Careers In Academia – Making Successful

Applications

June Kay

Careers Development Consultant

j.e.kay@durham.ac.uk

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Programme for this morning• Routes into academic career• Sources of Jobs• What do academic depts want?• Academic CV – rules, examples• Application Forms• Interview Questions• Mock Interviews• Questions

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Routes to an academic career

First Degree

Higher Degree

Tutorial Assistant & Publications

Temporary Lecturer & publications

Lecturer

Post-doctoral fellowship & publications

Research assistant & publications

Research officer * publications

Senior research officer

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Academic Jobswww.phdjobs.com

www.jobs.ac.uk

www.findapostdoc.com

The Time Higher Education Supplement

www.timeshighereducation.co.uk

Professional Bodies e.g. BPS, IMechE etc

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Five Key Aspects of Professional Activity for An Academic Career

• Networking• Teaching• Researching• Writing• Managing

Blaxter, Hughes & Tight (1998,22)

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What do academic departments want?

• Research Reputation

• Teaching experience

• Administrative Competence

• Others

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Research Reputation• Publications in well recognised, high impact journals• Collaboration with other groups, nationally &

internationally• Experience of applying for and securing research funding• Giving talks / papers here and at other universities• Attending / contributing to conferences to raise your

profile within your discipline (peer reviewed practice first)• Demonstrating good project management skills – deliver

within budget & on time• Investigate reputation of colleagues before accepting

short-term work

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Teaching Experience

• Contributing to the supervision of PhD students• Demonstrating to undergraduate and postgraduate

students• Running tutorials• Gaining experience of designing, delivering and

evaluating degree level courses• Giving papers at inter-departmental or inter-university

level

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Administrative Competence• Involvement in grant proposal writing and

funding/budgeting issues• Project management experience e.g. taking on a

supervisory role• Organising a symposium / conference / guest lecture

series• Representing the department / unit / group on relevant

university committee• Responsibilities re equipment . Materials and licences

for experimental work• Volunteering for unpopular administrative tasks

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Other…..

• Prizes / Awards & Professional Membership• Networking• Extra Qualifications e.g. management, IT• Knowledge of bigger picture in your field• Awareness of current issues in HE e.g. RAE

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Academic CVs

Longer than business / commercial CVMore emphasis on academic achievementSpecific details of research, publications, conferences etc

Smaller sections on • other work experience• transferable skills• hobbies

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EducationPhD • Specific Details of Current research • Title• Description• Supervisor

First Degree

Grade

Dissertation Title and brief description

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Professional & Research Experience

Techniques / Methods used

Industrial Placements

Professional development courses attended

Teaching / Demonstrating

Publications

Conference Papers

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Other

Other work experience – for transferable skills

IT skills

Interests

Achievements

Positions of Responsibility

Membership of professional bodies

References

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Example CVs

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Application FormsPersonal Statement / Why do you want the job / What

can you bring to the post?

Match your education / experience / transferable skills to those on the desirable / essential criteria

Be specific, relevant & give evidence

Vital to show passion and commitment

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Vacancy Examples

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Interview Format

Panel Interview – 4/5/6 members, • Impartial Chair – represent the interests of the

university not dept.• Head of Department• Head of Section (research group / area of teaching)• Member of different department – lateral

comparability

Questions split according to panel members area of interest and map onto person specification

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Interview Techniques

Research – department, staff, HE, subject

Preparation – anticipate questions and prepare possible answers

Match your selling points to their wish list

Body Language – eye contact, handshake, posture etc

Voice – pitch, tone

Time to think

Enthusiasm & PMA

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Interview Videos Clips

• DUO• Postgraduate Training &

Development• On-line courses• Supporting your Career• Arts & SS or Science

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Time to have a go……

Split into groups of 3

Rotate• 1 interviewee• 1 interviewer• 1 observer

Each chance of every role

10 mins question plus 3 mins feedback (first from observer & then from interviewer) for each “candidate”

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Top Tips from a Deputy Dean

• Answer interview questions giving example and output• Be prepared to discuss how your publications have

been received• Publication and Research Grant Applications are

paramount in CV• Must demonstrate well guided career decisions and

where this role fits• Do your homework on the department – staff and areas

research

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Help Available

Careers Information Room• Researchers Section – books, DVDs

One-to-one advice • appointment for up to 1 hour• telephone / e-mail / call into CAS to book

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Questions / Discussion