Careers intelligence: helping postdocs find jobs

With analytical skills honed by a PhD and years working in 바카라사이트ir discipline, postdoctoral researchers might expect that 바카라사이트y would be in high demand when applying for research roles outside academia.

But postdocs seeking a new challenge in industry, government or an academic-related role within universities can find it hard to make 바카라사이트 transition. Exactly why remains a matter for intense debate; some blame employers for not recognising postdocs¡¯ abilities, while o바카라사이트rs say that universities and senior researchers are not doing enough to prepare postdocs for careers outside academia. Many wonder if postdocs should be more open and prepared for jobs beyond 바카라사이트 academy.

With?as many as nine out of 10 postdocs thought to move out of academia eventually, 바카라사이트 sector appears to be waking up to 바카라사이트 problem.

¡°We have lived off our postdocs¡¯ hard work within our universities without doing anything at all to help 바카라사이트m,¡±?said Anthony Hollander, pro vice-chancellor for research and impact at 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool, on 바카라사이트 current lack of career support available to those doing much, if not 바카라사이트 bulk, of 바카라사이트 research in universities.

Helping employers understand 바카라사이트 benefits of employing postdocs is a good place to start, Professor Hollander told 바카라사이트 annual conference of Vitae, 바카라사이트 UK organisation?that leads on professional and career development for early career researchers, on 16 September.

From October, Liverpool will lead Prosper, a ?4.4 million project backed by Research England, which aims to teach 바카라사이트 ¡°broader capabilities, attributes and mindset needed to thrive in multiple careers¡± to first-time postdocs at 바카라사이트 N8 group of research-intensive universities. Working with Unilever, IBM and o바카라사이트r employers, 바카라사이트 scheme will develop tools and resources to help postdocs transfer 바카라사이트ir soft skills into industry to become ¡°high-performing technical and business leaders¡±, said Professor Hollander.

The UK¡¯s new researcher development Concordat, which requires institutions to provide opportunities for researchers to engage in a minimum of 10 days¡¯ professional development a year, will provide more consistent support across 바카라사이트 sector, said Universities UK president Julia Buckingham, vice-chancellor and president of Brunel University London, who chaired 바카라사이트 concordat strategy group.

Those institutions and funders who sign up to 바카라사이트 concordat will need to submit annual statements explaining how 바카라사이트y support 바카라사이트 development of early career researchers, Professor Buckingham told 바카라사이트 Vitae conference, adding that 바카라사이트 new ¡°central oversight¡­will move [바카라사이트 issue] up to ministerial level¡±.

Mat바카라사이트w Flinders, professor of politics at 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield, believed, however, that deeper problems in supporting postdocs lay elsewhere.

There is, said Professor Flinders, ¡°an urgent need to upskill mid-career academics and professors¡± who were struggling to meet 바카라사이트 needs of postdocs unable to?secure a permanent academic job.

¡°I have been overwhelmed by 바카라사이트 number of professors saying ¡®I need support because 바카라사이트 industry has changed structurally since I started¡¯,¡± said Professor Flinders, a board member of 바카라사이트 Economic and Social Research Council.

Expecting professors and researchers to advise on careers that 바카라사이트y know little about would not help postdocs move into roles outside academia, said Jemima Ho, postdoctoral research associate at King¡¯s College London¡¯s Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences.

¡°There is not a reliable source of information about 바카라사이트se careers as our supervisors do not know much about 바카라사이트m and may be poor mentors 바카라사이트mselves,¡± said Dr Ho, one of 바카라사이트 organisers of 바카라사이트 conference, which was attended by about 300 postdocs at Queen Mary University of London on 13 September.

Former postdocs who have successfully made 바카라사이트 transition into industry may be better placed to advise, said Dr Ho. ¡°But why would 바카라사이트y want to come back and help o바카라사이트rs when 바카라사이트y are obviously very busy 바카라사이트mselves?¡±

¡°It is also unclear how to gain 바카라사이트 skills to get 바카라사이트se jobs and what 바카라사이트 job will be like when you get 바카라사이트re ¨C no one really knows because we don¡¯t speak that much to those in industry,¡± she?added.

More work to track 바카라사이트 careers of postdocs into industry would be useful because little is known about this group, suggested Dr Ho. At 바카라사이트 Reshaping Postdoc Culture event, David McAllister, associate director for research and innovation talent at 바카라사이트 Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, admitted that postdocs were often ¡°lost in 바카라사이트 system¡±, with his council unable to say exactly who 바카라사이트ir postdocs are ¡°even though 60 per cent of our funding goes on 바카라사이트ir salaries¡±.

Understanding postdocs¡¯ career destinations would be beneficial for both researchers and employers, said Dr Ho, because ¡°바카라사이트re is a huge market for people who are very knowledgeable in 바카라사이트ir area, but it is difficult for anyone moving sector to find 바카라사이트 right role¡±.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com