Creating the Job-Hunting Package: Finding Opportunities and Building Applications for Non-Academic Careers (206)

15 and 29 May 2020 - Online

Dr Verity Elston

National and worldwide statistics show that, no matter what their scientific domain, the majority of doctoral graduates will sooner or later continue their career elsewhere than on the traditional academic path. This workshop reviews the current employment situation, helps participants weigh their options and goals, and prepare for employment in the private and public sectors.

The workshop has been adapted to an online version for May 2020, and will include individual and small group work, in addition to plenary sessions.

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, developing their professional portfolio as a way to understand and express to potential employers their strengths and how they can contribute in the workplace.
• 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 CV and cover letter and further develop their personal strategy for their carreer development. There will be time for a short consultation (5-10 minutes) with the trainer to discuss their individual action plan.

• Explore how to develop their network and online presence
• Research and build their knowledge on the opportunities that may be of interest to them, and how to interact with potential employers.
• Review the essential steps in preparing for the interview process.

Technical requirements: Participants will need to connect to the workshop with audio and video facilities, and be able to use a laptop in order to access a shared folder and complete exercises. While frequent breaks will be scheduled, participants should be able to commit to the two full days without significant interruptions.
Preparation: Participants will be asked to complete some preparatory reading as well as a first draft of their individual professional profile in advance of the workshop.

Target Group:

The workshop is designed for doctoral candidates from all disciplines and who have decided (or who are seriously considering) to develop their career outside of the academic track, whether in the private or public sectors.

ONLINE !

Dates: Fridays, 15th and 29th May 2020

Schedule: 8.30 am to 5.15 pm

Location: online

Trainer:

Director of Portfolio Formation Sàrl (https://twitter.com/portfoliophd) and head of career advice for the University of Lausanne Graduate Campus, Dr Verity Elston was previously director of the CUSO Transversal Programme and Deputy to the Dean of the EPFL Doctoral School. She 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, the FSEA certificate in adult education, and the ACC certificate in integral coaching. She conducts ongoing qualitative and quantitative research and analysis on the career paths of doctorate holders in Switzerland and in Europe.

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