Faculty of ArtAre you curious about different career paths you might follow? Do you want to explore your options, but you’re not sure where to start?
Open to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in the Faculty of Arts, Straight Talk is designed to help you explore your career questions and connect with professionals who’ve walked a similar path.
Imagining your future career can feel overwhelming, but learning from others who’ve navigated the transition from graduate studies to the workforce can offer valuable insight. Through this program, you’ll be matched with professionals who hold graduate degrees in the Humanities and Social Sciences and are working in a variety of sectors. These one-on-one conversations are an opportunity to ask questions, hear real stories, and gain perspective on potential career directions.
To help you make the most of these conversations, the program begins with a mandatory preparatory workshop on November 12, 2025. You’ll learn how to confidently share your own professional story and craft thoughtful questions that lead to meaningful dialogue. After the workshop, you’ll have until December 19 to connect with your assigned conversation partners.
Whether you’re curious about career options, seeking inspiration, or looking to learn what it’s really like in different kinds of professional roles, Straight Talk is a chance to explore what’s possible, and how to get there.
How Straight Talk Works
Over the course of one month, you’ll gain access to a network of professionals with graduate degrees in the Humanities and Social Sciences—working in sectors like non-profit, government, higher education, and more. Here’s how the program unfolds:
Step 1: Get Ready
Start with some mandatory preparation that includes some asynchronous work and a workshop on November 12. You’ll learn how to:
- Professionally approach someone to request a conversation
- Talk confidently about your career goals
- Ask thoughtful questions that spark meaningful conversations
- Follow up in ways that build your network and deepen your career understanding
Step 2: Share Your Interests
As part of this preparation, you’ll fill out a short survey indicating which sectors or industries you’re most interested in. This helps us match you with professionals whose career paths align with your goals. Click here to see which sectors our network covers.
Step 3: Start the Conversation
You’ll be matched with two conversation partners—professionals working in fields you’re curious about. After you’ve connected with them, if you’d like to speak with others, you’ll receive contact information for another professional working in the same or a different sector.
You’ll have up to one month to reach out and engage in conversations. In total, you’ll be matched with up to five professionals throughout the program.