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Next steps after a PhD or ‘Giving yourself the competitive edge’

Next steps after a PhD or ‘Giving yourself the competitive edge’. Dr Jacqui Akhurst York St John University. Postgraduates who teach Psychology Network Workshop Newcastle, December 2008. Beyond academia?. Skills checklists Job seeking strategies Job adverts

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Next steps after a PhD or ‘Giving yourself the competitive edge’

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  1. Next steps after a PhD or ‘Giving yourself the competitive edge’ Dr Jacqui Akhurst York St John University Postgraduates who teach Psychology Network Workshop Newcastle, December 2008

  2. Beyond academia? • Skills checklists • Job seeking strategies • Job adverts • Employer attitudes to postgraduates • Further examples …

  3. The learning cycle adapted(from Honey & Mumford, 1992) and collect evidence to support your ‘case’

  4. Skills checklists • Variety available e.g. • http://www.graduateeducation.eps.manchester.ac.uk/graddev/news/dpgm/documents/Pre-Course%20Learning%20Journal.doc • A quick Skills Audit • Available online from • http://www.psychology.heacademy.ac.uk/docs/doc/p20050524_psychmoduleskillsaudit2.doc

  5. The psychology card sort (a tool to assist reflection) • http://www.psychology.heacademy.ac.uk/CardSort/CardSort_Psychology/index.htm • Part of COLLECTING EVIDENCE of employability skills and personal attributes

  6. Job-seeking strategies (with acknowledgement to Linda Moysey, UWE) • Use a wide range of resources • Apply for advertised vacancies • Make speculative approaches • Network with a range of contacts • Gain relevant work experience – paid/unpaid • Market yourself effectively • a good CV for starters

  7. Job adverts • Group activity: • Scan the job ad you’ve been given • Identify the skills /competences, qualifications & experience required, and highlight those that you feel you can meet • Talk about the way that you’d apply for the job, in order for your application to ‘stand out’

  8. Enhancing job applications and CV’s (from Linda Moysey, UWE) • Presenting evidence of your transferable skills • Structure carefully through highlighting key information in cover letter & using relevant sub-headings • Language – use action words e.g. ‘created’ , ‘initiated’ & positive words e.g. ‘versatile’, ‘successful’, ‘effective’ • Highlight your strengths • Focus on achievements – what you did and how you did it • Make it relevant to the employer’s agenda • Personal statement / profile ?

  9. Common pitfalls with CVs • Too much / little information • Not tailored to a particular job • Insufficient concrete evidence of skills • No personality or enthusiasm • Poor spelling & grammar • Badly presented

  10. Examples of potential jobs: • Acquisitions Editor; Medical Error Consultant; Science Writer; Engineering Psychology in R&D; Social Science Analyst in the Public Sector; Human-Computer Interface Designer; Highway Safety Research Analyst; Market Research Consultant; Research Administrator; Human Resources Research; Trial Consultant; Organizational Development Consultant; … • See http://www.apa.org/science/nonacad_careers.html

  11. Useful resources • Career development books • Ali & Graham (2000) Moving on in your career • Basella & Debelius (2001) So what are you going to do with that? • Schofield (2001) University researchers and the job market • Career websites • General • Job search (e.g. jobs.ac.uk; nhscareers.nhs.uk; jobsunlimited.co.uk; findapostdoc.com) • CVs, applications, interview advice • Case studies (e.g. hesda.org.uk; prospects.ac.uk)

  12. Tricky interview questions (for personal reflection) • "List two or three words which a friend might use to describe you. Can you give examples of actual situations which would have merited this description?" (Courtaulds) • "Give an example of when you developed effective working relationships with people from differing backgrounds or having differing views to accomplish an important result?" (Procter and Gamble) • "What has been the most personally rewarding aspect of your time in HE?" (British Gas) • "Describe what you consider to be your most significant achievement. What was the key to your success?" (BT) • "What is the most important decision that you have taken? How did you go about taking this decision?" (Shell) • "Describe an occasion where you have had to make an unpopular decision. What reaction did you get and what have you learnt from the experience?" (Barclays)

  13. To practice • Many big companies have online initial job screening (e.g. M&S) • Other resources …

  14. Employer attitudes to postgraduates and researchers • Advanced problem-solving skills • Ability to construct and defend arguments • Expert analytical thinking • Project management skills • Self confidence • Creative thinking and new ideas • Setting and achieving goals • Ability to work through complex processes without being intimidated • Never taking anything at face value Source: What do PhDs do? 2004 http://www.grad.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Resources/What_Do_PhDs_Do_/p!eXeccLa

  15. Further resources … STUDENT EMPLOYABILITY PROFILES See http://www.cihe-uk.com/docs/SEP/Psychology.pdf

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