Outside Academia
A large percentage of PhD candidates leaves the university directly after their promotion. Finding a job outside of academia can then be a great challenge. If you want to excel in a professional field, it is essential to be aware of the opportunities that present themselves in the labor market. For example, which positions fit the profile of PhDs - in particular those in Humanities - outside of the traditional ‘consultant’ or ‘researcher’ position, what your actual compatible skills are and how to translate these into business oriented value and language.
Especially for PhD candidates it is sometimes difficult to think of where your added value lies, what your options are in the work field, and what you truly want: what makes you thrive. This is where the Careers Swifters program comes in.
Career Swifters is a unique step-by-step career program for PhD candidates who are either looking for their next job or wanting to strengthen their position in the labor market. In different workshops you will focus on aspects that are vital for finding a job and getting to know the world outside of academia in a way that fits your purpose and ambitions. The program is action focused: we do not only talk about what is needed, but we will apply our lessons learned as we go!
The program is hosted by THRIVE Institute and designed in strong collaboration with PhD researchers and alumni who currently work outside academia, thereby acknowledging PhDs' specific challenges and opportunities. The program distinguishes itself from other career programs by being specifically focused on the needs of PhDs by being a long-term rather than ad-hoc process and result orientated, by offering hands-on coaching focused on concrete action steps for your unique profile, situation and ambition.
‘’The Career Swifters workshop was really great! The THRIVE- team explained how my academic skills can be 'translated' in ways that make sense in the job market outside of academia. They also encouraged me to build my network and showed me how to find/create opportunities for meeting people who may be able to help me on my career path. I would recommend the workshop to anyone in academia who is looking to broaden their career opportunities.’’
‘’The THRIVE Career Swifters programme was a welcome change from my day-to-day work on my dissertation. It forces you to take a step back and gives you the opportunity to take a look at what really drives you and how you can use your PhD to find a job that inspires you. It also brings you together with other PhD candidates with different research topics and different outlooks on the world, which broadens your horizons on what you can achieve. I really appreciate the time I spent with the THRIVE coaches and the other PhDs and I feel energized to plan my future after completing my dissertation.”
“This program taught me that the search for your next job started yesterday. Don’t be afraid to ask around and approach those you do not know yet. Feel what you want, take stock of what you can, fill the gaps if necessary, and go get that job.”