Careers In Academia – Making Successful Applications June Kay Careers Development Consultant j.e.kay@durham.ac.uk

Programme for this morning Routes into academic career Sources of Jobs What do academic depts want? Academic CV – rules, examples Application Forms Interview Questions Mock Interviews Questions

Routes to an academic career First Degree Higher Degree Post-doctoral fellowship & publications Research assistant & publications Research officer * publications Senior research officer Tutorial Assistant & Publications Temporary Lecturer & publications Lecturer

Academic Jobs www.phdjobs.com www.jobs.ac.uk www.findapostdoc.com The Time Higher Education Supplement www.timeshighereducation.co.uk Professional Bodies e.g. BPS, IMechE etc

Five Key Aspects of Professional Activity for An Academic Career Networking Teaching Researching Writing Managing Blaxter, Hughes & Tight (1998,22)

What do academic departments want? Research Reputation Teaching experience Administrative Competence Others

Research Reputation Publications in well recognised, high impact journals Collaboration with other groups, nationally & internationally Experience of applying for and securing research funding Giving talks / papers here and at other universities Attending / contributing to conferences to raise your profile within your discipline (peer reviewed practice first) Demonstrating good project management skills – deliver within budget & on time Investigate reputation of colleagues before accepting short-term work

Teaching Experience Contributing to the supervision of PhD students Demonstrating to undergraduate and postgraduate students Running tutorials Gaining experience of designing, delivering and evaluating degree level courses Giving papers at inter-departmental or inter-university level

Administrative Competence Involvement in grant proposal writing and funding/budgeting issues Project management experience e.g. taking on a supervisory role Organising a symposium / conference / guest lecture series Representing the department / unit / group on relevant university committee Responsibilities re equipment . Materials and licences for experimental work Volunteering for unpopular administrative tasks

Other….. Prizes / Awards & Professional Membership Networking Extra Qualifications e.g. management, IT Knowledge of bigger picture in your field Awareness of current issues in HE e.g. RAE

Academic CVs Longer than business / commercial CV More emphasis on academic achievement Specific details of research, publications, conferences etc Smaller sections on other work experience transferable skills hobbies

Education PhD Specific Details of Current research Title Description Supervisor First Degree Grade Dissertation Title and brief description

Professional & Research Experience Techniques / Methods used Industrial Placements Professional development courses attended Teaching / Demonstrating Publications Conference Papers

Other Other work experience – for transferable skills IT skills Interests Achievements Positions of Responsibility Membership of professional bodies References

Example CVs

Application Forms Personal Statement / Why do you want the job / What can you bring to the post? Match your education / experience / transferable skills to those on the desirable / essential criteria Be specific, relevant & give evidence Vital to show passion and commitment

Vacancy Examples

Interview Format Panel Interview – 4/5/6 members, Impartial Chair – represent the interests of the university not dept. Head of Department Head of Section (research group / area of teaching) Member of different department – lateral comparability Questions split according to panel members area of interest and map onto person specification

Interview Techniques Research – department, staff, HE, subject Preparation – anticipate questions and prepare possible answers Match your selling points to their wish list Body Language – eye contact, handshake, posture etc Voice – pitch, tone Time to think Enthusiasm & PMA

Interview Videos Clips DUO Postgraduate Training & Development On-line courses Supporting your Career Arts & SS or Science

Time to have a go…… Split into groups of 3 Rotate 1 interviewee 1 interviewer 1 observer Each chance of every role 10 mins question plus 3 mins feedback (first from observer & then from interviewer) for each “candidate”

Top Tips from a Deputy Dean Answer interview questions giving example and output Be prepared to discuss how your publications have been received Publication and Research Grant Applications are paramount in CV Must demonstrate well guided career decisions and where this role fits Do your homework on the department – staff and areas research

Help Available Careers Information Room Researchers Section – books, DVDs One-to-one advice appointment for up to 1 hour telephone / e-mail / call into CAS to book

Questions / Discussion