As you draw to the end of your research studies (or possibly sooner), you will need to consider what the next step will be in your career. The links below will provide you with advice and guidance as you make your next career step. You should discuss your options with your supervisor, as he/she may be able to provide additional support and contacts. You can also make an appointment to speak to the careers adviser for postgraduate research students, Dr Hedda Weitz, in the University's Career Service. Contact the Careers Service’s reception either in person or by phone (27)3601 to book an appointment. Alternatively, send an email to car054@abdn.ac.uk with any queries you may have.
Vitae
Vitae is a national organisation for the personal, professional & career development of doctoral researchers and research staff in higher education institutions and research institutes. It builds on work and activities of the UK GRAD Programme for postgraduate researchers and is funded by the Research Councils UK.
The site offers information and guidance on many aspects of postgraduate research. The Careers section provides you with information and guidance to think about how you can manage your career. It can help you to think about what you want to do, navigate recruitment processes and manage your career over the long term.
- What do researchers do? Doctoral graduate destinations and impact three years on 2010
This publication provides comprehensive evidence of the value of doctoral study to researchers, their employers and society at large. It identifies six distinct ‘occupational clusters' of doctoral graduates and illustrates how you contribute to innovation and knowledge transfer through using your knowledge, skills and experience in research and non-research roles across all employment sectors.
- What do researchers do? First destinations of doctoral graduates by subject 2009
This publication shows the analysis of first employment destinations of doctoral graduates 2003-2007 from UK universities by discipline and subject, including illustration of the range of occupations undertaken by doctoral graduates.
- What do researchers do? Career profiles of doctoral graduates 2009
This publication provides a collection of 40 career profiles and around 1000 first destination job titles of doctoral graduates.
- What do researchers do? Career profiles of doctoral entrepreneurs 2010
This publication provides a collection of 30 career stories from doctoral researchers who have gone on to become entrepreneurs.
- Recruiting researchers: survey of employer practice 2009
This survey collected the views of over 100 non-HE employers on recruiting doctoral researchers. The survey found that more than 70% of employers would welcome more applications from doctoral researchers and that theyare keen to recruit researchers both for their technical skills and for their ‘first class brains'.
Prospects
Prospects is UK’s busiest graduate careers website and is the UK's leading provider of career information, advice and opportunities. It is the commercial trading subsidiary of the Higher Education Careers Services Unit (HECSU), a higher education agency and registered charity. The site includes a series of occupational profiles and a job exploration tool called Prospects Planner. Your PhD… What Next? contains useful advice and links on the Prospects site.
University of Aberdeen – Useful Sites
- Careers Service – practical advice on CVs, cover letters, applications and interviews, Virtual Library, etc.
- Research Vacancies – current vacancies at the University.
- Research & Innovation – sources of research funding.
- Public Engagement with Science – help & support to any students who wish to get involved in public engagement activities.
Jobs in Research (academic & non-academic)
- jobs.ac.uk – research & academic jobs in the UK and worldwide.
- Nature Jobs
- ScienceCareers
- New Scientist
- TalentScotland - information, vacancies and company listings for electronics technologies and energy industries in Scotland.
- Times Higher Education
- academicjobseu.com – academic research jobs in the EU.
- EuroScienceJobs
- HigherEdJobs – academic research jobs in the US and Canada.
- phdjobs.com – a specialist recruitment job board.
- RCUK – Research Council UK vacancies pages.
Jobs in Industry
- Chemistry World – job vacancies in chemistry and the chemical sciences.
- ChemJobs
- Oilcareers – recruitment site for the worldwide oil & gas industry.
- The Career Engineer
- The Engineer – engineering vacancies.
- NCEjobs – UK's leading civil engineering job board.
- environmentjob.co.uk – environmental vacancies.
- ENDS Directory – ENDS Directory is produced by Environmental Data Services, Britain's leading provider of environmental information and is a detailed listing of UK environmental consultancies.
Institutes & Societies – Careers Advice
- Royal Society of Chemistry – see ‘Careers & Professional Development’ section.
- Institution of Engineering and Technology – see ‘Careers and training’ section which provides professional development, jobs and other career related information.
- Institution of Mechanical Engineers
- Institute of Chemical Engineers – see ‘Careers Advice’ section.
- British Geological Survey – see ‘Careers in the Earth Sciences’ section.
- Geological Society – see ‘Education/Careers’ section.
- Maths Careers – this site is sponsored by the Council for Mathematical Sciences, comprising The London Mathematical Society, The Royal Statistical Society, The Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, The Edinburgh Mathematical Society and The Operational Research Society.
- Physics Jobs – Institute of Physics (IOP) provides careers support, guidance and advice in a variety of ways.
Other Useful Sites
- Research Councils UK – research careers & diversity.
- EPSRC – Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council is the UK Government's leading funding agency for research and training in engineering and the physical sciences.
- SEMTA – Sector Skills Council for Science, Engineering & Manufacturing Technologies.
- Science Engineering and Technology – SCENTA, initiated by The Engineering and Technology Board , works with leaders in the science, engineering and technology (SET) community to provide a gateway to the best information and resources for those pursuing a career in SET.
- Careers Service, University of Bath – these pages have been tailored for postgraduate research students in different subjects to provide information relevant to their careers.