Industry, government, NGO, or academia? Self-employed, start-up, or employee? Research, teaching, policy, or something else? The number of career options available to HDR candidates is huge and can sometimes feel overwhelming. But how do you find out about these different options and work out if they are for you? And how do you prepare yourself for these different career options?
This session will take you through the steps of making your own career strategy to start narrowing down your preferred career options and be strategic when choosing the professional development activities that you engage with.
This workshop will:
- Suggest methods for finding out about different career pathways and what skills/experiences they require
- Discuss ways of identifying the skills you already have and the skills you are developing through your HDR candidature
- Consider ways in which you can be strategic in preparing for your chosen career
By the end of this workshop you will have:
- Identified your skill set and the importance of recognising your own strengths, weaknesses, and preferences
- Begun identifying your career goals and constraints
- Considered how to write manageable career goals
- Discussed how to use these to develop a career strategy to prepare for your chosen career path
Target audience: This workshop is suitable for all HDR candidates, but will be most useful for those in the early- to mid-stages of candidature.
About the presenter
Dr Rachael Pitt is the HDR Careers Advisor in the Graduate School and has extensive experience in both academic and professional roles at Australian universities and has published on higher education, and doctoral employability and careers. She currently facilitates career development and employability workshops, coordinates UQ’s HDR Career Development Mentoring Program, and provides individual consultations for UQ’s HDR Candidates on career destinations and preparation, skill identification and communication, how to approach potential placement organisations, and job application processes and documentation. UQ HDR Candidates can make an appointment with Rachael here for an individual consultation.
About Career planning
Book an appointment with the Graduate School's HDR Careers Advisor
Many research students intend to follow an academic career path on completion of their degree. But what does an academic career really look like? And, if you knew what to expect, would you still wish to pursue that path?
Researchers work in all facets of government, industry, NGOs and universities. Understanding the diverse range of career options available will allow you to reflect on the 'fit' between academia and your own strengths and interests.
It is important to start considering your options and plan for your post-HDR career during your studies so you are well prepared to transition to the workplace as a PhD or MPhil qualified individual. The Graduate School supports you in this process through the Career Development Framework (CDF) as well as with a dedicated HDR Careers Advisor who specialises in advising HDR candidates. The Careers Advisor is available for appointments to discuss career options, CV development, interview techniques and other career-related topics. These appointments are designed to complement the existing suite of career-related workshops which are already offered as part of the CDF.
Useful links
- The 'What Next?' video: Career planning during your PhD: A PhD by itself is rarely enough to launch a career these days, whether in academia or anywhere else. So what else should PhD students do, apart from working on their thesis, to become employable? The 'What Next?' Video offers practical advice for becoming employable.
- 50x PhD career success stories in non-academic positions
- The Versatile PhD: Career Finder
- Cheeky Scientist Radio: Leverage Your PhD To Transition Into A Meaningful, High-Paying Career.
- Is an academic career right for you?
- Non Academic Careers for PhD Holders
- CDF's Career Control Online: 8-week self-paced online course run twice a year
- Wide-ranging list of Propel your career into life sciences webinar series from Life Sciences Queensland, of which UQ is a member. Signing up is free for members. Webinars run from October 2020 to July 2021. Topics include understanding career opportunities and planning for careers in the biosciences and medical sector, intellectual property, commercialisation, science communication, and government policy and advocacy.
- UK's Vitae for early career researchers. Sign up for an account using your UQ email and get access to the member's area. For instance, see sample CVs and career desintations. Be aware that these are very UK-centric.
- Edwin Trevor-Roberts YouTube channel