Join our mentorship program for Fall 2025 to get matched with an industry mentor who knows your field!

Next Draft LLC offers a mentorship program that empowers PhD students with tailored guidance, networking opportunities, and skill development, ultimately enhancing their employability and professional success. Our mentorship program complements existing career services, breaking down myths and empowering graduate students to pursue a values-aligned career path with confidence.

Our Approach to Mentorship

Mentor Matching

We offer tailored mentorship matching, connecting each student with an industry professional who shares their disciplinary background. To the extent possible, we consider career interests and other characteristics of importance to mentees. Students will meet with their mentors for 5 hours during the semester.

Mentor Training

We train and guide mentors to ensure that they can support students in identifying and articulating transferable skills, exploring potential career pathways, and navigating the identity shift that can come with exploring non-academic career options.

PhD Resources

Students can participate in our Zoom workshops or self-paced workshops without additional charge while enrolled. These workshops are centered around common issues faced by PhDs seeking to explore careers outside of academia. We also host a weekly community meet-and-greet.

Fall 2025
$500.00
One time

As a participant of the Mentorship Program, you can expect the following:

✓ Matching with an industry mentor holding a PhD
✓ 5 hours of one-on-one mentorship via Zoom or phone
✓ Access to weekly grad community meet-and-greet
✓ Free participation in our Zoom workshops
✓ Self-paced workshops and resources on common PhD concerns

Grad Student Assistance Fund

The money in this fund will be used to support graduate students who have filled out our Financial Assistance form. Not all universities have funds available for grad students to pursue this kind of professional development. The funds will either be put towards the Mentorship Program at cost or standalone workshop participation. Thank you for your support!

Are your financial circumstances preventing you from participating in the mentorship program? Please get in touch.

Are you looking to sponsor your students?

We welcome the chance to partner with your department or program! We believe that discipline-specific mentorship is a meaningful investment in your students’ futures. It allows staff and faculty to focus on what they do best while supporting students through multiple career paths. If you have one or more students that you would like to sponsor, please get in touch with us directly.

See you in Fall 2025!

“The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image, but giving them the opportunity to create themselves.”

— Steven Spielberg