DOC2AMU - Career Development for Doctoral Candidates

-3-day online training that combines presentation of concepts and methods, individual and group exercise and discussions
-The goal is to support young researchers in the active development of their career plan and prepare them for the fundamentals of job search, in particular outside academia.

Daily Schedule:
9h30-13h
13h-14h : lunch break
14h-17h30
DAY 1: PHD career development beyond academia
Introduction
-Presentation of the program and icebreaking activity to build a group dynamic

Career planning
-Designing a career plan: why and how
-Practice "Analyzing your past work experience": your skills, what you liked/disliked, your personal and professional desires, your values (Individual exercise, then discussion in plenum)
-Integrating international mobility into your career plan

The job market and opportunities for PhDs
-Overview of the French and international job market for PhDs: statistics and recruiters' expectations
-Examples of career paths and positions for PhDs outside academia
-Tools and tips to explore the French and international job market


DAY 2: Networking and communication
Networking
-How to develop and use your network to refine your career plan and explore the job market
-Going efficiently through an informational interview
-Social media: Using Linkedin to identify professionals, maintain contact and be visible
-Practice "2-minute pitch": introducing yourself and your professional project (Individual preparation, presentation in subgroups, feedback in plenum)

Marketing your research experience and skills
-Your PhD as a professional experience in project management
-Marketing your skills (including the ones acquired through your international experience)
-Using the online skills portfolio DocPro www.mydocpro.org
-Demonstrating your skills by storytelling

DAY 3: Job applications outside academia
The recruitment process and job applications
-Knowing the different steps and methods of recruitment (economic sector, international organisations)
-Understanding recruiters' expectations
-Practice: identifying the differences of communication in and outside academia and how this impacts the way your applications (in plenum)
-Basics of a good CV and cover letter

Preparing for job interviews
-Meeting the recruiters: interviews with professional and non-professional recruiters, answering their questions
-Practice: peer job interviews (in subgroups of 3, then feedback in plenum)