Academic writing can be hard at the best of times. It's especially challenging when there’s so much going on. In this interactive session, you’ll discover how to make writing more manageable, even under difficult circumstances.

We’ll cover:

• understanding the circle of control
• planning a piece of writing
• building a writing fortress
• improving productivity
• staying focused
• looking after yourself.

RDF categories: 1.3 Organised; 1.6 Adaptable; 1.8 Motivated; 4.1 Communication.

Target audience: Postgraduate researchers at all stages and early career researchers.

Facilitators: Dr Catherine Pope supports researchers in overcoming obstacles and achieving their goals, working with clients from PhD students to Professors.

What career paths are available after your doctorate? How do you choose between them? Where can you find out more?

We’ll demystify the world of careers after your PhD and equip you with the resources to start planning for your future. We’ll cover data on PGR career destinations, how to choose a career and approaches to managing and developing a fulfilling career.

By the end of this session, you’ll be able to:

• better understand and investigate possible career destinations after your research degree
• identify skills developed in your research degree work and how they can be used
• start a targeted job search
• know where to find further resources.

RDF categories: 1.1 Development-focused; 5.6 Networking.

Target audience: Postgraduate researchers at all stages.

Facilitators: This workshop is delivered by the Careers and Entrepreneurship team.

Whatever career path you choose, you will have to make compelling written applications to secure the right opportunity.

Come and discover the processes for researching, drafting and communicating persuasive CVs, letters and application forms which maximise your chances of success.

RDF categories: 1.1 Development-focused; 5.6 Networking.

Target audience: Postgraduate researchers at all stages.

Facilitators: This workshop is delivered by the Careers and Entrepreneurship team.

Building on the earlier CVs and applications workshop, we’ll cover the main interview types and techniques used by employers while explaining why they are used.

Using examples, we’ll examine a range of questions and show how to convince interviewers you have what they are looking for.

You’ll come away knowing:

• what to expect from interviews
• how to build your confidence and feel positive
• key differences between an academic and beyond academia interview
• how to handle unusual questions and showcase your skills
• where to find additional resources.

RDF categories: 1.1 Development-focused.

Target audience: Postgraduate researchers at all stages.

Facilitators: This workshop is delivered by the Careers and Entrepreneurship team.

Are you part-way through your research degree and wondering how to keep going? Do you need a push to progress to the final stages? If yes, this session is for you.

By the end of the workshop, you will:

• clarify where you are with your research degree
• identify your critical success factors
• learn tools and techniques to boost your productivity
• build a support network
• develop a plan for success.

RDF categories: 3.2 Project management; 1.3 Organised; 1.8 Motivated.

Target audience: Postgraduate researchers at the mid stage of their degree.

Facilitators: Dr Catherine Pope supports researchers in overcoming obstacles and achieving their goals, working with clients from PhD students to Professors.

This workshop will give an overview of academic careers. Participants will be asked to consider their career strategy going forward, regarding their research field, their accomplishments to date and their next steps. They will be introduced to fellowship opportunities, tips on how to network and make their research outputs visible to a wide audience.

After this workshop, you will have:

• an overview of research careers and what is expected of early career researchers
• an understanding of the next steps that you need to take to enhance your career prospects
• an understanding of the skills you have and those that you would like to develop further.

RDF categories: 1.1 Development-focused; 1.2 Strategic.

Target audience: Postgraduate researchers at all stages and early career researchers.

Facilitators: This workshop is designed and delivered by Dr Joanna Young from the Scientific Editing Company.