Careers and employability
St Leonard’s College and the University’s Careers Centre is here at every stage to support all postgraduate students in identifying and achieving your career ambitions.
The Careers Centre has dedicated staff and has developed extensive resources and offerings specifically for postgraduate students.
It is very important to start planning and preparing for your post-study career as soon as possible. St Leonard’s College encourages all postgraduate students to take advantage of all the events, activities and provisions that the Careers Centre is putting together for you. The Careers Centre can help with many aspects of the career journey, including:
- exploring your career options and what makes you curious
- providing personalised advice
- finding jobs and work experience opportunities
- preparing for interview and assessment centres
- supporting you to make applications
- providing opportunities for you to improve your skills.
In addition to all the support by Careers, keep in mind that during your studies, you have access to free, comprehensive training programmes that will support your professional and personal development. Our specialised programmes will equip you with essential skills that employers value; from mastering soft skills to navigating job searches, this is a unique and invaluable opportunity to invest in your future today. Remember that you may not have the time to do these courses when you have a job – and that some of them will be very costly.
Upcoming career and employability workshops
Career planning: pursuing an academic career
Audience: PG research
Date: Tuesday 22 October 2024
Times: 11.00 to 12.30
Programme: GRADskills
Key details: This (MS Teams) online GRADskills workshop focuses on what to expect from an academic career, and what steps might be involved in terms of career planning to help you figure out if an academic career is the right path for you after
Career planning: exploring careers beyond academia
Audience: PG research
Date: Tuesday 29 October 2024
Times: 11.00 to 12.30
Programme: GRADskills
Key details: During this GRADskills workshop participants will be introduced to the career planning process and explore a range of potential career paths that exist for PhD graduates outside academia.
CVs and job applications: getting onto the short-list
Audience: PG research
Date: Tuesday 5 November 2024
Times: 11.00 to 12.30
Programme: GRADskills
Key details: This GRADskills workshop will provide participants with a clearer understanding of the recruitment processes used in academia and in other employment sectors.
Interview skills: academic and competency based interviews
Audience: PG research
Date: Tuesday 12 November 2024
Times: 11.00 to 12.30
Programme: GRADskills
From PhD to postdoc: making the transition (Arts/Divinity)
Audience: PG research
Date: Tuesday 4 February 2025
Times: 11.00 to 12.30
Programme: GRADskills
Key details: Aimed at PhD candidates from arts/humanities disciplines considering a future in academic research.
From PhD to postdoc: making the transition (Sciences/Medicine)
Audience: PG research
Date: Tuesday 11 February 2025
Times: 11.00 to 12.30
Programme: GRADskills
Key details: Aimed at PhD candidates from science disciplines considering a future in academic research.
CVs and job applications: getting onto the short-list
Audience: PG research
Date: Tuesday 25 February 2025
Times: 11.00 to 12.30
Programme: GRADskills
Key details: This event plans to be an online MS Teams event. This GRADskills workshop will provide participants with a clearer understanding of the recruitment processes used in academia and in other employment sectors.
Interview skills: academic and competency based interviews
Audience: PG research
Date: Tuesday 4 March 2025
Times: 11.00 to 12.30
Programme: GRADskills
Introduction to Working with Policymakers
Audience: Academic staff, PG research, PG taught, Professional staff, Research staff, Research supervisors
Date: Tuesday 11 March 2025
Times: 14.00 to 15.30
Programme: GRADskills
Programme: MSkills
Remember to keep an eye on the Personal Development Management System for any other training workshops that may interest you!