Whether you are headed into academia, industry, or something completely new, this section offers practical tools, resources, and guidance to help you navigate the transition from graduate school to the next stage of your career.
Visit the Career Centre at YorkU. A team of professionals work with students, alumni, staff, faculty, and employers to support students and new graduates (up to two years after graduation) in the development of career self-management skills.
Beyond the Professoriate is an eLearning Platform with on-demand, self-paced learning modules that allow Master's, PhDs, and Postdocs to explore career options and discover ways to apply the skills acquired through their education. You can access the modules in any order and if you decide to complete 7 core modules, you earn a certificate of completion.
Access Beyond the Professoriate . Choose "York University" from the list of institutions and log in using your Passport York username and password.
About Beyond the Professoriate
Beyond the Professoriate curated content consists of videos, and it provides information for students across disciplines in the Arts & Sciences. It was designed and built by PhDs as well as all of the contributors who deliver workshops and participate in career panels and interviews, are experts in their field who also successfully completed a PhD in the areas of Arts, Social Sciences, STEM, Business, and Education. If you’re curious about the skills you’ve acquired throughout your studies, potential non-academic careers, or strategies for applying and securing non-academic employment, this is an invaluable resource.
Beyond the Professoriate benefits graduate students by:
- supporting career exploration.
- providing accessible, well-curated resources for busy graduate students.
- promoting engaged 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.
Academic and Non-Academic Pathways
What is a Letter of Recommendation?
A letter of recommendation is one that is specifically requested by someone for a determined / defined employment position, academic program or award application. Generally, these letters are sent directly to the requestor and not seen by the student. They can be categorized as:
- Employment Related
- Academic Admission
- Commendation or Recognition
- Performance Evaluation
What is a Letter of Reference?
A letter of reference is normally more general in nature and not addressed to a specific requestor. Often you will see these letters addressed as "To Whom it may Concern" or "Dear Sir/Madam". These letters are most often given directly to the student and kept for future use. Situations where they are used tend to be:
- Character Assessment
- Academic Related
- Employment Related
- General Purpose
Who should I ask for a letter or recommendation or reference?
Choose someone who:
- Knows you and appreciates your work.
- Can give a detailed account of your research abilities and can speak to qualities such as perseverance, leadership and creativity.
- Has supervised you directly (boss, supervisor, team leader: past or present).
- You know has something good to say about your work, personality and team work skills.
- Is a key figure in, or familiar with, the field you are applying for.
Additional Resources
- Read Writing Supportive and Effective Recommendation Letters (.pdf) for guidance to researchers on composing constructive and supportive recommendation letters, including tips for structuring and providing specific and effective examples, while maintaining a balance in language and avoiding potential biases. From Sarabipour, S., Hainer, SJ., Furlong, E., Jadavj,i NM., de Winde, CM., Bielczyk, N., and Shah, AP. (2022).
- Read Ten Simple Rules for Writing Compelling Recommendation Letters (.pdf). Recommendation letters are key in academia, and writing a strong, personalized one takes care and preparation. These tips help avoid generic, ineffective letters. From Kong, JH., Steele, LJ., and Botham, CM. (2021).
- Read Confidence is Key When Asking for a Reference Letter by Jillian Marie Aucoin in University Affairs.
LinkedIn Help
- Visit LinkedIn Profile Tips for graduate students.
- Learn how to develop interview skills and visit the LinkedIn interview preparation feature.
- Learn how to how to create a professional LinkedIn profile.
- Read about the differences between a resumé and a CV.
Networking and Skills
- Learn about networking and connecting with people.
- Read about networking tips.
- Learn how to identify your skills and accomplishments.
Equity Resources
- View career resources for Black students.
- View career resources for graduate students.
- View career resources for Indigenous students.
- View career resources for International students.
- View career resources for LGBTQ2S+ students.
- View career resources for new grads.
- View career resources for students with disabilities.