This training is designed for people who work directly with PhD students, postdocs, or faculty on career exploration and decision-making, including:

• Career development professionals new to advising PhDs

• Seasoned career advisors seeking PhD-specific frameworks

• PhDs who are new to career advising roles

• Coaches or staff working with doctoral clients for the first time

If you regularly hold 1:1 conversations about career direction with PhDs, this training is likely a good fit.

This training may not be the right fit if you are:

• Looking for a general career coaching certification

• Seeking job placement or recruiting strategies

• Expecting content focused on undergraduate or MBA populations

• Unwilling to engage in discussion or practice-based learning

This is applied professional development, not a lecture series or certification program.

No prior formal training is required.

Participants range from:

• Career staff brand new to PhD advising

• Experienced career professionals adapting their practice

• Early career faculty mentoring graduate students or postdocs

The course is structured so everyone gains value, regardless of starting point.

It is intentionally all three.

You’ll learn:

• The goals and boundaries of coaching, counseling, and advising

• When each role is most appropriate

• How to shift between them intentionally in real 1:1 sessions

This flexibility is central to working effectively with PhDs.

The program consists of:

• Two half-day live sessions (approximately 4 hours each)

• Interactive discussions, case studies, and practice activities

• Breaks built in to support focus and engagement

• Optional individualized feedback and observation are available after the training.

Here’s a high-level agenda describing how we will spend our time together. (Note: Sequence of content can change before and between sessions, depending upon the needs of each cohort.)

The training is live and interactive.

We do not offer a fully asynchronous option because:

• Peer discussion and practice are central to the learning experience

• Participants benefit from shared language and real-time feedback

Sessions may be recorded for participants when appropriate. A public recording will not be shared.

Practice is encouraged, but not forced.

You’ll have:

• Opportunities to practice techniques with peers

• The option to receive personalized feedback through session observation or recordings

Additional observation and feedback are optional add-ons, not required.

The focus is on judgment and timing, not just tool awareness. We will use these tools to demonstrate frameworks and mindsets:

You’ll learn how and when to use:

• ImaginePhD

• InterSECT Job Sims

• Meaningful Work Kit

• Evidence-based career outcomes data

• Individual Development Plans (IDPs)

Outside work is intentionally light and practical.

Expect:

• Optional reflection activities

• Applying tools to your real advising context

• No heavy readings or homework

This training is designed for working professionals.

Yes—especially faculty who:

• Advise graduate students on career options

• Want to be more supportive of academic and nonacademic pathways

• Feel unsure how to guide students beyond academia

Faculty participation is welcome, and content is grounded in real advising situations faculty already encounter.

Faculty will not be expected to act as a career coach, but rather:

• Clarify their role as an advisor

• Know when to coach, advise, or refer

• Hold supportive conversations without overstepping boundaries

Better-prepared advisors lead to:

• Clearer guidance for PhDs

• Reduced advisor burnout

• More intentional, equitable career support
  

This training is:

• PhD-specific (not generalized career advice)

• Practice-based (not content-heavy)

• Grounded in real advising scenarios

• Designed for people doing the work—not theorizing about it

The goal is confidence, judgment, and impact in real conversations.

Yes.

We offer:

• Group registrations

• Institutional invoicing

• Custom or private cohorts upon request

Contact us to discuss options. info@phdcareerconversations.com

Honest answer. It might or might not be.

If you’re:

• Regularly working with PhDs

• Wanting more structure and confidence

• Curious about improving your 1:1 practice

This training was designed for you.

You’re welcome to reach out with questions before registering.

This program is:

• PhD-specific

• Practice-based

• Focused on real advising conversations

• Full registration refund available up to 7 days before the first session

• No refunds after the first session has begun

• Substitutions are allowed if someone else from your institution would like to attend