Career Exploration

Career exploration support

Since 2014, OCPD has offered nationally-recognized, evidence-based career exploration programs. We know that community is key, when it comes to successful career exploration. Ready to connect with others who are on the same journey, or who have been in your shoes before? We have options!

Find and apply for an internship or experiential learning opportunity

So you’ve identified a career that you think you might enjoy. What now? It’s time to try that career on for size with an experiment that requires a little more time and effort.** A weeklong consulting workshop, perhaps? A three-month industry internship? A lectureship? A part-time internship with a UCSF office? Or maybe you’re even ready to start applying for jobs? Here are your next steps:

Review our list of ways to get experience.
Think about the criteria that an opportunity needs to meet, in order to be right for you. (Are you a postdoc? You might want a part-time opportunity. An international scholar? Visas may be a consideration. Is impact one of your core values? Look for outreach opportunities.) Use our Opportunity Comparison Matrix to list and weight your criteria.
Know that two-thirds of UCSF students/postdocs who find internships land them through networking, rather than a formal job application – so for best results, both applications and networking should be part of your strategy. Wondering how that works? Read our guide to finding and applying for internships. It'll guide you through getting your LinkedIn house in order, creating a résumé, interviewing and negotiating, and making a strong first impression.
Considering a full-time internship? Know that you'll need your P.I.'s permission (so talk to them well in advance!) and read our guidance so you're aware of the logistics and forms you'll need to take care of.
Make an appointment with an OCPD career counselor to discuss your situation, brainstorm possibilities, practice talking with your P.I., and/or confirm logistics.

More programs and resources

Where to Start?

If you're just embarking on your career exploration journey, you can start by learning a bit about the career exploration process, assessing where you are now, and reflecting on where you want to go. You don't have to do it alone – reach out to us any time. Feeling stuck or overwhelmed is very normal, and a great reason to schedule a chat!

Download our interactive career exploration road map
Use an online tool to self-assess your skills, interests, and values
Check out reflection guides that can help you synthesize and re-assess
Sign up for the Making Informed Decisions class (Grad 213)
Schedule a 1:1 appointment with an OCPD career counselor

Career Paths to Explore

We've gathered a wealth of information about the career paths commonly pursued by UCSF PhD students and postdocs. Each page includes answers to some fundamental questions about that career (What is the application process like? Are international folks eligible?) as well as sample job titles, recordings of alumni panels, and lots more.

Getting Experience

There are lots of ways to get hands-on experience in a career path that interests you. Full-time internships are one fantastic option. You can also consider part-time jobs at UCSF, joining campus organizations, upskilling courses, and more.

Learn about all your options for getting experience
Join our Internships and Experiential Learning course (Grad 285)
Read campus policies and procedures for full-time internships
Use our step-by-step guide to find and prepare for internships
Search for internships on our Opportunities Board
Want to be sure you're laying an effective foundation for your chosen career? Make a counseling appointment!

Networking

UCSF alumni tell us again and again that networking is the single the most important thing they did to explore careers. It might sound intimidating, but it's really just about building a community (and activating your existing connections) to help you on your way.

Watch our four-part video series on networking
View sample emails, questions, and thank-you notes
Join UCSF Connect, UCSF's official alumni networking platform
Attend an employer info session
Join Making Informed Decisions class (Grad 213) to be guided through the informational interview process

Common questions about career exploration

What kinds of career paths have UCSF PhD students and postdocs successfully pursued?

We've collected a wealth of resources about the career paths most commonly pursued by UCSF PhD students and postdocs. Around the country and the world, it's increasingly well-understood that PhDs have a wide variety of career options available to them.

Read about 20 different career paths for PhD-level scientists (both in academia and beyond academia) in the Career Exploration section of Science Magazine's myIDP site. (note: you will be required to create a free account)
Read about 15 common career paths for PhD-level humanists and social scientists (both within and beyond academia) in the "Job Family Resources" section of ImaginePhD
UCSF also collects official data about career outcomes for PhD students and postdoctoral scholars.

How do I know which career will be the best fit for me?

If you've watched our video "The Fantasy, the Ideal, and the Reality of Career Exploration," then you know that career exploration is an iterative process (some would say a lifelong process) with many possible outcomes, rather than a linear set of steps. In this way, as UCSF alum Tina Solvik says, it's a lot like research! That said, here are some starting points:

Self reflection is key to effective carer exploration. Ellen Elliott writes about this step in a JAX blog post. Once you know your preferences and tastes, you can use that information to look more closely at different types of positions in your field. Check out this Science Careers article by Beryl Lieff Benderly to learn more.
The My Individual Development Plan Assessment Tool from AAAS, which was co-created by OCPD, allows you to input your skills, interests, and values. This tool then compares your skills/interests/values responses to key factors for 60 different career paths within 20 different career categories that are options for you as a scientist. Humanists and social scientists can find skills, values, and interests assessments at ImaginePhD. (Both tools require you to create a free account.)
If you'd like to be guided through the process, consider taking one (or both!) of our structured career exploration classes, Motivating INformed Decisions (MIND) or Internships and Experiential Learning. These programs use a cohort model to help you identify and pursue experiences that help you clarify your career goals.

How much time does career exploration take? When should I start?

The short answers are, "As much time as you want!" and "Whenever you can!"

An important part of career exploration is conducting informational interviews with people in a position that interests you. Check out our webpage Informational Interviews and Building Your Professional Network for lots of resources to help you with each step of this important process. According to University of Michigan's Active Career Exploration (ACE) framework, informational interviews can be done effectively in 10 hours over 1 month. Read more about the framework here.
For a list of simple things you can do to explore careers, the National Postdoc Association (NPA) provides some advice. BiteSizeBio also provides some tips to build your career while in graduate school.
If you are ready to really effectively explore careers, consider the Motivating INformed Decisions (MIND) program. MIND participants will explore a variety of career paths as well as connect with partners to take a close look at different career paths. Also consider the GSICE program at UCSF. GSICE allows trainees to prepare for, find, and gain hands-on experience in a career environment they want to explore.

UCSF Office of Career and Professional Development