Prepare for Industry Careers

 
Building Professional Skills and Enhancing Qualifications 

Advanced degrees provide higher-level skills in many areas such as: analytical and critical thinking, research skills, writing, creativity, collaboration, project management and attention to detail. See the results from the graduate student workshop “Focus on Skills” for more information on the transferrable skills most graduate students possess. Employers in a wide variety of fields prize these transferrable skills. Technical skills derived from your graduate degree experiences, such as advanced statistical analysis, laboratory skills and skills using specific software, may also be compelling to your future employer. However, depending on your career goal, there may be other skills and experience requirements you may need to further develop. 

To become competitive for the career of your choice, a variety of strategies can help you break into your field. These include professional development programs, part-time or evening studies in an area relevant to your new career, internships (formal and informal), technology transfer programs, as well as volunteering and initiating community-based projects.

Entrepreneurship may be a preferred work style for some or a means to enhance qualifications for a salaried career within a company down the road. These programs and strategies are discussed in more detail below. Appointments with a Career Counsellor to discuss professional development strategies are available as well. 

 
The GPDC Conference 

The Graduate Professional Development Conference (GPDC), is an initiative from the University of Toronto’s School of Graduate Studies. It is designed to help all graduate students become fully prepared for their futures. The program can help you to communicate better, plan and manage your time, learn entrepreneurial skills, understand and apply ethical practices, and work effectively in teams and as leaders. GPDC consists of a range of optional “offerings” with a time commitment roughly equivalent to 60 hours of work. Its successful completion will be recognized by a transcript notation (although completion is not mandatory). Course offerings in the following areas are available: Communication and Interpersonal Skills, Personal Effectiveness, Teaching Competence and Research-Related Skills​. 

 
Mitacs Step Program 

Mitacs professional training programs are Canada’s only comprehensive programs providing business-ready skills to up-and-coming researchers. Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows learn essential interpersonal, project management and entrepreneurial skills required for them to succeed in their future career. 

 
Continuing Studies Options for Professional Development 

University of Toronto‘s School of Continuing Studies provides valuable knowledge and credentials to open up new career paths and to inspire creative curiosity. They constantly evolve their programs to help people achieve their personal and professional goals, to further the economic and cultural life of Canadians and to match the pace of social change. The School offers courses in industry relevant areas such as Business and Professional Studies; Project Management; Life Science Enterprise; Occupational Health and Safety; Lean Sigma 6; Human Resources Management and Big Data Management. Recent Graduates from the University of Toronto have credits to use towards taking these courses as well. Learn more about U of T Alumni Benefits.

Other universities and colleges also offer continuing education programs which may suit your needs and may be more convenient in terms of location and timing. 

MaRS Innovation specializes in technology transfer and innovation from academia to entrepreneurship in partnership with University of Toronto. 

The Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE)  Businesses access expert talent in Ontario’s research institutions to solve innovation challenges and students and graduates gain real-world skills and experience in research and development. Programs encompass industry-academic R&D collaboration programs, commercialization programs and entrepreneurship programs. 

Through unique research and training programs, MITACS is developing the next generation of innovators with vital scientific and business skills. In partnership with companies, government and academia, MITACS is supporting a new economy using Canada’s most valuable resource – its people. Programs include: MITACS -Accelerate; Elevate; Globalink; Canadian Science Policy Fellowship; Entrepreneur International and Business Strategy Internship. 

 
Entrepreneurship as an Option 

Starting your own business is a viable and preferred option for many graduate students. For others, who would prefer a salaried position with a company, it can be a way to build skills, experience and contacts toward this ultimate goal. One option is to take advantage of an increasing number of sub-contractor opportunities, which fall under the umbrella of self-employment, as a sole proprietor. Being your own boss does not always require major investment and it can be quite simple to implement. There are also many tax advantages of entrepreneurial career styles as well. Find out more in this section.