We meet a lot of PhD students and have based this section on the common questions they ask – please do contact me with suggestions for content or links to recommended sites.
If you are interested in learning about the wealth of opportunities available to doctoral graduates, "What Do PhDs Do?" is the first ever analysis of PhD destination statistics. Dr Sara Shinton was commissioned by UK GRAD to write this in partnership with Graduate Prospects.
- Academic Careers
- International Careers
- Careers outwith Academia
- Tailored sites for PhD students
- Identifying the skills you have to offer
- CV Advice
- Managing a PhD
- Quick Links for...
Academic Careers:
If you are considering an academic career, then you should be aware of the pressures on academics and the lack of job security. If you aren't aware of how demoralised many academics are (!) there was an article in the Guardian article in the Guardian back in 2003 and we would recommend that you talk to an academic in your research area about the highs and lows of their job.
ScienceCareers covers many topics relating to academic careers – there is a section for graduate students which has articles on all aspects of getting the most from a PhD; a career toolkit for budding academic scientists and the postdoc section looks at academic life in depth.
Dr Sara Shinton's Career Doctor column also covered a number of topics relating to academic careers.
GRAD also has an article on launching an academic career and links to tips for maximising your impact.
For academic vacancies in the UK
jobs.ac.uk Quick access to all jobs in the academic sector: lectureships, research posts, but also administrative, student support and management posts.
Times Higher Jobs Jobs listing from the Times Higher Education Supplement.
Vacancies from Eduserve The HE information service.
Guide to Jobsearch on the Internet Written for academic researchers by the University of Strathclyde Careers Service. Includes links to vacancy sites and is structured by discipline area.
The University of Manchester Careers Service links to other academic vacancy sites.
For international academic vacancies, funding and opportunities
Jobs Search The vacancy links page of ScienceCareers. International and very comprehensive.
US Chronicle of Higher Education Vacancies in the US academic sector – the American version of THES.
The Researchers' Mobility Portal " If you are a researcher planning your next move in Europe, look here for career opportunities and to find relevant information and assistance."
Marie Curie Actions The new award scheme for FP6 – promoting researchers in Europe.
Marie Curie Fellowship Association Prestigious research awards for scientists who want to work elsewhere in the European Community. The site includes a useful careers section and a jobs database.
The Fulbright Commission Prestigious awards (more Nobel Prize winners than any academic programme according to their website!) which enable UK citizens to study or carry out research in the US.
International scientists – work permits
The Work Permits UK website Carries current advice and information from the Government, including a list of skill shortage occupations.
Advice for overseas resarchers from Sheffield University which is applicable to all university contracts.
Permits2Work support employers wanting to apply for permits.
The Great Escape – jobs outside academia!
If you are happy to hang up your lab coat or give up that seat in the library that has moulded itself to your curves, then you aren't alone! A PhD can be a gateway to almost any career, provided you can identify evidence of having the right skills and attitude.
ScienceCareers (part of which used to be called NextWave) is the first link – search for the job you're interested in and chances are, they'll have an article on it.
Case studies of former academic researchers might inspire you. See if you can guess which one is me!
GRAD has a section on career planning (penned by Dr Sara Shinton) which includes examples of plans for moving into non-academic careers.
Prospects has a staggering range of job profiles – some of which were written by us. Each links to further information and related jobs so you can quickly build up a list of potential careers to investigate further.
PhD Jobs This is a commercial website that caters for recently qualified postgraduates. Candidates can apply on-line for opportunities that interest them (inside and outside academia) and register with the site in order to be kept informed of relevant vacancies. The website also includes some information about CVs, covering letters and interviews, but it isn't particularly well targeted, so check out our links to better advice.
For careers information and advice written for research students
The UK GRAD programme website has a section "Just for Postgrads" full of targeted advice and links.
The Careers Advisory Service at the University of Bristol has a postgrad section. This offers some great advice, interesting links and is clearly written by someone who understands what support PhD students need.
ScienceCareers is THE site for scientific careers – advice, information and constantly updated. An international site with a wide range of profiles and stories on scientific careers from around the globe.
The Online Careers Library includes Resources for Postgraduate Researchers Lots of great links from a reliable site.
The University of Manchester Careers Service has a postgrad section. A strong resource for postgraduates of all disciplines.
Identifying Your Skills
Joint Skills Statement Developed by GRAD and the Research Councils and AHRB – a great list of the skills developed through research – ideal for snappy phrases for your CV!
The Postgraduate Skills Record (PSR) was developed by the RSC and is aimed at PhD chemistry students (but useful for researchers in many disciplines). The PDF version is available to non-members of the RSC.
Universities UK carries a report on training of researchers which includes a great list of skills developed through academic research. It's well hidden on page 9 of the report, but worth the effort!
CV Advice
Marketing a research qualification Includes example CVs for science and arts PhDs for three different sectors – academic research, research in industry/other sectors or applying to non-research posts.
University of Bristol Careers Advisory Service again – written to compliment the advice on the GRAD site and covers important points in an accessible, practical way.
Managing a PhD
Managing a PhD – GRAD gives advice on many aspects of PhD management and can provide institutions with support in running training programmes
Managing problems with your supervisor The website for the MSc in Neuroscience at Edinburgh University includes tips on project management and other essentials.
Advice from Andrew Wilson at Loughborough University on Managing a Research Project.
« home page | next: advice and resources for postdoctoral researchers »