Women in German Studies Postgraduate and Early Career Workshop

Plan for the afternoon: Options after the PhD. Where to go next? The current research climate. What you need to know!

Options after the PhD: Academic posts 1. Building your CV 2. Job Applications 3. Interviews

1. Building your CV c-cv-template/ Frame your current and future research in terms of REF outcomes (ie. monograph, journal article, chapter in an edited book etc.). If your thesis is not yet completed, specify a (realistic) completion date. If your thesis is not yet published, name potential publishers/series. c-cv-template/

Put your research before teaching (but alter it if going for a only teaching post). Stress research-led teaching. Give an indication of future articles AND TARGET JOURNALS. Be realistic (e.g. GLL encourages submissions from young researchers). Teaching: course title, number in group, level, responsibilities.

2. Job Applications ultimate-article-applying-for-an-academic-job/ Tailor each application to the specific job. Check the Departmental/School/Programme websites. Informal contact – use WIGS! ultimate-article-applying-for-an-academic-job/

Personal statements: you-should-include-in-a-personal-statement/ Covering letters: 1A4 side. Choose your language carefully – you are ‘an active researcher’ not ‘a pg student’. Use the job description (repeat their language). Get everything proof read! you-should-include-in-a-personal-statement/

Be ambitious but realistic. Know the context in which academics work and use the relevant language (REF, Impact, KT). Do not fall into the (gendered) pitfalls: do not apologize for where you are at! You will often be asked to prepare a second and/or final year course based on your research interests (some suggest you send this with your CV anyway). 3. Interviews

Questions you might be asked: Related to the ‘three legs’ of the job: teaching, research, administration In particular: research plans (with dates/publishers) Applications for research money: AHRC, ESRC, Leverhulme Teaching: co-teaching, language philosophies (EBL, IT) Wider academic context: outreach N.B. They are looking for someone who is capable of doing a full teaching load and research.

Questions you might ask: Mentoring system Probation targets PGCHE