Careers for Postgraduates and Contract Researchers
Careers Help for Postgraduates and Contract Researchers
This information is designed to help postgraduates and contract researchers to achieve their career aims after they complete their courses or research.
Introduction
postgraduates do?
Opportunities
Skills gained through
postgraduate study
Choosing a
Applications & interviews
for academic jobs
Applications & interviews
for other jobs
Vacancy sources
Because of the range of postgraduate study opportunities: from an MBA, to a Humanities M.Phil., to post-doctoral research, the information that follows inevitably has to generalise in places. Use it as an introduction, and follow it up by using the various information resources to which it will point you, or bringing specific queries to the
Careers and Employability Service.
Most of what is written here applies equally to contract research staff and postgraduates. Contract research staff are most welcome to use
Careers and Employability Service for information, advice and guidance. Begin your career planning
early and don't wait until the last few weeks of your contract before taking action: many large employers will advertise their vacancies well in advance. Also there is a need to network and make contacts at this level as many jobs will come via such contacts.
past decade has seen huge growth in postgraduate education in the UK, with an
increase of over one-third in the number of students studying for higher
degrees. In fact, the postgraduate sector grew faster than the undergraduate
sector during that time.
200,000 people complete a postgraduate-level qualification every year in the UK
– one-third of the number compl
17,500 of these have completed research degrees ….
and around 150,000 taught M
rest have completed postgraduate certificates and diploma such as PGCEs;
half of postgraduates are studying part-time - often combining their studies with
full-time or part-time work
of international students studying in the UK are taking a postgraduate
qualification
Statistics
from the Higher Education Statistics Agency and the Department for Business,
Innovation and Skills
&Postgraduate students& are a very
diverse group, from taught Master&s students, to a Humanities Ph.Ds, to
post-doctoral scientific researchers, to MBAs. Because of this, these pages
inevitably have to generalise in places. Use them as an introduction, and
follow up by using the various information resources to which they will point
you, or bringing your individual questions to the Careers and Employability
Most of what is written here applies
equally to contract research staff and postgraduates and both groups are
equally welcome to use the
Careers and Employability Service for information, advice and guidance.
Begin your career planning early and
don't wait until the day you submit your thesis, or the last few weeks of your
contract before taking action: many large employers will advertise their
vacancies well in advance. Also, many jobs at this level will come via networking
and making contacts so this is something you should begin to do early.
There is further information in our
Career Planning Guide for Postgraduates and Contract Researchers: you can pick
up a copy from the CES building or download it .
vast majority of postgraduates enter employment at the end of their studies.
Although postgraduate
numbers have increased so significantly, their job prospects have not
diminished as a result. Both doctoral and Master&s degree graduates have a
lower level of unemployment than Bachelor&s degree graduates and are more
likely to be employed in a professional role. A smaller number continue
studying, for further academic or professional qualifications.
The work which postgraduates enter
will depend not only upon the type of degree and the subject studied but also
upon the individual graduate - their interests, abilities, personal
circumstances and reasons for undertaking postgraduate study. Still more
important are the personal skills and experience which you have to offer. Even
students entering academic careers will need to be able to show good
communication and organisational skills in addition to their subject expertise.
Source: HESA DLHE Surveys
Destinations of
University of Kent postgraduates 2008 — 2011
Employment
Unemployed
Types of jobs entered by postgraduates
Destinations of selected Kent PhD and Research Masters Students in 2013
PhD Computer Science -
University of Kent - Classroom Supervisor - Computer Sci.
PhD Computer Science -
WebCrate Ltd.
- Director & Lead Developer
PhD Computer Science -
- Software Developer
PhD Electronics -
University of Reading
- Postdoctoral Research Associate
PhD Electronics -
University of Kent
- Research Associate
PhD Electronics -
- Post-doc researcher
PhD Electronics -
Universidade
do Paraná (UTFPR)
- Senior Lecturer Telecommunications
PhD Electronics -
University of Kent
- Research Associate
PhD Electronics -
University of Kent - Research Associate
PhD Electronics -
University of Kent -
Researcher
PhD Electronics -
Deusto University
- Senior Research Fellow Microwave Engineering
PhD Electronics -
- Post-doc Researcher
MSc(Res.) Electronics -
- Graduate Trainee Technical Communications Engineer
PhD Actuarial Science -
Prudential
- Graduate Trainee
PhD Actuarial Science -
Prudential
- Manager Actuarial
PhD Pure Maths -
Barclays Capital -
Risk Analyst
PhD Statistics -
Terra Motors
- Strategy Manager
PhD Statistics -
Bocconi University -
PhD Statistics -
Berumen y Associates
- Data Analyst
PhD Statistics -
University of Melbourne -
Research Fellow
PhD Statistics -
University of Melbourne
- Research Fellow
PhD Pharmacy -
Albany Medical Center
- Post-Doctoral Fellow
PhD Pharmacy -
National Physical Laboratory
- Higher Research Scientist
PhD Pharmacy -
University of Huddersfield
- Research Fellow
MSc(Res.) Biochemistry -
University of Kent
- Research Technician
MSc(Res.) Biochemistry -
University of Kent
- Science Support Manager
MSc(Res.) Biochemistry -
Abcam Product -
Data Ass't
PhD Biochemistry -
Havas Lynx
- Account Executive
PhD Biochemistry -
Imperial College London
- NMR Technician
PhD Biochemistry -
- Scientist
PhD Biochemistry -
University of Bristol -
Postdoctoral Research Ass't
PhD Biochemistry -
University of Kent
- Post Doctoral Research Ass't
PhD Biochemistry -
University of Kent - Visiting Scientist
PhD Biochemistry -
University of Kent
- Research Associate
MSc(Res.) Cell Biology -
Medway NHS Foundation Trust
- Senior Ass't Healthcare Scientist
PhD Genetics -
Labtech International Ltd.
- Technical Sales Specialist
PhD Genetics -
University of Kent
- Postdoctoral Research Associate
MSc(Res.) Microbiology -
Edina Trust
- Trust Administrator
PhD Microbiology -
Naresuan University
- University lecturer
PhD Microbiology -
University College/Eastman Dental Inst.
- Research Ass't Microbial Diseases
MSc(Res.) Chemistry -
University of Greenwich
- Forensic Science Technician
MSc(Res.) Chemistry -
- Lab Technician
PhD Chemistry -
University of Kent
- Laboratory Experimental Officer
PhD Chemistry -
Institute of Chemical & Engineering Sciences
- Research Scientist
PhD Chemistry -
Blue O Two
- Operations Manager
MSc(Res.) Physics -
Emsworth Stability Plus
- Quality Manager & Lab. Analyst
PhD Physics -
Canterbury Christ Church Univ.
- PGCE Science
PhD Sports & Exercise Science -
Aberystwyth University
- Lecturer
PhD Drama -
University of Kent
- Postgraduate Certificate in HE
PhD Film -
Gold Band Films
- Videographer
PhD English -
University of Kent
- Lecturer American Literature/PG Cert HE
PhD English -
University of Kent
- Associate Lecturer in English
PhD Post Colonial -
University of Kent
- Ass't Lecturer
PhD Classics & Arch. Studies -
University of Kent
- Student Learning Advisor
PhD Comparative Literature -
Colaiste Chiarain
- Teacher of Italian & Spanish
PhD Comparative Literature -
University of Kent
- Ass't Lecturer (PGCHE)
PhD Comparative Literature -
Seikei University, Tokyo
- Postdoctoral Study
PhD Comparative Literature -
LNE/Universite Denis Diderot (Paris VII)
- Freeland Translator
PhD French -
Open University
- Associate Lecturer in French
PhD Philosophy -
Centre for Social Justice
- Policy Researcher
PhD Theology & Religious Studies -
- Reverend (C of E)
PhD History -
Centre for Social Justice
- Policy Researcher
PhD History -
University of Kent
- Lecturer in American History
PhD History -
University of Kent -
Associate Lecturer
PhD Agricultural Economics -
European Commission
- Research Fellow
PhD Management -
University of Kent
- Researcher
PhD Management -
University of Kent
- Ass't Lecturer - Seminar Leader
PhD Management -
University of Sussex
- Lecturer in International Business
PhD Management -
University of Kent
- Senior Lecturer in Business
PhD Management -
- Client Director
PhD Marketing -
Hang Seng Management College
- Ass't Professor
PhD Marketing -
University of Kent -Kent Business School
- Research Associate (PGCHE)
PhD Agricultural Economics -
The Swedish Competition Authority - Senior Economist
PhD Economics -
Commonwealth Secretariat
PhD Economics -
University of Hull
- Lecturer in Economics
PhD Economics -
University of East Anglia
- Lecturer in Macroeconomics
PhD Economics -
Universitat of Girona
- Lecturer
PhD Economics -
University of Kent
- Part time teacher
Ministry of Justice, Stuttgart
Canterbury College -
Carleton University
- Ass't Professor
PhD Int'l Conflict Analysis -
University of Kent
- Lecturer: International Conflict Analysis
PhD Int'l Conflict Analysis -
University of Birmingham -
Research Fellow
PhD International Rel'ns
Queen's University Belfast -
Lecturer & Student Teacher
PhD International Rel'ns
Lotus Tutors
- Academic Tutor
PhD Politics -
University of Bern
- Post-doc
PhD Politics -
Chatham Grammar School
PhD Forensic Psychology -
University of Kent
- Research Ass't
PhD Forensic Psychology -
University of Kent
- Community Programme Tutor
PhD Psychology -
- Contact Centre Advisor
PhD Psychology -
University of Kent
- PhD Psychology
PhD Psychology -
Centre for Social Relations, Coventry Uni
- Senior Research Ass't
PhD Psychology -
University of East Anglia
- Lecturer
PhD Psychology -
University of Winchester -
Lecturer in Psychology
PhD Psychology -
Plymouth University
- Research Fellow
PhD Psychology -
Pilgrims Hospices
- Research Facilitator
PhD Social Psychology -
University of Kent
- Research Associate
PhD Community Care -
University of New South Wales
- Research Associate
PhD Community Care -
Christ Church University - Research Fellow
PhD Criminology -
University of Haiti
- Lecturer
PhD Migration Studies -
HMP & YOI Substance Service
- Substance Misuse Worker
PhD MSociologyRES:MA-T
UK Commission for Employment & Skills
- Graduate Intern
PhD Sociology -
Sheffield Hallam University
- Lecturer in Politics & Sociology
PhD Sociology -
University of Kent
- Lecturer in Cultural Studies (PGCHE)
PhD Sociology -
Swansea University
- Lecturer in Sociology & Social Policy
PhD Sociology -
University of Kent
- Lecturer in Criminology
PhD Sociology -
University of Exeter
- Associate Research Fellow
PhD Sociology+Politics -
Canterbury Christ Church Univ. -
PhD Sociology+Politics -
University of Kent -
Research Fellow
PhD Social Work -
University of Jordan
- Ass't Professor
PhD Anthropology -
University of Cambridge
- Temp. lecturer: Human Evolution
PhD Anthropology -
Canterbury Christ Church Univ.
- Researcher
PhD Anthropology -
- Researcher
PhD Anthropology -
Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health
- Data Consultant
PhD Anthropology -
Make Human Project
- Web Tester
MSc(Res.) Biodiversity -
Lloyd Bore Landscape & Ecology
- Ecologist
MSc(Res.) Biodiversity - Lancaster University
- PhD Environmental Studies
MSc(Res.) Biodiversity - University of Nottingham
- PhD Genetics
MSc(Res.) Biodiversity
- PhD in Biodiversity Management
PhD Biodiversity -
Sundarbans Tiger Project, Chester Zoo
- Grants Consultant
PhD Biodiversity -
University of Exeter
- Darwin Research Fellow
PhD Biodiversity -
Panthera UK
- Conservation Biologist
PhD Biodiversity -
Lewis Ecology
- Owner/Principal Ecological Consultant
PhD Biodiversity -
WWF-Malaysia
- Research Scientist
PhD Biodiversity -
Finnish Centre of Metapopulation Biology
- Postdoc. Researcher
PhD Biodiversity -
University of Kent
- Postdoctoral Research Associate
PhD Ethnobiology -
Freelance Ethnobiologist
Destinations of selected Kent PhD Students in 2012
Statistics
Employed FT
Fellow in Statistics
Department of
Hygiene & Epedimiology, University of Ioannina
Statistics PhD
Employed FT
Postdoc. Research
Bristol University
Statistics PhD
Employed FT
Trainee in Statistics
European Central Bank
Biochemistry
Employed FT
Senior Scientist
Biochemistry
Employed FT
Research Assistant
Biochemistry
Employed FT
Postdoc Research
University of Kent
Biochemistry
Employed FT
Research Scientist
National Institute of
Biochemistry
Employed FT
Project Investigator
University Pompeu
Biochemistry
Employed FT
Postdoc. Research
University of Kent
Biochemistry
Employed FT
Research Associate
Imperial College
Biochemistry
Employed FT
Postdoc Scientist
National Institute
for Medical Research
Biochemistry
Employed FT
Senior Scientist
Biochemistry
Employed FT
Competitive
Intelligence Research Analyst
Prescient Life
Biochemistry
Employed FT
Research Associate
University of Kent
Biochemistry
Employed FT
Research Technician
University of Kent
Genetics MSc-R
Embryologist
Genetics PhD
Researcher
University
Microbiology MSc-R
Sittingbourne
Microbiology MSc-R
scientists
Microbiology PhD
Microbiology PhD
Project assistant
Chemistry MSc-R
in Chemsitry
University
of Warwick
Chemistry PhD
Forest University
Chemistry PhD
University of Technology
Chemistry PhD
University
Environmental Econ PhD
Statistical
Analyst/Actuarial Course
Industrial Relations PhD
in HR Management
Roehampton
University
Management MA-R
Management MA-R
& project manager
A WALSH..LTD
Management PhD
of Research
Polls Limited
Management PhD
Doc Researcher
(French National Institute for Agricultural Research)
Management PhD
University
University
Management PhD
Drilling Agent
Economics PhD
Organisation
for Rehabilitation & Devt
Researcher
Police Agency
University
University
of Leicester
College, University of London
university
University
University
Rights & Gender Consult SPRL
Planning Analyst
Int'l Conflict Analysis PhD
University
University
of British Columbia
Int'l Conflict Analysis PhD
Researcher
Test Ban Treaty Organisation
International Relations PhD
Political Scientist
Corporation
International Relations PhD
University
University
International Relations PhD
Forwarding
Psychology (SCI) PhD
Research Associate
University
Social Psychology PhD
Researcher
University
Social Psychology PhD
Postdoctorate
Researcher
Institut fur Angewandte Psychologie
Clinical Psychol. PhD
Psychologist
Strong Consultants
Community Care PhD
University
Learning Disability PhD
Department
Mental Health MPH-R
& Chief Executive
Resettlement
Sociology PhD
Researcher
University
Sociology PhD
University
Sociology PhD
University
of Bah?§esehir
Social Policy PhD
University
Anthropology PhD
University
of Southampton
Anthropology PhD
Programmes Director
Diversity Foundation
Anthropology PhD
Communications
People's Program
Anthropology PhD
Pronunciation
Biodiversity Mgt PhD
Field Director
Palung Orangutan Project
Biodiversity Management PhD
director for Neotropical Primate Conservation- Peru
Neotropical Primate Conservation
Medical Health PhD
Consulatant
Psychiatrist
Yorkshire Partnership NHS
Employed FT
W. Australian Academy of Performing Arts
History & Philosophy of Art MPh-R
Employed FT
Membership Database Coordinator
Nasher Sculpture Center
of Art PhD
Employed FT
The Canterbury Tales
English PhD
Employed FT
Assistant Lecturer
University of Kent
English PhD
Employed FT
Assistant Teacher & Ref Administrator
University of Kent
English PhD
Employed PT
Lecturer in English
MidKent College
Text Practice PhD
Employed FT
Chief Program Officer
Champions for Kids
Hispanic Studies PhD
Employed FT
Teaching Fellow
University of Kent
French MA-R
Employed FT
Assistant to President/PhD in Education Studies
European University Institute
Theol & Religious St. PhD
Employed FT
Lecturer in Religious Studies
University of Kent
Philosophy PhD
Employed PT
Assistant Philosophy Lecturer
University of Kent
Theol & Religious St. MPH-R
Employed FT
Astrologer
Self-employed
History PhD
Employed FT
Senior Researcher
Salix Consulting
Computer Sci. PhD
Employed FT
Team Leader
Computer Science PhD
Employed FT
Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte
Computer Science PhD
Employed FT
Lecturer/Researcher
Federal University of Technology of Parana (UTFPR)
Computer Sci. PhD
Employed FT
Research Assistant
University of Kent
Electronics MSc-R
Employed FT
Software/System developer
NavGame & Biometric Solutions Ltd
Electronics PhD
Employed FT
Post doctoral research associate
Ecole Centrale de Lille
Electronics PhD
Employed FT
University Researcher
University of Kent
Electronics PhD
Employed FT
Consulting Partner
Electronics PhD
Employed FT
Research Associate
University of Kent
Electronics PhD
Employed FT
Research Associate
University of Kent
Electronics PhD
Employed FT
Researcher
University of Kent
2005 - 2011 University of Kent PhD Destinations
Accounting & Finance
University of
Accounting
PhD Biochemistry
University
PhD Biochemistry
University
Research Associate
PhD Biochemistry
University
PhD Biochemistry
Independent College
PhD Biochemistry
University
of Bristol
Research Ass't
PhD Biochemistry
University
Associate/(Training for Teaching)
PhD Biochemistry
Cytogeneticist
PhD Biochemistry
University
Doc Research Assoc./PCRT-T HIGHEDA
PhD Biochemistry
Childrens Research Hospital
Research Associate
PhD Biodiversity Management
Herpetological
Conservation Trust
& Monitoring Officer
PhD Biodiversity Management
University
of Edinburgh
Doctoral Researcher
PhD Biodiversity Management
University
PhD Cartoons & Caricature
University
PhD Clinical Psychology
University
of East Anglia
Senior Lecturer
PhD Computer Science
PhD Computer Science
Universidad
Carlos III
PhD Computer Science
Bruford Colege
Southampton
Solent University
University
PhD Economics
Observatoire
Francais Economiques
Researcher
PhD Economics
University
of Gothenburg
Postdoc/Lecturer
PhD Electronic Eng.
University
PhD Electronic Eng.
Young University
PhD Electronic Engineering
University
PhD Electronic Engineering
Society for the promotion of Sci.
Doctoral Research Fellow
PhD English
Farm/Designed Visions/WEA
Secretary/Permaculture Design Cert.
PhD English
Administrator
PhD Film Studies
University
of East Anglia
Lecturer/PGHE
PhD French
University
Lecturer in French
PhD Health Psychology
Research Network
Research Nurse
PhD History
Castle Guide
PhD History
PhD History
University
Sessional Teacher
PhD History
PhD International Relations
PhD International Relations
Office of Defence Co-operation
PhD Italian
University
Lecturer/PGCE HE
University
University
PhD Medieval Studies.
University
PhD Philosophy
National de la Recherche Scientifique
Researcher
PhD Physics
Church Academy
PhD Physics
Technologies
PhD Physics
Geological
Site Administrator
PhD Physics
PhD Physics
Sci. & Research Lab.
Civil Servant
PhD Physics
University
Liaison Adviser
PhD Politics & Gov't
Democretean
University of Thrake
PhD Postcolonial Studies
University
PhD Postcolonial Studies
University
PhD Psychology
Holloway University
Research Associate
PhD Psychology
University
in Psychology
PhD Psychology
University
of Staffordshire
PhD Pure Mathematics
University
Marker of Undergrad Maths Exams
PhD Social Policy
University
of Southampton
PhD Social Policy
County Council
& Strategy Officer
PhD Social Policy
of School of Social Justice
PhD Social Psychology
Bank University
PhD Social Psychology
University
PhD Spanish
Business Communication
Self Employed
PhD Statistics
University
PhD Statistics
University
Research Ass't
PhD Statistics
Research Ass't
PhD Theology & Religious St.
Educational
Association
More detailed information on the destinations of University of Kent postgraduates may be found at our &What can I do with my Degree in ..& web pages www.kent.ac.uk/careers/degreein.htm and our destinations pages
&You'll need the ability to adapt to new challenges, analyse complex problems and generate original ideas. You'll need the intellectual courage to question convention and explore more effective ways of doing things. You will also need excellent team skills, the ability to understand customer needs and a willingness to continue learning throughout your career&.
GSK (pharmaceutical company)
with a postgraduate degree
Academic careers
An academic position is
the main career goal for many research students, and higher education will
often offer the best opportunities to use your postgraduate studies directly,
especially in the humanities.
However, this is not an
easy option: the job market for lecturers and contract
researchers is getting tougher and it is
increasingly rare for postgraduates to obtain a position as a lecturer
immediately after completing their PhD. More typically they will start out as
Assistant/Research Assistant/Postdoctoral Fellow. These will generally be temporary contracts lasting one, two or three years and
may lead on to a permanent academic post, although there is no guarantee of
this. Teaching posts in particular are likely to be part-time and remunerated
only on the number of hours taught.
Universities
will look at more than just the quality of your research: candidates for
academic posts should be able to offer all of the following:
Publications. You should be able to demonstrate that you have begun to disseminate your work
to the wider academic community through published journal articles or books
and/or presenting papers at conferences.
experience. Teaching at undergraduate level is also
an essential part of an academic career and you should take advantage of any
opportunities to gain teaching experience during your postgraduate studies.
Departments frequently require, or strongly encourage, their research students
to do this but, if your own department does not offer any teaching
opportunities, you may be able to obtain part-time teaching in further and
adult education.
Administrative
skills. Academic staff also have a number of
administrative
responsibilities (such
as convening courses, managing exams, sitting on committees, quality
assessment, etc) so any experience of people or project management would be
helpful here.
academic job market is highly international with lecturers and postdoctoral
researchers moving between countries to find employment and develop their
posts, both in the UK and abroad, are normally advertised in the ,
and on www.jobs.ac.uk
Academic-related
As well as &traditional&
academic-related roles, such as library, IT and careers guidance services,
universities are increasingly reducing the administrative role of academic
staff, and freeing them up to concentrate on their research and teaching, by
employing staff in a variety of management and support roles. These roles
Administration,
including student registration and admissions, central services administration,
departmental co-
Library and
Scientific
support, e.g. la
resource management, including staff development/
relations and marketing posts, promoting universities to
prospective students (in the UK and overseas), alumni, businesse
welfare and support: counselling and advice services,
disability support, internatio
Accommodation, catering and
& safety.&
For more information on
these options, see
Teaching in Schools and
A number of
postgraduates will go on to train as teachers, either through a PGCE course or
while working in a school. Funding to cover fees and maintenance may be
available for PGCEs, depending on the subject. A PhD may be looked on
favourably in private schools and further education colleges. A teaching
qualification is not an essential requirement to teach in Further Education
Colleges or independent schools, although it would be advantageous. If you
intend to teach in schools, you should have some work experience with the
relevant age-range.
for more information on teaching careers.
OTHER AREAS: RELATED TO YOUR SUBJECT
Humanities
Outside education, jobs
which make direct use of a degree in the humanities are unlikely to be more
numerous at postgraduate level than they were after your BA. Areas such as the ,
are highly competitive and, although your degree
should be able to help you demonstrate an advanced level of skills and
knowledge, employers will usually be seeking practical and transferable skills
rather than purely academic expertise.
Social Sciences
You may be
particularly interested in the field of
working for
central or local government bodies, think-tanks and consultancies. Commercial
organisations, such as
and advertising
agencies, also make use of social research techniques and skills. Subjects such
as law, business and economics can also be applied with commercial employers
specialising in these fields.
Research & development scientists are employed in many organisations
including manufacturing companies (cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, defence, etc),
energy and utility companies, Government laboratories, charities and Research
Councils. These employers may look for very specific research skills which
closely match their own research areas.
Increasingly, though, employers of researchers in science are looking for more than academic
research skills. They are looking at recruiting researchers who
have the potential to develop into project leaders, department managers and
ultimately heads of research. This may involve moving out of research into more
commercial roles. You will therefore need to show more general personal and
employability skills as well as specialised research skills.
For more information see
postgraduate degree doesn't in itself entitle you to practise law - it will still be necessary to
complete professional exams and practical training before qualification. Legal
employers may value your postgraduate degree if it is in an area related to
their field of practice - International Commercial Law, for example, may be of
interest to a City solicitors firm. For more information on legal careers and
qualifications see
Business and
Management
Graduates who have obtained a Masters in Management, or similar, immediately
after a first degree will generally enter organisations at &graduate&
level. Although
employers, particularly large corporations, value the skills and business
knowledge gained through a Master&s degree, they do not normally have a
separate entry level for Master&s graduates without professional work
experience.
MBA graduates should see our web pages
for a detailed overview of opportunities and resources.
postgraduate degree in Economics will greatly enhance your chances of getting
into a directly-related field of work such as economic
consultancy, the Government Economic Service, economic development work in
local government and economic research, analysis and forecasting in business
and finance. For more information see
International
Many postgraduates in IR hope to develop a career working with an
international governmental or non-governmental organisation. Getting into such
organisations takes time and it's normally essential to obtain experience before
gaining a permanent post - through an internship or by work in other organisations. For more
information see
ten years ago about 15-20% of our graduate trainees had PhDs; now more than
half have postgraduate or research experience. They tend to be more mature than
younger trainees and to have more polished communication skills . Having worked
as researchers themselves, they also have a keen awareness of what research is
like – an important asset when dealing with our clients.&
Head of graduate
recruitment at Mewburn Ellis patent attorneys
OTHER AREAS: OUTSIDE YOUR SUBJECT
You may not wish, or
may not be able, to use your postgraduate study or research in your career
either directly or indirectly. A change in career direction is certainly
possible at this stage, whether through entering employment immediately or
after further study or training. Below are just a few examples of &alternative&
careers entered by past Kent graduates:
Destinations
of some of the University of Kent Ph.D graduates (2005 – 2011)
not working as
lecturers or researchers
University
Schools Liaison
Drama School
Programme Director
Communication
(self-employed)
Social Policy
County Council
Policy & Strategy
Biodiversity
Management
Conservation Trust
Research &
Monitoring Officer
Computer Science
Kasikornbank
IT Developer
Biochemistry
Bridge Genoma
Cytogeneticist
Geological Society
Web Site Administrator
International
Research Institute
International
Office of Defence
Co-operation
Government department
Civil Servant
&Even though I am not using the
knowledge I gained from my MA directly, it enabled me to demonstrate that I
have the commitment and intelligence to see a long, difficult and challenging
task through to completion&
Employability
Obtained through Postgraduate Study
Employers want postgraduates to be able to offer
more than their academic subject
knowledge. They also look for a range of skills: transferable skills such as teamworking, business awareness and communication skills plus,
depending on the employer, more practical skills such as languages,
numeracy, laboratory techniques and quantitative methods. These skills need to
be put forward on job applications – even those for academic posts.&
The employability skills derived from postgraduate study include the
following:
Academic achievement:
the ability to use the English
language effectively in order to put across your arguments fluently in
writing and to&express your ideas clearly and at a level appropriate
listening,
speaking confidently and clearly and pitching what you say in such a way
to have the desired
Analysis: Considering
differing ideas, info picking out key points and
details in order to construct or su distinguishing
relevant from irrelevant information, identifying
Critical thinking: the
ability to question and not to take things at face value. Interpreting
infor considering their validity in the light of issues
such as their source, the evidence provided to support them and other
m arguing a case with logic
and constructing a reasoned argument for
your own point of view.
Research/Investigative skills: use
constructin testing using specialist techniques such as statistical packages or
Planning and organising: approaching
tasks and pro ability to handle a
number of different tasks
simultaneously.
systematic
being flexible
at different a identifying the most appropriate
Innovation: ability to take a fresh approach, think
laterally, ; willing to try
new things and adapt
for hard work:
embodying self-motivation, self-disci
Co-operation: the ability to work with other
people, inside and outside your own department or organisation. Working
together to achieve a common goal. Allocating and sharing respons supporting and mot
Practicality: realism, ;
Maturity: wide
experience of life generally and specifically of working wit credibility with employers and clients.
Self-motivation: ability
to work independently without the need for constant direction or feedback.
Anticipating w setting your own goals and working towards
them. Being positive and professional. Taking responsibility for your own work
and personal development.
: awareness
of the environment in which an organisation operates (public sector and
charitable organisations face commercial and financial pressures too!). A focus
on the purpose of the organisation and its clients and/or stakeholders.
: fact-finding skills, clarity, judgement,
: knowledge of statistical
packages, spreadsheets, databases and programming languages.
Many of these skills
are developed to a high level through postgraduate study and research. Others
can be demonstrated through other aspects of your experience, such as part-time
or vacation work and extra-curricular interests, so make sure to get involved
in activities outside of your studies and to use these activities in your
applications.
employers ranked the strongest skills of doctoral
graduates in the following order
Motivation
Management
Analysing your skills
can help you to analyse the skills
you have developed through your studies and to communicate them to employers.
The award consists of quizzes and assignments: it is all done online and takes
just a few hours to complete.
The sites listed below also
provide resources to help you identify the skills you have developed through
your studies and those you wish to develop further:
includes a self-
Our Employability Skills pages
include a skills inventory
Prospects Planner
- an online self- assessment and career choice program that also helps you to
relate your skills to jobs
&Once you have
worked through one or two of these resources you may wish to talk over the
results with a
Important things
to keep in mind when making career decisions:
to know yourself - your employability skills, abilities
and personal qualities. Without knowing what your skills and values are, what
is important to you and what you want from a job, it will be more difficult to
people can often help you to see yourself more clearly.
Try asking your friends, relations or tutors about your strengths and
weaknesses, or talk over your ideas with a careers adviser. They could help you
to see yourse
have fixed ideas about jobs, such as who does them
and what the work is like. Stereotyped pictures of jobs are rarely accurate.
Find out what is really involved and look for the truth behin
best careers advice comes from people with first-hand knowledge. Try and make contact with people doing the type of jobs that interest you and
talk to them about their work. Use
techniques to netwo
an open mind. Be flexible. Be receptive to new job
ideas. Don't reject career
possibilities without some consideration first. Remember that your first career
post does not have to set the direction for the rest of your working life if
full use of the Careers & Employability Service.
Use our print and online resources and consult Careers Advisers with any queries and problems.
&Sources of help and
information on making career decisions:
Careers Service booklet and web pages
This is an online self-assessment and career
choice program that helps you to:
new job ideas and check out
your skills and find out what mo
how these match the jobs
your chosen jobs in more detail and decide on the right choices for you
PhD - What Next?
Masters - What Next?
Find out about the
skills you have gained as a result of your postgraduate study and how you can present these skills most
effectively to an employer.
with your subject - a series covering over 40 academic
subject areas giving ideas for how
graduates can use their degree subject or the employability skills acquired in
studying it. The series is targeted at undergraduates but much of the content
is also relevant to postgraduates. Available on the Prospects website
can I do with my degree in ..?&
Information on the
destinations of Kent graduates and postgraduates plus links to employers
and career areas likely to be of interest to graduates in that subject.
Applications and interviews for academic jobs
When applying for research posts or
lectureships, make sure you have a good understanding of the department, the
position and your own area of
All this may seem self-evident, but candidates for academic posts are often too
focused on their own specific research and don&t think about what the job
actually involves or what they can contribute to the department through their
skills or experience. So, before you start to apply, put your research skills
into practice to find out all that you can about the department, its staff and
students (any contacts that you have built up through networking will be
invaluable here). This will help you to focus your application and to
demonstrate clearly what you can offer them that distinguishes you from the
other candidates.
follow a different
format from a &normal& CV, most notably in the content and the length. They are
generally longer than the &standard& two-side CV, often running to five or six
pages, as they need to include information such as:
detailed synopsis of your PhD an
Publications – books, articles, reviews, conference proceedings,
Conferences attended (especially if you have presented papers);
Membership of
experience - running seminars, helping
Awards – such as funded studentships, academic pri
of relevant scientific or specialist packages/techniques you are familiar with such as SPSS, LexisNexis, NMR
of skills such as IT, time management, project management
experience – only list experience relevant to your
application, such as teaching, &university ambassador& roles, exam
invigilation,
industrial placements,
References. Usually three academic references (one or more from your postgraduate degree
plus one from your first degree) and possibly one from an employer or another
individual who can comment about your personal qualities as opposed to your
academic performance.
Letters and Personal Statements
or , you should outline your skills and strengths, show
real enthusiasm for your subject, evidence of a wider knowledge of the area
beyond your specialised field of research and awareness of recent developments.
biggest problem is lack of clarity. People either provide too much detail or
omit crucial points. A CV should provide a clear account of where you are, what
you have achieved, what you are doing now and where you are moving next in your
Bassnett, Professor of Comparative Literature, Warwick University
examples of academic and postgraduate CVs, see
Interviews for
Academic Jobs
usually awarded
at a viva but PhD students
at a college in Srinagar, Kashmir, were until recently also expected to lay on kebabs before
faculty members decided their fate, according to the . &Almost all departments ask an
MPhil or PhD scholar to arrange 'refreshments' for the adjudicating
panel,& campus sources told the paper: students may to pay up to 10,000 rupees (?100) for the food. The rule has now been discontinued.
At one time, interviews
for academic, contract research or postdoctoral posts were less formal than
interviews with other types of employers. This has now changed – there is
fierce competition for these posts and you need to prepare well, show
enthusiasm and ask appropriate questions.
academic interview is likely to be carried out by a panel made up of a number of members of staff, from both the
academic department and the human resources department. Remember that, unlike
HR staff, academics may not be trained interviewers, so be aware that you may
occasionally have to take the initiative.
Interviews for academic
posts frequently require candidates to give a short presentation - usually on an aspect of your research. This allows
the panel to assess not only your teaching skills but also your ability to
plan, research, analyse and present information. You can also expect to be
asked questions, and how you respond to these will also form part of the
assessment. Presentations need to be pitched at the right level – at a
well-informed and knowledgeable
audience who may nonetheless not be familiar with the detailed nuances
of your specialised area of research. Alternatively, you may be asked to
prepare a presentation of the sort that would be delivered in an undergraduate
may also be a social side to the interview, such as a lunch to which all
members of the department will be invited. While this will not be assessed, remember
that people who are not on the actual interview panel may also be asked for
their opinions of the candidates, so don&t get involved in any heated debates
or inappropriate topics of conversation.
Before the interview:
the university and the department
out the research interests of the cu
to speak to current students in the department and
look at notice boards, social networking sites, etc.
Read over your application again. Try and put yourself in the interviewers& shoes
and think of questions they may want to ask you;
addition, think of questions you
want to ask.
The Questions
You can expect to be asked about:
research: research already carried out, work in progress, yo
Studentships,
research grants and ot
experience –
teaching and a
relevant specialist
other ways in which you have contributed to University life, such as
administration experience, involvement in open days and student recruitment.
interviewers will also want to find out about you as an individual - will you
fit in to the department? Are you a good team member?
&Remember that
they will be looking at your ability t your capacity for independent and original
thought and your ability to communicate and reason. Be polite, but don't be
afraid to enter into discussion and to stand your ground. Some interviewers
will deliberately challenge your replies to see if you can stand up for
yourself and argue your point effectively.
will also be looking for evidence of strong interest in your subject, as well
as enthusiasm for the subject. Do you keep up to date with developments? Do you
genuinely seem to enjoy talking about the subject?
sure that you ask questions of the panel, as this demonstrates your enthusiasm
and interest.&
Some questions that
might be asked at an academic job interview
How did you choose your research topic?
Why do you feel that this research is
important?
What have you got out of your
postgraduate study?
How would your research interests fit in
with the work of this department?
What teaching experience do you have?
How would you approach teaching
first-years on our ….. module?
What other relevant skills or experience
can you offer?
Have you considered any further potential
areas of research?
How would you go about persuading a
funding body to support your research?
What makes you the right candidate for
this post?
Where do you see yourself in five years
Many of these questions
demand a fairly detailed response but make sure that you don&t go into too much
detail! Watch the panel for signs of impatience and be prepared to pause
occasionally, giving them the chance either to encourage you to continue or to
move on to another question.&
Some questions you
could ask at an academic interview
What do you feel are the key strengths
of this department?
What are your most successful courses in
terms of student numbers?
Do you have any plans to introduce new
courses or modules?
What training and support is available
to new members of staff? Would I have the opportunity to take a PGCHE? What
staff development opportunities are available?
How and when will I be appraised?
Dress code
Smart casual dress may be
acceptable for academic interviews, particularly those for research posts
rather than lectureships, but many departments now expect more formal business
dress. If in doubt, go for the smarter option - you will never prejudice
your chances by being too smart, but dressing in too casual a way risks being
interpreted as unprofessional or not sufficiently motivated.
information
advice on academic interviews, including presentations and commonly-asked
questions, see:
Vitae www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers/1660/Academic%20job%20interviews.html
Jobs.ac.uk www.jobs.ac.uk/careers-advice/interview-tips
Applications and interviews for other jobs
your postgraduate study or research will have equipped you with a large number
of the skills that employers want for graduates, if you are applying for posts
outside the academic or research field, you will need to convince employers of
two things:
the skills you have gained can be useful in a non-
you are motivated and enthusiastic about the position that you are applying
In other words, you not
only need to convince prospective employers that you can do the job, but
also that you want to do the job. This is particularly
important for research postgraduates who may
otherwise run the risk of being viewed by employers as &over-qualified& or as
&frustrated academics&.
Your CV should therefore be more
similar to an &undergraduate& CV, using your postgraduate study alongside work
experience and other activities as evidence of the skills and personal
qualities required in that particular position. In general, these CVs will be
shorter than academic CVs – not more than two sides of A4 when printed out –
and should include:
A brief outline of you
experience – here, any type of experience may be relevant:
part-time and vacation work, voluntary work, work shadowing,
Extra-curricular
activities and interests – these do not just help to demonstrate
your skills but also show that you have a life outside your studies!
of skills such as IT, time management, project management
References. Usually just two references, one academic and one employer or character reference.
information may be set out in a , skills-based or
CV format: which you choose is up to you and depends on
which format you feel is best suited to you and the job for which you are
&My interviewer was more impressed by the
fact that I had funded myself through my MA by working part-time at a
restaurant while studying full-time than he was by the degree itself! It showed
my commitment and my time management skills as well as the people skills which
are essential for a career in human resource management&
Interviews for
other positions
format of these, and the questions asked, will naturally vary according to the
employer and the type of job but in most cases will be different from academic
interviews. You will usually be interviewed by one or two people rather than a
panel and the questions are likely to focus as much on your skills and
competencies as on your studies and research.
As with academic
interviews, thorough preparation is the
key to success. This will help you to appear confident at interview
(however nervous you feel inside!) and provide evidence of your motivation and
enthusiasm by showing that you have taken the trouble to research the career
area and the employer to which you are applying.
As part of this
preparation, you should:
about why you want the job – what motivates you?
you have to offer that will help you to do the job –
experience, skills and/
examples that demo
Anticipate
questions that you might be asked during the interview.
Demonstrating your
motivation and competencies will be doubly important if you are applying for a
position that has little or no direct relevance to your studies. While
employers may find your academic qualifications impressive some, particularly
in smaller organisations, may equally find them intimidating. They may also
have concerns about the relevance of these qualifications, your practical and
people skills and your commitment to a career outside academia.
You can expect to be asked questions
did you choose to take a postgraduate degree?
did your course/research actually involve?
might your degree be useful to us?
do you know about this organisation?
are you applying for this job?
do you expect to be doing in this job?
from your degree, what can you bring to the job?
other jobs have you applied for?
do you see yourself in five years time?
have a Masters degree - have you thought about carrying on into a PhD?
have a PhD – don&t you want to be a university lecturer?
These questions
are designed to assess your motivation – do you want the job? Other
questions will aim to assess your competencies – can you do the job?
Competency-based
questions will follow the format &Give me an example of a time when you have …
to convince a person or group to do something that they were initially
reluctant to do?
to analyse detailed information to extract the essential points?
to manage a heavy workload or a number of conflicting priorities?
to organise your time to achieve a specific aim?
with a group of other people to achieve a common goal?
a major decision?
in a challenging task in difficult circumstances?
a problem in a creative way?
to improve a process or make a system work better?
to explain something in detail to a person or group who knew little about the
a task and then had to change your approach and do something in a different
Your studies will have
given you material to use in answering many of these questions, but it is a
good idea to provide a number of examples from outside academia as well - this
will reassure the interviewer that you have experience beyond university and
have gained skills from &real life& as well as from study and research.
For more advice on
competency-based interviews, and further example questions, see www.kent.ac.uk/careers/compet/skillquest.htm
Vacancy sources
Academic jobs:
the main source for university jobs in the UK
FindAUniversityJob
FindAPostDoc
The Guardian
Times Higher Education
Academic Jobs EU
offers jobs for academics globally. There are currently more than 20,000 jobs online. Also has specific sites:
Mathematics & Statistics
Physics & Engineering
Computer Science
Life Science, Medicine & Chemistry
Computeroxy
academic website exclusively dedicated to academic careers in schools of
electrical and electronic engineering and computer science in Europe,
America, Asia, Oceania and
the Middle East
is a platform to announce job openings for economists and also academics & professionals in other disciplines, to search for them, and to get an email notification whenever a new opening meeting your interests arrives. INOMICS covers openings in all subject and geographical areas at all levels, and the site also includes a directory of discipline-related organisations, including consultancies, with links to their websites.
Most of these sites
list jobs covering a range of academic, research, managerial and support roles
in higher education plus vacancies in other public and private sector bodies
that are appropriate for postgraduates and researchers.
There may also be
specialist listings for particular subjects, such as Inomics ()
for Economics or the American Philological Association ()
for Classics – your supervisor will know which
are the best sources for your subject area.
graduate jobs:
Prospects www.prospects.ac.uk/links/jobs.htm
Jobs http://targetjobs.co.uk
Online www.milkround.co.uk
national resources which chiefly focus on large corporate and public sector
recruiters. If you are interested in working locally (where there are few such
recruiters), working in media or the arts, or working for a smaller employer,
the following may help you:&
Want to Work In …& www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin.htm- brief
introductions to almost 100 popular career areas, with useful links
in Kent www.kent.ac.uk/careers/kentopps.htm
in Small Businesses www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sme.htm
Creative Career Search www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sk/CJ.htm
Careers & Employability Service&s vacancy database http://kent.prospects.ac.uk includes
jobs with all kinds of employers (in Kent, nationally and internationally) plus
postgraduate studentships and research posts.&
&Standing in front of an audience of
academics to explain my MA dissertation, searching archives in order to find
original sources and taking part in serious class discussions not only helped
to develop my historical knowledge, but also my ability to speak in public,
evaluate information and argue my point of view&
Links and resources
- a national
organisation supporting the personal, professional and career development of
doctoral researchers and research staff in higher education institutions and
research institutes. The site includes a great deal of useful informatio
New PhD Portal on jobs.ac.uk
PhD programmes and studentships to professional doctorates, jobs.ac.uk
has launched a dedicated new PhD portal for postgraduates where you can
search for your ideal PhD. Last year we advertised over 5,500 PhD opportunities for universities
and research institutions throughout the UK, Europe and beyond. This
year we have introduced new filters to make finding PhDs on jobs.ac.uk
even easier including:
Qualification type
Discipline and sub-category
Funding amount and eligibility
Plus we have lots of great careers resources
specifically for postgrads thinking about doing a PhD including PhD
interview tips, a funding guide and this handy ebook called &A Practical
Guide to Planning an Academic or Research Career&.
humanities PhDs describe their experience, their current work in a range of
academic and non-academic
careers and
how their Has equipped
A resource for
social scientists with pages of advice for those at the start of their career.
- survey of the career paths of
PhD graduates in physics
University of Manchester. Careers news, comments, vacancies and deadline alert
: advice and
resources from Research Councils UK, including case studies on
by Phil Ward,
research funding manager at the the University of Kent. Excellent information
on research funding.
University of East Anglia. Includes links to professional and funding bodies in
vacancy sources and recruitment agencies relevant to
research students.;
Choosing a PhD
academic jobs, jobs outside academia, research and professional training.
: recruitment
& social networking site for researchers at all stages of their career
including vacancies for research assistant jobs, postdoctoral positions,
postgraduate studentship
: provides
careers advice, information and professional development training to
scientists, academic researchers, research students and academic staff. Their
website carries advice, profiles, case studies, information about careers in
academia and beyond,
Researchers in Schools
is a salaried teacher training
programme exclusively for researchers with a doctoral qualification.
Participants will receive a minimum training scholarship of ?17,000 in
the first year and a competitive salary thereafter.
seeking career opportunities outside of academia
: what are
employers looking for?
news, advice and issues
relevant to St
: higher education jobs, news and resources for the
Government review investigating the benefits of postgraduate education for the
UK economy, employers, higher education institutions and the
The Research Councils' Graduate Schools Programme (RCGSP)
well established annual series of career and personal development courses run exclusively for PhD students. On these a number of postgraduates will get together to meet managers and researchers working in industry, to work together on case studies and simulations, and to be introduced to the variety of jobs on offer on completion of their research. They are also an excellent way to learn about and to start developing relevant personal transferable skills.
strip charting the &ongoing chronicle of life (or the lack thereof) in graduate
school&. Many a true word is spoken in jest!
Last fully updated 2013
& These pages are copyright of the University of Kent
Careers and Employability Service.
The information and advice given in these pages is primarily for
the benefit of University of Kent students and graduates.
You are most welcome to link to these pages but should not use content in other ways without our permission.
Page maintained by Bruce Woodcock
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