Grad Career Week

11 a.m.–noon, online  

This session will guide international students through principles and practices of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and how to apply these during the job search process. The goal of this session is to equip international students with practical strategies to nurture their mental health while persisting in the job search.

Presenters:

Will Kirschner, LISW-S, Embedded Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Counselor for the Graduate College and Klekamp College of Law

Kristy Stewart, Assistant Professor Educator, College of Cooperative Education 

Presenter Bios:

Will Kirschner, LISW-S, is the embedded counselor for the Graduate College and the Klekamp College of Law at the University of Cincinnati. Will’s work as a therapist, social worker, and former career counselor has made him an effective communicator both verbally and in writing. Will brings creativity and person-centered engagement to all tasks in front of him and looks forward to helping students move forward not just as better job seekers, but as people more in tune with their skills.

Kristy Stewart is an Assistant Professor Educator in Career Education at the University of Cincinnati College of Cooperative Education & Professional Studies. She teaches career development courses and advises a caseload of Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Technology, and Industrial & Systems Engineering undergraduate students.

Stewart has master’s degrees in TESOL & Applied Linguistics and Mental Health Counseling, and a graduate certificate in Instructional Design & Technology. She has 14 years of teaching experience and 10 years of academic and career advising experience. She has studied Japanese and Arabic languages and is a flutist and avid runner.

Register for the Acceptance, Commitment and Self-Advocacy in the International Student Job Search session

1–2 p.m., online

Will Kirschner, LISW-S, will utilize his experience as both a therapist and former career counselor to help students use the skills they have and grow in the skills they need to find a job. This presentation aims to leave students feeling energized and with a clear direction and goal for their job search.

Presenter:

Will Kirschner, LISW-S, Embedded Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Counselor for the Graduate College and Klekamp College of Law

Presenter Bio:

Will Kirschner, LISW-S, is the embedded counselor for the Graduate College and the Klekamp College of Law at the University of Cincinnati. Will’s work as a therapist, social worker, and former career counselor has made him an effective communicator both verbally and in writing. Will brings creativity and person-centered engagement to all tasks in front of him and looks forward to helping students move forward not just as better job seekers, but as people more in tune with their skills.

Register for the Creativity, Resilience, Acceptance and Goalsetting: Values for the Job Search session

11 a.m.–noon, TUC, room 427

This workshop equips attendees with practical strategies for effectively following up after meeting an employer, starting with the initial conversation itself. Participants will learn how to ask thoughtful questions, listen strategically, and identify key details during the interaction that make follow-up messages personalized and memorable. By the end, attendees will feel confident turning brief conversations into meaningful professional connections and opportunities.

Refreshments provided. Attendees will be entered to win UC Graduate College branded swag.

Presenter: Amanda McLaughlin, Associate Director, Career Development, College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) Graduate Studies

Presenter Bio:

Amanda McLaughlin is the Associate Director of Career Development for the University of Cincinnati’s College of Engineering and Applied Science Graduate Studies, where she supports graduate engineering students (MEng, MS, and PhD) in their career development through coaching students, engaging with employers, and building bridges between the two. Amanda was born and raised in Ohio and has lived and traveled extensively around the world.

Register for The Art of Following Up: What to Do (and Avoid) After Meeting an Employer session

5–6 p.m., Clifton Court Hall, room 1130

Participants in this interactive session will develop skills for describing their research to audiences outside their disciplines. The session will provide all attendees with structured opportunities to develop research introductions, identify and eliminate jargon, and practice adapting research introductions to different audiences. The session will also introduce additional graduate student resources available from the UC Center for Public Engagement with Science.

Refreshments provided. Attendees will be entered to win UC Graduate College branded swag.

Presenter: Dr. Angela Potochnik, Philosophy Professor, College of Arts and Sciences, and Director, Center for Public Engagement with Science (PEWS)

Presenter Bio:

Angela Potochnik is Professor of Philosophy, Head of the Philosophy Department, and Founding Director of the Center for Public Engagement with Science at the University of Cincinnati. Her research addresses the nature of science and its successes, the relationships between science and the public, and methods in science, especially biology.

Register for the Communicating Your Research to Broad Audiences session

10–11 a.m., Teachers-Dyer Complex, CECH Library, room 320

Preparing and practicing your answers to interview questions ahead of time is one of the most valuable things you can do to prepare for an interview. You want your answers to demonstrate that you are the best candidate by connecting your skills and experience directly to the qualifications in the job description. Join this session to learn how to best approach interview prep, common questions, and practice your responses to feel confident going into your next interview.

Refreshments provided. Attendees will be entered to win UC Graduate College branded swag.

Presenter: Charles (Charlie) Thornton, Assistant Director for Career Development, College of Education, Criminal Justice, Human Services, and Information Technology (CECH) Student Services Center

Presenter Bio:

Charlie Thornton is the Assistant Director of Career Development at UC’s College of Education, Criminal Justice, Human Services, and Information Technology (CECH), where he works out of the Student Services Center. With over 10 years of experience working with students in career development and exploration, his work with students and UC alumni can range from exploring careers that match an individual’s interests or majors all the way through negotiating a final job offer and everywhere between those two major points of professional development.

Register for the From Campus to Career: Interview Prep and Practice Workshop

11 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Zimmer Hall, room 312

Join us to find out! We’ll share six elements of your career compass, UC technology to make your job search efficient and effective, while also creating a career plan customized for your major, preferred skills, and work preferences.

Refreshments provided. Attendees will be entered to win UC Graduate College branded swag.

The Bearcat Promise Career Studio Headshot Photobooth will also be open after the presentation for graduate students to have a professional headshot taken.

Presenter: Meghan Brown, Career Coach, College of Cooperative and Professional Studies (CCPS) Bearcat Promise Career Studio

Presenter Bio:

Meghan Brown has been a UC career coach for two years, with over 10 years of experience coaching and more than 20 years in corporate roles. Having navigated many job transitions, she is passionate about supporting students in fun and innovative ways through an empowered and effective job search process to find their next best job.

Register for the in-person Getting Your Next Job: Is It as Easy as a Compass, UC Career Technology and Career Plan? session

11 a.m.–1 p.m., online

Ready to turn your CV into a resume that highlights the experience most relevant to the job you want? This workshop will cover common resume questions, strategies for determining which experiences to include, along with helpful resources, examples, and AI tools. We’ll also discuss letters of interest, including common questions and effective structure. Participants will leave with practical strategies and resources for creating stronger, more targeted application materials.

Presenter: Anna D'Orazio, Taft Research Center Dissertation Completion Fellow

Presenter Bio:

Anna D'Orazio is a fifth-year PhD candidate in the English Department, where she teaches a variety of undergraduate composition and professional writing courses. Her research focuses on writing pedagogy, learning transfer, technical/professional writing, and writing across the curriculum and the lifespan. She is a Taft Research Center Dissertation Completion Fellow for the 2026–27 academic year, and she has previously served as the GA for the Academic Writing Center.

Register for the Converting CVs to Resumes session

3–4 p.m., online

“Don’t Network. Connect.” is a practical introduction to networking designed for graduate students who want to build meaningful professional relationships with confidence. We’ll cover the basics—from identifying potential connections and starting conversations to following up effectively—and explore online tools that can make networking easier. You’ll leave with practical strategies and resources you can start using right away.

Presenter: Megan Zech, Assistant Director of Graduate Career Development and Placement, Carl H. Lindner College of Business Career Services

Presenter Bio:

Megan Zech is the Assistant Director of Graduate Career Development and Placement in Carl H. Lindner College of Business Career Services. With over 10 years of experience in career development, Megan has supported learners across higher education institutions and the tech space. She is passionate about helping graduate students build the skills, confidence, and connections they need to navigate their careers and turn opportunities into meaningful next steps.

Register for the Don’t Network. Connect. session

6–7:30 p.m., online

Join us to find out! We’ll share six elements of your career compass, UC technology to make your job search efficient and effective, while also creating a career plan customized for your major, preferred skills, and work preferences.

Presenter: Meghan Brown, Career Coach, College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies Bearcat Promise Career Studio

Presenter Bio:

Meghan Brown has been a UC career coach for two years, with over 10 years of experience coaching and more than 20 years in corporate roles. Having navigated many job transitions, she is passionate about supporting students in fun and innovative ways through an empowered and effective job search process to find their next best job.

Register for the virtual Getting Your Next Job: Is It as Easy as a Compass, UC Career Technology and Career Plan? session

3–4:30 p.m., hybrid: online and Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (CET&L), Langsam Library, room 480C

This workshop is for UC graduate students working as teaching assistants or instructors of record who are considering careers in industry, nonprofits, government, consulting, postdoctoral positions or teaching. Teaching at UC builds valuable professional knowledge and skills, and this session will focus on how to communicate that experience to the audiences you will meet next, including search committees, hiring managers, conference attendees, future colleagues and students.

Participants will explore how teaching skills can translate into language used in fields such as learning and development, program management, UX research and policy. Through individual reflection, paired work and small-group analysis of job postings, participants will practice turning a teaching experience into a short interview story and a polished resume bullet. Participants will leave with an adaptable interview story, a resume bullet drawn from their teaching experience and a resource list.

Refreshments provided. Attendees will be entered to win UC Graduate College branded swag.

Presenters: Anna Donnell, PhD, Associate Director, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CET&L)

Yash Sharma, MA, MPhil, Graduate Assistant, CET&L, and PhD student in Political Science, School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA), College of Arts and Sciences

Register for the Transferring Teaching Experience and Skills Across Wider Audiences session