Career Insights Webinar Series: Connecting the A2i Community Across 40 Institutions

Throughout the 2024–2025 academic year, the A2i network launched an exciting opportunity for graduate students and postdocs: the Career Insights (INS) Webinar Series. Designed to bridge the gap between academia and careers outside the university setting, this cross-institutional initiative aimed to equip trainees with the skills, knowledge, and connections they need to successfully transition into industry, government, and nonprofit sectors.

A Collaborative Approach to Career Readiness

The INS series was created with a clear goal: to connect trainees with professionals working across diverse fields. By offering practical insights into a variety of career paths, current hiring trends, and strategies for navigating career transitions, the series helped participants explore opportunities beyond academia. Whether it was learning how to translate academic experience into an industry resume, mastering effective networking techniques, or gaining tips for a successful job search, INS provided a wealth of knowledge.

The webinar series fostered a shared learning experience across the A2i community, uniting graduate students and postdocs from over 40 partner institutions. Hosted by institutions like NC State University, the University of Virginia, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and the University of North Carolina Wilmington, these sessions were open to all, ensuring that A2i’s diverse community could come together to learn from industry leaders and experts.

“I enjoy collaborating with other institutions on the Career Insights sessions. It’s wonderful to extend career readiness opportunities to our UNCW graduate students that they wouldn’t otherwise have. We also enjoyed seeing so many graduate students from A2i partner institutions at a recent Career Insights session that we hosted.” – Anna Ouchchy, Graduate Student Services Specialist at UNC Wilmington Graduate School.

A Year of Insightful Webinars

Over the course of the year, the Career Insights series featured more than 18 webinars on a range of topics tailored to help our 280+ participants better understand the world outside academia. Some of the featured sessions included:

• LinkedIn and Personal Branding: Maximizing your online presence to attract employers
• Translating Academic Experience to Industry: How to communicate your skills and expertise effectively
• Job Search Strategies: Best practices for securing a position in today’s competitive job market
• Project Management: Key strategies for managing tasks and teams in non-academic settings
• Effective Networking: How to build meaningful connections in any career sector

Each session brought in expert speakers from various industries who shared their unique perspectives and experiences. These professionals offered invaluable advice on everything from workplace expectations to current hiring trends, helping participants navigate their career transition with confidence and clarity.

Fostering Career Readiness Across A2i

The Career Insights Webinar Series highlights the collaborative spirit of the A2i network and reflects our collective commitment to preparing graduate students and postdocs for success beyond academia. With each webinar, participants gained not only valuable skills but also the inspiration and resources needed to explore new career avenues.

Get Involved!

Are you an industry professional interested in contributing to the Career Insights Webinar Series? A2i welcomes experts from all sectors who are passionate about helping trainees navigate their career journeys. If you’d like to lead a session or learn more about contributing, please reach out to Kelly Rownd, Director of Career Readiness at the NC State Graduate School.

By continuing to foster these cross-institutional connections and offering practical, career-focused insights, the INS series will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the A2i community’s professional development.