From Skills to Careers: Career Planning for Academics

Workshop content

Designed for PhD candidates and postdocs, this 3-part online program will help you assess your skills, define career goals, and build a strategic plan. Whether you're aiming for a career in academia or beyond, this workshop series will guide you through creating a personal vision board, exploring job opportunities, and preparing for the next steps in your professional journey. 
Here’s a closer look at what each day has to offer:
 

Day 1: Competence Profile and Visions 
The first day focuses on self-reflection and goal-setting. You’ll develop a personal competence profile, identifying your strengths and evaluating them in relation to potential career paths. We’ll focus then on creating a vision board to serve as a visual roadmap for both your professional and personal aspirations. By the end of the day, you’ll be equipped to communicate your strengths authentically and effectively—vital for interviews and networking. Key takeaways:

• Identify your core competencies
• Learn how to communicate your strengths persuasively
• Create a vision board to clarify and guide your career goals

Day 2: Career Paths in Academia 
On the second day, we look at academic career development. You’ll explore how academic careers work, the competencies required, and how to build a strategic academic portfolio. With a mixture of self-reflection and group discussion, you will take a personal assessment of where you stand: You’ll reflect on your research profile, publications, and collaborations, and you’ll develop a career strategy tailored to your academic ambitions. Key takeaways:

• Understand the academic career landscape and system
• Build and refine your academic career portfolio (research, publications, etc.)
• Plan a strategic pathway for your academic career

Day 3: The Non-Academic Job Market 
The third day shifts the focus to careers outside academia. You’ll learn how to transfer your academic skills to other industries and explore the broader job market. This session will also cover job search and application strategies. Whether you're considering a career in industry, the public sector, or other fields, this day will provide you with the tools to make a confident transition. Key takeaways:

• Gain insights into the non-academic job market
• Learn how to apply academic skills in non-academic settings
• Develop personalized job search and application strategies
   

Day 2 (Career Paths in Academia) and 3 (Non-Academic Job Market) are designed to build on the first Workshop on “Competence Profile and Visions”. Therefore, if you wish to participate in day 2 and/or day 3, participation in the first workshop day is mandatory.

When registering, please indicate which parts you would like to attend (all 3 days or day 1 and day 2 or day 1 and day 3).

Registration

You can find the registration form here.

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