Discover Your Skills
"Building a strong network, whether through platforms like LinkedIn or engaging with peers in meetings, is crucial. You never know how a simple connection can open doors and provide valuable insights. Your network holds the power to shape your professional journey."
Dr. Alexandra Merkx-Jacques
PhD in Microbiology and Immunology
Manager, Research Partnerships at NSERC
Contact Information
Jenny Richmond-Bravo
Doctoral Professional Development Coordinator (Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies)
p. 519-661-2111 x87848
jrichm6@uwo.ca
Current doctoral students will receive a monthly email with Own Your Future news and events.
Connect on LinkedIn
For more regular updates, news, job postings, discussion, and program engagement, please Join our LinkedIn Group!
Career Engagement

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.
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!