Career Engagement

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PhDs Who Excel in Career Engagement: 

Envision Multiple Paths to Career Success

You embrace curiosity, explore multiple possibilities, and experiment with different options that align with your expertise and goals. You integrate your values, interests, and strengths into your decision-making to create a purpose-driven career journey. 

Build a Network

You cultivate meaningful professional relationships and seek guidance from individuals who can help advance your career. 

Invest in Self-Development

You deepen your self-awareness and embrace learning opportunities to enhance your professional growth and development. 

Emphasize Relevant Accomplishments

You communicate accomplishments that emphasize your relevant expertise and skills and showcase the impact of your work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assess Your career engagement Skills  

2024-2025 Schedule

Networking Drop-in for Doctoral Students

September 23, 2025, 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. ET

“I’ve been to the workshops and heard all the advice about networking, but what are my colleagues doing? Are these tips and strategies working for them?”

This year we will be holding informal drop-in networking sessions monthly, facilitated by David Feeney, Career Coach, with the goal of forming a community of practice. Be ready to engage with the group and share ideas, challenges and wins. Everything you want in life is a relationship away, so engage with your community of fellow graduate students, regardless of discipline, to help you refine your networking skills.

This is a drop-in session so you do not need to register. However, please do so if you want to ensure you receive an emailed reminder the day before.

Drop-in PhD Career Advising

Multiple Dates and times - See Below

Drop by to chat with Career Coach David Feeney about any of the following topics/questions/concerns:

-Writing CVs and Resumes (feel free to bring yours in for review!)

-Job search and interview tips

-Informational interviewing strategies

-Networking skills and using LinkedIn

-General questions about your career path

Please feel free to just drop-in. However, if you would like to receive a reminder the day before, please register by clicking the link for the corresponding date below.

LinkedIn Lunch & Learn

October 8, 2025, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. ET

Did you know that many companies actively use LinkedIn for recruiting? LinkedIn is a powerful job search tool – if used right. Learn how to optimize your profile, build your professional network and make LinkedIn an asset in your job search.

This is a lunch-and-learn session and pizza will be provided.

This is a working session - bring your laptops to work on your LinkedIn profile!

Exploring GenAI for Job Readiness: Career Clarity in the Age of Algorithms

October 14, 2025, 12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. ET *Online*

This is Part 2 of our Fall Spark Series: Exploring GenAI. These 30-minute virtual sessions will explore generative AI from multiple lenses within the 5 pillars of Own Your Future.

In this session, you will learn how to use GenAI tools to discover, assess, and plan for your career with greater insight and efficiency.

Facilitator: David Feeney, Career Coach, Career Education

Learn about the full series at the link below.

Networking Skills for the Job Search

October 15, 2025, 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. ET

With 80% of jobs never advertised, it's important to look beyond job postings and recognize the value of people and relationships in finding employment. Join Career Coach David Feeney as he provides guidance on reframing the concept of networking to help you increase your confidence, generate options for prototyping career conversations, and move closer to meaningful job opportunities.

Networking Drop-in for Doctoral Students

October 23, 2025, 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. ET

“I’ve been to the workshops and heard all the advice about networking, but what are my colleagues doing? Are these tips and strategies working for them?”

This year we will be holding informal drop-in networking sessions monthly, facilitated by David Feeney, Career Coach, with the goal of forming a community of practice. Be ready to engage with the group and share ideas, challenges and wins. Everything you want in life is a relationship away, so engage with your community of fellow graduate students, regardless of discipline, to help you refine your networking skills.

This is a drop-in session so you do not need to register. However, please do so if you want to ensure you receive an emailed reminder the day before.

Exploring GenAI, "Fauxtomation" and Labour – Navigating AI Hype and the Future of Work

November 11, 2025, 12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. ET *Online*

This is Part 6 of our Fall Spark Series: Exploring GenAI. These 30-minute virtual sessions will explore generative AI from multiple lenses within the 5 pillars of Own Your Future.

GenAI has brought a dizzying amount of hype and anxiety about how it will transform the labour market in the near future. An often overlooked resource in assessing these claims is the work of Critical AI scholars and journalists. This session will provide key concepts and resources, inviting participants to consider how critical perspectives on AI can aid in evaluating and assessing how they can leverage their own expertise in navigating uncertainty in their respective professional fields.

Facilitator: Daniel Nunez, PhD Student, FIMS

Learn about the full series at the link below.

Designing Your Career: Connecting Your Passions and PhD to Multiple Career Opportunities

November 12, 2025, 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. ET

What are you going to do with that degree? Isn’t this the question all graduate students dread? If you’re unclear about your career path or your future direction, this workshop can help you develop the skills necessary to map a meaningful life and career. Through the Design Thinking process you can build your way forward through enlightened trial and error, developing a challenge mindset, and tackling the key facets of life including, education, career, and life’s ambitions and purpose.

Introduction to Western's Technology Transfer Office

November 20, 2025, 10:00-11:00am ET *Online/Virtual*

Western's Technology Transfer Office is the business development arm of London's extensive research network and the bridge between local invention and global industry. Born out of a partnership between Western University, Robarts Research Institute and Lawson Health Research Institute (collectively known as the Partners), the Technology Transfer Office draws upon a mix of industry connections, sector-specific market knowledge and business development expertise to help all researchers from all faculties and local inventors commercialize their discoveries through licensing and new company spin-offs.

Join us for a session led by Dr. Tristan Harrison, Business Development Manager at Western's Technology Transfer Office, as he discusses bridging your research ideas with industry to drive commercial success. After attending this lecture, you will gain a better understanding of:

-The technology transfer process at Western University

-The experiential learning opportunities available to you in entrepreneurship, commercialization, and knowledge transfer

This is a virtual session. Please register via Zoom by clicking the link below.

more Career Engagement resources for PhDs

Life Design (Career Education)

Life Design harnesses design thinking methods to support career and life planning.

Interviewing Support (Career Education)

Interviewing is an art and the key to success is preparation. Practice your skills in mock interviews, workshops, and more.

Career Education Workshops and Events

Check out upcoming workshops on topics including interview skills, using LinkedIn, resume writing, AI in career planning, and special topics for International students.

Employer Information Sessions

Every year, employers and educational recruiters visit campus to meet and recruit students.

Graduate Student Internship Program

The Graduate Student Internship Program is designed to bridge the gap between academia and the workplace.

International Student Services - Working and Volunteering

Learn about work permits, immigration, and more!