women in german studies postgraduate and early career workshop
TRANSCRIPT
Women in German Studies
Postgraduate and Early Career Workshop
Plan for the afternoon:
• Options after the PhD. Where to go next?
• The current research climate. What you need to know!
Options after the PhD:Academic posts
1. Building your CV2. Job Applications3. Interviews
www.jobs.ac.uk
1. Building your CVhttp://www.jobs.ac.uk/careers/articles/1309/academic-cv-template/
Frame your current and future research in terms of REF outcomes (ie. monograph, journal article, chapter in an edited book etc.).
If your thesis is not yet completed, specify a (realistic) completion date.
If your thesis is not yet published, name potential publishers/series.
Put your research before teaching (but alter it if going for a only teaching post). Stress research-led teaching.
Give an indication of future articles AND TARGET JOURNALS. Be realistic (e.g. GLL encourages submissions from young researchers).
Teaching: course title, number in group, level, responsibilities.
2. Job Applicationshttp://www.jobs.ac.uk/careers/articles/1293/the-ultimate-article-applying-for-an-academic-job/
Tailor each application to the specific job.
Check the Departmental/School/Programme websites.
Informal contact – use WIGS!
Personal statements:http://www.jobs.ac.uk/careers/articles/1343/what-you-should-include-in-a-personal-statement/
Covering letters: 1A4 side. Choose your language carefully – you are ‘an active researcher’ not ‘a pg student’.
Use the job description (repeat their language).
Get everything proof read!
Be ambitious but realistic.
Know the context in which academics work and use
the relevant language (REF, Impact, KT).Do not fall into the (gendered) pitfalls: do not apologize for where you are at!
You will often be asked to prepare a second and/or final year course based on your research interests (some suggest you send this with your CV anyway).
3. Interviews
Questions you might be asked:
Related to the ‘three legs’ of the job: teaching, research, administrationIn particular: research plans (with dates/publishers)Applications for research money: AHRC, ESRC, LeverhulmeTeaching: co-teaching, language philosophies (EBL, IT)Wider academic context: outreach
N.B. They are looking for someone who is capable of doing a full teaching load and research.
Questions you might ask:
Mentoring systemProbation targetsPGCHE