Career Exploration
To learn more about your area of research, you read articles and communicate with colleagues and collaborators. To learn more about your career options, the same methods apply - read and speak to others.
Read about careers
The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs curates a lending library of electronic and print career-related books, many focused on specific career paths. Additionally, the online myIDP tool from Science Careers contains a comprehensive library of articles dedicated to specific careers.
Conduct informational interviews
Only so much information can be garnered from a book or job description. To learn more, conduct an informational interview - an informal conversation with a person who is already successful in a career that interests you and who can provide firsthand information.
- When, How, and Why to Conduct Informational Interviews by the Chronicle of Higher Education
- How Do I Create a Professional Network by the Chronicle of Higher Education
- Watch this LinkedIn Learning training about informational interviews
- Informational Interview Guidelines from UC Berkeley
- Expanding Career Networks webinar by the Higher Education Recruitment Consortia
Other resources
Here are some additional career exploration resources
- InterSECT Job Simulations is an online platform that allows PhD-level professionals to explore career options
- Career exploration videos from the NIH Office of Intramural Training and Education
- GoinGlobal is an international career resource that includes country-specific career information
- Career Options for PhDs from the National Postdoctoral Association
- Career Basics Booklet from Science Careers
- Career Advice for Life Scientists, Volumes I and II from the American Society for Cell Biology