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.

  • The job market
    for postgrads
  • Why are you
    studying?
  • Opportunities

  • Skills
    obtained
  • Choosing a
    career
  • Researching
    careers
  • Vacancy
    sources
  • CVs &
    applications
  • Summary
    & links

 

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. Picture of Owl

Most of what is written here applies equally to contract research staff and postgraduates. Contract research staff are most welcome to use the 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.

The Job Market for Postgraduates

More postgraduates than ever before

In the last ten years the number of postgraduate students in the UK has increased to almost 400,000, an increase of 400% over the last 20 years and continuing to rise. Reasons for this rise include:

  • Increasing opportunities for postgraduate study, full-time, part-time and by distance learning (it is worth noting that over 60% of all postgraduates are part-time students)
  • The perception that a postgraduate qualification is an asset when developing your career or competing with others for jobs

What do postgraduates do?

The vast majority of postgraduates enter employment at the end of their studies - over 85% compared with 65% of first-degree graduates. Around 8% continue studying, for further academic or vocational qualifications.

Careers with a PhD

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

The work which postgraduates enter will depend not only upon the subject studied but also upon the individual graduate - their interests, employability skills, abilities and personal circumstances. These will be especially important for those graduates who are seeking employment not directly related to their studies. The reasons why you have chosen to follow postgraduate study are also significant.

"Why" you are studying is as important in determining your future options as "what" you are studying. Still more so are the personal skills and experience which you have to offer. Even students entering academia will need to be able to show good communication and organisational skills in addition to their subject expertise.

"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)

 

Why are you studying?

For interest in the subject?

You may be pursuing postgraduate study principally for academic interest without planning to use your studies directly in employment. However, many postgraduates do hope to be able to make use of their studies in some way. Teaching and research in further or higher education may be the obvious way to do this: the availability of other opportunities is likely to depend on your subject.

As a career move?

You may have chosen a degree that links in to a career area of interest to you, or which offers a qualification required to enter that career, such as an MSc in Forensic Psychology. However, there may still be competition to get into your chosen field and your postgraduate degree may not guarantee you entry.

To put off making a career decision?

If you didn't have a clear career aim when you graduated, postgraduate study probably offered the opportunity to continue doing what you are good at while deferring a difficult decision. That decision is unlikely to have become any easier as your studies have progressed, especially if you have given no thought to career planning during this time.

It is very difficult to generalise about what the options are for postgraduate students, especially those in the first and third of these categories. All will get different things out of their postgraduate study. Some may require further training after completing it.

It may be helpful to look at what previous students have gone on to do. Be aware, though, that if only a few postgraduates are doing the same subject as you, there may be only limited information. Some information may be found at our "What can I do with my Degree in .." web pages www.kent.ac.uk/careers/degreein.htm

PhD Destinations

Source: HESA DLHE Surveys

Opportunities

1) IN EDUCATION


Education will often offer the best opportunities to use your postgraduate studies directly, especially in the humanities. However the job market for postgraduates and contract researchers to work in research is getting tougher. Most postdocs are likely to spend several years on temporary contracts before obtaining a permanent post.

  • Lecturing. While some postgraduates will obtain a position as a lecturer in a higher education institution immediately after completing their PhD, this is increasingly rare. More typically they will start out as a:
  • Teaching Assistant/Research Assistant/Research 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. Some of these posts will be abroad and the PhD market is very much an international one with postdocs. moving between countries.
  • Teaching in Schools and Colleges. A number of postgraduates will go on to do a PGCE teacher training course. Funding to cover fees and maintenance is normally available for these courses. It is also possible to obtain qualified teacher status while working in a school. A PhD may gain you access to jobs in the academically better schools and sixth form colleges eventually. You don't necessarily need to have a teaching qualification to teach in Further Education Colleges which cater for the 16 to 19 age group, or to teach in independent schools although it would be advantageous.

    You should take advantage of any opportunities to gain teaching experience during your postgraduate studies, within your own department where this is available or through part-time teaching in further and adult education. If you intend to teach in schools, work experience with the relevant age-range will be essential. See our teaching pages.

2) IN OTHER AREAS RELATED TO YOUR SUBJECT

Below we outline career opportunities for some of the most popular postgraduate subjects at the University of Kent.

Humanities

Outside teaching, 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 media, publishing and the heritage industry are highly competitive and employers will usually be seeking practical and transferable skills rather than just academic expertise.

Law

A 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.

Business and Management

These opportunities will vary considerably according to the amount and level of your pre-course work experience. Graduates who have obtained an MBA immediately after a first degree will generally enter organisations at "graduate" level. Although many employers, particularly large corporations, value the skills and business knowledge gained through an MBA, they do not normally have a separate entry level for MBA graduates without professional work experience. If you do have such experience, speculative applications and networking are likely to be the most effective tools if you are seeking a new position; websites such as the Association of MBAs or mbamatch.com should also be used.

Economics

A 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.

International Relations

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.

Science

Increasingly employers of researchers in science are no longer just looking for academic research skills. They are looking at recruiting researchers to move through the ranks to become project leaders, department managers, heads of research ultimately, or sometimes to move out of research into more commercial roles. Now many employers are now looking for very specific research skills which closely match the research area of the job and evidence of employability skills (see below).

3) IN OTHER AREAS OUTSIDE YOUR SUBJECT

You may have decided that you do not wish, or will not be able, to use your postgraduate study in your career whether directly or indirectly. Your change in direction may involve entering employment immediately or a further course of study, possibly vocational. The following pages will help you to make choices and to assess your personal qualities before taking your next step.

 

Employability Skills Obtained through Postgraduate Study

 

PhD Skills

The employability skills derived from postgraduate study include the following:

 

In addition to all the skills outlined above you are likely to develop the following skills to a high level on a research Masters or PhD:

In a study by Vitae employers ranked the strongest skills of doctoral graduates in the following order

  1. Data analysis
  2. Problem Solving
  3. Drive and Motivation
  4. Project Management
  5. Interpersonal Skills
  6. Leadership
  7. Commercial Awareness

 

Choosing a Career

Important things to remember when making career decisions:

  • Get to know yourself - your employability skills, abilities and personal qualities. Begin choosing a career by discovering more about yourself. It will save you time and false starts in the long run. Until you know what your skills and values are, and what you want from a job, you will have difficulty making career choices.
  • Other 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 yourself more objectively.
  • Don't have fixed ideas about jobs (who does them and what the work is like). Find out what is really involved. Avoid stereotyped notions about jobs - they are rarely accurate. Look for the truth behind the gloss of recruitment literature, or the popular image.
  • Keep an open mind. Be flexible. Be receptive to new job ideas. Don't reject careers without some consideration first.
  • Make full use of the Careers and Employability Service. Use our information room and IT resources and consult Careers Advisers with any queries and problems.

Sources of help and information on making career decisions include:

 

Destinations of selected Kent PhD Students 2005 to 2011

PhD Accounting & Finance University of Kent Reader In Accounting
PhD Biochemistry University of Kent Postdoctoral Research
PhD Biochemistry University of Kent Postdoctoral Research Associate
PhD Biochemistry University of Kent Research Associate
PhD Biochemistry Rochester Independent College Trainee Teacher
PhD Biochemistry University of Bristol Postdoctoral Research Ass't
PhD Biochemistry University of Kent Research Associate/(Training for Teaching)
PhD Biochemistry Bridge Genoma Molecular Cytogeneticist
PhD Biochemistry University of Kent Post Doc Research Assoc./PCRT-T HIGHEDA
PhD Biochemistry St.Jude Childrens Research Hospital Postdoctoral Research Associate
PhD Biodiversity Management Herpetological Conservation Trust Research & Monitoring Officer
PhD Biodiversity Management University of Edinburgh Post Doctoral Researcher
PhD Biodiversity Management University of Sussex Research Assistant
PhD Cartoons & Caricature University of Kent Associate Lecturer
PhD Clinical Psychology University of East Anglia Clinical Senior Lecturer
PhD Computer Science Kasikom Bank IT Developer
PhD Computer Science Universidad Carlos III Visiting Lecturer
PhD Computer Science Nokia UK Ltd Software Engineer
PhD Drama Rose Bruford Colege Programme Director
PhD Drama Southampton Solent University Lecturer
PhD Drama Bristol University Lecturer
PhD Economics Observatoire Francais Economiques Researcher
PhD Economics University of Gothenburg Postdoc/Lecturer
PhD Electronic Eng. University of Lefke Senior Lecturer
PhD Electronic Eng. Brigham Young University Associate Professor
PhD Electronic Engineering University of Kent Research Assoc.
PhD Electronic Engineering Japan Society for the promotion of Sci. Post Doctoral Research Fellow
PhD English Brook Farm/Designed Visions/WEA Farm Secretary/Permaculture Design Cert.
PhD English Kuehne & Nagel Office Administrator
PhD Film Studies University of East Anglia Lecturer/PGHE
PhD French University of Kent Associate Lecturer in French
PhD Health Psychology Local Research Network Senior Research Nurse
PhD History Leeds Castle Part-time Castle Guide
PhD History Retired  
PhD History University of Kent Part-time Sessional Teacher
PhD History   Civil Servant
PhD International Relations ESSEC IRENE Director
PhD International Relations U.S. Army Chief Office of Defence Co-operation
PhD Italian University of Kent Part-time Lecturer/PGCE HE
PhD Law University of Keele Lecturer
PhD Law University of Kent Teaching Assistant
PhD Medieval Studies. University of Kent Lecturer
PhD Philosophy Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Postdoctoral Researcher
PhD Physics Christ Church Academy Science Teacher
PhD Physics Ancon Technologies Aerosol Physicist
PhD Physics Geological Society Web Site Administrator
PhD Physics DSTL Defence Scientist
PhD Physics Defence Sci. & Research Lab. MOD Civil Servant
PhD Physics University of Kent Schools Liaison Adviser
PhD Politics & Gov't Democretean University of Thrake Lecturer
PhD Postcolonial Studies University of Kent Lecturer
PhD Postcolonial Studies University of Kent Teaching Associate
PhD Psychology Royal Holloway University Post-doc Research Associate
PhD Psychology University of Kent Lecturer in Psychology
PhD Psychology University of Staffordshire Lecturer
PhD Pure Mathematics University of Kent Part-time Marker of Undergrad Maths Exams
PhD Social Policy University of Southampton Lecturer
PhD Social Policy Kent County Council Policy & Strategy Officer
PhD Social Policy UCD Head of School of Social Justice
PhD Social Psychology South Bank University Lecturer
PhD Social Psychology University of Kent Research Assoc.
PhD Spanish Accent Business Communication Director Self Employed
PhD Statistics University of Kent Research Associate
PhD Statistics Cambridge University Postdoctoral Research Ass't
PhD Statistics   Postdoctoral Research Ass't
PhD Theology & Religious St. Educational Association Part-time Lecturer

 

 

Researching Careers and Employers

Before making career choices you will need to investigate the different careers that are open to you in order to get to know the knowledge, employability skills and abilities that will be required of, for example, an Operational Researcher or a Historic Buildings Inspector. Getting behind the popular image (whether glamorous or grim) of a particular career will help you to make a decision as to whether this is the right choice for you. The working conditions and lifestyle implications of the job may also be important to you, especially if you have family responsibilities. Doing your research into careers will also help you to appear well-informed and enthusiastic in your application and at job interviews.

Some Sources of Information on Employers and Jobs

  • Academic staff in your department may well have developed expertise and links regarding jobs and employers in their field. They can be a fruitful source of advice and contacts so do ask them for help and advice. Also see the links to Job Sources for Postgraduates
  • Graduate Directories, such as Prospects and Hobsons. These are available from the Careers and Employability Service and on the web – see www.kent.ac.uk/careers/graddirectories.htm . They give details of employers recruiting graduates, with background on the employer, an outline of vacancies available and any specific requirements e.g. degree subject.
  • Careers Service Vacancy Databasewww.kent.ac.uk/careers/jobs.htm
  • Local and National Newspapers and their websites. www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sitespub.htm The Guardian http://jobs.guardian.co.uk is particularly useful for jobs in the media (Mondays), education (Tuesdays) and the public sector (Wednesdays).
  • Specialist journals and websites - e.g. the Times Higher Education Supplement for academic and research posts in Higher Education, New Scientist and Nature for scientific research, The Bookseller for publishing. See the links to Job Sources for Postgraduates or “I Want to Work In …” www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin.htm
  • Employer Reference Files. These files in the Careers Information Room contain reference copies of employers' brochures, application forms and up-to date vacancy information. We also have a certain amount of information on working abroad. www.kent.ac.uk/careers/careersfind.htm#employers
  • Professional and trade directories , e.g. the Law Society's Directory of Solicitors and Barristers
  • Professional Bodies e.g. the Chartered Insurance Institute. See our Links www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sitesmen.htm
  • Recruitment Agencies both traditional and on-line. Some of these are listed at www.kent.ac.uk/careers/recruit.htm
  • Networking - conferences are a good place for networking and you should actively cultivate the contacts you make at these or at other meetings to try to find out what opportunities are available and to get people to put in a good word for you when appropriate. For more on this see our Creative Jobhunting page.

Vacancy sources for postgraduates

  • Jobs in the Academic Community www.jobs.ac.uk Research, Science, Academic, Teaching and Management jobs and studentships in the public and private sector.
  • FindAPostDoc www.FindAPostDoc.com Advertises post-doctoral positions.
  • www.PhDjobs.com website catering exclusively for postgraduates of all disciplines who wish to work in industry or academia
  • The Guardian http://jobs.guardian.co.uk Every job posted in the Guardian and the Observer, plus many more online-only job ads
  • Times Higher Educational Supplement www.thes.co.uk   good source of jobs in universities.
  • Academic Jobs EU www.academicjobseu.com Academic and related vacancies for universities and research institutes in the EU.
  • aut4jobswww.aut4jobs.com Higher education vacancies and advice about your rights at work.
  • Association of Commonwealth Universities www.acu.ac.uk international university jobs and vacancy emailing, plus information on scholarships and courses.
  • Eduserve Vacancies www.vacancies.ac.uk provider of on-line information services for clients in education, government, health and other sectors.
  • The National Postgraduate Committee www.npc.org.uk - the representative body for postgraduates in the UK. Site includes links to job search resources
  • Nature http://naturejobs.nature.com/js.php Science jobs
  • New Scientist www.newscientistjobs.com
  • University of Kent Job vacancies – academic, research and other posts www.kent.ac.uk/jobs/index.html

Postgraduate and Academic CVs

When should a CV be used?

  • When an employer asks for applications to be received in this format.
  • When an employer states “apply to ...” without specifying the format.
  • When making speculative applications (i.e. when writing to an employer who has not actually advertised a vacancy).

Contents of a CV

  • Personal details and contact details
  • Education and qualifications
  • Work experience (full or part-time, paid and voluntary)
  • Interests, activities, posts of responsibility, etc
  • Skills (practical skills such as IT and languages)
  • Referees

A CV should normally be no longer than two sides of A4: some people prefer a one side CV, but this can sometimes be rather too cramped, especially for postgraduates.

See the example CVs to give you an idea of layout. There are many ways to set out a CV and you will find other examples in file 013 in the Careers Information Room and the booklet "How to Write a CV" which can be borrowed from the Careers and Employability Service against a returnable deposit.

Targeting your Application

Targeting your application demonstrates to the employer that you have thought about what you have to offer and why the job appeals to you. This is particularly important if you are applying for positions where your degree is not directly relevant to the work or where a postgraduate qualification is not actually specified.

  • Whatever your subject of study, you need to aim your curriculum vitae directly at the needs, aims, objectives and requirements of the employer.
  • There should be no waffle or superfluous detail in the CV. Every point you make should count.
  • Give evidence . Don't make general statements such as "I am a determined and numerate person with good communication skills" - show how you have demonstrated these qualities in your work, study or extra-curricular activities.
  • Your Activities and Interests should add extra selling points.
  • If applying for non-academic posts, such as Eleanor Estraven’s application for Management Training, you must make all the points you make work for you. It is not enough for Eleanor to simply list what she did in the Students' Union. She must describe it in terms relevant to her application. Campus Tour Guide, for example, becomes “experience in representing the institution to outside organisations”;
  • Research career areas and employers thoroughly, using the resources listed at www.kent.ac.uk/careers/careersfind.htm#employers ;
  • Use "action verbs" , such as "achieved", "devised", "co-ordinated" - these create a positive and businesslike impression. See www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/actionverbs.htm for a list of examples;
  • Use personal names wherever possible; "Dear Ms. Dashwood" rather than "Dear Sir or Madam".
  • For more information on making applications see our general application pages www.kent.ac.uk/careers/applicn.htm, File 013 in the Careers Information Room and the DVD "Looking Good on Paper" available in the Careers Service. Also look out for regular Careers Service Talks – see www.kent.ac.uk/careers/casevents.htm

Some Points to Consider

  • If the career you have in mind is not linked to your studies then you must emphasise the general uses to which the skills you have developed can be put. Skills such as working to tight deadlines, under pressure, presenting to groups, the in-depth research and analysis of a topic, team/independent working etc. See www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sciencetoday/2012/0223/1224312238632.html
  • You will notice that the student in the example Postgraduate Humanities CV declares her possession of a AHRB grant. These grants are very hard to obtain, especially by students with an Upper Second Class degree. Hence it has become an item to declare with pride on her CV, perhaps demonstrating her ability as a student rather more strongly than the 2:1. In any case she would probably need to draw out this point in her covering letter.
  • You may wish to focus a potential employer’s attention onto areas of your experience outside your postgraduate study. This would be particularly wise if you are concerned about their response to your recent study, for example if you are applying to a small/medium sized employer unfamiliar with your subject of study.
  • Some may even have "attitudes" about applicants with very good qualifications (regarding you as "over-qualified") which you will need to counter by demonstrating your all-round employability and determination to muck-in when necessary.
  • The amount of space you devote to your first degree and your postgraduate qualification respectively is significant. The most recent study should predominate. Only points relevant to your application (i.e. the job or course you are applying for) should be included with your qualifications.

CVs for Academic Posts

An academic CV from a PhD student applying for research posts follows a different format from a normal CV and can be longer than the normal 2 sides. It might include:

  • A section on conferences attended (including any presentations made or poster displays)
  • Publications produced: normally in chronological order, but if the most recent is not the most relevant you could use a subheading such a "Relevant publications". Other subheadings could include "Peer reviewed", "In Progress", and "Conference Proceedings". If you have a long list of publications, include these as an appendix;
  • A synopsis of your PhD at the beginning or as an appendix;
  • More than the usual two references . One or more from your postgraduate degree and one from an employer or other individual who can comment about your personal qualities as opposed to your academic performance;
  • Evidence of teaching/presenting skills , such as running seminars or practicals. Also administration experience, plus any record in attracting funding;
  • List of scientific techniques used e.g. NMR, HPLC etc;
  • Give evidence of IT, time management, project management and report writing skills;
  • For research posts in industry mention any contact with industry that you have had, such as placements;

 

One strategy is to produce a two side CV and then to put a synopsis of your research, conferences, publications and references on a third (and perhaps fourth) page.PhD Interview

Find out the research interests and papers published within the department you are applying to: this will help you to target your CV.

Get feedback and advice from your supervisor, who will have experience of academic CVs, and see below for examples

Some thoughts on academic references from the referee’s point of view www.guardian.co.uk/education/2013/jan/28/application-university-job-reference

CVS for applications for a Master's Degree or PhD

An academic CV might sometimes be required if you are applying for a Master's degree or PhD. Here your work experience will be less important than your academic achievements. Normally these CVs will be chronological rather than skills-based.

Detail all the courses you have studied during your degree by year and give grades (if they are good!). Also give details of any projects, extended essays or dissertations you have done - especially if the subject area was related to the study area you are applying to. If you have any relevant interests, put them in. For example, if you are applying for a PhD in Space Science, mention that you are a member of the Astronomy Society and that you have your own telescope. Use headings to emphasise technical content e.g. "relevant work experience", "areas of scientific interest", "laboratory skills and techniques".

In your covering letter, say why you want to go to the particular university (for example - excellent reputation in that field of research) and try to show real enthusiasm for the subject you will be studying ( for example - evidence that you have read around the subject and know about recent developments).

Example applications from postgraduates:

Applications for postgraduate study:

Summary: important steps in career planning

  • examine closely the reasons behind your choice of subject.
  • carry out an objective assessment of your employability skills, interests, values and aptitudes
  • analyse what you feel you have acquired from your studies and identify strengths and weaknesses. This will enable you to positively market your strengths to any employers of interest
  • immerse yourself in the employment and job-hunting scene. Read a quality newspaper each day, use the Internet and use any contacts you have to get inside information about their work
  • prepare a CV, get some work experience, obtain the Careers and Employability Service vacancy lists
  • above all set some time aside every week to pursue these activities

If you don't know which career to enter see our booklet on "Choosing a Career" or use the Prospects Planner computer-aided careers guidance system - see end of the booklet for details.

The Research Councils' Graduate Schools Programme (RCGSP)

This a 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. The web site is www.gradschools.ac.uk

Links

 

Last fully updated 2012