Career guidance
Career in general
Not every PhD student will have an academic career after the dissertation, though many PhD students start their project with the conviction to have chosen for an ultimate academic career. Supervisors as well are often not aware of the many career opportunities. This means that during the PhD project you should also focus on life after the PhD and the possibilities for you inside and outside academics. For example, if you want to have a chance to get grants after your PhD you can plan in trips abroad to gain experience.
For a PhD to transfer smoothly into business life he/she should get a broad education. That entails schooling in transferable skills such as management and presentation skills; these are important outside academics as well. These make PhDs more attractive to the business world.
Experience shows that the last year of your project is much too busy for career training and you should plan this in in the third year. Do not forget to focus on the business world, as 8 out of 10 PhD students end up working outside academics.
Courses in career perspective
At the university level, a few courser are being provided to expand your career perspectives.
Career development
- Career Guidance for International PhDs
- Coaching - not for external PhDs and PhDs of Radboudumc
- E-coaching - not for external PhDs and PhDs of Radboudumc
- Education in a nutshell *
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation for PhD-students
- Grant Writing and Presenting for Funding Committees*
- Science Journalism and Communcation
- University Teaching Qualification (UTQ)
Career guidance for PhD students affiliated with a university
The CAO NU (Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities) defines the rights and duties of employer and employee with regard to training. Article 6.5 says that every employee who as a contract of two or more years (e.g. PhD students too), have to have the opportunity to get professional help concerning the career. This has to be paid by the university. It has to take place at a time that is compatible with the project and that increases the chances of the PhD student on the job market.
If the student feel to have needs further than those defined in the project-and-training plan, he/she can invoke Article 6.9 of the CAO. This states that it is the combined duty of employer and employee to increase the employee’s chances on the job market. The university can pledge the student to follow specific training, and the PhD student can pledge the university to provide training facilities. This includes e.g. transferable skills or internships.
Career guidance for PhD students affiliated with a medical institution of a university
Chapter 3 of the CAO UMC (Universitair Medisch Centrum) deals with aspects of training, the employees’ tasks and their evaluation. Being an OIO gives you the right to be trained to be able to carry out your job efficiently (Article 3.1), and the UMC has to cover the costs. Additionally, you have the right to be trained for a job besides or after your project as long as it fits into the project and you make arrangements about this in your yearly interview. These costs usually have to be covered half by yourself, but in principle you can make arrangements with your employer that he covers all. You are responsible to make these arrangements. Article 3.1.1 defines the costs that are covered, such as classes, courses, travels, or exams. As OIO you almost always automatically are member of a local research school that offers training possibilities for free. If you want to follow classes besides this you might have to pay yourself (Article 3.1.2 states what exactly you have to pay).
Each employee of an UMC has a personal budget. In 2010 this is a monthly contribution of 1% of the salary. This budget is taken from your salary and is used for costs of training in 2010 (Article 3.2.2). For example, if you began in 2008, your personal budget reached about 500 € in 2010. This amount is put on top of the other training costs, and therefore a little extra money you might want to use for your personal development. For example, you can take a class outside your subject which you find interesting. Take care to take into account possible taxes that come with the money.
