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Academic careers: Navigating the post-PhD years

Academic careers: Navigating the post-PhD years. Dr Charlotte mathieson c.Mathieson@Surrey.ac.uk @ cemathieson www.charlottemathieson.wordpress.com. Overview. What is an academic job and what are employers looking for? What does a typical post-PhD career path look like?

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Academic careers: Navigating the post-PhD years

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  1. Academic careers: Navigating the post-PhD years Dr Charlotte mathieson c.Mathieson@Surrey.ac.uk @cemathieson www.charlottemathieson.wordpress.com

  2. Overview • What is an academic job and what are employers looking for? • What does a typical post-PhD career path look like? • What are the challenges you might encounter?

  3. What is an academic job? Permanent full-time lectureships Postdoctoral fellowships (Leverhulme, British Academy)/ research position on project Fixed-term lectureships (1-2 years) Teaching fellowships Academic-related jobs e.g. public engagement, research support Hourly-paid teaching

  4. What are employers looking for? • Research • - publications: articles, chapters; monograph —> REF submission • - grants & funding: small PG awards & bursaries; conference funding; research funding • - conference presentations • Teaching • - Experience at UG/ MA level; supervision (BA/MA/PhD) • - seminars, lectures, assessment; content/ course design • Administration • - committees e.g. department groups, subject associations • - conference/ symposium organisation, reading groups, etc

  5. Characteristics of early career paths • There is no typical path • A period of precarity is common, and increasingly longer • Multiple, short-term contracts across institutions (simultaneously/successively) typical • Most jobs teaching-focused; Research-focused roles eg fellowships harder to come by

  6. My early career path • 2007-10: PhD, University of Warwick (viva 2011) • Jan 2011 – Oct 2012: hourly-paid teaching, marking, invigilation, academic writing, 1-1 tuition, short term research fellowship, research assistant, work on University ECR projects, freelance proofreading, etc… • Oct 2012 – Sept 2013: 0.6 FTE project fellow Institute of Advanced Study, University of Warwick • Sept 2013 – Sept 2015: 2 years further in IAS post, full-time • Sept 2015 – July 2016: 10-month teaching fellowship, Newcastle University • August 2016 – present: Lecturer in English Literature, University of Surrey

  7. Challenges of early career paths: • Time – for research and career development; work-life balance • Money – living costs, funding for conferences • Uncertainty of precarity – impact on planning academic (and personal) life • Balancing competing demands of long-term goals vs short-term needs

  8. Challenges of early career paths: • Feeling adrift: no consistent supervisor/ mentor • Relocation: costly, time-consuming, (re)building networks • Rejection, rejection, rejection… • Mental health and wellbeing

  9. Overcoming challenges: academic strategies • Take control of what you can: have a plan • Publications to write, conferences to attend, jobs to apply for • Make it flexible and accommodating – revise and readjust regularly • Prioritise and strategise – CV gaps • Keep the long-term in sight

  10. Overcoming challenges: academic strategies • Stay affiliated: Library card, institution title for job apps • Build up support networks: • Peer support • Online networks • Mentors: mentors to help strategise and give direction

  11. Overcoming challenges: job applications • Job applications: • Be flexible; recognise the benefits of “alternative” paths: skills and experience gained • Always go for the job: “internal” candidates are not always certainties • interview experience is always valuable • Be selective • Help and get help from others (peers/more experienced) • Have a rejection strategy

  12. Overcoming challenges; stay informed • Read HE news, blogs etc • Understand key contexts e.g. REF/TEF • Talk to others about experience at interview & go to dept. presentations, read job adverts

  13. Overcoming challenges: personal strategies • Look after yourself: exercise, eat well • Have down-time, socialise: make time for family and friends • Pursue other interests and hobbies • Seek professional help – counselling/ mental health services

  14. Key messages • Take control of the things you can • Look after yourself and others • Rejection: it’s not just you and it isn’t personal • Be realistic: it’s tough, but have hope

  15. c.mathieson@surrey.ac.uk @cemathieson www.charlottemathieson.wordpress.com

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