Preparing for life after graduate school (PfLAGS): A new ACS workshop

CHED 17

Joel I. Shulman, Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221
Although 65% of PhD chemists work in industry, doctoral programs generally do little to prepare their students for the transition from academe to industry. The ACS Office of Graduate Education and Department of Career Management and Development have created a two-day workshop (“Preparing for Life After Graduate School”) to help fill this gap. PfLAGS defines careers for PhD chemists by comparing industrial jobs with teaching and government positions and describing what the first year on the job is like; discusses some nontechnical skills and knowledge (e.g., communication skills, patents and intellectual property, conducting and receiving performance reviews) that will help a new PhD be successful; and discusses the job-search process, including writing effective resumes and cover letters and developing effective interviewing skills. This talk will describe the different modules of PfLAGS as well as the rationale for their inclusion in the workshop.