Invest in your future with career services at the University Graduate School. We offer a variety of career support services to master's degree students, doctoral students, and postdocs, campus wide.
Prepare for your career with our support services.
We know that graduate students encounter nuanced career development needs and decision making challenges so we offer group formats and tailored one to one support with a career practitioner so that you can be proactive with manageable steps now. Learn to research the world of work and what resonates with your values and interests; or reflect on your student experiences and articulate how your skills transfer to career options; or build a search strategy that includes solid application materials and interviewing skills. No matter your path, we offer several resources to help you make your career preparation manageable.
700700+ tailored appointments completed with master's and PhD students
80From 80+ diverse programs and majors
Students who work with us prepare for diverse careers and choose from an array of appointment topics like: career exploration, search strategy, developing application materials like CVs, cover letters and research statements, and preparing for interviewing across industries.
My appointments were very helpful in identifying my next steps after graduate school... She helped reduce the pressure I felt around networking by introducing me to informational interviews and showing me how to approach setting up these conversations with professionals in different job roles.
~Liz Melssen Pfahl, PhD Chemistry, May 2026, Postdoc Appointment at Savannah River National Laboratory
Book a one-to-one appointment now.
To make an appointment, you will need a Handshake account. You can . Then, follow these steps:
- Log in to Handshake. Visit “Career Center” in the left menu.
- Click on “Appointments,” then “Schedule a new appointment.”
- Choose “University Graduate School Bloomington,” where you will find availability.
- Follow the prompts to set the date, time, and format of your appointment, and to leave a brief note for support requests.
Start your application documents with our resume, CV, cover letter and research statement guides.
Here, you will find guidance for resumes, CVs, cover letters, and research statements, tailored to a range of career paths both inside and outside academia.
Whether you are applying for faculty positions, research roles, industry jobs, or professional opportunities, these materials will help you present your experiences, skills, and goals clearly and effectively. Each resource will help you clarify the purpose of each document, understand what to include, and make intentional choices about structure, formatting, and audience.
This section connects you to workshops, online modules, and one-to-one support offered through our services. You can use these resources as a starting point and return to them as you revise and tailor your documents for different opportunities.
Beyond the Professoriate and Beyond Graduate School - accessible, on-demand resources.
University Graduate School provides master's and doctoral students and postdocs access to career training platforms. Beyond the Professoriate for doctoral students and postdocs, and Beyond Graduate School for master's students. Each platform provides several benefits:
· Supporting career exploration.
· Providing accessible, well-curated resources for busy graduate students.
· Promoting engaging learning through reflective activities that encourage students to apply what they’ve learned.
· Complementing existing on-campus graduate student career supports.
· Offering recorded seminars, reflective prompts, and assessments that guide the student experience and foster user engagement.
“I utilized Handshake to schedule bi-weekly mock interviews… When I landed my first zoom interview and campus visit, she gave me tailored advice and pointed me toward invaluable resources like Beyond the Professoriate. Beyond was a lifesaver—because it was accessible anytime."
~ Hyunjeong Lee, PhD Curriculum and Instruction, July 2026, Tenure-track Assistant Professor in Mathematical and Quantitative Reasoning
Beyond the Professoriate
On demand career training for PhD students and postdocs
Beyond the Professoriate’s Career Training Platform is an online professional development tool where postdocs and doctoral students can explore career options and learn job search strategies to secure employment in academia and beyond. The Career Training Platform also hosts a unique video library where students can hear from PhDs working in all career sectors. To log in simply visit Beyond Prof’s Career Training Platform, select Indiana University, and enter your institutional login information.
Beyond Graduate School
On-demand career training for master's students
Beyond Graduate School is a one-of-a-kind, online platform that helps master’s students make the most out of their investment and build their careers. From video lessons on career exploration, to writing application materials, to interviewing and negotiating for that next career step — Beyond Grad School helps master’s students through each stage of their job search.
To log in, visit Beyond Graduate School, select Indiana University Bloomington, and enter your institutional login information.
Join a workshop or partner with us.
Workshops centered on application materials and interviewing are offered throughout the academic year. Watch for the University Graduate School newsletter in your email, or email us at grdschl@iu.edu and request to partner with us to design a workshop that meets your group's needs.
Additional self-guided resources
These free self-guided resources may help you get started with career exploration and reflection. Browse MyIDP for Science Careers or Imagine PhD for arts, humanities, and social or behavioral sciences.Imagine PhD is a resource primarily for students in the arts and humanities to explore an array of career paths. Illuminate pathways that connect to your values, interests, and skills.
myIDP: Science Careers, My Individual Development Plan, is a resource for students in STEM fields to examine their values, interests, and skills, with a prediction of which of 20 varied science careers best fit your selected skills and interests.
Career Centers at IU Bloomington
IU Bloomington’s career centers support an array of services, from individualized advising or consulting to workshops, events, internship or employment opportunities, and more.