Many people use their PhD as a starting point for an academic career and the natural progression is into postdoctoral research contracts during which you will build up greater experience and relevant skills.

Postdoctoral research contracts

These contracts will typically last between one and three years and may be undertaken at one or several institutions depending on your research discipline and your mobility. Such contracts may involve teaching as well as research; indeed, you may have had teaching responsibilities whilst doing your PhD. However, this is a very competitive job market and you will need to be highly motivated. Only about 20% of research assistants are likely to progress into long-term academic posts.

The earning potential in academia is not as high as many careers outside. Having said this, many research students do persevere and establish an academic career because they are fascinated by their subject and keen to learn more and pass on this knowledge to others and because job satisfaction is more important than high earnings.

So if you are still keen to proceed, consider the following tips:

Secure your first post:

This could possibly be as a research assistant or teaching assistant on a temporary contract. Try the obvious routes, for example:

• THES www.timeshighereducation.co.uk
• Jobs.ac.uk www.jobs.ac.uk
• PhD Jobs www.phdjobs.com

and also try networking and speculative applications. Make sure your academic CV is up to scratch.

Get published:

• Aim for journals with recognised national or international status in your field.
• Make sure that you attend development courses on writing and related areas
• Seek advice from more experienced researchers in your field.

Secure research and project funding:

• A good record in doing this will help your career. Again, seek training and advice in this from your institution and other staff, or assist others in the background preparation of bids for funding.

Get teaching experience:

• Most long-term contracts are in teaching rather than research so this experience will be useful.
• If you are not required to do this by your department, then volunteer or explore options within local colleges or the Open University.

Manage a project:

• This could be an undergraduate project or another task within the department, particularly one with a budget attached.

Get involved in assessment:

• This might be an internal institutional audit or an external audit conducted by the Quality Assurance Agency. Volunteering shows commitment and interest and will give you an insight into the way in which the department conducts its teaching and research and seeks feedback on this.

Keep up-to-date and network:

• Read widely about higher education and your institution so that you are better informed on both your subject area and more general issues.
• Attend conferences and volunteer for activities that bring you into contact with others in your own or related fields.
• Talk to staff in your own department about their career development and any tips they can give you.

>>Follow the links to Career Plans for Postgraduate Students or other career planning resources