Career Pathways Research Brief No. 2
Published September 2025
This series shares research on graduate career development in a way that is directly useful to you as a doctoral student. Each brief connects new findings with practical steps you can take to move forward in your own career journey.
Mapping Your Options: Insights from the CGS PhD Careers Report
“I know there are jobs outside academia, but I don’t know how people actually get them.”
If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. A recent national report from the Council of Graduate Schools (2025) shows that many PhD students feel the same uncertainty. The study highlights both the barriers students face and the strategies that make a difference.
Key lessons to consider
Start early. Students who use career resources in their first or second year tend to feel more confident and less anxious later. You do not need to wait until the dissertation stage to explore options.
Talk to faculty and broaden your network. Some faculty mentor for a range of careers, while others focus mainly on academic paths. Build relationships with alumni, career services, and professional communities beyond your department.
Look for real-world experience. Internships, fellowships, short projects, and leadership roles help you see how your research and skills translate across sectors. Even small, well-scoped experiences matter.
Find out where graduates go. Ask your graduate director or department administrator whether alumni career outcomes are available. You might be surprised by the range of paths graduates have taken.
What you can do right now
- Schedule one career check-in this semester. Meet with your program director, a faculty mentor, or a career advisor to talk about your interests and timing. If you would like a Grad CareerCraft one-on-one Zoom meeting, email rg835@grad.rutgers.edu.
- Reach out to one alum. You can email someone directly. You can also create or update your LinkedIn profile and search for Rutgers alumni working in organizations that interest you. Watch for Grad CareerCraft event announcements on best practices while using LinkedIn. Ask alumni about their path and how they moved from graduate school into their current role.
- Explore one experiential opportunity. Apply for a formal internship, propose a short consulting-style project, take on a campus leadership role, or volunteer for a scoped community project.
- Track your skills. Keep a simple log of what you are learning through research, teaching, service, and collaboration. This makes it easier to explain your value to future employers.
Remember: your career goals are valid, whether they lead you inside or outside academia. Exploring a wide range of futures is part of what doctoral training is for.
Have a study or article you would like to see featured? Send it to rg835@grad.rutgers.edu.
Citation
Council of Graduate Schools. (2025). Understanding and supporting PhD careers: A resource for universities. Washington, DC: Council of Graduate Schools. https://cgsnet.org/publications/understanding-and-supporting-phd-careers-a-resource-for-universities