Kick start your career

1
Kick start your career
2
I know what youre thinking...

• sure/decided
• some ideas, but not decided
• very unsure/completely undecided

3
What makes an effective career strategist?

• has self confidence
• has a positive attitude
• makes a commitment to their career planning

4
Self-reliance skills

• knowing yourself and your skills/strengths well
• actively seeking out opportunities
• taking responsibility for your own development

5
Moving on after your PhD

• dont underestimate the transition
• youre not planning your whole life, just the
  next step
• long term goals may require short term steps
• be prepared to be flexible

6
What makes you tick?...

• Environment (where?)
• Behaviour (what?)
• Capabilities (skills?)
• Beliefs/Values (why?)
• Identity (who?)

7
Environment(where?)

• Geographical location?
• Job involving travelling?
• Indoors/outdoors?
• Large/small organisation?
• At home?
• Big or small team/on your own?

8
Behaviour(what?)

• Specific job titles?
• Very related to your PhD? - in academia or
  outside?
• Related to an extent?- probably outside academia
• Something totally different? - probably outside
  academia

9
Capabilities(skills?)

• What skills would you like to use?
• Specialist or technical skills?
• Other interests?
• Transferable skills? (communication, negotiation,
  organisation, etc)
• What are your top six strengths?

10
Beliefs/values(why?)

• In relation to your career, whats REALLY
  important to you?
• In relation to your career, what REALLY motivates
  you?
• In relation to the organisation you might work
  for - what is REALLY important about it? Do you
  want to work for someone else?
• What have you learned ABOUT YOURSELF as a result
  of doing your PhD?

11
Identity(who?)

• What makes you the unique and special person you
  are?
• What do YOU really want to do?
• Whats your mission or your higher purpose?
• If you pick a job you love, youll never have to
  work a day in your life...

12
Practical things to do

• Update your CV
• Research some job areas be open minded
• Job clip
• Get some work experience/shadowing
• Informational interviewing make contacts
  network
• Attend presentations/fairs
• Careers service use it

13
Remember

• Be fearless work through the questions and get
  some honest answers
• Avoid thinking in terms of right wrong look
  at a range of possibilities
• Jump, and the net will appear.. Iyanla VanZant

14
The exercise...

• What next?
• Setting your sails...