C areers for P sychology P ostgraduates: A cademia and B eyond

1. CareersforPsychologyPostgraduates:AcademiaandBeyond Caprice Lantz Senior Academic Coordinator Department of Psychology University of York

2. Session Objectives • Where postgraduate psychologists work • What academic careers are like • How to give your academic career a boost • What are some ideas for nonacademic careers • Ways to give your nonacademic career a boost • Factors influencing career planning

3. Are Biological & Biomedical PhD Graduates Working? Work status of respondents, What do PhDs Do: http://www.grad.ac.uk

4. Where are Biological & Biomedical Science PhD graduates working? Types of work by UK pg Jan 2004, What do PhDs Do: http://www.grad.ac.uk

5. Are Social Science PhD Graduates Working? Work status of respondents, What do PhDs Do: http://www.grad.ac.uk

6. Where are Social Science PhD Graduates Working? Types of work by UK pg Jan 2004, What do PhDs Do: http://www.grad.ac.uk

7. Exercise 1: Learning about careers • Break into two groups academic and non-academic • Review and discuss case studies and be prepared to provide a brief presentation to the group summarising: • Job titles • What the job is like • How the people found their jobs • Pros of jobs • Cons of jobs • Advice to others interested in similar jobs

8. Term Week Vacation Week Activity Mean Hours % of total Mean Hours % of total Teaching Undergraduates 16.1 29.3 7.1 13.9 Teaching graduates 3.0 5.5 1.6 3.1 Graduate research 2.7 4.9 2.7 5.3 Personal research 8.5 15.5 13.8 27.0 Other internal academic work 2.6 4.7 3.0 5.9 External academic work 4.1 7.5 5.8 11.3 Administration 18.0 32.7 17.2 33.6 Totals 55.0 100.0 51.2 100.0 Academic Careers: Work hours & responsibilities Court 1994, 6 Court 1994, 6

9. Pre 1992 Post 1992 Lecturer – 1 23,643 23,643 Lecturer – 2 27,989 27,390 Lecturer – 3 37,558 34,227 Researcher 18,265 18,777 Academic Careers: How much will you earn Association of University Teachers from 2004

10. Academic Careers: Will you get a permanent job? University and College Unions: UK 43% of academic staff on fixed-term contracts Many others hourly paid lecturers Growing trend up from about 20% in 1980

11. Academic Careers: Con quotes “Contract research is highly stimulating but is often frantically busy, balancing several projects at a time. There is never enough time to scan and reflect.” “Bidding for grants and ensuring delivery of high quality research within tight deadlines are a constant feature of the job.” “Academics are expected to produce international class research, to teach ever larger classes, to assume highly responsible administration roles and to do all of this within very tight time constraints.”

12. Academic Careers: Pro Quotes “There is still some degree of academic freedom in HE….I find work extremely stimulating and highly rewarding – especially research collaborations. My favourite day of the year is meeting up with all the moms and dads on graduation.” “Academics are very fortunate because they are able to choose research of interest to them. This is not common in many jobs. With the variety of teaching, research, and administration, I never get bored. “The most satisfying thing is the students…”

13. Academic Career Boost • Strive to publish keeping impact ratings in mind • Teach and supervise students • Familiarise yourself with HE issues • Attend and present at conferences • Learn about and apply for grants • Get involved with the BPS, Psychology Network, etc. • Volunteer to serve as a reviewer of proposals for grants, bursaries, etc. • Offer to review articles or serve as a journal editor • Consider gaining international experience

14. What skills do you have to offer a non-academic employer? • Advanced problem-solving skills • Ability to construct and defend arguments • Expert analytical thinking • Project management skills • Self-confidence • Creative thinking and new ideas • Setting and achieving goals • Ability to work through complex processes without being intimidated • Never taking things at face value • Ability to work independently • Tenacity • Modified from What do PhDs do? 2004

15. Non-Academic Career Boost • Self-assess, explore career options, figure out what you want, and develop a plan • Gain external experience through volunteering, internships or part time work • Exploit internal opportunities to gain skills and experience • Network strategically • Learn to translate your skills on the CV and in interviews • Be ready to address employer stereotypes (e.g., over educated and overly specialised) • Develop good answers for common interview questions • Develop a good CV – common problems: too much or little information, not tailored to a specific job, no concrete evidence of skills, no personality, poorly presented – it is a sales tool after all • Seek support and guidance where available • Be confident by check your expectations are realistic

17. Factors Influencing Career Options Influences on potential Internal factors External factors Interests, skills, values, personality Geography, family, finances Career Options Internal to workplace External to workplace Job requirements Supply and demand, gov. policies & funding Influences on opportunities Modified from: Moving on in Your Career, Ali & Graham, 2000, pg 23

18. Exercise 2: Values • Walk around the room and look at jobs. • Note jobs that appeal to you and note why each job appeals to you. • Don’t worry about whether or not you are qualified. • Take 10 minutes. • When you have finished – turn the paper over and list the things that have appeared in the appeals column. • Spend a few minutes talking to your partner about them.

19. Last Words • There could be many jobs for you. • Decisions you make now are based on who you are now. As you change, you may need to reevaluate your career decisions. • It is unusual to find a job that is a perfect fit. There will always be some compromise. • You are the expert on what you want and what you should do so don’t look to others to tell you. Others can only help you to gather and analyse information. • There is a difference between being employed and being employable. • Find a job you really enjoy and you will rarely work a day in your life.

20. Questions? Caprice Lantz C.Lantz@psych.york.ac.uk 01904 433 138