Academic careers: Navigating the post-PhD years Dr Charlotte mathieson c.Mathieson@Surrey.ac.uk @cemathieson www.charlottemathieson.wordpress.com

Overview What is an academic job and what are employers looking for? What does a typical post-PhD career path look like? What are the challenges you might encounter?

What is an academic job? Permanent full-time lectureships Postdoctoral fellowships (Leverhulme, British Academy)/ research position on project Fixed-term lectureships (1-2 years) Teaching fellowships Academic-related jobs e.g. public engagement, research support Hourly-paid teaching

What are employers looking for? Research - publications: articles, chapters; monograph —> REF submission - grants & funding: small PG awards & bursaries; conference funding; research funding - conference presentations Teaching - Experience at UG/ MA level; supervision (BA/MA/PhD) - seminars, lectures, assessment; content/ course design Administration - committees e.g. department groups, subject associations - conference/ symposium organisation, reading groups, etc

Characteristics of early career paths There is no typical path A period of precarity is common, and increasingly longer Multiple, short-term contracts across institutions (simultaneously/successively) typical Most jobs teaching-focused; Research-focused roles eg fellowships harder to come by

My early career path 2007-10: PhD, University of Warwick (viva 2011) Jan 2011 – Oct 2012: hourly-paid teaching, marking, invigilation, academic writing, 1-1 tuition, short term research fellowship, research assistant, work on University ECR projects, freelance proofreading, etc… Oct 2012 – Sept 2013: 0.6 FTE project fellow Institute of Advanced Study, University of Warwick Sept 2013 – Sept 2015: 2 years further in IAS post, full-time Sept 2015 – July 2016: 10-month teaching fellowship, Newcastle University August 2016 – present: Lecturer in English Literature, University of Surrey

Challenges of early career paths: Time – for research and career development; work-life balance Money – living costs, funding for conferences Uncertainty of precarity – impact on planning academic (and personal) life Balancing competing demands of long-term goals vs short-term needs

Challenges of early career paths: Feeling adrift: no consistent supervisor/ mentor Relocation: costly, time-consuming, (re)building networks Rejection, rejection, rejection… Mental health and wellbeing

Overcoming challenges: academic strategies Take control of what you can: have a plan Publications to write, conferences to attend, jobs to apply for Make it flexible and accommodating – revise and readjust regularly Prioritise and strategise – CV gaps Keep the long-term in sight

Overcoming challenges: academic strategies Stay affiliated: Library card, institution title for job apps Build up support networks: Peer support Online networks Mentors: mentors to help strategise and give direction

Overcoming challenges: job applications Be flexible; recognise the benefits of “alternative” paths: skills and experience gained Always go for the job: “internal” candidates are not always certainties interview experience is always valuable Be selective Help and get help from others (peers/more experienced) Have a rejection strategy

Overcoming challenges; stay informed Read HE news, blogs etc Understand key contexts e.g. REF/TEF Talk to others about experience at interview & go to dept. presentations, read job adverts

Overcoming challenges: personal strategies Look after yourself: exercise, eat well Have down-time, socialise: make time for family and friends Pursue other interests and hobbies Seek professional help – counselling/ mental health services

Key messages Take control of the things you can Look after yourself and others Rejection: it’s not just you and it isn’t personal Be realistic: it’s tough, but have hope

c. mathieson@surrey. ac. uk @cemathieson www. charlottemathieson c.mathieson@surrey.ac.uk @cemathieson www.charlottemathieson.wordpress.com