Marketing yourself and your research Dr Nikki Penhaligon Postgraduate Career Counsellor QUT Careers and Employment

Today’s agenda Why are we here? Where do we want to go? (And where can I go?!) What’s happening in the world of careers? How do I market my PhD to get that job?!

Who are we and why are we here? Name/PhD topic Where are you on your PhD journey? What are you hoping to achieve out of today? What do you want to know?

The changing world of work No longer a job for life More uncertainty in the air We need to self manage and actively participate in our OWN career journey Need to identify transferable skills and be adaptable Need to learn new skills and engage in life long learning We need learn how to market and promote ourselves

Where can I go? Universities Public service Academic Graduate programs Research only Professional Student administration Student support Grant assistance Information management Research institutes e.g., CSIRO Public service Graduate programs Private Consulting Contracting Not for profit

Tips to effectively market yourself Self reflect Define your brand Develop key statement(s) Do not wait to be noticed Present a professional image Cultivate people skills Have a vision Enact your strategy! (Karalis, 2007)

1. Self reflect Ask yourself: What motivated you to start a PhD? Where did you hope it would lead? What challenges are you facing? Has anything changed since you first enrolled? Activity: Write them down in your booklet

Activity: Think Pair Share Understanding my skills! On the post-it provided, brainstorm as many skills as you can that you have developed during your PhD candidature. Also indicate where you have developed these skills (ie the evidence). You have 1 minute! Now, grab a partner and brainstorm more. You have 2 minutes! Share with the larger group

Where might you have developed these skills??? Valued skills Work experience Teamwork skills Emotional intelligence (including self-awareness, confidence, motivation) Leadership Activities (including intra and extracurricular) . Interpersonal/communication skills (written and oral) Drive and commitment/industry knowledge Critical reasoning and analytical skills/technical skills Calibre of academic results Cultural alignment/values fit Where might you have developed these skills??? Data from 2011 survey of over 350 Australian employers. For more information see www.graduatecareers.com.au.

Postgraduate Research Capabilities Advanced theoretical knowledge and analytical skills, including methodological, research design and problem-solving skills Advanced information processing skills, and knowledge of advanced information and research technologies Independent research planning and execution Research health and safety, ethical conduct and intellectual property Project management, teamwork, academic writing and oral communication Research results transfer to end-users, publications and presentations, research policy, and research career planning

2. Define Your Brand How do you stand out from the crowd? What makes you different from the other applicants? How do you add value?

Think Outside the Box The goal of the puzzle is to link all 9 dots using four straight lines or less, without lifting the pen.

One Solution

How do you self manage, market and promote your skills? Features versus benefits Feature = distinctive element: an attribute, characteristic, mark, peculiarity, property, quality or trait. Benefit = Something that promotes or enhances well-being; an advantage; Something that contributes to an organisation (i.e., enhanced profitability, better efficiency, or reduced risk); Something that reduces hassles or inconvenience Employers buy benefits, not features

Features vs Benefits

Workbook activity: What are my features? How are they benefits?

3. Develop key statements Have an elevator speech. A concise 30-60 sec summary of you and your PhD. Write it in your workbook. Pitching your PhD Pitching yourself Describe what it is (in universal language) Highlight specialist knowledge and features Apply the subject matter to the organisation/uni/role Describe who you are How you will be a benefit to the organisation? How are you relevant to the role?

Remember! Who is your audience? Identify them: Academia? Industry? Colleagues? Peer? Supervisor? Adapt your language and message to suit Believe in the product (you!) and what you bring

4. Do not wait to be noticed Let people know when you are ready for the next challenge. The more people you talk to about it, the more likely you are to hear about opportunities as they arise.

How can you be noticed? Step out of your comfort zone into a new and unfamiliar area Always accept additional responsibilities that can build and diversify your portfolio If there is a vacancy or assignment you want, ask for it Be proactive and look for opportunities!

Make connections Attend conferences LinkedIn Join professional associations Attend events or engage in professional development Network with others

Volunteer! Speak at conferences/seminars/organisations Organise conferences/symposiums Actively participate in professional organisations Review for publications; contribute to a blog Chair a conference stream Serve on university committees  Be available! Volunteer outside of QUT Volunteering Qld http://www.volunteeringqld.org.au/web/ seek.com.au http://www.volunteer.com.au/ Activity: Turn to your neighbour. Ask them where they would like to work in the future. Spend 2 minutes brainstorming ways they can get noticed! Then swap.

BREAK

5. Present a professional image First impressions are crucial Consider your online presence FaceBook MySpace LinkedIn Dress for success

6. Cultivate people skills Good communication and interpersonal skills are crucial They can enable us to advance at a much faster pace than others with more experience They help us form positive first impressions

What are good people skills? Smile Eye contact Listen to understand Call people by their name Being open and confident Being positive

Networking: why bother?

But what do I talk about? Write one topic on the post-it provided

Activity: Networking cards

Activity: Team building

7. Have a vision Have a broadly defined goal or a career vision It may be a bit unclear, but having some direction will keep you moving ahead. Activity: Think about where you want to be in: 3yrs? 5yrs? 10yrs? Write it in your workbook

How do I get to where I want to go? Have an overall vision of where you want to go Break your vision down into manageable steps (SMART goals) Look for opportunities Record your progress and reward each achievement Revisit, evaluate and revise as you go

Be persistent! If you don’t succeed get some feedback and work out what you can do differently for next time

8. Enact your strategy – Goal setting activity S = SPECIFIC Who is involved? What do you want to accomplish? Where? - Identify a location. When? – Establish a time frame. Why? – Specific reason, purpose, or benefits of achieving a goal. M = MEASUREABLE Helps you stay on track, reach your target dates, and experience achievement. A = ATTAINABLE Break it down into steps - each step should move you closer to that goal. R = REALISTIC Personal and situational factors which may influence your ability to reach your goal. T = TIMEBOUND Define start points and end points to your goal and maintain commitment to these deadlines.

Writing an effective goal statement Use clear, specific language. Start your goal statement with TO + a VERB Write your goal statement using SMART Goal Criteria Avoid using negative language. Think positive! Activity: Let’s now give it a go!

Questions?

Contact Careers and Employment LOCATION Gardens Point Campus: Level 2, X Block Reception: Room X226 Kelvin Grove Campus: Level 4, C Block (Above the Refectory) Caboolture Campus: Student Centre - J Block PHONE Gardens Point: 07 3138 2649 Kelvin Grove: 07 3138 3488 Caboolture 07 5316 7400 EMAIL careers@qut.edu.au WEBSITE www.careers.qut.edu.au