Do you want a career in academia? Has the story of doom and gloom in the academic job market gotten you down? Do you just want to know what opportunities are out there? Then Academic Pathways Week on Nov 16-20 is for you! 

Academic Pathways Week is organized by GradSuccess as the Fall quarter’s “After Grad” professional development programming. This week-long series of panels, presentations, and workshops are designed to explore the challenges of academic career paths and to cultivate skills like cover letter writing, academic skill translation, and navigating faculty politics.

All events during Academic Pathways Week will be held virtually through Zoom. Visit the event’s website for more information on how to register.

[Image Description: Bart Simpson emerges from a hedge maze after cutting a path through it with a hedge trimmer. He turns to groundskeeper Willy and says: “Hey, I found a shortcut through your hedge maze.”]

Caption: You, navigating the job market maze after attending Academic Pathways Week.

 

Monday, November 16

The week kicks off with a UCR Faculty panel at 3-4pm. The attendees of this panel were all hired in the 2019-2020 academic year. The panelists will discuss navigating the academic job search, the application process, job talks, and interviews. Attending this panel gives you the opportunity to ask questions and become a well-informed and better-prepared candidate in the competitive job market.

[Image Description: Aang, the titular Avatar from Avatar: The Last Airbender, is looking down a line of his previous incarnations.]

Caption: You, learning from those who have gone before you.

 

Tuesday, November 17

Tuesday is dedicated to Academic Cover Letters. At 11-11:50am, Christina Trujillo, the Coordinator of the UCR Graduate Writing Center, is holding the talk "An Introduction to Academic Cover Letters." Attend to learn what makes an effective academic cover letter and how you can better market your academic skills to a hiring committee.

Later that same day, you can bring a copy of any job announcements you are applying to with a drafted cover letter to the Advanced Academic Cover Letter Clinic 2-2:50pm. Here, the Graduate Writing Center consultants can help you tailor your cover letter to fit specific positions. Space here is limited, so please sign up early to reserve your spot!

[Image Description: Lucy from the animated film Zombiellenium attentively begins writing in her notebook.]

Caption: You, mastering your cover letter after attending the Advanced Academic Cover Letter Clinic.

 

Wednesday, November 18

Wednesday holds the week’s keynote address by Dr. Shardé M. Davis titled “#BlackintheIvory: Amplifying the Voices of Blackademic TruthTellers About Anti-Black Racism”. Dr. Davis is the creator of #BlackintheIvory, which seeks to document the racism experienced by Black academics. In this address, she will demonstrate the various ways that racism eats its way through academia and offer advice and insight into how academic institutions – and their individual members – might make lasting change.

This event is held 10-11:20am.

[Image Description: Dr. Shardé Davis looks at the camera smiling. Behind her is a desk with seven books, a folded laptop, and a potted plant. In the unfocused background, a bookshelf is visible.

Later that same day, the week’s Virtual Graduate Student Coffee Social is happening at the regular time of 3-4pm. The Graduate Writing Center will be sponsoring. Stop by to be a part of a relaxing environment where graduate students can share their experiences while also learning about what the Graduate Writing Center is offering. Attendees are also given the chance of winning a $25 gift card!

[Image Description: Hot coffee generates steam flowing from a bronze cup on a wooden counter. Behind the cup, fresh coffee beans are visible.]

Caption: You, getting that soothing caffeine while attending the Coffee Social on Wednesdays 3-4pm

 

Thursday, November 19

Dr. Christine Kelly will be holding the talk "Academic Job Searches in the Age of COVID: Discovering Opportunities in the Crisis" at 1-1:50pm. Despite what everyone keeps saying, being in the academic job market during a pandemic and an economic downturn does not have to be all doom and gloom – there are opportunities out there and Dr. Kelly is here to show us how to find them! Five copies of the book The Academic Job Search Handbook by Julia Miller Vick, Jennifer S. Furlong, Rosanne Lurie will be raffled among attendees in this session.

[Image Description: Dr. Christine Kelly looks at the camera smiling. Behind her green vegetation is visible.]

 

Friday, November 20

We end the Academic Pathways Week with a UCR Postdocs Panel at 1-2:20pm. Post-doctoral positions are becoming increasingly important to stay competitive on the academic job market and yet they are seldom talked about as an option for the recently graduated. This panel invites UCR post-doctoral fellows to share their thoughts on how these positions fit into the academic career trajectory and to discuss their experiences with the search and application process, requirements, and time management.

[Image Description: A cat wearing glasses is looking around.]

Caption: You, seeing things clearly after attending Academic Pathways Week.

 

It is the goal of this week to provide graduate students with various illuminating talks, panels, and workshops centered around the academic job market. Come for some or come for all. We hope to see you there!

More information and registration link can be found at: https://gsrc.ucr.edu/aftergrad/apw