The mission of the Career Development Office (CDO) is to help CU Anschutz graduate students and postdoctoral fellows acquire the non-science skills and experiences they need to be successful in careers both inside and outside of academia. The CDO strives to supplement the cutting-edge research training at our institution with crucial "non-bench" training.
Introducing Our Career Development Professionals
Bruce Mandt, PhD, serves as the associate dean of the Graduate School and director of the Postdoctoral Office and Career Development Office. He focuses on creating a supportive environment for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to develop professional skills and transition into successful careers.
Hannah Hathaway, PhD, is the program manager for graduate and postdoctoral career development at the Career Development Office. Her responsibilities include providing career coaching, engaging with employers to promote CU Anschutz trainees, and developing new career readiness programs.
Ways to Engage with Resources That Work for You
1. If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door. - Milton Berle
Embark on a personalized journey of career discovery by visiting the Individual career exploration section of CDO when uncertainty about your next steps arises. Begin by scheduling a Career Exploration appointment on Handshake to discuss strategies for exploring potential careers. The CDO’s in-person or virtual one-on-one sessions will help you articulate your career vision and create a roadmap of achievable goals within a step-by-step action plan. Complement these discussions with career development workshops which offer interactive opportunities to explore various career paths, build professional skills, and connect with peers and industry professionals. To engage with career exploration resources, check the CDO’s Events Calendar for upcoming career exploration and planning workshops. Additionally, you can access recorded sessions on their YouTube channel to continue working on your career plan at your own pace.
2. Be yourself. Everyone else is taken. - Oscar Wilde
Understanding yourself is the foundation of effective career development. The CDO's iCERch program is designed to help you gain a deeper understanding of your core competencies and professional ambitions. Through the program, you will engage in self-awareness exploration to help you identify your skills, values, and interests while aligning them with potential career paths in science. You will develop a comprehensive understanding of what makes you a strong candidate and where there is room to grow.
3. To get a seat at the table, you have to first pull back the chair.
Gathering more information about the jobs you want to work is strongly rooted in who you know and what they can tell you. The CDO will help you make connections through their Alumni Informational Interviewing Database that contains at-the-ready professional resources eagerly looking to talk to anyone who takes the initiative to schedule a time to discuss what their jobs are really like.
4. I’m not crying, you’re crying.
Fully in tune with where you want to work but not sure you can manage the stress of getting there? Emotional intelligence for professional success is one area the CDO shines in. Promoting trainee wellness and professional health is a focused priority for the CDO who regularly hold professional lectures, seminars, and workshops centered around successfully navigating resilience in the workplace with powerhouses like the NIH to back them up.
5. Tell me about a time when…
Interview preparation is a hot topic no matter what generation you land in. The CDO assists with company research, a vital aspect of interview preparation by guiding candidates in exploring company websites, mission statements, products, services, and recent news to gain a thorough understanding of potential employers. This knowledge will enable you to tailor your responses to align with the company's culture and values, demonstrating genuine interest and preparedness.
To refine your skills, the CDO provides practice interview sessions through Handshake appointments. These sessions include expert advice on answering common behavioral questions, articulating skills and experiences effectively, and improving non-verbal cues like posture and tone. Additionally, Bruce and Hannah offer personalized feedback to help candidates enhance their performance in a supportive environment. Beyond that, the CDO helps participants prepare thoughtful questions to ask during interviews, boosting confidence and ensuring professionalism.
6. No one else sees the world the way you do, so no one else can tell the stories that you have to tell. - Charles de Lint
Preparing job application documents, including the CDO’s number one request of CV/resume creation, is a vital role this office plays in effective job preparation. They offer 1:1 comprehensive resume review from creation and structuring sections, to highlighting relevant skills and experiences which can be booked through Handshake. They assist in crafting compelling cover letters for both industry and academic positions while helping applicants communicate their motivations that will demonstrate alignment with job requirements. Additionally, the CDO is well versed in a variety of topics related to preparing your application package for a faculty job search and curating a high-quality LinkedIn profile so there are multiple places a recruiter can investigate to gain a whole picture view of your professional story.
7. The Comeback Kid
The CDO is a resource that you can use both while currently enrolled on campus, and after you graduate. If any of the skills listed above need refining, furthering, or if you just really love talking to Bruce and Hannah, this office will be here for you to use again at all stages of your career path.
