GradACTS

Advance Your Career and Teaching Skills

Committed to supporting our students’ academic and professional pursuits, The University of Alabama Graduate School hosts GradACTS, a compilation of workshops, training, speakers and resources to best prepare you for your career.

Through GradACTS, we also connect you to internship and project management opportunities that complement your coursework and fuel your engagement, equipping you with experience that sets you above your peers.

View our events portal, where we host workshops, seminars, conferences, cultural events and grants.


Student Success Resources

Publisher-in-Residence Program

Learn tips and techniques from publishing industry veteran, George Thompson. Meet with Mr. Thompson, discuss your work and find your path to publishing articles and books.

Learn more.

magazine on display

Resources for Graduate Teaching Assistants

Designed for new Graduate Teaching Assistants, this workshop develops the necessary skills to manage an upper-level classroom.

Learn more.

teacher standing in front of white board

Thesis & Dissertation Writing Camp

Held in May, this three-week (12-day) seminar grants dissertation writers an opportunity to make progress on their projects and improve their writing with a network of fellow researchers. Prospective participants must complete an application in the spring semester.

Learn more.

Quoc Hong leading a classroom discussion

Preparing Future Faculty and Scholars (PFx)

Explore careers in and outside of academia, build career readiness confidence, consider the value and future of higher education, and critically engage with an interdisciplinary group of peers and mentors through PFx.

Learn more.

student sitting at desk with book

Career-Launching Resources

On Campus

External Resources

Beyond the Professoriate

Beyond the Professoriate’s Career Training Platform is an online professional development tool where postdocs and graduate students can explore career options and learn job search strategies. Through two programs of study (Academic Careers and Professional Careers), students are empowered to make informed decisions about their career path and learn successful job search strategies from other PhDs. To log in simply visit Beyond Prof’s Career Training Platform, select “University of Alabama”, and enter your institutional login information.

VMock

VMock is a platform that utilizes data science based on employers’ input to provide instant feedback on your resume and/or elevator pitch/interview responses. VMock is available to you 24-7.

What can you do in VMock?

  1. Build your resume.
  • Use the SMART Resume Editor to build your resume using a template in the platform.
  • Upload your current resume (pdf required) and receive tailored feedback in three categories: impact, presentation, and competencies. You will receive a score but focus more on the detailed feedback and use the SMART Editor to make changes. You have 10 opportunities per year to upload or rescore your resume.

      2. Practice interviewing and get immediate feedback for improving.

  • Choose from a selection of interview questions and record your responses. Receive feedback on content, diction, and non-verbal communication.

To begin go to www.vmock.com/ua and choose the account type, “Students/Alumni” to register with your crimson.ua.edu address. You will begin on the Student Dashboard where you will choose Resume or Elevator Pitch (interviewing) from the left menu. In the resume section choose Create New or Upload Resume.

NCFDD

The University of Alabama has a membership subscription to NCFDD, providing faculty access to resources. NCFDD provides on-demand access to the mentoring, tools, and support needed to be successful in the University setting NCFDD focuses on four key areas that help achieve scholarly writing and research productivity while maintaining a healthy life on and off campus.

To access NCFDD complete the following steps:

  1. Click here to access NCFDD
  2. Select “The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa” from the drop-down menu
  3. Select “Activate my Membership”
  4. Complete the registration form using your campus email address
  5. Proceed to your campus email to find a confirmation email and click “Activate Account” in the email.

myIDP

myIDP is a free unique, web-based career-planning tool tailored to meet the needs of Ph.D. students
and postdocs in the sciences. myIDP provides:

  • Exercises to help you examine your skills, interests, and values
  • A list of 20 scientific career paths with a prediction of which ones best fit your skills and interests
  • A tool for setting strategic goals for the coming year, with optional reminders to keep you on
    track
  • Articles and resources to guide you through the process

ImaginePhD

ImaginePhD is a free online career exploration and planning tool for Ph.D. students and postdoctoral scholars in the humanities and social sciences. Humanities and social sciences Ph.D. students and their mentors have long recognized the need for more resources to help bridge the knowledge gap between doctoral education and the realm of career possibilities.

ImaginePhD is designed to meet this need by allowing users to:

  • Assess their career-related skills, interests, and values
  • Explore careers paths appropriate to their disciplines
  • Create self-defined goals
  • Map out the next steps for career and professional development success