There are many career options that value an advanced degree outside of academia. These opportunities are in a variety of fields and industries and may or may not involve research or teaching. 

To prepare for your non-academic job search, the Career Center recommends:

• Utilize resources available while at UC Davis. There are seminars, workshops, fellowships and other professional development opportunities to enhance your skills and generate strong application documents. In addition to Career Center resources, we recommend visiting the Center for Educational Effectiveness, the GradPathways Institute for Professional Development and the Mike and Renee Child Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
• Explore options through use of career assessment tools. There are a number of free online assessment tools, including some designed for graduate students. These can be a great first step in identifying your career-related values, interests or skills and exploring common career paths for advanced degree holders. We recommend using ImaginePhD (Humanities and Social Sciences) or myIDP Science Careers (STEM). Additionally, the Career Center offers a career course specifically designed for graduate students considering non-academic careers.

Conduct informational interviews to gain a better understanding of different careers. We recommend finding people to interview through networking and using the alumni tool of LinkedIn. This can be invaluable for industries that recruit through referrals.