1. Careers In Academia – Making Successful Applications
June Kay
Careers Development Consultant

2. 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

3. 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

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

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

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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

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

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

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

15. Example CVs

16. 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

17. Vacancy Examples

18. 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

19. 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

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

21. 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”

22. 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

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

24. Questions / Discussion