At some point in your research career you will need to decide whether to remain in the research field or consider other options. Although early career planning pays dividends, it’s never too late to take stock and think about your next steps.

If you’re nearing the end of your contract and unsure which route to follow, the information on these pages and support available through Organisational Development, will help you plan and prepare for your future.

Staying in Academia

Other Options in Research, Higher Education, or Career Change

If you’re at the start of your research career and nursing ambitions to become a fully-fledged academic, it’s important to plan ahead and think strategically. You have to take control of your career from the earliest stage and keep the end goal in mind. It’s no good getting to the end of your second postdoc only to find you’ve had limited success with bid applications, have little administrative experience and a teaching portfolio.
Your research profile and publications record will open doors, but you can’t afford to be complacent. Other candidates may have an equally impressive publications list and more besides.

Before you decide to remain in academia, ask yourself:
a) Whether your aspirations are still realistic
b) Whether your perception reflects the reality.

A good place to start is An Academic Career - a resource developed by Manchester University Postgraduate Careers team.

If you have the drive, determination and talent to succeed, then a career in academia can prove to be extremely fulfilling and despite the gloom there are researchers who make a successful transition from contract research to permanent post. In terms of your own prospects, there are some factors beyond your control, but success will depends mainly on your ability to do the following:

Building your research profile

You will need a healthy publications record to be considered for lectureships. Aim for high impact, well recognised journals. You will need to be strategic, so consider possible collaborations with highly cited academics. UK universities are concerned with impact, so quality trumps quantity.

Cultivate your professional, academic network and take every opportunity to share your work. Networking is a reciprocal activity, so try to establish a connection and a dialogue with your peers. Join Academia.edu and try to enhance your online profile through selected activity on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Developing your research trajectory

Think about the direction and development of your research. Is there a clear purpose and vision tied to a research strategy? If not, you’ll find it difficult to convince an academic selection panel.

Find – or create – opportunities for collaborative working, joint projects of interdisciplinary initiatives.

Gaining teaching experience

Discuss your professional development needs with your line manager/supervisor/PI.

Seek out any opportunities to lecture. If there are no immediate openings, explore other avenues (time allowing) through IATL. Don’t assume lecturing is the only means to develop your teaching experience: lab demonstrations, problem-based classes and seminars all provide exposure to students and the chance to hone your teaching style.

Teaching and Learning courses from OD

Securing grants and funding

A proven track record in securing funds and grants will strengthen your case at the application stage, as funding is a high priority for departments. If you’re at the beginning of your research career, then your first step may to support more established colleagues with their bids or apply for smaller funding sources (e.g. travel grants or running internal events).

Where to find jobs

• The Times Higher Education Supplement
• FindAPostDoc.com
• Jobs.ac.uk

Further resources

• Developing as a researcher (Vitae)
• The Career Wise Researcher (Vitae)
• An Academic Career (Manchester)
• Staying in Academia (Bristol)
• Academic case studies (Jobs.ac.uk)

 Research / Higher Education / Career Change 

Research

Many researchers leave the familiar surroundings of university to pursue research careers in both the private and public sector. Researchers across all disciplines find challenging and stimulating roles in R&D, banks, local and central government departments, and the cultural sector.
The main consideration is to convince potential employers that your research expertise – and knowledge – transfer to an external environment.
Private sector is more commercially focussed so draw attention to the skills gained from your academic research including grant-writing and budget management.

Where to find jobs

• Policy Library
• PharmiWeb.co
• Through professional bodies
• Trade associations
• Guardian Jobs

Further resources

• Research versus non research careers
• Academic research and the commercial sector (Article by Dr Catherine Armstrong)

Higher Education

If you’re thinking of leaving research, but would like to remain within the familiar surroundings of a university environment then it’s worth considering non research careers within higher education. The HE administrative network is vast, with wide ranging functions from staff development and careers support, governance, marketing, admissions, teaching and learning, as well as knowledge transfer. There may be opportunities for you to work on the peripheries of research through a role in research support services or researcher development.

Where to find jobs

• Jobs.ac.uk
• Times Higher Education Supplement
• University websites (some may be posted as internal vacancies only)

Career change

Although most researchers remain within the higher education or research environment, there are options in other career sectors. You may be thinking of a complete career change, and taking a new direction entirely. Before you launch yourself into the application stage, you need to take a step back, take stock and consider:

• How your professional skills and experience align with job requirements
• What particular strengths, interests and capabilities you would like to use
• Potential barriers and limitations

Vitae has some useful information and tips to help you manage your career and decide where you want to be .

You need to be realistic about the timeframe for managing a career transition from the academic to the ‘external’ environment.

Further resources

Warwick career profiles

Vitae career stories

Beyond the PhD - an excellent resource for Arts & Humanities researchers