Job Search Toolkit
10 AM – 12 PM LinkedIn Lab: Peer & Professional Feedback for Graduate Students and Postdocs
Bring your LinkedIn profile and join fellow graduate students and postdocs for a collaborative feedback session. In this interactive lab, you’ll exchange constructive suggestions, share ideas for improving headlines, summaries, and experiences, and learn from each other’s examples. Leave with fresh perspectives and actionable tips to strengthen your LinkedIn profile.
1-1:30 PM Interview Skills Workshop for Graduate Students and Postdocs
This session covers strategies for preparing for interviews across fields, including both technical and non-technical roles. Participants will learn practical tips to communicate their strengths and approach interviews with confidence, and will receive a brief overview of Exponent, a platform provided by Career Services that supports technical interview preparation.
2-3 PM Resume Refresh: Revamping Your Resume for Internships and Job Searches
Learn how to highlight your relevant skills, knowledge, and experiences in your resume to give recruiters and hiring managers a clear picture of the value you will bring to any role. This workshop will cover formatting tips, tailoring content for different roles, and connecting your skills with your achievements that make you stand out to employers. Leave with advice and resources to help you make a clearer, stronger, and more competitive resume ready to submit. This session will focus primarily on graduate students and postdocs, and will be recorded and shared on the Penn Career Services YouTube Channel.
Monday, November 3rd – Alumni Stories
From Grad School to Career: Alumni Journeys
2-3 PM Exploring Careers in Data Science: An Alumni Panel
Join Penn alumni working in data science as they share their career journeys and insight into the field. Panelists will discuss the skills and experiences that helped them succeed, as well as strategies for entering and advancing in data-focused roles.
Shanshan Ding, PhD in Mathematics ’14, Data Science Manager at Google
Genna Erlikhman, BA’09 (Penn), PhD in Cognitive Psychology (UCLA ’14), Product and Content Data Science Manager at Apple
Nuala McCullagh, BA’07 (Penn), PhD in Cosmology (Johns Hopkins ’14), Data Science Manager at Meta
Shrey Mehta, Master of Environmental Studies ’25, Environment and Energy Analyst at DM Renewables and Environmental Data Analyst at DAK Dynamics
3:15 – 4:15 PM Graduate Alumni in Consulting: Insights and Career Paths
Hear from Penn graduate alumni who have pursued careers in consulting and learn about their experiences, challenges, and successes in the field. Panelists will share how they prepared for consulting roles, navigated interviews, and leveraged their skills on the job.
Dr. Shaneal Warren, Huron Consulting Group, Senior Associate
Peter Cumbo, Bates White Consulting, Managing Consultant | UVA MBA Candidate
Talley Snow, Former Senior Business Analyst for McKinsey & Company & Strategy Consultant for Deloitte | Wharton MBA Candidate & Harvard MPA Candidate
