Creating the Job-Hunting Package: finding opportunities and building applications

31 March and 7 April 2014

Dr Verity Elston, CUSO

National and worldwide statistics show that, no matter what their scientific domain, the majority of doctoral graduates will sooner or later work outside the university, in the private or public sectors. This workshop reviews the current employment situation and helps participants prepare to find employment outside the university environment.

On the first of the two days of the workshop, participants will gain an understanding of how to approach the job market (where PhDs work, the paths they take in their careers, the interaction with employers' needs and perceptions), and how they can approach their search:

• Identifying the parameters of their job-search: their skills and interests, goals and methods
• Identifying potential employers and possible employment opportunities, reviewing job ads, networking, online resources
• Examining the elements of a CV and of a cover letter: their content, style, structure and purpose

In the week’s interval, participants prepare for the second day by creating the first draft of their job-hunting strategy: identifying job-finding opportunities relevant to their own situation, writing a CV that will remain in constant evolution, and the template for their own cover letter.

On the second day of the workshop, participants will review and further develop their job-seeking strategy, and receive personalized feedback on their CV and cover letter.

Université de Neuchâtel COMPLET

Dates: Mondays, 31st March and 7th April 2014

Schedule: 9:00 to 17:00

Location: University of Neuchâtel

Instructor: Head of the CUSO programme in generic skills, Verity Elston has broad professional experience in the private and public sectors in several countries, including in middle- and high-level recruitment. She holds a doctorate in Sociocultural Anthropology from the University of Chicago, and has conducted qualitative and quantitative research on careers for doctorate holders in Switzerland and in Europe.  

Participants are eligible for reimbursement of incurred travel expenses by train between the town of their university and the location of the workshop (half-fare card, 2nd class).

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