careers in academia – making successful applications june kay careers development consultant...
Post on 19-Dec-2015
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Careers In Academia – Making Successful
Applications
June Kay
Careers Development Consultant
∂
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
Tutorial Assistant & Publications
Temporary Lecturer & publications
Lecturer
Post-doctoral fellowship & publications
Research assistant & publications
Research officer * publications
Senior research officer
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Academic Jobswww.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
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Five Key Aspects of Professional Activity for An Academic Career
• Networking• Teaching• Researching• Writing• Managing
Blaxter, Hughes & Tight (1998,22)
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What do academic departments want?
• Research Reputation
• Teaching experience
• Administrative Competence
• Others
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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
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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
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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 CVMore emphasis on academic achievementSpecific details of research, publications, conferences etc
Smaller sections on • other work experience• transferable skills• hobbies
∂
EducationPhD • Specific Details of Current research • Title• Description• Supervisor
First Degree
Grade
Dissertation Title and brief description
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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
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Application FormsPersonal 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
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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
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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
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Interview Videos Clips
• DUO• Postgraduate Training &
Development• On-line courses• Supporting your Career• Arts & SS or Science
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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”
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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
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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