School of Graduate Studies
Career & Professional Development
Graduate education extends beyond the classroom. You are now a part of an exceptional academic community, and we encourage you to take advantage of any of career-enhancing opportunities within the University.
Professional development is the continued process of learning and growth throughout a career.
Planning early and engaging in your discipline and in your personal and professional development are key strategies to ensure your success in graduate school and your future job search.
Discuss your career aspirations, your strengths and your weaknesses and how to address them with your advisor.
Look for professional development opportunities within your program of study and use these resources:
Workshop and Events
- Preventing Harassment and Discrimination.
- Prevention of harassment, discrimination and sexual violence training required annually. Graduate assistants will be notified.
- Data Privacy/Security Awareness Workshop.
- Public Jobs, Private Data Training required for graduate assistants who work with student information. Available in D2L Brightspace during first two weeks of appointment or as directed by supervisor.
- Safety Programs at St. Cloud State University.
- QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Suicide Prevention Training.
- Offered each semester. Watch for notifications.
- Understanding Racism and Anti-Racism Organizing.
- Community Anti-Racism Education Initiative offers free workshops each semester. Graduate assistants are encouraged to complete a workshop.
Career Development
Leadership Development
- Ask your advisor for leadership development ideas relevant to your discipline and career.
- Help organize campus events to build your planning, organizational and teamwork skills.
- Present at local, regional or national conferences.
- Consider an interdisciplinary course about leadership theory and practice and mention the course on your resume.
- Use the co-curricular transcript to track your leadership work.
- Add your leadership experience and training to your professional e-folio.
- Take advantage of our free Technology Training to improve your computer skills.
- Consider opportunities in the community.
- Check out books at the leadership library in the Center for Doctoral Studies, Education Building, Room B121.
- Familiarize yourself with modern leadership theories and the work of influential leaders.
Graduate Research
Graduate students are consumers and creators of research.
Your career requires that you think critically and apply the best research in the discipline to solve today’s challenges.
