Photo of planeSummer is here, and that means that many graduate students will be traveling, researching, or working away from campus. But have no fear! You can still take important steps from afar to work on developing professional skills and exploring career paths. At GradPro we will be here all summer to serve you, and many of our resources can be accessed virtually. We provide a variety of online career development tools, as well as video consultations with our Professional Development Liaisons. Don’t be a (virtual) stranger!

  • Schedule a one-on-one consultation. Fill out this Google form to schedule a video chat consultation with one of our Professional Development Liaisons (calls can be scheduled Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, PT). Your specialist will provide you with one-on-one expert advice, a friendly ear, and ongoing support, should you need it. You can also contact specialized counselors from the UC Berkeley Career Center via Handshake to set up a telephone or video interview.
  • Access our subscription-based online career exploration tools. These tools include online courses (such as those on the Lynda Online Learning Platform and UC BerkeleyX), Ph.D. student career exploration tools (such as ImaginePhD for humanities and social science students and VersatilePhD for students across all disciplines), and broad, customizable career planning tools (such as MyIDP and the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity). Take time to develop your own professional online presence.
  • Participate in a Check-in group. Sign up for a GradPro check-in group and meet virtually with a group of other students and a facilitator to describe progress on your project (studies, paper, dissertation, anything you would like!) and challenges you have encountered. Receive support and advice, as well as encouragement to keep on track and reach your goals. The summer deadline to sign up has passed, but contact us at [email protected] to be the first to know when the Fall sign-up opens!
  • Check out our Calendar of Events. GradPro provides a list of professional development related workshops, talks, and events — such as webinars or online writing challenges. Check back frequently as new online offerings will be added.
  • Take the UC Berkeley Professional Standards and Ethics Online Course. If you are planning on beginning to teach in the Fall, the course is required, and if not, a refresher will help you refocus your teaching and create a productive learning environment for all of your students. You should also check out the GSI Teaching & Resource Center’s Online Teaching Guide for GSIs, a publication chock full of excellent ideas on how to facilitate lab or discussion sections, teach Reading and Composition courses, evaluate student work efficiently and fairly, and improve your teaching and its impact on student learning.
  • Read excellent books on how to improve your writing by perusing the Graduate Writing Center’s Quick Guides. The Quick Guide on writing a thesis or dissertation is one many graduate students have found extremely useful in making this large writing project more manageable.

Good luck with your summer plans, and we wish you a productive and relaxing summer!


Maelia DuBois is a Professional Development Liaison in the Graduate Division and a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of History with a specialization in German history