Science & Engineering Researchers’ Careers June Kay Careers Development Consultant

∂ Career Thinking….. …….Where are you at the moment?

∂ HESA 2005 Destinations – Biomedical Science Work in UK –75.6% Work & Study UK –11.5% Study or Training UK –2.3% Working or Studying Overseas –4.3% Not Available for Work / Study –2.1% Unemployed –2% Other –2.2%

∂ Employment – Biomedical Science Health & Social Work Sector – 45% Education – 40% Most popular Occupation – Researcher (within & beyond academia) – 32% Post-docs in HE – 23% Commercial, Industry & Public Sector Managers – 3% Teaching Professional (all sectors) – 14%

∂ HESA 2005 Destinations – Biological Sciences Work in UK –64.5% Work & Study UK –9.4% Study or Training UK –4% Working or Studying Overseas –11.6% Not Available for Work / Study –4.5% Unemployed –4.5% Other –1.5%

∂ HESA 2005 Destinations –Physical Sciences & Engineering Work in UK –69.2% Work & Study UK –9.4% Study or Training UK –2.8% Working or Studying Overseas –9.5% Not Available for Work / Study –2.4% Unemployed –4.8% Other –1.9%

∂ Key Finding - Employment HE - Lecturer / Postdoctoral role Finance / IT / Business Public Sector Administration Health & Social work Manufacturing Other sectors

∂ Some options for quantitative PhDs Finance – Investment Banking, Consultancy, Trading IT – Business Consultancy Patent work / Intellectual Property Solicitor Technical Author / Academic Publishing / Scientific Writing Production Management / Quality Assurance Scientific Research / Data Analysis Scientific Policy work – civil service / regional development etc Research / Management / Operational roles in Industry

∂ Values Interests Personality Skills

∂ Values Autonomy Security Enterprise Sense of Purpose Balanced Lifestyle Expertise & Challenge Reward & Recognition Authority & Influence

∂ Interests Sport / Arts / Science / Commerce etc Environment – office / outdoors / factory / laboratory People – teaching, persuading, treating, providing service Managing staff V responsibility for self Analytical V Creative Workplace based V visiting clients / sites Project Based / Consultancy V long term strategy & development in-house Facts Figures V Machinery V People Profit V Altruism Reaction to pressure, deadlines, stress V self motivation

∂ Constraints Location Mobility Salary Competition Experience Age??? Health Family Work Life Balance Work Permits Previous criminal convictions

∂ Personality - MBTI To complete this inventory on-line contact the CAS for details E v I – Where do you get your energy from? S v N – What kind of information do you value? F v T – How do you make decision? J v P – How do you deal with the outer world

∂ What skills do Employers Want? “Researchers do not appear to be able to articulate their personal skills well and are unable to talk to employers in their language” Empress Study, Leeds University

∂ CVs for PhD’s You should have a different type of CV for posts outside of academia Many same skills and experience Different Focus / Language Commercial application

∂ Academic CVs for PhD Focus on Academic Achievement Publications & Research grant applications – paramount Research V Teaching Activities which raise profile of your research, subject, dept, university Transferable skills related to academic Additional Contribution to the dept / university as whole

∂ Non-academic CVs for PhD’s A CV and covering letter should include evidence of relevant: Knowledge – specific or general Experience – tasks, processes, responsibilities Skills – specialist and transferable / generic Interest / Enthusiasm / Commitment

∂ Non-academic CVs for PhD’s Structure – logical, clear Presentation/layout – attractive / professional Content – Relevant / Explicit Length – 2 pages A4 Impact !!!!!

∂ Action words for CVs Negotiated Devised Promoted Identified Generated Led Delivered Tested Resolved Facilitated Managed Represented Analysed Solved Initiated

∂ Non-Academic CVs for PhD’s What would you include under: Personal details? PhD research? Other education? Work experience? Publications and Conferences? Additional skills and achievements? Interests? Who will be your references?

∂ Non-academic CVs for PhD’s What might you leave out? CV at the top of the page? A career goal/personal profile? School record? Work experience that does not sell skills? Anything else?

∂ CVs for PhD’s Reverse chronological - Similar to academic CV May omit: Publications Conferences Must emphasise more: Non academic work experience Commercial Applications / Equivalents Transferable skills

∂ Other types of CV - Targeted Useful if you know what the employer is looking for Highlights on Page 1 the key skills and qualities you possess which are relevant to the post (skills profile) and where you have obtained these Therefore ‘plagiarises’ the advert Then follows on with a standard reverse chronological CV

∂ Page one might start like this… Communication: Excellent oral and written skills required for planning preparing and leading seminars with undergraduate students. Several conference papers presented and well received by a wide academic audience. Active listening and diplomacy as demonstrated through voluntary work on student helpline for 3 years. Team Working: Demonstrated when rowing for university where I proved my commitment to succeed and encouraged others to also do so, as part of a successful multi-disciplinary research group and whilst working in a pressured retail environment part-time for 4 years. Project & Time Management: Successfully planned the most effective use of my time and resources to complete my research project ahead of schedule whilst submitting papers for publication, supervising undergraduate students research and renovating my new home. Computer literacy: Confident user of a wide variety of packages including Microsoft Word, Access, Excel, SPSS and C++. Designed, developed and updated the International Students Society website. Easily adapt to specialist employer software e.g. stock control in retail

∂ Application forms Same general principles as CVs Competency Based More specific examples Statement in Support of Application

∂ Tell us about a time when you have worked effectively as part of a team. What was your role and what did you contribute to the team? What did you learn for the future? S - In August 2007 I participated in the residential GRAD school Course, Communication Skills + More, run by Durham university. At the start of the 4 day course I was allocated to a group of 9 researchers from all faculties whom I had never met before. T –On day 3 all teams participated in a 3 hour environmental impact simulation, where the remit was to represent your own interests in negotiation with other stakeholders. As representatives of the chemical company we had to consider the financial implications, adverse publicity and legal obligations.

∂ …….continued A –As a science researcher I felt that my strength would lie in analysing the data we were given, evaluating the impact of the incident, then presenting a summary to the group for discussion. I told the rest of my team this and asked the other members which skills they felt they could bring to the team. I lead a discussion on allocation of roles and division of tasks then identified priority actions. Since some elements could not be started until others were completed I suggested a system whereby the strongest member for a particular task led a subgroup of two or three members, who could all contribute ideas and assist with practical tasks.

∂ …….continued R –All team members engaged with the task and developed an insight into an area of communication they felt was new to them. The team spirit was high throughout and individual members gained new skills and confidence. We managed to reach a mutually satisfactory agreement with all but one of the other parties involved, but this one group managed to raise this very successfully at the final “press conference”. In future I would suggest the team allocate time to practice for media interview, rather than relying on knowing their facts.

∂ Statement in support of Application What created your initial interest in this field How have you pursued this – academic / work experience What particular aspects of their work interest you What skills have you developed that match the requirements of the job What do you really know about the role / company Relevant Specific Evidence Enthusiasm Passion Reflection Research

∂ Covering letters Explain who you are Say why you want the post Give examples of your suitability Explain why you want to work in that organisation Provide other general information Say when you are available for interview

∂ Academic Interviews Panel – membership Split by area of expertise Questions – example and output Demonstrate well guided career path Where do you see yourself in future Research on dept Current issues in HE But same general principals as non-academic interviews………DVD

∂ ASSESSMENT CENTRES group discussions case studies in - tray exercises role play presentations aptitude / psychometric tests, eg: –logical thinking –verbal reasoning –numerical –spatial awareness personality - preferred styles of behaviour panel interviews

∂ Lynda Ali + Barbara Graham, Moving on in Your Career; A guide for academic researchers and postgraduates (RoutledgeFalmer London + New York 2000) AgCAS/University of London Careers Service, University researchers and the job market Mary Anne Thompson, The Global Resume and CV Guide (John Wiley + Sons New York 2000) Publications