Career Strategies for PhD Students Session 3: Options outside of academia

1. Career Strategies for PhD StudentsSession 3: Options outside of academia Rebecca Valentine Career Adviser

2. Introductions • Orientation • Participation • Confidentiality • Mobile phones switched off • Course handbooks • Introductions

3. Session objectives • To be aware of some of the career options outside of academia that are available to PhD graduates • To be aware of sources of further information and how you can research your ideas further • To consider how to market your PhD experience to potential employers • To understand employers’ approaches to recruiting PhD graduates • To hear from some Business School PhD Alumni about their career experiences

4. Generating ideas • Resources listed in course handbook p 3: • www.ed.ac.uk/careers > Guide to Occupations • What do researchers do? • Vitae career paths for doctoral students • Vacancy databases including SAGE • Careers fairs and employer presentations • TargetJobs Careers Report / Prospects Planner • Professional associations • Company directories and databases

5. What do researchers do? • Business and Management research graduates are the largest group within social sciences • Highest employment rate 6 months after graduation (86%) • Education and teaching professionals (HE & FE) – 51% • Commercial, industrial and public sector managers – 23% • Researchers – 10% • Business and financial professionals – 8% See www.vitae.ac.uk> Publications > What do researchers do? (First destinations and three years on)

6. Generating ideasExample based on “Problem Solving” Teacher – explaining fractions to a class of 7-year-olds Careers adviser – finding ways of engaging students with career planning Environmental officer – how to meet re-cycling targets Problem Solving Town planner – how to solve traffic congestion outside local primary school Personnel manager – how to introduce new patterns of shift working without alienating the workforce Academic – how to manage the departmental budget for maximum benefit Tax consultant – how to minimise the tax liability of a company Civil engineer – how to reduce the problem of ‘bounce’ on a bridge

7. Speed group activity • Each group has a flipchart with a different skill/competency • Come up with some jobs where that skill would be important and suggest how it might be used • After 2 minutes, pass your flipchart on to the next group

8. Researching career ideas • www.ed.ac.uk/careers > Guide to Occupations (Occupational profiles, Day in the Life series, Connect.Ed database) • www.prospects.ac.uk > Types of Jobs • www.vitae.ac.uk > Career profiles and research vs non-research careers • Professional associations • Work shadowing/experience • Networking including informational interviews

9. Networking • Creating opportunities to gather information and connecting with people with a shared interest • Start with your existing networks – family, friends, colleagues, academic staff, other University departments… • Other resources: • Connect.Ed database • Careers fairs and employer events • Professional bodies • Social media platforms including LinkedIn, Twitter, Academia.edu… • Online can be a good place to start if you lack confidence

10. Informational interviews • Short meetings or phone conversations with someone about their work, organisation or sector • Particularly useful if you can visit the interviewee’s workplace to observe their work environment • Valuable source of occupational information • Could be followed up with work shadowing/experience • Keep in touch! • Page 23 of handbook – tips for setting up interviews • Page 24 of handbook – list of possible questions to ask

11. Informational interviews - tips • Be specific in your requests • You only need around 20 minutes of the person’s time to ask some questions • Explain that you are considering their field as a career option and would appreciate the chance to learn more about it • Emphasise that you are asking him or her for information and advice (not a job or work experience) • Remain true to this agenda • Make a good impression by dressing appropriately and arriving in good time

12. Informational interviews - tips • Have focussed, meaningful questions prepared in advance • Stick to the agreed time limit • At the end of the meeting, make sure to ask for suggestions on other people you might talk to • Follow up your meeting by writing a thank-you note • Keep your new contact informed as you make progress – your paths may cross in the future!

13. Informational interviews - questions • About the Individual e.g. What do you enjoy most about this industry, the company, and your job? • About the Job e.g. What do you do in a typical day or week? • About Skills e.g. What are the most valuable skills in your job? Which experiences enabled you to develop these skills? • About the Company e.g. What do you see as the biggest competitive challenge for your company?   • About the Industry e.g. What have been your biggest surprises in this field?   • About Me e.g. What kind of job responsibilities could I expect as a new entrant?

14. Coffee break

15. Marketing your PhD experience Discuss in pairs: • Positive perceptions of PhD graduates among employers (5 mins then feedback) • Negative perceptions (5 mins) • Now join up with another pair and discuss strategies to overcome negative perceptions (5 mins then feedback)

16. Positive and negative perceptions • Positive – more mature, analytical and research skills, ability to work autonomously, project management skills e.g.: “We like PhDs in our business sector – they never take anything at face value. That is a real bonus in a business compliance function. Their philosophical training and critical judgement have a direct application in business services, whatever the topic of their research”. (Head of Graduate Recruitment, Big 4 Professional Services Firm) • Negative – narrowness of interest, lack of interpersonal skills, lack of team work skills, too old to mould to huskiness needs, over expectation in terms of salary and career progression e.g.: “We are concerned that they are isolated by their background in research. They may not fir into the team environment. They may also be too specialist in that they are only interested in their topic and don’t make connections to other issues” (Empress Report)

17. Approaches to recruiting PhD graduates • BIS (2010) 4 types of employers of postgraduates: • Trawlers (employers recruiting to general requirements, PG applicants treated the same as first degree applicants) • Spear fishers (seeking PG applicants with specific capabilities, PG qualification a requirement) • Anglers (employers expect PG applicants to have distinct advantage but first degree applicants might also be suitable) • Harvesters (employers using multiple means to attract and retain PG applicants for different parts of the business) • Baitless (employers who do not seek PG applicants)

18. Understanding the bigger picture Globalisation– complex job market, relocation of industrial activities, greater competition and wider opportunities Within sector trends– hot topics and key growth areas/trends (e.g. environmental concerns, IT/manufacturing off-shoring, power and renewable energy) The wider economy – impact of the recession Geographical variation – clusters or distinct regional areas or widespread opportunities? Organisational changes – outsourcing (eg IT and HR), breaking down of boundaries or who does what (eg use of consultants, contractors, interim managers

19. A different perspective • In small groups • Look at the statements on the card, discuss and put into order of popularity (5 mins) • Feedback and discussion • What does this mean for your job search strategy?

20. Moving forward - Developing a strategy and action plan Why? • Encourages systematic exploration rather than random searching • Gives you a framework which helps you see that you are making progress • Gives you a timetable for action so you can meet deadlines and move forward

21. 8 Steps to Action Planning Identify your overall goal Set SMART objectives - Specific, Measurable, Advantages, Realistic, Timebound Split your goal into smaller tasks Consider any constraints and challenges Identify help available Map out opportunities and resources Create realistic timescales Review your progress & evaluate outcomes

22. Further support 3rdfloor Main Library, George Square Tel 0131 650 4670 careers@ed.ac.uk www.businessandeconomicscareers.wordpress.com http://researchstudentcareers.wordpress.com/

23. Other sessions • Marketing yourself effectively (CVs, applications and interviews) • Planning an academic career: Job search and application strategies • Introduction to MBTI

24. Experiences of PhD graduates