UCS Services for Graduate Students

Determining your post-graduation plans requires planning, time and energy.  Not to mention that it can often be a balancing act to conduct a full-time job search while finishing your dissertation or completing final projects.

University Career Services (UCS) offers comprehensive career services for graduate students to address career planning and job search needs.  Graduate students across all graduate departments and disciplines are eligible to utilize UCS services.

Career Events and Programs for Graduate Students

Resources for Masters Students

Resources for PhDs

Resources for Post Docs

Where Do I Start?

Register for CareerCat

CareerCat is an online job and internship database managed by UCS that contains opportunities for Northwestern undergraduates, graduate students and alumni.  Registering for CareerCat is your first step to getting started with UCS. This will also register you for the UCS Weekly Email, which contains helpful updates on workshops, employer visits, and career-related events at Northwestern.

Quick Questions

UCS holds Walk-In hours Tuesday-Friday from 11:00 AM-2:45 PM.  Walk-in hours are appropriate for quick career-related questions including:

  • Introduction and overview of UCS Services
  • Resume/CV/cover letter critiques
  • Job/internship search questions

Not all questions can be answered during a walk-in session.  Your walk-in discussion may lead to a referral to another UCS staff member for a follow-up appointment. Please visit our homepage for more information on walk-in appointments.

Individual Appointments

Individual Appointments are held in the UCS main office on the Evanston Campus.  If you are a graduate student on the Chicago Campus please inquire about UCS services by contacting Kamilah McCoy.

Appointments on the Evanston Campus can be scheduled by calling 847-491-3700. If you are unsure what type of advisor you would benefit most from meeting with, UCS staff can assist you with the best direction when you call to schedule an appointment.

Request an appointment with a Career Counselor if you have questions related to:

  • Evaluating academic and non-academic career choices
  • Understanding the impact of graduate school on career options
  • Making decisions that are most appropriate given lifestyle considerations
  • Examining the influence of familial, cultural, gender, sexual orientation and/or disability issues on the career decision making process
  • Managing feelings of being rushed/pressured to make career decisions
  • Considering the transition from student to professional
  • Taking career assessments

Request an appointment with an Internship Specialist if you have questions related to:

  • Identifying internship opportunities available for graduate students
  • Structuring and preparing for an internship search

Request an appointment with an Employment Specialist if you have questions related to:

  • Identifying academic and non-academic positions for graduate students after graduation
  • Structuring your full time job search for a particular industry
  • Communicating with employers
  • Developing effective networking strategies
  • Learning, evaluating, and refining interviewing skills
  • Preparing job search documents