Individual Career Appointments
All UW-Madison postdocs are eligible for up to three individual career advising sessions per semester with the Associate Director for Career Development. LJ Shackleford holds a master’s degree in educational leadership, and has over a decade of experience in higher education and extensive experience in career education.
LJ can provide individual consultations on a variety of topics, including:
- Exploring career pathways
- Conducting faculty and non-faculty job searches
- Feedback on career materials (Resumes, C.V.s, Research Statements, etc.)
- Interview and negotiation strategies
- Networking and building a LinkedIn profile
Individual career appointments are currently offered online and can focus on faculty or non-faculty job searches, career exploration, networking, interviewing, and negotiation.
Career Materials Review Portal
All UW-Madison postdocs can have their application materials reviewed electronically by the Associate Director for Career Development through the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs.
Postdocs can submit any of the following documents to receive feedback:
- Resumes
- CVs
- Cover Letters
- Research Statements
- Teaching Statements
- Diversity Statements
Postdocs will receive written feedback on your document(s) within 3-5 business days. Documents will be returned with comments via the email you provide during submission.
Additional Resources
Beyond the Professoriate: an online career development platform designed specifically for PhDs and postdocs, offering recorded webinars, self-paced courses, and interviews with PhDs working in a wide range of academic and non-academic careers.
Five Simple Rules: a set of brief, on-demand webinars designed to help postdocs navigate the faculty or non-faculty job search process with clear, practical guidance—covering topics like resumes, job search planning, networking, interviews, and decision-making.
UW–Madison’s Individual Development Plan resources: guide you through assessing your current skills, setting professional goals, and mapping out skill-development steps using structured tools and templates tailored to your discipline.
BigInterview: offers guided interview training modules and practice exercises that sharpen your responses and strengthen your performance across a range of career paths.