Resources
- Drop in sessions
- Longer 1:1 sessions
- Workshops
- Skills training
- Information centre
- Postgraduate careers books
John Kirwan is the dedicated careers adviser for research postgraduates
Drop in sessions (20 minute)
Drop-in sessions can be used to discuss a wide variety of career related issues, such as your next steps, applications, CVs, interviews, and making career choices. These sessions normally take place on a Tuesday afternoon and appointments can be booked in advance.
To book go to events
Longer 1:1 sessions
45 minute appointments are also available. These sessions allow you to discuss your ideas in more detail and are available throughout the year. Appointments can be booked directly online. Alternatvely, email: j.kirwan@bristol.ac.uk
Workshops
Workshops designed specifically for postgraduate students, covering all aspects of career management, are offered at the Careers Service. These have the additional benefit of bringing postgraduate students together as a useful network.
- Interviews and how to survive them
- Practice interview
- CV workshops
- Careers in the South West
To sign up for these workshops go to the events section of the website: events
Skills training
Whether you're pursuing an academic career or seeking employment outside the university system you'll need the right skills to support all the knowledge you've gained on your studies. Each Faculty provides a range of skills training appropriate to postgraduates. Further training and resources are available from not only the Careers Service but also the Student Development Unit at the Students' Union.
- Careers Service advice on skills www.bristol.ac.uk/careers/skills
- University directory of skills provision www.bristol.ac.uk/studentskills
- Student Development Unit skills training www.ubu.org.uk/training
There is also a leaflet produced by the University Skills Group, detailing the skills training available to research and taught Postgraduates for the forthcoming academic year.
Information Centre
- Occupational information reference and take-away careers booklets providing an industry overview and entry requirements for a wide range of occupations
- Employer files containing information on a variety of individual employers
- DVDs, interviews, networking, assessment Centres
- Booklets: Your Masters … what next?, Your PhD … What next?
- The Careers Service has a subscription to FunderFinder - a searchable database of about 4,000 charitable trusts and foundations that give grants to individuals for educational purposes or career development. The FunderFinder website also has a useful advice pack for fundraising, lots of links to funders and resources and a free software program Apply yourselves which will help you write a grant application.
Postgraduate career books - Available in our information centre
- "Moving on in your career- A guide for academic researchers" Ali, Lynda and Graham, Barbara - useful book for research students, with a great section on transferable skills.
- "How to get a job you'll love" Lees, John - focuses on looking at your career motivation
- "The academic career handbook" Blaxter, Lorraine
- "Successful research careers" Delamont, Sara
- "Building a successful career in scientific research" Dee, Phil - Scientific Research & Development; Research Staff.
- "So what are you going to do with that? Finding careers outside academia" Basalla, Susan
- "From postgraduate to social scientist" Gilbert, G
- "How to get a PhD" Phillips, Estelle
- "Equipping postgraduate researchers to complete their studies effectively and make a successful transition to their future careers" UK Grad Programme
Careers catalogue - searchable catalogue of information centre print and electronic resources (such as books, journals and websites)
