Enhance your employability

How to increase your chances of employment

As a PhD researcher, there are several ways to increase your chances of employment:

• Focus on completing your PhD on time; it will demonstrate your ability to deliver to deadlines.
• Networking is a key skill for exploring opportunities within the academic world. Attend conferences and seminars, and get involved with professional associations or learned societies relevant to your subject area.
• Try to explain your research in simple terms, using just a few sentences. This tests your communication skills and ability to describe your research to non-specialists.
• Aim to get your work published in reputable journals related to your field of study.
• Try to get teaching or supervision experience by
  • applying for the Teaching opportunities each of the Faculties offer
  • applying to work at OU residential schools or as an OU tutor
  • approaching other university or college departments with an offer to give a visiting lecture.
• Keep in touch with people who can help you with your job search. Ask your supervisor or other postdoctoral researchers for help with the job application process. Could an experienced colleague mentor you?
• If you want to work outside academia, focus on the transferable skills you gained from your PhD research, such as
  • project management
  • presenting to diverse audiences
  • analysing data
  • communicating effectively with others.
• Always mention any applications for funding (whether successful or not) that you have been involved with, either directly or indirectly.