Careers Support for Research Staff
The dedicated careers support available to research staff at the University of Oxford
The Oxford University Careers Service offers tailored support to University research staff at all stages of their career, whether they are exploring their options, looking to boost their employability, or polishing an application.
Whom we support
The Careers Service offers advice and guidance on careers to all research staff employed on a contract with the University of Oxford at grades 6 to 9, including Junior Research Fellows and Teaching Fellows. Our support is available for the duration of the contract and for 12 months post-contract.
Oxford staff members with a role or grade outside this bracket should refer to the People and Organisational Development webpages for access to appropriate training and support.
Video introduction: Careers support for researchers at the University of Oxford
https://www.youtube.com/embed/J3IO0Iq3d_A?si=abtwoBbq5_L0blsv
CareerConnectNewslettersAdvice appointmentsEventsCareer briefings
How to access CareerConnect
To access everything on offer, please register for a CareerConnect account for research staff.
The CareerConnect platform is exclusive to Oxford University students, alumni and current research staff, and it allows you to search upcoming career events, book advice appointments, and find opportunities.
Registration only takes a few minutes. We recommend that you use your University email address (@ox.ac.uk) to ensure we can register you for online events easily, and you can access our tools such as Career Weaver, and opt in to receive targeted information from the Careers Service in order to get our regular newsletters.
- Research staff on a grade 6-9 fixed-term research contract: If you are a member of Oxford’s Research Staff, you can sign up by completing the New User Registration form - Research Staff. Once the account is confirmed, you can simply Login to CareerConnect.
- Other research staff: We have very limited capacity to offer careers support to University staff and associates beyond our official remit. However, we may be able to grant you access to the platform. Find out more about CareerConnect access for other research staff.
Read more about how to make the most of CareerConnect.
Newsletter for researchers
Oxford researchers can receive regular updates by opting in to receive the Careers Service researcher newsletter. To opt in, select 'Yes' to 'Receive targeted information from the Careers Service' in CareerConnect, on the 'Update Details' page.
Advice appointments
Oxford University research staff have access to confidential advice appointments where you can discuss your current career plans, some alternative options and how to explore viable routes or transitions most effectively. We can also support with guidance on networking, CV-writing, applications or interview preparation.
Research staff on a grade 6-9 fixed-term research contract at Oxford University may book a 30 minute appointment with Dr Susan Black or Dr Chris Jeffs, the careers advisers for research staff. The appointments can be booked in CareerConnect as 'Appointments for Research Staff' and are made available to book up to four weeks in advance.
Events
The Careers Service runs a wide range of online and in person bespoke events and programmes for research staff. Researchers also have access to sessions from our wider programme, and a host of employer-run sessions available to browse in the Events section of CareerConnect.
The sessions and workshops we offer include:
- Insight into academia: lunchtime sessions exploring the evolving realities of academic progression.
- Strategy and skills workshops
- We run practical workshops each term on subjects such as:
- Career management
- Academic progression
- Transitioning beyond academia
- Cringe-free networking
- LinkedIn strategy
- CVs/cover letters
- Fellowship applications
- Interview technique
- Tips on engaging with employers at pre-fair ‘Researchers @’ sessions.
Browse the careers events for University of Oxford research students and staff run by the Careers Service and register for all that you wish to attend.
Careers Beyond Academia: Options and Pathways for Researchers
Monday 18 March - Thursday 21 March 2024, online and in-person at the Careers Service building.
Whether you are curious about or actively pursuing a career beyond academia, you will benefit from our range of online and in-person events. Careers Beyond Academia: Options and Pathways for Researchers is a FREE conference that offers Oxford University researchers the chance to join online panel talks with PhD holders and former academic researchers speaking frankly about their daily working lives in a variety of sectors, attend an in-person networking event, and take part in interactive workshops to help you identify skills and strategies for optimising your career preparedness.
If you missed this year's events and want to find out more about the programme or are interested in the contact details of the recruiters looking to hire researchers, read the Conference booklet.
Career guidance webpages
If you are not sure where to start with your career planning, our bespoke guidance pages for researchers tackle typical questions and concerns raised by postdocs and other early career researchers, plus those who have been in post for longer.
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