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Postgraduate prospectus

Student services: Careers Centre

What difference does a postgraduate course make to my career choices?

While for some jobs a postgraduate qualification may be essential, for others it can simply offer the competitive edge. Recent surveys show that higher degree graduates are more likely to obtain jobs at professional or managerial level and less likely to be unemployed. However, a postgraduate degree does not provide a guarantee of securing employment. Graduate students still need to have a proactive and informed approach to career planning and applying for jobs.

Employers expect graduates to offer a range of skills and experience as well as academic qualifications. Increasingly, they are looking for people with the necessary transferable skills to contribute effectively to their organisation.

What skills are employers looking for?

Employers do value those skills which studying for a postgraduate degree will help you develop:

  • analytical ability
  • enquiry and research skills
  • critical ability
  • independent judgment

In addition, employers also want such workplace skills as:

  • teamwork
  • oral and written communication
  • planning and organising
  • time management
  • commercial awareness

How can the University help me to develop workplace skills?

Get involved: whether you decide to join student societies, work with local voluntary groups, or represent the University as a student ambassador, there are many opportunities to enhance your skills and develop new ones that will increase your employability.

Get working: part-time work is now a key part of student life for many and is much more than a way to make ends meet.

You can:

  • register with JobsOnline, our online vacancy service to find part-time and vacation employment to enhance and develop your skills and competencies required for graduate-level employment;
  • visit our Careers Centre at the Colchester Campus and our JobShop at the Southend Campus
  • apply to our innovative ‘Frontrunners’ student placement scheme. These campus-based, paid opportunities enable students with skills gaps to obtain the skills that they need for their future careers. Each post is supported by a skills development programme.

Get learning: there is a wide range of events and other resources to help you develop essential work-related skills and those needed for successful applications. All students can access our range of new online management courses designed to support our postgraduates taking on their first supervisory or management position. These interactive exercises allow for self-reflective learning and are linked to the Management Charter Initiative (MCI) competencies.

How else can the University help with my career development?

There is provision that can provide you with the support and resources necessary to plan ahead, to make career decisions and to search for jobs. We offer:

  • two dedicated international careers advisers to support you in your career planning through a targeted programme of workshops, global resources and individual professional careers guidance
  • one-to-one sessions with a careers adviser to help you develop specific career plans and strategies
  • help with job seeking skills, such as CV design and interview technique, both online and at workshops
  • support for the career management aspects of your personal development planning
  • guidance on work-related issues such as PAYE, National Insurance and work permits
  • numerous opportunities to meet employers at events such as the Options Careers Fair and the Law Fair
  • access to careers information resources including books, information databases and free take-away materials, supported by a team of helpful careers information staff at the Careers Centre at our Colchester Campus

The Careers Centre on our Colchester Campus and our Southend Campus JobShop can help you find part-time work during your studies, and provide a focal point within the University for employers seeking staff. Vacancies are displayed online, on notice boards and via an e-mail service which keeps you informed of relevant opportunities as soon as they arise.

Opportunities for PhD students

To complement the research training you receive in your department, school or centre, the University offers a comprehensive range of development opportunities that will both support your research and enable you to develop the transferable skills that are valued highly by employers.

What are the objectives of the training programme?

A variety of courses and workshops are run, designed to:

  • enhance your skills
  • support you in your current role as a postgraduate research student
  • further your career development
  • enable you to make contact with your peers in other departments, schools and centres

How can the training programme help you?

The programme helps you to develop skills in areas that are important to you, both now and for the future, allowing you to acquire skills that may not form part of your day-to-day experience as a researcher. Taking part in the programme also helps you to stay in touch with other research students, as well as to maintain your motivation.

The programme starts off with a one-day induction course that runs during October and January. It covers areas including understanding the process of studying for a PhD, planning and project management skills, and making the most of your supervisor.

The main component of the training programme is a series of courses and workshops. These are run throughout the year and include:

  • Applying for a Postdoctoral Post
  • Creative Problem Solving
  • Effective Use of Voice
  • Networking and Influencing
  • Presentation Skills
  • Presenting a Conference Paper
  • Stress Management
  • Surviving the Viva
  • Time Management
  • Writing for Publication

Courses and workshops are usually three hours in duration and are delivered by a combination of University of Essex staff and external trainers. Many of these courses also include contributions from PhD students who are further ahead with their research or have recently completed their programmes. As a result, by taking these courses, you are able to learn from experts and from the experience of your peers. All courses are participative and include activities and exercises which allow you to practice and develop your skills.

The programme includes an annual GRADschool, a three-day course aimed at PhD students in their second or third years. The GRADschool enables you to take time out from your research and to consider what you would like to do when you complete your PhD. It helps you to plan how you can develop the skills and experience you will need to make your next step as easy as possible. The GRADschool also helps you to consider what you can do in order to complete your PhD successfully.

Graduate Teaching Assistants

Most departments, schools and centres provide employment opportunities for research students as Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs), who support the permanent academic staff in their teaching. A position as a GTA offers you the chance to experience teaching in higher education in a supportive and structured environment. GTAs can gain credits for their work by taking module one of the Postgraduate Certificate in their Higher Education Practice (PG CHEP).

All new GTAs attend an induction and training course, and are supervised by permanent academic staff.