Managing your career
Ask a successful person and they will tell you that it is never too early to start thinking about your career. Today's complex arrangements for research funding mean that everyone in academia now has to think about their career and plan ahead. There are a variety of career options for the researcher. These include: continuing in research on a contract basis; obtaining independent research funding that can lead to an academic position, moving to industry; or a complete career change.
Whatever your situation, the research staff support team has a range of solutions to support you as you actively manage your career. For example we run workshops to help you explore your options both within and outside academia. We are also able to provide one to one career advice if required.As well as the activities laid on specifically for you, the University has a formal process for career management that is available to all staff - the Performance and Development Review (PDR). The process of engaging in your PDR can be a valuable component in your career thinking, and the PDR can form the basis of your personal career plan. We suggest that researchers always ensure that they have regular PDR, at least once a year.
It is also worth remembering that the many skills you develop in your work as a University researcher are valuable for your future employability. It is a good idea to document new skills as you acquire them, and to actively seek out new training and development opportunities. For help with this you can visit the Career Planning section of the site.
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