Cohort Program
The Cohort Program is an opportunity to take a deep dive into career management with a supportive community of like-minded graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Facilitated by faculty and professional development experts, the program provides an opportunity to clarify your interests and aspirations, develop job application materials, and explore career pathways. We offer three different Cohort Programs to address the specific needs of the U of T Engineering community.
Launch Your Career Plan should be completed before the OPTIONS Cohort Program.
Complementary Events
The Complementary Events are open to all engineering graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. These events provide an introduction to the school-to-work transition, tools to develop skills critical to the success of a professional, and a venue to network with engineering alumni.
Event | Day | Time (ET) | Location | Registration |
---|---|---|---|---|
How I Went and Found Careers Beyond the Bench | Wednesday, April 17 | 12:00 - 1:30 pm | Zoom | Register in advance |
Designing Your Life: Exploring Your Professional Possibilities | Tuesday, May 7 | 3:00 - 4:30 pm | GB202 |
How I Went and Found Careers Beyond the Bench
Wednesday, April 17 l 12:00 - 1:30 pm l Zoom
- Are you curious about career opportunities beyond the bench?
- Want to connect with alumni who have navigated going from the bench?
In this session with engineering alumni, you will learn strategies and the decision-making process that alumni engage in when going from the bench to beyond! You will have the opportunity to listen to each alumni’s key career stories and the factors that went into them going beyond the bench, followed by an opportunity to mingle.
You will:
- Reflect on the role of parallel planning and career flexibility in navigating multiple spaces
- Connect with engineering alumni who have navigated career transitions
Our featured panellists are:
- Karyn Ho, Science Communications Lead, Vital Bio
- Leo Zhu, Product Manager: AI/ML Recommendations & Platform, Bazaarvoice
- Yasaman Delaviz, Educational/Curricular Development Specialist, York University
- Oluwatobi Edun, PMP®, SMC®, EIT, Digital Risk Consultant, Deloitte
Extended bios are forthcoming.
Moderator: Joanne Lieu, Graduate Professional Development Coordinator, Office of the Vice Dean, Graduate Studies
Registrants will be emailed the Zoom link a week before the event. Register in advance.
Designing Your Life: Exploring Your Professional Possibilities
Tuesday, May 7 l 3:00 - 4:30 pm l GB202
Inspired from the Stanford Life Design Lab framework, the “Designing Your Life: Exploring Your Professional Possibilities” workshop will help graduate students uncover their philosophy of work and identify what careers may bring fulfillment. Through practical (and fun!) exercises and discussions, you will learn how to apply design thinking principles to architect your professional path. You will be guided to envision your professional future, identify potential career trajectories, and develop actionable steps to align your passions with your vocational goals.
Through this workshop, you will:
- Explore the social and personal narratives that shape your career expectations and aspirations.
- Use design thinking tools to increase your creativity and confidence.
- Practice decision-making by creating an action plan that brings you in alignment with your core values and professional goals.
Facilitator: Jennifer Galley, Leadership Education Specialist, Troost Institute for Leadership Education