Careers outside academia
In a report by UK Research and Innovation focusing on those working outside of higher education, one in five employers said that their doctoral graduates were:
business critical, valuing their deep specialist subject knowledge, excellent research and analytical skills, their capacity for critical thinking, as well as their ability to bring fresh perspectives to problems or the organisation
UKRI - The impact of doctoral careers
Two UoN alumni talk about their career decision and transferable skills
Sophie Goodwin, Programmer and Analyst
Sophie talks about the transferable skills that Capgemini were interested in and the value employers place on students who study at PhD level.
Sarah Maddison, Technical Consultant
Sarah didn't know what she wanted to do when she graduated and she talks about how she approached making her career decision.
A summary of your career options
Careers using specialist research knowledge and skills. Watch Stephen Wang's video
There are some settings where your specialist research knowledge and skills will be in demand, including industry, the public sector, commercial research organisations, consultancy firms, charities and think tanks.
Questions to ask yourself
- Why do I want to move on from academia?
- Is using my research knowledge/skills in a different setting going to satisfy my needs and motivations?
- What do I know about the alternative research environments I might consider?
- How do I feel about the potential commercialisation of my research?
Top tips
To enhance your chances of making a successful transition, consider the following:
- Be clear about what you have to offer an employer and why you want to move into a non-academic environment
- Develop your awareness of the business and commercial aspects of the sector and ensure that you are clear about how your research skills/knowledge fit in
- Look for opportunities to test the reality of a particular sector before making applications. Can you visit someone in their workplace, attend a relevant conference etc.?
- Build a network of useful contacts who will enable you to explore your options in more detail
- Use social media to raise your profile – join in with relevant discussions and post your thoughts and opinions
Stephen Wang, Associate Director
Professor Stephen Wang worked as an assistant professor in the School of Medicine at the University of Nottingham before moving to Johnson & Johnson as an associate director.
He talks about his career from his early days at Nottingham to Johnson & Johnson and how he has transferred those skills from academia into industry. Stephen talks about the recruitment process in industry and how it is very different from academic recruitment.
Find employers of researchers
UK Research and Innovation - list of independent research organisations eligible for research council funding
Jobs.ac.uk
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships - a three-way partnership
Graduate vacancies with a difference
A Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) is a three-way project between a recent graduate (KTP Associate), a business and a university.
It is one of the country’s largest graduate placement schemes with more than 350 jobs available to UK, EU and international students.
Find out more and apply
Graduates will be recruited to manage and deliver a strategic project for a business whilst being supported by their university. You’ll be employed by the University but work in the company under their terms and conditions.
As a KTP Associate, you will:
- Work in both a commercial and academic setting
- Fast track your career development with a substantial training and development budget
- Turn ideas into impact and apply your knowledge
Current KTP vacancies managed by the University
National KTP opportunities
Read Sara Bru Garcia's blog post: KTP - My Time as an Associate Working on a Collaborative Project
Choosing the KTP was a big and important decision for me make. It offered a unique experience including practical experience and academic research. It opened doors to career development and exciting opportunities.
Alternative careers within higher education (HE)
Look around your department and across the wider university, there are numerous roles that will utilise your knowledge of university structures and processes and allow you to support the teaching and research of others.
Examples include university administration, management, research policy, academic support, quality assurance, careers and employability and marketing.
Questions to ask yourself
- Do I enjoy working in a university environment e.g. the pace, colleagues, ethos etc.?
- Would I find supporting the teaching and research of others satisfying?
- Has my experience so far given me any ideas regarding where I might fit in?
Top tips
- Talk to staff in relevant departments to investigate the various roles
- Consider where your skills might best be used within a university for example in support, administration or policy
- Search university websites to see what non-academic roles are advertised
- Look for opportunities to develop useful skills for example committee servicing (setting an agenda and taking minutes)
Useful resources
The Guardian - jobs for non-academic roles in HE
Jobs.ac.uk - working in HE in a non-academic role
Jobs.ac.uk - working in higher education
Jobs.ac.uk - vacancies for professional, managerial and support services roles
Graduate careers (using your transferable experiences and skills)
Many graduate jobs in the UK don’t require a particular subject background, as employers are often more interested in whether you have the right attitude, skills, attributes etc. For example, areas such as finance, IT and management look for candidates with strong analytical skills, attention to detail and self-motivation; all skills that you will have developed during your research degree.
Many of these roles will be appropriate for postgraduate applicants. You will be treated in the same way as any other graduate applicant.
Questions to ask yourself
- What are my strengths, skills, attributes and where might they be most effectively applied?
- What adjustments may I need to make when considering a career in new employment sector?
- What benefits will I bring to the role and employer with my higher level qualification?
Top tips
- Talk to a careers adviser. They can help you to consider your skills and explore the options open to you.
- Attend our careers events and recruitment fairs covering a wide range of sectors
- Try to obtain some relevant experience, particularly if you are interested in a competitive field or one that requires strong business and commercial awareness. Part-time work, work shadowing, and volunteering are all valid ways to gain experience.
- Explore the placements on offer through Researcher Academy Placements
- Explore different entry routes. Graduate training schemes within large corporate businesses are well publicised. Smaller organisations may take more effort to identify. Use LinkedIn and chambers of commerce directories as a starting point.
- For international opportunities, visit our working abroad pages for key resources
Useful resources
Prospects - job profiles Note: While they are primarily aimed at the undergraduate reader, they do include PhD specific information where relevant, and they provide useful detail about each role.
Jobs.ac.uk - PhDs caught between graduate schemes and experienced hires
Employers
A relatively small number of employers have specific schemes and programmes for PhD applicants, for example:
The Bank of England - PhD internships and Researcher Programme
Careers related to passions or interests
Many individuals build a successful career from their interests. That may involve self-employment or might arise from being in the right place when an opportunity comes up such as at a sports club or charity you are involved with. It might also form part of a portfolio career i.e. working part time for several different employers.
Questions to ask yourself
- Do I want to turn something that gives me pleasure into a career or is it better used as a way to relax, do something unrelated to my daily work?
- What is most important to me e.g. financial security, job satisfaction, work-life balance, recognition for excellence etc.? Will building an interest into a job deliver that?
Top tips
- Seek advice from a small business expert
- Do some market research to check the feasibility of your ideas.
- Talk to the people around you when you are doing voluntary work or attending your club or society. Investigate what the options for paid employment might be. Building your network might give you a different perspective and allow you to hear about opportunities as they arise.
Useful resources
Organisations offering support and advice for self-employed
The Guardian - turning a hobby into a career
Self-employment, entrepreneur or freelance portfolio
UoN alumni case studies and webinars
Find out about their:
- current role and what it involves
- how they secured the role
- advice to you about entering their area of work
Vanja Ljevar, Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist
Ruby Hawley-Sibbett, Learning and Development Adviser
Luke Norman, Knowledge Exchange Fellow
Watch webinars featuring UoN PGR alumni working in roles outside academia