Core Professional Skills for Masters Students
UCLA has defined the Core Professional Skills that each Masters student should develop during their training and divided them into the categories below. When you explore the categories, you will find some skills you have already developed and others that will grow out of your training program. For the professional skills you would like to develop further, check out the campus resources associated with each and watch your inbox and the calendar of events for training opportunities.
See the key below to identify which UCLA offices and units provide training in these skills. 
- TEMP FOR REFERENCE:
- Assessing knowledge, values, and interests to identify potential career paths
- Developing an online professional presence
- Building professional relationships and networks
- Researching and locating appropriate jobs and internships
- Preparing job application documents
- Developing a competitive application for academic jobs
- Translating academic skills to different careers and communicating them to potential employers
- Understanding and navigating interview preparation and process
- Learning to negotiate a job offer
- Transitioning from training to a professional career and understanding professional culture
- Understanding the visa and work requirements for a career path
Career Path Preparation Resources
UCLA Career Center – Graduate Career Services
The Graduate Career Services team at the UCLA Career Center provides one-on-one coaching, workshops, online resources, and networking events for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars around topics of career exploration, career path preparation, job search, networking, interviewing skills, and negotiating offers, in preparation for academic jobs and careers beyond academia. Log in to their online professional development platform, Handshake, to access upcoming events, schedule coaching sessions, AND check out their resources below.
Your Department or Program
Add text here or remove this section if your offerings are not relevant to this category
Graduate Writing Center
The GWC provides FREE individual writing appointments to all registered UCLA graduate and professional school students, who may bring job application documents to writing appointments.
Alumni Association
Add text here or remove this section if your offerings are not relevant to this category
TLC: Teaching and Learning Center
Add text here or remove this section if your offerings are not relevant to this category
Graduate Student Resource Center (GSRC)
Add text here or remove this section if your offerings are not relevant to this category
Other Campus Resources
Add text here or remove this section if your offerings are not relevant to this category
- TEMP FOR REFERENCE:
- Scholarly and professional writing in one’s field
- Managing complex writing projects
- Public speaking
- Making formal presentations in one’s field
- Employing effective visual communication
- Communicating with diverse audiences
- Communicating on multiple platforms and in different contexts
Communication Resources
UCLA Career Center – Graduate Career Services
The Graduate Career Services team at the UCLA Career Center provides one-on-one coaching, workshops, online resources, and networking events for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars around topics of career exploration, career path preparation, job search, networking, interviewing skills, and negotiating offers, in preparation for academic jobs and careers beyond academia. Log in to their online professional development platform, Handshake, to access upcoming events, schedule coaching sessions, AND check out their resources below.
Your Department or Program
Add text here or remove this section if your offerings are not relevant to this category
Graduate Writing Center
Add The Graduate Writing Center offers a variety of workshops and thesis support programs. The GWC also provides FREE individual writing appointments to all registered UCLA graduate and professional school students. The GWC has public online videos of workshops on a variety of topics, including conference proposals and presentations, literature reviews, grant writing, grammar review, and writing for broader audiences. They also have an extensive collection of the online resources on writing and related topics, and a fellowship archive resource.
Alumni Association
Add text here or remove this section if your offerings are not relevant to this category
TLC: Teaching and Learning Center
Add text here or remove this section if your offerings are not relevant to this category
Graduate Student Resource Center (GSRC)
Add text here or remove this section if your offerings are not relevant to this category
Other Campus Resources
Add text here or remove this section if your offerings are not relevant to this category
- TEMP FOR REFERENCE:
- Time management
- Setting realistic goals
- Maintaining progress towards goals
- Understanding and navigating requirements and expectations of my program
- Balancing academic and research responsibilities with other aspects of my life
- Physical and mental health and wellness
- Managing personal finances and planning for the future
- Developing community and social relationships
- Actively engaging with different identities and opinions
- Developing healthy boundaries and self-advocacy skills
Wellness and Self-Development Resources
UCLA Career Center – Graduate Career Services
The Graduate Career Services team at the UCLA Career Center provides one-on-one coaching, workshops, online resources, and networking events for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars around topics of career exploration, career path preparation, job search, networking, interviewing skills, and negotiating offers, in preparation for academic jobs and careers beyond academia. Log in to their online professional development platform, Handshake, to access upcoming events, schedule coaching sessions, AND check out their resources below.
These popular assessment tools – designed specifically for graduate students – offer planning tools and tips on how to manage your time while in graduate school:
Your Department or Program
Add text here or remove this section if your offerings are not relevant to this category
Graduate Writing Center
The Graduate Writing Center offers a variety of workshops, including workshops that address time management, project organization, and goal setting. The GWC also provides individual writing appointments to all registered UCLA graduate and professional school students. The GWC has public online videos of workshops on a variety of topics, including conference proposals and presentations, literature reviews, grant writing, grammar review, and writing for broader audiences. They also have an extensive collection of the online resources on writing and related topics.
Alumni Association
Add text here or remove this section if your offerings are not relevant to this category
TLC: Teaching and Learning Center
Add text here or remove this section if your offerings are not relevant to this category
Graduate Student Resource Center (GSRC)
Add text here or remove this section if your offerings are not relevant to this category
Other Campus Resources
Add text here or remove this section if your offerings are not relevant to this category
- TEMP FOR REFERENCE:
- Managing projects
- Developing entrepreneurial skills
- Leading a team or the planning of an event or initiative
- Working in a diverse team
- Collaborating across different working styles
- Resolving interpersonal conflict
- Managing mentor and mentee relationships
- Identifying opportunities for service and community engagement
Leadership, Collaboration, and Project Management Resources
UCLA Career Center – Graduate Career Services
The Graduate Career Services team at the UCLA Career Center provides one-on-one coaching, workshops, online resources, and networking events for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars around topics of career exploration, career path preparation, job search, networking, interviewing skills, and negotiating offers, in preparation for academic jobs and careers beyond academia. Log in to their online professional development platform, Handshake, to access upcoming events, schedule coaching sessions, AND check out their resources below.
Your Department or Program
Add text here or remove this section if your offerings are not relevant to this category
Graduate Writing Center
The Graduate Writing Center offers a variety of fellowship and grant application writing workshops. The GWC offers one-on-one writing consultant appointments for fellowship writing support and provides access to an archive of fellowship applications. They provide online videos of workshops on a variety of topics, including fellowship and grant writing.
Alumni Association
Add text here or remove this section if your offerings are not relevant to this category
TLC: Teaching and Learning Center
Add text here or remove this section if your offerings are not relevant to this category
Graduate Student Resource Center (GSRC)
Add text here or remove this section if your offerings are not relevant to this category
Other Campus Resources
Add text here or remove this section if your offerings are not relevant to this category
- TEMP FOR REFERENCE:
- Creating an inclusive environment for all learners
- Applying evidence-based pedagogical methods
- Aligning assessments and activities with learning objectives
- Training learners in research skills and techniques
- Advising, role modeling, and mentoring
- Using instructional technology effectively
- Interpreting and applying feedback on teaching effectiveness
Teaching and Mentorship Resources
Your Department or Program
Add text here or remove this section if your offerings are not relevant to this category
Graduate Writing Center
Graduate and professional students may bring teaching philosophies and teaching statements to Graduate Writing Center appointments.
Alumni Association
Add text here or remove this section if your offerings are not relevant to this category
TLC: Teaching and Learning Center
Add text here or remove this section if your offerings are not relevant to this category
Graduate Student Resource Center (GSRC)
Add text here or remove this section if your offerings are not relevant to this category
Other Campus Resources
Add text here or remove this section if your offerings are not relevant to this category
- TEMP FOR REFERENCE:
- Understanding how to access and assess literature and research in your discipline
- Developing command of the existing knowledge in your discipline
- Developing familiarity with interdisciplinary knowledge and research approaches
- Developing critical AI literacy
- Collaborating effectively in research
- Upholding ethical norms and practicing responsible conduct and dissemination of research
- Practicing civility in scholarly exchange and the research environment
Scholarly Expertise and Integrity
Your Department or Program
Add text here or remove this section if your offerings are not relevant to this category
Graduate Writing Center
Add text here or remove this section if your offerings are not relevant to this category
Alumni Association
Add text here or remove this section if your offerings are not relevant to this category
TLC: Teaching and Learning Center
Add text here or remove this section if your offerings are not relevant to this category
Graduate Student Resource Center (GSRC)
Add text here or remove this section if your offerings are not relevant to this category
Other Campus Resources
Add text here or remove this section if your offerings are not relevant to this category