Non-Academic Careers: Exploring Career Pathways Post-PhD

This event will enable PGRs to explore career pathways outside of academia which draw on the skills, knowledge and experience they will accumulate through their PhD. The first part of the event will consist of a 90-minute workshop facilitated by Charlotte Axon, a careers expert from Tailored Thinking, and will focus on career crafting. The second part will introduce a panel of professionals who pursued a non-academic career following their PhD. Each will introduce themselves and share the story of their career journey so far. This will be followed by a panel discussion and facilitated Q&A.

Outcomes

Participants will:

• Explore practical ways to craft a career for their future selves, whether within or beyond academia;
• Explore the concepts of job and career crafting, squiggly careers, and what it means to craft a career aligned to strengths, values and interests;
• Be invited to reflect on their career journey, and to share openly with others;
• Gain insights and inspiration to consider unconventional career pathways by hearing from alumni;
• Leave with a clearer image of their ‘future work self’ and practical steps they can take immediately in order to shape a meaningful career.

Contributors

Charlotte Axon is the Lead People Scientist at Tailored Thinking, an evidence-based, positive psychology consultancy specialising in the personalisation of work. Before joining Tailored Thinking, Charlotte worked in a variety of HR, D&I, and organisation development roles across Higher Education, having led and supported projects relating to culture, change, inclusion and recruitment. Charlotte has a specialist interest in inclusion and belonging, and is passionate about making work better for everyone. She has a Master’s Degree in Occupational Psychology from the University of Sheffield, has published leadership research in the EAWOP journal, and has presented her work at conferences across the globe.

Dr Anna Topakas is a Senior Lecturer in Work Psychology at the University of Sheffield and Deputy Director of the WRDTP’s Wellbeing, Health and Communities (WHC) Pathway.

Dr Ciara Kelly is a Lecturer in Work Psychology at the University of Sheffield and Deputy Director of the WRDTP’s Sustainable Growth, Business, Work and Economic Productivity (SBE) Pathway.