Career management guide

Managing your career is much more than making an effective transition from one job to the next.

It is an ongoing activity; the decisions you make today about which networks to build, which skills to develop and which interests to pursue will affect the choices you’ll have in the future.  We have tailored professional and career development opportunities that support you as a researcher whilst you are working here but also help prepare you to move into a range of roles.

These opportunities may not be provided by future employers, so it’s important to take advantage of them now and at the earliest opportunity.

What are my options?

You might see these as three broad directions:

  • Linear progression: continuing your research inside or outside academia.
  • Changing emphasis: developing your expertise in a non-research field.
  • New direction: choosing something entirely different.

Career choice is not an exact science and you may discover that there are several different options open to you. See our guide to career management for advice on how to consider and review your options, strategies for success, and useful resources.

Sources of support

Whichever career direction you take, our training courses, and others available in the University, can help you develop skills which are relevant for an academic career and are valued by non-academic employers.

 

Researchers should recognise that the primary responsibility for managing and pursuing their career is theirs. Accordingly, they should identify training needs and actively seek out opportunities for learning and development in order to further that career and take personal responsibility for their choices.

Researchers' Concordat (2008)