Get career ready
Dal GradPD is your go-to hub to learn about professional development designed for your specific needs as a graduate student. Together with partners across the university and external providers, the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) assembles an ongoing schedule of free workshops and events aimed to help you prepare for a diversity of careers.
The four pillars of the Dal GradPD program are dedicated to building skills necessary for success in any career — Communication, Career Intelligence, Health and Wellbeing, and Leadership — and are offered exclusively to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.
Upcoming Dal GradPD workshops and experiential learning
Professional Career Development Group
Graduating this year and feeling anxious about life after university or unprepared for an uncertain job market?
Attend this career development support group facilitated by a career counsellor to build a peer support network and confidence as you prepare to embark on the next chapter of your life!
Registration is now available on the . Go to the next Friday on the events calendar to register, after which you will be contacted to confirm your eligibility and additional details. New registrations will be accepted weekly throughout the term, but space is limited, so students are encouraged to register early!
Date and time: Ongoing weekly; Tuesdays from 3 to 4 p.m.
Partner: Bissett Student Success Centre Academic Advising and Career Services
Type: In-Person
Pillar: Career intelligence
Location: McCain Arts and Social Sciences Building
An Individual Development Plan (IDP) is a personal roadmap that can identify personal and professional goals and objectives. In this interactive workshop we would reflect on our achievements, articulate our values, and explore future goals to develop an action plan moving forward in your academic and professional growth. This session will also introduce the Dal GradPD Certificate and how you can take part in this opportunity at ĢAV. Facilitator: Kala Hirtle Clarke, PhD, Director Professional Development and Student Engagement | Faculty of Graduate Studies
Date and time: September 26 from 12 to 1 p.m.
Type: Hybrid
Pillar: N/A
Partner: FGS
Location: Goldberg Computer Science Building, Room 228; Teams link shared upon registration
Graduate Teaching Dossier Retreat
A teaching dossier is a critical component for any academic job search, and yet we often do not consider the time and work it takes to develop a dossier that reflects the experience, values, and evidence of our teaching. This two-week retreat covers the fundamentals of a teaching dossier (e.g., teaching philosophy, student evaluations, teaching materials), and will provide you with an opportunity to take the time to start developing the foundations to your own dossier and reflect on your learning and teaching experiences. You will also have the opportunity to give and receive peer feedback. The retreat facilitators will also be available to answer questions and offer guidance on the development of your dossier.
Dates: October 1 - 15, 2024
Type: In-person
Partner: Centre for Learning and Teaching
Location: Killam Library, B400
With Andrew Riley: Co-founder OpenThink; Senior Manager, Research and Innovation Communications, Office of the Vice President Research and Innovation, ĢAV
Please bring your story idea to this event.
Learning to communicate your work clearly to the public is an essential skill now. This is a unique opportunity to learn how from one of ĢAV’s most senior communications experts. Getting started writing is the hardest part and Andrew will share his best tips for kicking off a research-focused story. Whether you are a neophyte or an experienced writer for the public, Andrew will help you up your game. You will write a pitch in the workshop, followed by a critique session.
Date and time: October 2 from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
Type: In-person
Pillar: Career intelligence
Partner: OpenThink
Location: Office of Research Services Boardroom, Room 230, Henry Hicks Building (second floor)
Do you have a CV, but are looking for ways to make it even better?
In this 30-minute virtual workshop, you'll join the Bissett Student Success Centre's Career Advisor in a guided evaluation of your CV. You will leave with an improved version of your CV, as well as the knowledge and skills to continue improving your CV.
Registration is encouraged.
This workshop is intended for grad students at ĢAV and University of King's College.
Date and time: October 18 from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m.
Type: Online
Partner: Career Services
Location:ձ
Responsible conduct of research training is mandated by the tri-council funding agencies for all new researchers. This 1.5-hour workshop will use small-group discussions of cases relevant to current research issues, such as authorship, data management, and conflict of interest. Facilitated by Eileen Denovan-Wright, PhD, Associate Dean, Research.
Date and time: October 23 from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Type: Online
Pillar: Career intelligence
Partner:Ѹٰ
Location:ձ; meeting link shared upon registration
Academic Integrity Quiz Show
Academic Integrity doesn’t need to be scary. Join the Writing Centre this Halloween as part of the International Centre’s “International Community Day,” where we will be hosting a fun quiz show to test your knowledge and learn more about Academic Integrity and citational practices. There will be prizes, treats, and costumes.
Date and time: October 31 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Type: In-person (no registration required)
Partners: International Centre, Writing Centre
Location: Writing Centre (Killam Memorial Library, Learning Commons G40C)
The Micro-teaching Short Course is designed to give students the opportunity to plan, develop, and deliver a lesson in a mock classroom setting. Goals of the Micro-teaching Short Course:
- Develop an understanding of effective teaching and learning strategies.
- Gain practical teaching preparation and experience.
- Increase confidence in your teaching skills.
- Receive and apply critical feedback to enhance your teaching development.
- Strengthen your ability to assess and evaluate teaching.
Date: Training session on November 4 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., with sessions to follow in November and early December
Partner: Centre for Learning and Teaching
Type: In-person
Location: Killam Library, B400
Writing Bootcamp at the International Centre
Come to the International Centre for the afternoon to workshop your writing assignments with Writing Centre tutors before the end of reading week! This will be a drop-in event (no registration needed). Enjoy some snacks, work with tutors, and enjoy being in a space where you can focus on your writing.
Date and time: November 14 from 1 to 6 p.m.
Type: In-person
Location: International Centre (Suite 1200 – 1246 Lemarchant Street)
Good data management planning and practices are essential in research, and there is a growing awareness of the value of sharing, accessing, and preserving research data. Funders and publishers increasingly require open data sharing. This presentation will provide attendees with an overview of research data management practices, and the related services offered by Dal Libraries. Facilitated by Louise Gillis, Library Services.
Date and time: November 25 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Type: Online
Partner: MRDO
Pillar: Career intelligence
Location:ձ; link shared upon registering with prep@dal.ca
Dal has some great resources to help you find those numbers, statistics, and datasets you need for your projects. This workshop provides a gentle introduction to finding Canadian statistics available through a wide variety of sources. Will include quick overviews of Stat Can health indicators and microdata, the Canadian Census Analyzer, data available through CIHI, and more. Facilitated by Julie Marcoux, Library Services.
Date and time: November 27 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Type: Online
Partner: MRDO
Pillar: Career intelligence
Location:ձ; link shared upon registering with prep@dal.ca
This session will provide an overview of critical appraisal in the context of research literature with a focus on core principles. We will present some tools and approaches to apply in your own context and discuss the implications of critical appraisal on the research and writing processes. Facilitated by Jackie Phinney, Library Services.
Date and time: November 29 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Type: Online
Partner: MRDO
Pillars: Career intelligence; Communication
Location:ձ; link shared upon registering with prep@dal.ca
The workshop is designed to guide you through the process of writing an effective personal statement and will provide strategies for helping you begin your draft as well as revision and refinement. Statements of intent or personal statements can be part of applications to graduate programs, co-op placements, and funding applications.
Facilitated by Janice MacDonald Eddington and Kala Hirtle, ĢAV Writing Centre.
Date and time: December 10 from 2 to 3 p.m.
Type: Online
Location:ձ
Participate in the Dal GradPD certificate program
To help you navigate your PD journey, we have created a free certificate program to recognize your efforts and help you identify the opportunities you need to take you where you want to go.
What you’ll do during the certificate program:
Individual development plan (IDP) workshop: In this session, you’ll explore the skills and experiences you need to achieve your professional goals and map your plan to get there. IDP workshops will be held every month, so don't worry if you missed an earlier session. An asynchronous video of the IDP workshop is also available in the Dal GradPD Brightspace.
Pillars workshops: Participate in two hours of workshops from each of the Dal GradPD pillars: Communication, Career Intelligence, Health and Wellbeing, and Leadership. You can select from options provided by Dal GradPD partners or find other opportunities you think will best suit your goals.
Experiential learning: Take on four hours of hands-on experience from each pillar. Write a blog, go to a networking event, practice a time management strategy, organize an event – the possibilities are vast and the experiences priceless.
Professional identity workshop: Wrap up the certificate with this session that will empower you to articulate the value of the skills you've gained at graduate school to prospective employers.
When done, you’ll receive a certificate signed by the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and recognition on your transcripts. More importantly, you’ll have developed a plan for where you want to go with your career and assembled the professional and personal skills you need to get there.
