Opportunity Structures

• Virtual event

• Contact
• David Lafferty, david.lafferty@carleton.ca

This webinar is for graduate students and postdocs who want a clear-eyed way to think about career possibilities after graduation. Drawing on Kenneth Roberts’ Opportunity Structure Theory, the session will encourage participants to use their skills in critical thinking and research to answer the question, “what opportunities are available to me?” Participants will learn how to research the job market with intention by examining the number and distribution of positions in specific fields, tracking the career outcomes of graduates from their own programs, and consulting available labour market information and data to better understand patterns and constraints that shape career pathways.

The opportunity structure approach addresses the realities of a rapidly changing and highly competitive job market, including the impact of AI and a relative scarcity of stable, well-compensated roles both within and beyond academia. We will explore the importance of networking, adaptability, and timing, as well as the often-underestimated role of chance in career development. By understanding opportunity structures, participants will be better equipped to recognize viable options, respond to change, and position themselves thoughtfully in an uncertain employment landscape.

All graduate students and postdocs are welcome. If you are a TA, this session counts toward voluntary paid training hours, provided that you are working as a TA in the term when the training takes place.

PLEASE REGISTER BELOW