Postgraduate Careers Talks
Each autumn and spring we run a programme of careers talks specifically aimed at postgraduates. Our latest scheduled programme will be included here, and also on Careerslink.
But what if you can't wait or can't be there in person? No problems - here are our most recent talks as video podcasts (slides plus audio) and downloadable slides, available 24/7.
Postgrad Careers - The Essentials: Finding a job this academic year
Whether you’re in the middle of a one year Masters or are coming into the home strait of your PhD, if you’ve decided you’ll need a job sometime in the next 12 months, this will get you started. This 50 minute talk will cover the fundamentals of:
- Smart targeting – homing in on your ideal job, plus what to apply for when you don’t know what you want to do
- Smart tactics to uncover more jobs
- Smart timing – knowing what happens when, so you don’t miss it
Slides (pdf, this includes extra slides not shown in the talk with links to further resources) -
Podcast (slides plus audio) (NB. Please do not "checkin" as shown on the slides - the link will refer to a different event now)
Postgraduate Taught Masters: Next steps for your career (Semester 2 and beyond)
If you’re due to finish your Masters this year, it’s time to consider what comes next, and what to do now to make it happen. This 50 minute talk will cover the fundamentals of:
- Smart timing – what happens when, and what to do if recruitment is already underway (or worse - finished!)
- Smart targeting – homing in on your ideal next step, plus what to apply for when you don’t know what you want to do
- Smart tactics to uncover more jobs or PhDs
Slides (pdf) -
Podcast (slides plus audio) (NB. Please do not "checkin" as shown on the slides - the link will refer to a different event now.)
Doctoral Researchers - How the job market works and how to navigate it
If you’re coming into the home strait of your PhD, and you’re ready to think about “what next?”, this guide to the job market and how to navigate it will get you started. This 50 minute talk aimed at PhDs and other doctoral researchers will cover the fundamentals of:
- Job market myths - debunked!
- Smart timing – knowing what happens when, so you don’t miss it
- Smart tactics to uncover more jobs
Resources (all pdf):
- Slides - s
Please note: the video podcast of this talk did not record properly. However, extra slides and further job search resources are available above.
Postgrad Careers - The Essentials: CVs and other types of written application
If you haven’t applied for professional jobs recently (or you have, but could do with an update), this 50 minute talk will cover the fundamentals of:
- What should go into a CV
- A quick formula for your covering letters
- How to structure application form answers
Slides (pdf) -
Podcast (slides plus audio) (NB. Please do not "checkin" as shown on the slides - the link will refer to a different event now.)
Postgrad Careers – Beyond the Basics: Written applications which stand out
You know the basics of CVs and online profiles, you can read the handouts - how do you go from competent to outstanding? This 50 minute talk will focus on three tricky areas which can really make a difference:
- Curate your life (Tailoring and presenting the most appropriate version of yourself to an employer)
- From description to insight (Addressing the "so what?" factor, making sense of your life to an employer)
- Make every word count (Using words with impact, professionalism without losing your personality)
Slides (pdf) -
Podcast (slides plus audio) (NB. Please do not "checkin" as shown on the slides - the link will refer to a different event now.)
Postgrad Careers - The Essentials: Interviews and other types of assessment
Employers are always finding fiendish new ways of assessing whether you are the right person for their job, but interviews never go out of fashion. This 50 minute talk will cover the fundamentals of:
- Tackling tricky interview questions
- Preparation and performance to make the best impression
- Other assessment techniques to be prepared for, including online and face-to-face tests
Slides (pdf) -
Podcast (slides plus audio) (NB. Please do not "checkin" as shown on the slides - the link will refer to a different event now.)
Postgrad Careers – Beyond the Basics: Interviews – latest trends and tips
You know the basics of interviews, you can read the handouts - how do you go from competent to outstanding? And what are some of the new ways you might be assessed? This 50 minute talk will focus on three tricky areas which can really make a difference:
- Find the feeling (Tackling strengths based interviews)
- Thinking in bullets (How to tackle tricky questions and brain fade)
- What's in shot? (Professionalise your video interviews)
Slides (pdf) -
Want a list of skills needed by employers, for interview prep (see slide 12)?
Here are some examples - (think about where you have evidence and where the gaps are).
Podcast (slides + audio) (NB. Please do not "checkin" as shown on the slides - the link will refer to a different event now.)
Postgrad Careers – The Essentials: Becoming an academic
A postgraduate degree can be the first step on a long journey to becoming an academic. It’s one of the most competitive careers there is, but someone has to make it – could it be you? This 50 minute talk will cover the fundamentals of:
- What do today’s academics really do?
- Pathways to academic careers – variations by discipline, by academic role and by location
- What are my chances – and how do I improve them?
Slides (pdf, note: the talk included several video clips of academics talking about their careers, which are not included in these slides. To see these video clips, please view the podcast below.) -
Podcast (slides + audio) (NB. Please do not "checkin" as shown on the slides - the link will refer to a different event now.)
