Getting started with careers for PhD

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Getting started with careers for PhDs

• Tom Davie
• Careers Adviser
• Careers Advisory Service
• 49 New Elvet
• 10.00 5.00 (term time)
• 10.00 1.00 2.15 5.00 (vacations)
• www.durham.ac.uk/careers-advice

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Purpose of the session

• To look at
• The pros and cons of a PhD
• The importance of early career planning
• A skills exercise
• Sectors of employment other than academia
• Job Search, including the recruitment cycle.
• Just in time vacancies
• How the Careers Advisory Service can help you

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What employers say about PhDs

• They settle into our work environment quicker
  and know what is expected of them.
• They have good learning skills, a commitment to
  the task and need only minimum supervision.
• They are able to work on their own and have the
  benefit of logical thinking. Also their research
  field might be relevant.
• Employers can benefit from their research skills
  and
• research experience but will have to invest
  in commercial training for these candidates.
• Wed offer between 2 4 k more for a relevant
  PhD
• than someone with a 2.1 degree.
• Try and gain some industrial consulting
  experience and prove that you can deal and liaise
  within a commercial environment.
• Dont over rely on academic achievement
• stress transferable skills such as team
  working, report
• writing and leadership.

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Transferable skills gained from PhD research

• lateral and creative thinking
• adaptable / flexible approach to work and
  research
• ability to absorb, analyse and interpret detailed
  data and information
• advanced computer literacy
• able to challenge premises, question procedures,
  interpret meaning, offer alternatives
• capacity to access information from a wide range
  of resources and sources
• self discipline and motivation when working in
  isolation
• perseverance able to overcome difficulties
• priority setting time management
• report writing
• oral communication when undertaking
  presentations, lectures and delivering papers at
  conferences
• team working / collaboration undertaking
  research with academic colleagues on similar
  areas of interest
• others?

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Evidence of skills

• Academic undergraduate/masters
• Internship
• Vacation work
• Part time work
• Participation in Societies
• Participation in College life
• Voluntary work
• Travel
• Family life
• Now for you to analyse your own skills

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Some sectors of employment to consider

• Commercial
• Industrial
• Civil Service
• Local Government
• Public utilities
• Charities
• NGOs
• Research Councils
• Self employment

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Choosing the job - choosing the organisation

• The job description and specification
• What do I like about it?
• Are there any areas where I have some doubt?
• Have I any reservations about meeting any of the
  criteria?
• The company/institution
• What do I know about their reputation?
• Do I know anyone who can tell me more about them?
• What is morale like?
• Is their a suggestion or guarantee that they will
  offer me the training and advancement
  commensurate with my needs and ambitions,
  qualifications and experience?
• Will they offer me a re-location package?
• Does the company/institutional culture fit me?
• Location
• Cost of living (including property to buy/rent)
• Is it within an existing travel to work distance?
• What are the facilities and schools like?
• Will there be the opportunity to travel or
  transfer between sites?

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The graduate recruitment cycle

• Organisations start recruiting from
  September/October
• Interviews from mid January
• Assessment Centres from February
• Start work between June September
• Some organisations recruit all year round
• REMEMBER GRADUATE RECRUITMENT FAIRS IN THE AUTUMN
  SUMMER ARE IMPORTANT PLACES TO MEET EMPLOYERS

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Sources of information

• www.gradschools.ac.uk
• www.jobs.ac.uk
• www.niss.ac.uk
• www.hesda.org.uk
• www.civil-service.gov.uk/jobs
• www.nextwave.org
• www.durham.ac.uk/careers-advice
• www.prospects.ac.uk
• www.doctorjob.com
• www.eurograduate.com
• www.thepaperboy.com
• www.graduates.northeast.ac.uk
• www.Phdjobs.com
• www.Findapostdoc.com
• Lynda Ali Barbara Graham, Moving on in Your
  Career A guide for academic researchers and
  postgraduates (RoutledgeFalmer London New York
  2000)
• AgCAS/University of London Careers Service,
  University researchers and the job market
• Mary Anne Thompson, The Global Resume and CV
  Guide (John Wiley Sons New York 2000)

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An on going PhD Action Planto revise

• Where would I like to be when I graduate?
• How am I going to achieve this objective?
• Where am I now in relation to achieving my future
  ambitions?
• What skills am I developing?
• Where would I like to be five years after
  graduation?
• A timetable for action!
• In order to develop my career plans
• I need to
  By

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How can the Careers Advisory Service help you?

• Advice and guidance
• Information
• Employer information
• Alumni contacts
• Prospects Planner
• CMS
• Events
• Fairs
• Help after you have left the University this is
  also available from other Universities

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Careers Advisory Service

• If you are not sure what to do
• Prospects Planner helps you
• Build a structured picture of yourself based on
• skills, interests, motivations
• Explore occupations
• With CVs, and application forms
• Available in the Careers Advisory Service and on
  the University network
• Click gt Start up and search under Personal
  Development
• Career Management Skills available
• on the Careers Advisory
  
• Service website and DUO portal
• Exercises linked to identifying and recognising
  skills
• Advice about CVs, application forms, interviews
  etc
• Lots of links to UK and USA sites

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Some sources of Information for International
students

• www.workingintheuk.gov.uk/working_in_the_uk/en/hom
  epage/work_permits.html
• This is the organisation that administers the UK
  work permits system
• www.workingintheuk.gov.uk/working_in_the_uk/en/hom
  epage/schemes_and_programmes/
• hsp/highly_skilled_migrant.html?
• This outlines details of the Highly skilled
  migrant programme for the UK
• www.dfes.gov.uk/international-students/wituk.shtml
  
• This outlines the eased restrictions for taking
  up part-time work in the UK while you are
  studying
• www.ukcosa.org.uk/
• This site has information on studying and working
  in the UK
• http//www.ukcosa.org.uk/images/workafter.pdf
• This additional link is a pdf file outline work
  regulation issues
• www.naric.org.uk/enquiries.htm
• This is an organisation that will help you
  convert your existing international
  qualifications into a UK
• equivalent. There is a charge for this service.