How Humanities PhDs Can Make the Most of Career Centers
If you’re a PhD student in the humanities, there’s a good chance you’ve walked past your university’s career center hundreds of times without ever going in. Maybe you’ve assumed it’s for undergraduates. Maybe you’ve heard that “they don’t get PhDs.” Or maybe, like so many of us, you just didn’t know where to start.
We’ve both been there.
When we were PhD students at Princeton, neither of us made the career center a core part of our grad school experience — and that was a mistake. Only later, when we started collaborating with university career offices through our company, UnlimitEd Outcomes, did we fully grasp how powerful those resources can be if you know how to use them strategically.
Why Career Centers Matter More Than You Think
Career centers have evolved. They’re no longer just resume-review stations or job boards for undergrads. Increasingly, they’re staffed by professionals who understand graduate education, who specialize in connecting PhDs to a wide range of industries, and who partner directly with employers seeking advanced researchers and communicators.
But the key word is partner. You have to meet them halfway.
Step 1: Shift Your Mindset
Too many grad students see the career center as a last resort — a place to go when you’re panicking about next steps. In reality, it’s most effective when used as a long-term collaborator.
Treat your career advisor like you would your dissertation advisor: schedule regular check-ins, come prepared with questions, and follow through on feedback.
Think of it this way: the earlier you loop them in, the more personalized and relevant their help will be.
Step 2: Learn Their Language
Career centers think in terms of skills, stories, and outcomes, not academic disciplines. When you’re talking about your experience, avoid leading with your dissertation topic. Lead instead with what you did: designed a research plan, taught and mentored, managed long-term projects, wrote for diverse audiences.
Advisors can help you turn that experience into compelling materials, but you’ll get the best results if you come ready to translate your work into their framework.
Step 3: Use the Full Ecosystem
Every university career center offers more than just advising appointments. Here are underused resources PhDs often overlook:
Alumni databases: Many schools have searchable platforms where you can find graduates now working in industry, nonprofits, government, and more.
Workshops and panels: Even if the session isn’t labeled “for PhDs,” you’ll gain insight into employer expectations and professional trends.
Career assessments: These can clarify your values and strengths — a surprisingly useful exercise for students who’ve spent years being defined by their research topic.
Employer connections: Career centers regularly host employers who specifically want advanced researchers. Get on their mailing lists.
Step 4: Get to Know the People Behind the Programs
The secret to getting real value from the career center is building relationships with the staff. Advisors are often highly networked — many come from academia themselves or have industry experience. Once they know your interests, they can connect you to hidden opportunities, recommend you for campus programs, or even invite you to represent the humanities voice on panels.
We’ve seen this firsthand through our collaborations with career offices at places like Johns Hopkins, Wellesley, and Northeastern: the PhD students who invest in relationships early are the ones who get the best referrals and the richest mentorship.
Step 5: Bring a Concrete Goal
Whether you’re meeting a career advisor for the first time or attending a workshop, always show up with a purpose. Instead of saying, “I don’t know what I want to do,” try:
“I’d like feedback on my résumé for a policy fellowship.”
“I want to identify two industries that align with my research background.”
“I’m preparing to reach out to alumni — can we draft my first message together?”
When you bring structure, you get results.
Step 6: Keep Showing Up
Career development is iterative, not transactional. You don’t “check the box” and move on — you learn, experiment, and adjust. Your first meeting might just clarify your interests; your second might focus on your résumé; your third might prepare you for an informational interview. Each step builds confidence.
Our Biggest Takeaway
As former PhD students, we once underestimated career centers. As professionals who now partner with them, we know they can be transformational — but only if PhDs stop waiting for a crisis and start engaging early.
The smartest move you can make as a humanities PhD isn’t to wait until you’re on the job market. It’s to walk into the career center this semester, introduce yourself, and start a relationship that will keep paying dividends long after you graduate.
Because your career center isn’t just a service. It’s a strategic ally in building the future you actually want.