Welcome to Careers News

Hi and welcome to the first issue for 2011 of the Postgraduate Careers e-newsletter.

Regards,

Postgraduate Careers

Thinking of an Academic Career?

At QUT, academic positions comprise a teaching, research and service component. Maximising each of these aspects during your PhD is crucial if you want to be successful in obtaining an academic position at the end of your degree. So what can you do to prepare?

• Maximise your PhD research profile by writing publications, presenting at conferences, collaborating on grant proposals, and looking for ways to build on your current research.
• Build a teaching profile by looking for tutoring or lab assistant opportunities in your school, recording LEX feedback scores and comments, becoming an ITAS tutor with the Oodgeroo unit.
• Service comprises additional activities such as organising conferences, being on university committees, taking part in professional development activities.
• List the above activities and skills used in each in your resume and update it regularly.
• Keep up to date with the changing face of academia by reading reports such as:
  • Coates & Goedegebuure, 2010; Real Academic Revolution
  • http://www.lhmartininstitute.edu.au/documents/publications/therealacademicrevolutio.pdf
  • Hugo, G. (2008). The Demographic Outlook for Australian Universities' Academic Staff. Canberra, ACT: Council for Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences.
  • http://www.chass.org.au/papers/PAP20081101GH.php
• Monitor website which list academic roles such as:
  • Campus Review Jobs
  • HigherEd Job
  • Uni Jobs
  • Academic Careers Online
• Regularly read the Higher Education section of the Australian each Wednesday and the Professional employment section of the Weekend Australian.
• Access the Campus Review online or through the QUT library. Campus Review is the only Australian publication dedicated to higher education and training issues and is available in hard copy (fortnightly) or online (weekly news).
• Keep up to date with trends in higher education as well as news, events and resources - www.uni.edna.edu.au.
• Be pro-active in sourcing opportunities and finding out as much information as you can.
• You can also make an appointment to chat with one of the Postgraduate Careers Counsellors if you need further assistance.
• Take a look at these case studies to see how other graduates have built their academic careers all over the world: http://www.jobs.ac.uk/career-tools-and-advice/academic-case-studies/.

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Research Careers Abroad

If you are interested in embarking on an international career in research, then these portals may be useful in helping you identify employment, fellowships, funding, collaboration opportunities, research institutions and logistical information for relocation and employment.

• Australian Researchers' Mobility Portal provides information on funding bodies, research institutions, government agencies, employment, fellowships, universities and other institutions for researchers embarking on international careers in research; researchers from overseas wanting to explore opportunities in Australia; and Australian researchers returning home. Logistical information such as immigration, taxation, insurance, healthcare and local culture are also covered.
• The Forum for European-Australian Science and Technology Cooperation provides information on postdoctoral positions, fellowships, travel grants, conferences, research collaboration, funding, policy news and access to an e-newsletter.
• EURAXESS includes research jobs and funding opportunities in Europe, covers rights associated with employment as a researcher and international collaboration opportunities.

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Great PhD Blogs!

The Thesis Whisperer

This Australian site is chock full of great information to help you through your PhD including blogs by PhD students like yourself, study aids and procrastination tools. Well worth subscribing to!

What's Up Doc?

What's Up Doc? is from the UK, and has blogs, tips and general information.

Real Life PhD

Real-Life PhD catalogues thoughts and advice on completing a PhD in the UK.

Just Higher-ed!

The inside story of a first lectureship job in the humanities.

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Postgraduate Workshops

So far this year we have held the Postgraduate Career Development day and Working Effectively: Using Myers-Briggs to enhance your work performance. There have also been various faculty workshops and presentations. Feedback has indicated that attendees found the information relevant to their current situation and future career aspirations.

Upcoming workshops include Successful Speaking in May (see the Research Student Centre website) and Networking Know-how and Effective Applications to be held later in the year.

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