One of the key drivers for forming Shinton Consulting was to focus on developing careers resources for post-docs. As with the postgrad section, we have based this page on discussions we have had with post-docs at various events. If there is something significant missing, or you know of a site that you think others will find useful, please do contact us.
CV advice for leaving academia (complete with example CVs)
Resources for post-docs
Career change – alternatives to academia
Self analysis and awareness
Recommended books
Resources for post-docs
Many universities and organisations have responded to the need for relevant career management materials for post-docs. An increasing number of universities offer one-to-one guidance and support, so find out if yours is one! The ones listed below also devote sections of their websites to links or information:
- Bristol was one of the first institutions to offer meaningful support to its research staff and now has a dedicated careers adviser for post-doc appointments.
- Swansea deserves a mention for its resources and the quality of its alumni!
- Reading Careers Advisory Service contains case studies and workbooks.
- Oxford
- Queen's University Belfast
- Strathclyde University has developed a Job Search Guide just for researchers
- A toolkit from Andrew Wilson at Loughborough University on Leadership in Staff Development.
- Leeds
- Sheffield hosts the Supporting
Research Staff site, which includes:
- Research Career Builder containing a skills matrix whereby Contract Researchers, with assistance if necessary, can measure the levels of their existing skills;
- two Employment Skills Guidebooks with examples of how transferable skills are being acquired, can be built into projects and can transfer to other work contexts;
- a Staff Review Scheme, to facilitate development and monitor progress. A number of training materials, case studies and checklists to enable career tracking have also been developed.
Career change – alternatives to academia
Career Guidance and Staff Development Resources for post-docs
Full set of case studies of former academic researchers and other useful
resources – all devised for academic researchers specifically.
Graduate School (no connection to the UK GRAD
programme)
A US site which has links to articles and features on all aspects of postgraduate
life and beyond. The design is “busy” as it is well supported
by sponsors, but brings together resources from a huge range of sites, such
as these on alternative
careers.
The Chronicle of Higher Education (a US Times Higher)
Resources for non academic careers sorted into discipline
areas.
Most are US sites, but there are some interesting links which we haven't
found elsewhere.
Self awareness and self analysis
'What Color is Your Parachute'
is one of the best known job hunting books
and its sister site has excellent advice, contacts, interactive tests and articles.
Tends to be US focused, but still highly rated.
Life Work Transitions is an on-line book with exercises on defining core competencies, passions, preferences and purpose, and goal setting.
The Windmills Programme includes many of the career management strategies and exercise from Peter Hawkins' book recommended below.
Sections in the postgrad section which may be useful:
- Academic Careers
- International Careers
- Careers outwith Academia
- Tailored sites for PhD students
- Identifying the skills you have to offer
- CV Advice
- Quick Links for...
Recommended books
All these books should be available from your Careers Service or whichever unit deals with CRS career development:
The Art of Building Windmills – career tactics for the 21st century, Peter
Hawkins, Graduate into Employment Unit, 1999, ISBN 0-9535980-0-4
Making Headway – A self development workbook for women working in education,
Maureen Mitchell & Zoe Gruhn, CRAC, ISBN 1-86017-177-X
Career Management for Chemists – A Guide to Success in a Chemistry
Career, John Fetzer, 2004, ISBN 3-540-20899-2
Moving On in Your Career – A guide for academic researchers
and postgraduates, Lynda Ali & Barbara Graham, ISBN 0-415-17870-3
The Academic Career Handbook, Loraine Blaxter, Christina Hughes & Malcolm
Tight ISBN 0-335-19827-9
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