Exploring Career Options

Exploring Career Options

There are so many potential careers out there that it can seem overwhelming.  You might not have thought beyond getting your PhD, you may have some vague ideas but need to find out more information, or you may not have a clue where to begin.  Whatever stage you are at, the Careers Service can help.

Resources for Exploring Careers

• Use I want to work in to investigate occupations
• Use MyCareer (DS login required) and the Events Calendar to see which employers attend Careers Fairs and Employer Presentations in order to learn more about occupations and organisations
• Find out what Strathclyde doctorial graduates do.  Ask your Department what previous researchers in your field have done.
• Use the alumni tool in Linkedin - (find out how to use The LinkedIn Alumni Tool - pdf)
• Euraxess:  Discover careers beyong academia
• jobs.ac.uk: Alternative Career Paths After Your PhD
• jobs.ac.uk:  Immigration Toolkit for International PhD Students
• SULSA (Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance) post-academic careers case studies for Life Sciences to raise awareness of post-academic career paths for early career researchers 
• The British Academy has published case studies that reveal the diversity of career pathways taken by doctoral graduates in the arts, humanities and social sciences who pursue careers beyond academia, or roles which traverse the normal distinctions between academia and other sectors
• University of Edinburgh Careers Service Blog: Exploring Careers Beyond Academia
• University of Dundee Stories in Science: Postdoctoral Career Pathways
• From PhD to Life: Transition Q & As
• Nature: Career Guide
• Vitae: Researcher Career Stories 
• Career options for researchers from the University of Bath
• Options for PhD STEM students blog post
• What are my career options with a PhD? from University of Birmingham
• Individual advice: Discuss career options in a 1:1 appointment with your Faculty Careers Consultant

Research Outside Academia

Whatever the subject of your PhD, there is a range of opportunities for research careers outside higher education.  Some of the options open to you will depend on your subject area and existing practical skills.  However, the most important thing to remember is to demonstrate your awareness of how your research skills are transferable.

Use these resources

• jobs.ac.uk:  Using research skills outside academia
• University of London:  Research careers outside academia 
• Mendeley: Non-academic research careers: a PhD's guide to standing out from the crowd
• Vitae: Careers for researchers outside higher education

Other Options Outside Academia

Starting your own business

Would you consider going it alone and apply your creative approach to research to entrepreneurship? 

See our advice on Starting Your Own Business and Freelancing

Use these resources:

• Vitae: Your enterprise questions answered
• Vitae: Career stories: doctoral entrepreneurs

Portfolio Career

A portfolio career combines a mixture of professional roles, some of which might involve your degree subject or research area.  This could include research, teaching in academia, consultancy (incorporating free-lance/self-employment), and employment in an academic institution.

Use these resources:

• Oxford University:  Freelancing and Portfolio Careers

Other Options with Your Subject

Use these resources:

• Prospects:  What can I do with my degree?
• Use LinkedIn to discover what other researchers have gone on to do
• Individual advice: Discuss options with your Faculty Careers Consultant

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