What do doctoral graduates offer employers?

In a modern knowledge-based economy, highly educated and skilled people -knowledge workers - are in great demand. Doctoral graduates form the most highly educated and skilled group in the UK. Many will go on to use their skills within academia or in research- intensive occupations in industry. However, there will be others who will draw on their research background and the skills gained through a doctoral degree in a wide variety of other occupations. You will find doctoral graduates spread across society often fulfilling high-level roles informed by their research specialism or the experience of undertaking a complex three-year research project.

Doctoral graduates enter the labour market with a questioning and inquiring attitude and the self-confidence to articulate and defend their ideas and approaches. Many employers of doctoral graduates recognise the particular attributes that people with a doctorate bring to their organisation: their problem-solving skills and their determination to find new and better ways to tackle difficulties.

The Researcher Development Framework is a good way to explore the skills you hone doing research. It will help you to articulate your skills to prospective employers.