• University of Glasgow
  • University of Edinburgh
  • The University of Sheffield

Career Management for Early Career Academic Researchers

Explore different career options, learn what you want out of a career and understand how to implement good career decisions.

14,643 enrolled on this course

Career Management for Early Career Academic Researchers

14,643 enrolled on this course

  • 4 weeks

  • 3 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Introductory level

Find out more about how to join this course

Explore different career options and understand what you want from a career

Being an early career academic researcher, whether you’re a doctoral student or research staff, can be challenging: should you pursue further academic research? What skills will help you progress in an academic career? What other career options are open to you?

On this course you will answer these questions and more, considering how to manage you career and reflecting on what you want out of a career. You will be encouraged to consider different career options, both within and outside academic research, and build your confidence in marketing yourself in applications and interviews.

Skip to 0 minutes and 4 seconds KATRINA GARDNER: Academic researchers build up an enormous array of skills and experience during their academic research career that can take them into a wide range of professional careers, both inside and outside of the higher education sector.

Skip to 0 minutes and 18 seconds I am Katrina Gardner, Careers Manager for post-graduate research students and early career researchers at the University of Glasgow.

Skip to 0 minutes and 25 seconds SHARON MAGUIRE: I’m Dr. Shannon Maguire, Careers Consultant at the University of Edinburgh.

Skip to 0 minutes and 29 seconds DARCEY GILLIE: I’m Darcey Gillie, Careers Adviser for researchers at the University of Sheffield.

Skip to 0 minutes and 33 seconds KATRINA GARDNER: All three educators are highly-experienced career professionals with many years experience working in higher education career services supporting research students and research staff.

Skip to 0 minutes and 45 seconds DARCEY GILLIE: We’ve authored careers resources for researchers, supported students and staff with their career development through individual advice and guidance, and designed and facilitated workshops on many aspects of career management. We’re passionate about supporting researchers to make and implement well-informed career decisions that will lead them to satisfying futures.

Skip to 1 minute and 6 seconds KATRINA GARDNER: This is a free online career management course for UK-based academic researchers. It is relevant and useful for both early career research staff and PhD students. This course aims to support academic researchers to consider factors that may be important to you in shaping your future career direction, whether that involves progressing in an academic career or considering other career areas in the UK professional job market.

Skip to 1 minute and 31 seconds SHARON MAGUIRE: Through this course, you will reflect on what is important to you as you consider your future career direction. You will think about your values, motivations, and interests, and how these align with different careers, both within and outside of the academic environment. You will learn about the variety of career areas academic researchers move into and develop strategies to generate and research career ideas that will interest you. We will support you to identify the skills and experience that you have developed through your education and work and how this unique experience is viewed and valued by employers in many different industries.

Skip to 2 minutes and 9 seconds DARCEY GILLIE: You will begin to plan your strategy for progressing either in the highly competitive academic job market or for making a transition into other professional roles. This course will conclude with a focus on the job application process, where we aim to give you the confidence to market your experience effectively to the employers that count for you.

Skip to 2 minutes and 28 seconds NARRATOR: Over the course of four weeks, we will cover four main topics. Week one, we will focus on identifying significant individual influences in making career decisions. Week two looks at exploring interesting career options outside of academic research. Week three considers progression in an academic career and what this could mean for you. And finally, week four focuses on strategies for making successful job applications and performing well at interview.

Skip to 2 minutes and 56 seconds SHARON MAGUIRE: We look forward to welcoming you on this course, supporting you in exploring and planning your future career, and helping you to maximise your chances of experiencing a rewarding and fulfilling career journey.

What topics will you cover?

  • Factors that are important when considering future career development including key drivers, strengths, interests, personality, and values and how these impact on career choice
  • Experience, skills and qualifications that aid progression in an academic career and how to build relevant experience
  • Common career areas researchers enter outside academic research and how to generate and research individual career ideas
  • CVs for different roles and how to present experience effectively when applying for academic and non-academic jobs
  • What to expect at academic and non-academic interviews, and how to prepare effectively for these

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Develop an awareness of what is important when considering future career development, including reflection on key drivers, skills, interests, personality, and values and how these impact on career choice
  • Identify the experience, skills and qualifications that will aid progression in an academic career; assess individual experience; identify gaps in light of what is required for moving on; and consider how to build relevant experience.
  • Explore some of the more common career areas researchers enter outside academic research and develop strategies to help generate and research individual career ideas
  • Describe how to adapt a CV for different roles and have improved confidence in presenting experience effectively when applying for academic and non-academic jobs
  • Discuss what to expect at academic and non-academic interviews, how to prepare effectively for these, and develop an awareness of how to present research experience to different types of employers

Who is the course for?

This course is for academic researchers - both postgraduate researchers (PhDs) and early career researchers (post-docs).

Who will you learn with?

Dr Sharon Maguire, Assistant Director at the Careers Service at University of Edinburgh, has supported postgraduate research students and research staff with their career development for many years.

Katrina has been working in career guidance in Higher Education for the last 16 years. Since 2006 she has worked as the Careers Manager for PGRs and ECRs at the University of Glasgow.

Dr Rebecca Ehata is Careers & Employability Consultant for PGR students and research staff for the University of Sheffield's Careers & Employability Service and Researcher Development teams.

Who developed the course?

The University of Glasgow

Founded in 1451, the University of Glasgow is the fourth oldest university in the English-speaking world. It is a member of the prestigious Russell Group of leading UK research universities.

  • Established

    1451
  • Location

    Glasgow, Scotland, UK
  • World ranking

    Top 70Source: QS World University Rankings 2020

The University of Edinburgh

Founded in 1583, the University of Edinburgh is one of the world’s top universities and is globally recognised for research, innovation and high-quality teaching.

The University of Sheffield

The University of Sheffield is one of the world’s top 100 universities with a reputation for teaching and research excellence.

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$27.99

For the first two months. Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$104/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 25 Apr 2024

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

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