Life after graduation

As you investigate various postgraduate study options, you may be wondering where a research degree can take you. Will the years of long hours and little money be worth it?

Success is hard to measure for research students, who come to their programs with many different expectations. Many students want to work as researchers, in any area that will employ them, while others are aiming for an academic position that combines research with teaching. Some feel their qualification will give them an edge in the industry, or allow them to move into a policy-making or consulting role. Then there are those who were motivated by a deep fascination with their topic or the desire to push themselves as far as possible.

This article discusses some popular career paths for research graduates, but students should see their supervisor for career information specific to their field.

The academic path
Moving into industry

The academic path

Some reports suggest there are fewer and fewer opportunities for permanent positions in academia, while others bemoan the ‘greying’ of Australia’s academic workforce and warn of dire shortages in the decade to come. Whatever the opportunities, a career in academia is still the preferred destination for many research students. PhD graduates on this path have several options: a research/post-doctoral fellowship, casual teaching work or, for the very lucky, a full-time academic position that involves both teaching and research. They may also be interested in working for public sector research organisations such as the CSIRO, or applying for positions with universities overseas.

Research fellowships and post-doctoral fellowships

Research and post-doctoral fellowships are short-term sponsored research positions at universities or other public sector research agencies, usually lasting two to four years. Many research graduates use fellowships to build experience and a publication record that will boost their chances of landing a permanent job. The pay is much better than a scholarship stipend and many positions offer the opportunity to concentrate solely on research, without the time demands of a teaching load. On the downside many researchers complain that the growing casualisation of the academic sector leaves them stuck on a ‘postdoc treadmill’ of one contract position after another with no job security.

Casual/sessional teaching positions

Many research graduates will have had some experience teaching undergraduate classes during their research program. The availability of this type of work varies from field to field but most institutions employ a large number of casual (also known as sessional) tutors and lecturers. You generally do not need a PhD, although you may be paid more if you have one. Many casual staff are professionals with considerable industry experience, who combine casual teaching work with continuing employment in their field. For recent graduates seeking full-time employment sessional work is often seen as unattractive because it does not include time for research, is low paid with few benefits such as annual leave, and does not necessarily lead to a permanent academic position.

Full-time academic positions (teaching and research)

Ongoing positions (sometimes known as ‘tenure’) for early-career academics are rare, with universities increasingly relying on casual teaching-only staff. Some full-time positions are also offered on a contract basis, with renewal dependant on staff performance and/or continuation of outside funding.

Graduates will be competing against current casual teaching staff and research fellows for these highly sought-after positions. However, in some fields (particularly in applied areas where graduates could earn much more in industry) suitably qualified applicants with professional experience are in short supply.

Recent graduates will probably be applying for ‘junior’ academic positions as associate lecturers or lecturers. Associate lecturers do not necessarily need a PhD; in fact, some departments offer associate lecturer positions that combine part-time employment with a PhD program. Lecturers will generally require a PhD, although this depends heavily on the field.

Moving into industry

Deciding to undertake a research program doesn’t commit you to a career in research. Many skills learnt during your degree can be applied elsewhere: original thought and problem solving, analytical skills, time management, and the ability to think and work autonomously. Your qualification shows you are an intelligent and dedicated person, who is able to think critically and creatively.

Areas of the public service and many private sector companies are always looking for PhDs in a variety of fields. While some graduates are employed for their expertise on a particular subject, many end up working in areas that are unrelated to their thesis topic. In some fields there will also be opportunities to work on private sector research and development projects or as a self-employed consultant on technical or policy issues in your area of expertise.

Unfortunately, not all companies are aware of the benefits of employing research graduates. In some cases, career advisors discourage candidates from mentioning their PhD when applying for jobs in an unrelated field as employers may think the applicant is overqualified, or perceive research graduates as lacking essential ‘real world’ business skills such as teamwork or decision making ability. In these situations, an industry linked research topic is often an advantage.

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