Grad CareerCraft: Tools for Diverse Career Pathways 

Grad CareerCraft is a comprehensive career development initiative at the School of Graduate Studies (SGS). Designed to empower graduate students, particularly doctoral students, with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to pursue a wide range of career paths, Grad CareerCraft bridges academic preparation with real-world professional success.

Grad CareerCraft supports students in all SGS disciplines from engineering and the sciences to the humanities and social sciences.

Workshops, Panels, and Series

Grad CareerCraft offers a dynamic calendar of events and self-paced resources tailored to meet students where they are in their career journey:

• Professional Development Workshops: Covering topics such as CV and resume writing, online presence (e.g., LinkedIn), and non-academic job search strategies.
• Alumni Career Panels: Featuring graduates who have built successful careers across industry, non-profits, government, and academia. The panels help current students learn from diverse career paths and gain actionable advice.
• Specialized Series: Collaborations with units such as Rutgers Global, Rutgers University Press and the Tech Transfer Office offer focused programming on international student internships, academic book publishing, entrepreneurship, and external funding.

Self-Paced Toolkits (Canvas-based upcoming)

• Internship Toolkit for Humanities and Social Sciences Students: Guides humanities and social sciences doctoral students through finding, applying for, and succeeding in paid internships. Modules address advisor conversations, academic considerations, international student issues, and career reflection.

Research Café

A monthly series that highlights graduate student research in an informal, interdisciplinary setting. Each session features short presentations followed by open dialogue and networking, helping students strengthen communication skills and build connections across SGS.

Research Briefs: Evidence and Insight

Grad CareerCraft also produces a series of concise Research Briefs to support informed career exploration and professional development. These brief, student-centered articles translate current research and data into practical insights on topics such as:

Each brief draws from recent studies, such as those by the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS), and presents evidence-based strategies to help students make confident, informed decisions about their career paths.