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Grad students invited to professional development day

Dec. 3, 2006

KALAMAZOO--Graduate students at Western Michigan University who are contemplating careers in academia are invited to attend a professional development workshop from 1 to 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8, in Putney Auditorium of the Fetzer Center.

Graduate Professional Development Day­A Career in the Academic World will provide attendees with tools to become successful professionals, as well as promote learning opportunities that will foster the academic, professional and life skills of WMU's graduate education community.

Dr. Darrell Johnson, WMU dean of Extended University Programs, will give the keynote talk from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. He will discuss how earning his graduate degree at WMU has influenced his career path, how he transitioned from being a graduate student to a professional, and tips on hunting for jobs as well as marketing yourself and your degree.

The event, which requires pre-registration, is being sponsored by the University's Graduate Student Advisory Committee and Career and Student Employment Services. Workshop sessions have been planned in four key areas.

The day's first session will be on networking. It will help attendees learn specific strategies for making the most of their interactions with faculty members, administrators, employers and fellow students.

The second session will cover how to write a curriculum vitae, which is different from a resume and preferred in academia, and will offer tips for applying to the academy.

There also will be a session on professional development and strategies for success. This presentation will provide graduate students with a strategic plan of action that begins at the inception of their graduate study and will carry them through to graduation and, ultimately, into their professional careers.

The final session will cover the job-search timeline and job-search tools. This will be a presentation about the resources that can be used to help with job searches. Students also will be given free accounts to Interfolio.com, a portfolio services Web site that allows them to keep online track of important documents such as CVs and letters of recommendation.

Registration is required to attend Graduate Professional Development Day. To register, visit www.broncojobs.wmich.edu, click on BroncoJOBS and log in or create a new free account. After logging in, click on the Career Program/Workshop link in the Calendar box on the left side of the page. Then click on Graduate Professional Development Day followed by Sign Up.

For more information, contact Rosana Alsaud, GSAC chair at gsac@wmich.edu or (269) 387-8207.

Media contact: Jeanne Baron, (269) 387-8400, jeanne.baron@wmich.edu

WMU News
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