There is a lot of online careers support available that is relevant to the career choices you will make as a researcher. We have categorised the resources under the headings below. Many of the websites cover more than one category, but are grouped according to the career issues they cover particularly strongly.
- Career choices: no clue where to start?
- Securing an academic career
- What are professions outside research really like?
- Getting ideas and feedback from peers
- General
- International
Career choices: no clue where to start?
Prospects The UK's official graduate careers site. Although primarily aimed at undergraduates, much of the information is of direct relevance to researchers, particularly those thinking of moving to a non-research role. Try Prospects Planner to find out what jobs might suit your skills, attributes and the type of tasks you enjoy doing.
Job Hunter's Bible Supporting website for the renowned ‘What Color is Your Parachute' career direction and job hunting publication. The site has advice, contacts, interactive tests and articles. Tends to be US-focused, but worth a visit.
Life Work Transitions Examines what's needed to make a successful career transition, this online book is a valuable interactive resource that has exercises on defining core competencies, your passions, preferences and purpose, and goal setting.
Contract Researcher's Guide to Developing Employability Skills Developed by the Good Management Practice project team. Links to the Research Career Builder (see below). Suggestions for developing transferable skills whilst working on a project as well as helping researchers to recognise skills valuable in gaining employment outside academia.
A tool to help researchers to identify their wide range of skills and encourages ongoing skills development as they progress through their research career. Zip files available for free download at http://gmpcrs.group.shef.ac.uk/rcb.html
Humanities: Resources including jobs relating to humanities, languages, libraries and education studies.
Securing an academic career
jobs.ac.uk The main website advertising academic posts in UK universities.
The Times Higher Education magazine This site includes good coverage of news and debates in higher education. Also includes a vacancy section.
The Chronicle of Higher Education The US version of the Times Higher Education. Click on jobs - in addition to US academic job vacancies there are also sections of information on job search skills.
PhDs.org A US site containing advice on finishing your doctorate, finding postdoctorate work and careers advice. Quite US centric, but many topics are of wider relevance.
HERO (Higher Education and Research Opportunities in the UK). News and information site with many useful links.
The Careers Group, University of London Online careers library with good links and navigation.
The Leadership Foundation for Higher Education Supports higher education staff who are aiming towards or working at a management level.
The Higher Education Academy supports higher education staff in developing their teaching skills.
Science Careers Careers website for scientists incorporating Science's Next Wave. Has a lot of material relating to succeeding in academia. See the Academic Scientist's Toolkit as a starting point.
Naturejobs Graduatechannel UK and international research staff opportunities can be found on this site as well as specific advice and articles.
Concordat to support the career development of research staff The Concordat is aimed at improving working conditions and career management for research staff.
What are professions outside research really like?
Prospects' ‘Explore types of jobs' Typical work activities of hundreds of occupations. Also includes information on entry and career progression, related jobs and career profiles.
Science Careers Careers website for scientists incorporating Science's Next Wave. Covers a host of interesting non-research careers for former scientists, much will be of interest to non-scientist researchers as well. Browse the index of past features to generate some ideas.
Getting ideas and feedback from peers
Manchester postgraduate careers blog Written by Elizabeth Wilkinson, Head of Postgraduate Careers at Manchester University. Regularly updated informal careers news, comment, vacancies and deadline alerts for postgraduates, including the chance to add comments and feedback.
Researcher profiles from Birmingham University A brochure with career paths into a wide variety of researcher destinations.
Career paths of academic researchers 20 career profiles across a wide range of disciplines.
‘What Do PhDs Do?' Contains insights into a range of careers: career profiles from doctoral graduates working in all sectors.
General
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/links/careersservices will help you locate your local Careers Service.
http://www.careers.lon.ac.uk/output/Page178.asp The University of London Careers Service's Online Careers Library links to just about every careers site of interest and its effective structure makes it easy to navigate and browse.
Social Research Association is a forum for people working in a diverse range of settings and in different subject specialities related to social research. It includes a ‘careers in research' section.
PhD Jobs A commercial website that caters for recently qualified postgraduates. Candidates can apply on-line for opportunities that interest them (inside and outside academia) and register with the site in order to be kept informed of relevant vacancies. Also information about CVs, covering letters and interviews.
Shinton Consulting Specialist information and resources for research staff and postgraduate researchers, written by a careers consultant and former contract researcher.
GTI publishes a host of material related to career sectors and employers. They also cover overseas graduate jobs.
GET is developed by Hobsons, a careers and education service. It contains careers advice, current vacancies, hints and tips.
International
UK Network The UK Researcher's Mobility Portal Information and assistance for researchers taking up research positions within the UK or abroad. Includes job vacancies and listings of UK research establishments.
University of Strathclyde Good coverage of ways to tap into the job market abroad.
GTIrong Publishes a host of material related to overseas graduate jobs.
Manchester international careers blog Not specifically for postgrads, but of general interest to international students and those thinking of working overseas".
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