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Career Planning and Professional Development

It’s never too early to start thinking about your career and professional development goals! 

Here are some curated resources for career exploration, alumni mentorship, networking, informational interviews, and developing your resume, curriculum vitae (CV), cover letter, and interviewing skills to help prepare and begin networking with prospective employers.  

The Graduate Division also provides graduate students with professional development through group events and individual mentoring. During the academic year, they provide panel discussions, workshops, and other events to help you identify potential careers within and outside of academia and prepare for and transition into those careers. 

Be sure to look for signs of job scams while searching for employment. Always apply through legitimate UCSC channels: Handshake, UCSC Jobs, or HR department. UC Santa Cruz ITS has examples of impersonation scams, as well as security alerts of the most recent scams, so you know what to look out for during your search.


Last modified: Aug 28, 2025