This one-day workshop offers valuable insights into career opportunities after a PhD, both within and beyond academia. As career paths for researchers continue to diversify and expectations of academic careers evolve, the course aims to raise awareness of how to prepare strategically for future career steps.

The morning session focuses on the academic job market, covering topics such as hiring processes, research funding, and crafting a strong academic CV. Through real examples – both good and bad – we discuss how to tailor your CV to the academic job market in the Netherlands and internationally. The session also considers recent developments in academic career assessment, including the Dutch Recognition and Rewards program, and how these developments place increasing value on a broader range of academic contributions, such as teaching, leadership, teamwork, societal engagement, and Open Science, alongside research achievements. The session further provides an overview of (research) funding opportunities in the Netherlands and internationally, highlighting key criteria for success and discussing how early-career researchers can prepare for such opportunities.

In the afternoon session, dr. Iris Korthagen discusses what it is like to pursue a career outside academia. The session starts with an open conversation about why researchers choose careers beyond academia. Iris will share what you gain from working outside academia, but also what you might leave behind. The core of this session is built around an interactive discussion in which participants gain insights into the relevance of competencies acquired during a PhD and how a doctoral degree is valued by employers outside academia. Participants will also reflect on how to recognize and communicate the competencies and skills they have developed throughout their PhD trajectory.

This workshop is particularly recommended for PhD candidates in their third year and beyond who are nearing the completion of their dissertation and preparing for the next step in their career.

The course objectives are:

• Gaining insights into the relevance of competencies acquired during a PhD for different career trajectories and future employers, both within and beyond academia.
• Understanding the academic job market, including hiring processes, funding opportunities (such as the NWO Veni), and how to develop a strong academic profile and CV in a changing academic landscape.
• Having an overview of funding opportunities in the Netherlands and internationally and understanding key criteria for success.
• Reflecting on future career opportunities and preparing strategically for an evolving labor market.