Research Training: Personal effectiveness

Researcher Development Framework - Domain B
Campus in spring

1. Personal qualities

Attitude:
  • Approaches research with enthusiasm, passion and confidence.
  • Is resilient and perseveres in the face of obstacles.
  • Is self-reflective; seeks ways to improve performance and strives for research excellence.
  • Is pro-active, independent, self-reliant and takes responsibility for self and others.
  • Shows integrity.

2. Self-management

Behaviour:
  • Anticipates and responds to directions and trends in research.
  • Plans, prioritises and conducts research in proactive way.
  • Delivers research projects and results on time and effectively.
  • Develops awareness of, and helps to achieve, work-life balance for self and colleagues.
Attitude:
  • Has a strategic approach to research.
  • Has focus, commitment and ambition.
  • Is flexible and responsive to change.

3. Professional and career development

Knowledge of:
  • Career and employment opportunities inside and outside academia.
Behaviour:
  • Takes ownership of and manages professional development.
  • Shows commitment to continuing professional development and enhancing employability.
  • Maintains and develops relevant skills set and experience in preparation for a wide range of opportunities within and outside academia.
  • Actively networks for professional and career purposes and seeks to enhance research reputation and esteem.

Upcoming workshops

Making progress in your research degree – avoiding defeatism and self sabotage
This session is designed to give research students some guidance on avoiding defeatism and self-sabotage so that they can make better progress in their research degree.
This session allows participants to:
  • discuss their working practices and consider how constructive they are
  • learn about the physiological basis of stress and consider typical symptoms
  • consider strategies to deal with stress and negative thinking
  • reflect on the balance of activities in their life
  • discuss how to achieve progress.
Facilitator: Sarah Kearns
Applicability: suitable for most research students.
This resource has been adapted by the University of Plymouth for our own non-commercial use. It is based on the original resource, developed by Vitae ©The Careers Research and Advisory Centre (CRAC) Limited (2008).
Course dates and times:
  • 12 November 2024, 10:30–12:30 UK time (on campus)
  • 19 March 2025, 13:30–15:30 UK time (online via Zoom)
  • 11 June 2025, 13:30–15:30 UK time (on campus) – previously 19 June 2025

Career planning – for postgraduate research students
This session is designed for postgraduate researchers and beyond in their research degree. This resource has been adapted by the University of Plymouth for our own non-commercial use. It is based on the original resource, The Interview Workshop developed by Vitae ©The Careers Research and Advisory Centre (CRAC) Limited.
By the end of this session you will be:​
  • familiar with the “DOTS” framework for career planning​
  • aware of Vitae and the Research Development Framework with an understanding of how to make use of them​
  • able to start defining your career criteria based on your individual priorities​
  • familiar with potential career options for researchers and where you can find out more​ information
  • aware of the need to identify what recruiters want and ensuring you meet their criteria​.
The session will include:
  • How do you know what you might want to do? (approaches to career choice)
  • What options are out there?
  • What do researchers do?
  • Jobs outside academia?
  • How can you find out more?
  • How to make the most of your time here to build your employability.
  • Strategic planning – identifying actions you need to take to raise your profile and gain relevant experience.
Facilitator: Katie Finnimore , Careers and Employability Consultant
Applicability: suitable for most research students
Course dates and times:
  • 19 November 2024, 14:00–16:00 UK time (online via Zoom)

Careers: application forms and writing tailored CVs
The session will introduce you to some of the key application formats including an understanding of competency-based selection and cover letters/supporting statements. It will also introduce you to the initial stages of recruitment, including how to analyse adverts, job descriptions and person specifications to help you improve your applications.
The session will cover:
  • principles of CV writing and different formats of CV
  • how to demonstrate your skills and experience to show relevant added value
  • what makes an effective CV?
  • why are covering letters used?
Complementary materials: it is recommended that you use the virtual careers materials available from the applications section of the careers webpage. If you are thinking of a non-academic career it is recommended that you also attend general sessions on career planning and application forms to complement this session; see Accelerate workshops on myCareer.
Facilitator: Katie Finnimore , Careers and Employability Consultant
Applicability: suitable for most research students and research staff.
Course dates and times:
  • 3 December 2024, 10:30–12:30 UK time (online via Zoom)

Careers: an introduction to interviews and assessment centres
This session will introduce you to the recruitment process between application- and interview-stage, including psychometric tests and various types of interview. The session will give you an opportunity to increase your awareness of the types of questions and exercises you might meet in a range of selection activities from competency-based assessment to assessment centre activities.
The session will give a general understanding of what might be covered in an assessment centre but will not cover this in depth.
Complementary materials: it is recommended that you use the virtual careers materials available from the applications section of the careers webpage. If you are thinking of a non-academic career it is recommended that you also attend general sessions on applications and interviews to complement this session; see Accelerate workshops on myCareer.
Facilitator: Katie Finnimore , Careers and Employability Consultant
Applicability: suitable for most research students and research staff.
Course dates and times:
  • 14 January 2025, 14:00–16:00 UK time (online via Zoom)

Careers: interview workshop
The session gives participants the opportunity to observe an example interview process in a safe and supportive environment. This session gives participants the opportunity to discuss interview techniques, observe practice interviews and discuss good practice.
Intended learning outcomes:
  • allow participants to observe the interview process from both the interviewer’s and the candidate’s perspectives
  • discuss interview preparation, questioning and answering techniques and feedback
  • increase participant’s awareness and experience of the techniques a recruiter may use to gain information from applicants.
Facilitators: Katie Finnimore , Careers and Employability Consultant and Sarah Kearns , Researcher Development Manager
Applicability: suitable for most research students and research staff
Course dates and times:
  • 18 February 2025, 14:00–16:00 UK time (online via Zoom)

Careers: the UK labour market for international students
This session will give you an overview of the UK labour market, practical tips and details of where to find out about requirements to work in the UK.
Facilitator: Katie Finnimore , Careers and Employability Consultant
Applicability: suitable for most international research students
Course dates and times:
  • 20 March 2025, 10:00–12:00 UK time (online via Zoom)

Careers: strengths and skills in professional development
Do you know that most people struggle to identify what they are good at and to evidence what they say they can do? This workshop will help you to explore your skills and strengths in relation to an academic career but also to think about what you have that other employers might value.
Intended learning outcomes:
  • a better understanding of your strengths
  • identifying key skills, considering your evidence for them and the opportunity to do a little practice at articulating them
  • a more general understanding of professionalism and CPD.
Facilitator: Katie Finnimore , Careers and Employability Consultant
Applicability: suitable for most research students and research staff.
Course dates and times:
  • 1 May 2025, 14:00–16:00 UK time (online via Zoom)

Introduction to creating and developing your career management portfolio
A general understanding of the structure and content of a career management portfolio and how to develop and use it to forward your career.
A career management portfolio supports you in:
  • assessing your progress in your career development i.e. identifying your strengths and what you need to develop further and how
  • identifying career direction
  • developing the habit of documenting your work for that time in the future when you are job hunting, or maybe trying for that higher position, or even proving that you are a valuable member of the team
  • evidencing your potential
  • proving that you are capable of what you say you are
  • capturing the results of your work
  • creating a personal database to facilitate the creation of a CV and personal statement
  • preparing for interviews
  • confidence development.
Facilitators: Cate Bennett
Applicability: suitable for most research students and research staff
Course dates and times:
  • 15 November 2024, 10:00–12:00 UK time (online via Zoom)
  • 25 April 2025, 10:00–12:00 UK time (online via Zoom)

‘How to Transition Out of Academia Well’
In this workshop I will discuss the varied and interesting ways in which you can transition out of academia well (post-PhD). I will help you to focus on the skills you have that are in demand in the ‘altac’ (alternative-to-academic) marketplace. I will highlight strategies for transitioning out of academia well (in relation to both career development and mental health), with a particular focus on networking and developing your ‘brand’.
This workshop is for you if:
  • you’re not sure about your post-PhD career options
  • you have decided you don’t want an academic career but you’re not sure how to transition out of academia well
  • you want to develop a strategy for transitioning out of academia well
  • you want to learn about altac networking
  • you want to learn about ‘selling’ your skills beyond academia
  • you want to learn more about the skills you need for an altac career
  • you want to feel positive about transitioning out of academia.
Facilitator: Naomi Tyrrell
Naomi is a Social Research Consultant and Visiting Research Fellow in SoGEES, University of Plymouth. She has held academic positions in universities in the UK and Ireland, worked for a social research company, is a Research Associate for several companies and CICs, and runs her own research consultancy specialising evaluation and training in the social enterprise sector. She also manages the AltAc Careers UK Group on Facebook (which you are welcome to join), a supportive space for PhDs students and ECRs looking for resources to help them develop successful altac careers in the UK.
Alt-Ac Careers for Researchers
Naomi has created this series of articles, videos, and resources to help researchers consider their career development needs and planning.
Course dates and times:
  • 5 December 2024, 10:30–12:30 UK time (online via Zoom)
  • 13 February 2025, 10:30–12:30 UK time (online via Zoom)
  • 18 June 2025, 10:30–12:30 UK time (online via Zoom)

The Researcher Toolkit
The Researcher Toolkit is an essential guide to PhD life and progression. This series of four workshops will be led by trained and experienced PhD students who have been there and done it.
Learn what our current PhD students wish they’d known, and how to deal with PhD life’s inevitable obstacles.
“I wish I’d had this when I first started my PhD” (Workshop leader)
These sessions are beneficial to all, so feel free to sign up whatever your stage of study. The workshop is designed to explain the process and to assist students in the preparation of their projects.
Applicability: all postgraduate research students.
Course dates and times:
What next....? Starting a project and maintaining momentum
  • TBC
Getting the most out of your supervisor
  • TBC
How to maximise your productivity
  • TBC
How to finish your PhD on time
  • TBC