Recruitment for Academic Positions: Timing & Strategy
There are many tips out there (also in the INOMICS Insights section) on how to apply for academic positions, how to write a cover letter or how to deal with interviews. This time we want to talk about timing your applications and about the best recruitment seasons when there are more positions advertised or when the competition is less severe. Every day there are new academic positions published on INOMICS. Based on this, we have analysed and summarised the level of activity on the job market in 2015. Altogether, among more than a thousand promoted jobs, 40% were Professor positions (incl. lecturers, assistant professors and associate professor), 20% Researchers, 15% Postdoc and 14% PhD Positions, (but excluding PhD study programs). The distribution can be seen in Figure 1. As expected, each type of position has its own high and low seasons. Most interesting (we think) are: - The busiest time of the year for PhD positions is during the spring, whereas for Professor positions it is the winter. - Postdocs can enjoy two recruitment peaks in February-March and then again in October - Researchers are primarily hired in January-February and then again in July. This can of course be explained by a variety of factors such as semester schedule, timing of graduation, standard university contracts in a specific country and so on. But knowing when to actively look for an open position is a big step towards finding successful employment. On the other hand, this information might also be interesting for recruiters, since some might decide to go for a less popular season to reduce competition with other recruiters and get as much attention from potential candidates as possible. Figure 2 shows the general trend in academic recruitment per month. It is worth mentioning that the duration of the advertisement period matters as well, both for the applicant and for the recruiter. It often takes (and should take!) some time to prepare a thought-through application, so the longer the position is promoted, the better. This ensures that potential job seekers have a fair chance to see the announcement online, arrange their CV and cover letter and apply before the deadline expires. At INOMICS our goal is transparency of information in the academic field. By providing constantly updated information about the newest jobs available, we help boost the careers of many talented and qualified students and academics around the world, starting with a student looking for a PhD position and onwards towards a career academic looking for that tenure track professorship at a top university. If you have questions about applying for academic positions or about recruiting for them, please let us know and we will do our very best to help you.
Applying for an academic job, like in most other professions, requires a long and sometimes exhausting process of applications and interviews. And like in every other profession, every applicant wants to be as efficient as possible and quickly succeed in getting his or her dream job with as little effort and fuss as possible.
Ethical considerations: influencing policy One unique feature of government roles for academics is the chance to have a direct impact on policy, and hence on people's lives. For those frustrated with the ivory tower aspects of academia – for example, the fact that most academic papers are only ever read by other academics in the same field – working for the government gives the chance to put academic theory into real-world practice. If you're looking for a direct way to put your expertise into practical steps and are keen to make policies more evidence-based, then working in government is your chance to use your academic background to help shape society in a positive way. Working conditions: pay and stability In some countries, working for the government is not especially well paid, and salaries will be considerably lower than they would be for equivalent positions in industry which require similar skills and experience. However, this relatively low compensation is balanced by other factors when working for the government – for example, benefits such as vacation time and healthcare are often much better. The other big advantage of a government job in practical terms is that it is usually very stable. Unlike academia, in which you must be looking for a new position every couple of years as a postdoc, or in industry, in which you could be laid off if your company is not successful, government jobs can generally be relied on for the long term. If you have a family to support, or you find that uncertainty about your future employment is stressful for you, you may find an advantage in a government job in which you can likely stay in for as long as you want or need. The availability of funding Another factor to consider when comparing government work to academia or industry is the availability of funding for your area of specialisation. Depending on current administrative priorities, there can be a lot of funding available for certain research projects. Projects in public health, civil engineering, and defence technologies are likely to have funding made available for them. However, it may be harder to secure funding for research in some types of basic science, or in the arts or humanities. To be successful in obtaining government funding, you will need to demonstrate exactly how your research would be beneficial to the public and help to save money for the administration. Dealing with bureaucracy Government jobs are famously bureaucratic, often requiring large amounts of paperwork and the following of specific rules and regulations. This is the necessary nature of the very large organisations required to run a country, but can cause frustrations for workers. If you work in government, you will have to get used to following processes which may seem overly complex, and adapt to a pace of change which can be even slower than academia. Another aspect to consider is the limitations that a government job can have on what you can say in public. Generally, government workers are not allowed or strongly discouraged from critiquing the administration or sharing their opinion on controversial political topics. How much this will affect your work depends on your field and your personal preferences, but it's worth thinking about whether you would be comfortable living with these restrictions. These are some of the issues you'll want to consider if you're thinking about a job in government. For job opportunities in government, industry, and academia, see our website.
For most academics, when they consider their future careers, they think of two options: academia or industry. There are other options, however, such as one we will be discussing today – working for the government. Academics can serve on councils and advisory boards, or work as part of a civil service, or as advisors to policy makers. But what are the advantages and disadvantages of working for the government? This is the topic we're considering in this article.
Public Economics & Economic Policy (JEL H)
Combining Teaching and Working in Industry
Working as Adjunct Faculty at a University One option for those wishing to teach at a university level is to work as adjunct faculty, meaning that you teach university courses, usually to undergraduates, but do not have the same employment conditions as a full-time lecturer or professor. You are employed on a temporary contract, typically for a year, and generally teach only one or two courses at a time. The use of adjuncts for teaching has received widespread criticism, particularly in the US, as these roles require exceptionally high degrees of skill and training, but are usually low-paid, insecure, and without benefits. Trying to make a full-time living as an adjunct is extremely difficult. However, if you have a stable job in industry with good pay and you're thinking about starting teaching on the side, then adjuncting can be a chance to try out teaching on a small scale to see if it suits you. Adult Education and Night Classes Another area of teaching which you could consider is adult education. Many people don't want to stop learning when they leave school or university, but don't have the time or resources for full-time higher education. So adult education services exist to teach those who want to learn, say, IT skills to help in their careers, or accounting skills for starting their own business, or for those who want to learn a craft or creative skill for fun. An advantage of teaching this group is the chance to interact with people outside of the typical academic structure, which allows you to share you knowledge with a broader group. Further, adult learners are often highly self-motivated and keen to interact in classes, so they are an engaging group to work with. You could work part-time as an adult education lecturer, which depending on the subject could involve not only teaching but also developing teaching materials and your own assessments. Classes are often held outside of work hours, such as at evenings and weekends, so you could fit this teaching around your industry job. Private Tutoring Another further for teaching is private tutoring, in which you coach a child in a specific subject in addition to their general schooling. This is generally for children who are struggling and need extra support, or for those who cannot attend school for medical or social reasons. Most tutors are self-employed, or work for an agency, and this work can generally be picked up around your current schedule. If you are patient and good with kids, then tutoring can be extremely rewarding as you get to engage with one child directly and really help them succeed in their education. For certain specialist skills such as test preparation, some parents will pay very high rates for top-quality tutors. Online Tutoring A newly-emerging option is online tutoring, in which you lead a class over the internet using a webcam, and offer support for students who want to ask questions and get feedback on their work in addition to their regular teaching. Typically such classes are small, consisting of just a handful of students, and are generally made up of adults. If you are comfortable with technology and looking for teaching work which is flexible, for example if your industry job requires you to travel a lot, then online tutoring is something you can do from any location. Teaching in Your Industry Finally, something to consider if you have an industry job is that there may be teaching opportunities within your industry. If your work involves specialist skills, there may be a need for training new hires in these skills. Or perhaps you have other knowledge which would be useful for you to teach to others – for example, knowledge of how to use particular computer software, or of web development, or presentation skills. Many companies have some form of training program for employees, and you could see if you could offer a class as part of an internal program. These are just some of the ways that you can combine your industry job with teaching. For the latest opportunities in both business and academia, check out our website.
For academic careers, the big question is always: academia or industry? But why not a bit of both? If you want to combine teaching and working in industry, there are possibilities for part-time teaching work or tutoring jobs which fall outside of traditional work hours. You can have an industry job and try teaching too. Below we'll look at some of the options.
Importance of research autonomy when employed in academia
Research autonomy leads to higher-quality work Everyone knows that happier workers tend to produce better work. But this goes further in the case of research autonomy. Deciding which topics are ripe for investigation and what the best methods would be to perform that investigation is something that only someone highly qualified and experienced in the field can do, so it makes sense that academics are in the best place to make these decisions about their own work. For example, Switzerland is a country which despite its small population size, has a large number of internationally-renowned research institutions and has a reputation for producing world-leading research. This success of high scientific productivity has been linked to the high level of autonomy, openness, and excellence within Swiss institutions. The impact of the growth of higher education In the last decades, more and more people have begun attending university, encouraged by the demands of the workplace and by social and cultural expectations. This has resulted in a huge growth of higher education institutions, and in some cases, a corresponding growth in the workloads and responsibilities of university employees. A common complaint to hear is that universities nowadays are run more like businesses than like independent research institution. Of course, this is a broad generalisation and certainly does not apply to every institution. But it is worth noting that many academics feel pressures to show results and meet targets, which may not be in line with their personal research goals. Parallel to this, in the last decades during times of economic hardship, many countries have seen cuts to or freezing of the public funding of universities and other research institutions. This has lead to even greater pressure to produce more research from less funding. Publish or Perish One common issue is that academic hiring committees are frequently more interested in the quantity of papers which a applicant has published than in their quality. This, combined with pressure from university management for researchers to pump out large numbers of papers, has lead to a “publish or perish” culture in which researchers must be constantly prioritising getting their work published above performing their best-quality work. A common phenomenon is the “least publishable unit”, in which work is split into needlessly small sections so that one piece of research can be spread out over two or three publications, resulting in a larger number of publications in total. Threats to research autonomy In relation to research autonomy, these issues have come into direct focus with schemes like the UK government's Research Assessment Exercise / Research Excellence Framework. This system linked institutional funding with the quality of publications coming out of that institution, with quality mostly assessed on the basic of the “impact” of the research. The concept of impact was skewed towards public policy and impact outside of academia, which many felt undermined their academic freedom. The need for a researcher to prove that their research had a measurable impact on public life was particularly difficult for humanities scholars and niche researchers, whose work did not translate into direct public benefits. This is an example of how research autonomy can be threatened by academic or governmental policy. The understandable desire to create a system with which non-experts can assess the quality of researchers' work can inadvertently lead to a loss of autonomy and a pressure on researchers to game the system rather than producing their best-quality work. Research autonomy is clearly one of the major advantages of choosing to work in an academic rather than commercial setting. However, the changes to the higher education industry which have taken place over the last decade have had a large effect on how much autonomy researchers can expect. It's important to have honest discussions with fellow researchers in any institution about their experiences with research autonomy before taking up a position.
One of the great advantages of performing your research within an academic setting rather than a commercial one is the degree of research autonomy which you posses. This means that you have the freedom to pursue the work which you think is interesting and worthwhile, and to pick the methods and research approaches which you find to be most suitable. In fact, having flexibility and freedom over your work was identified as one of the top advantages of working in an academic institution in our 2015 Academic Institutions Report. Clearly, this is an important issue which is one of the major differentiating factors between academia and industry.
Tips for academics on how to deal with short-term contracts and job insecurity
Advance Planning When you know you're on a fixed term contract, such as a two-year postdoc contract, then you need to start preparing for the end of your contract early. Six months before the finish date of your contract, you should start looking for employment options. As academic hiring processes can be lengthy, and sometimes seasonal (summer tends to be a quiet time for hiring, so you may be better off looking for new jobs around autumn time), you need to be thinking about new job options far in advance. Remember to be on the look out for new opportunities not only on job posting websites or mailing lists, but also by reaching out to your network. Contact your previous colleagues and professors to let let know that you're looking for work, and they can help by forwarding on any relevant positions to you. Securing Your Finances When your contract is only short term, it's important for you to be financially responsible and to ensure that you have a financial cushion if you're not able to find work immediately. You may need to live for a few months without income if you are between jobs, so you should prepare for this possibility. Make sure that you're saving a reasonable percentage of your income during your contracted work time. Preferably you should having savings that you could live off for six months if required, in addition to an emergency fund. If you live with a partner or family, consider how your joint finances will be affected by a pause in your income, and be aware that you might need more than six months if you want to find a job in your local area rather than moving to another city or country. Brushing Up Your CV and Other Skills Naturally, if you're going to be looking for work then you'll be updating and improving your CV. While you're doing this, you can consider what skills you have acquired in your studies and work so far. If you can't find an academic position straight away, it's helpful to know what your other options are in terms of employment. You could consider putting together a non-academic CV which showcases your skills, and information about successful projects and the role which you played in them. When trying to make yourself appealing to a business rather than an academic audience, focus more on your concrete achievements than your abstract ideas – for example, how you made a process more efficient, or how your presentation pursued a collaborating lab to take on your preferred methodology. Even if you never need to use your non-academic CV, it can reduce your stress and anxiety to know that you have other employment options. Applying For Your Own Grant One way to avoid job insecurity is to apply for external funding for your own project. If you can secure a fellowship or other research grant, you can be certain of both your own salary and your research costs. However, be warned that grant application is a lengthy process – sometimes taking six months or more – and can be very competitive. Remember that you can and should begin applying for a grant during your current contract, as most lab leaders or PIs will be happy to know that you could bring in funding of your own. Once you have your own funding, you have much greater freedom over where you work and the the topic of your research, as well as more certainty over your future. For the latest job opportunities for postdocs and other researchers, you can see job listings here.
One issue for those working in academia that can be difficult to deal with is the problem of job insecurity. It is common for postdocs or junior lectures to be employed on short-term contracts of a few months to a few years, meaning that they must secure a new job when their contract ends. Today we have some tips on how to manage this insecurity if you're working in academia.
How to show the best of your study abroad on your resume
Independence and self-management A major skill which you have demonstrated by taking a study abroad trip is your independence and ability to manage yourself. Most students would struggle to travel alone to a new country, to make friends and to study successfully, so if you achieved this then you should state this with pride. Particularly amongst undergrads, the ability to manage yourself and to work without a lot of institutional support makes you stand out and demonstrates your ability to do more demanding work or study. Communications skills If you've had to adjust to a new culture, and especially if you've had to adapt to a new language, then you will have sharpened your communications skills. You will have experience in communicating with people from different backgrounds to you, across cultural borders. Being able to phrase your thoughts in a way which makes sense to people who do not share your cultural background is an important and useful skill in the modern international workplace. You can demonstrate this by sharing an example of how you resolved a disagreement or misunderstanding, or how you learned to present information to make it more comprehensible to people who do not share your background. Adaptation to different learning environments It's likely that there were differences between the learning environments of your home and host universities, whether in terms of class size, teaching style, assessment style, or the ratio of written work to verbal discussion which was required. This flexibility makes you valuable, as it demonstrates that you can adapt effectively to unfamiliar situations. If you were able to perform well on both written and oral academic assessments, for example, then you can show that your skills go beyond what is minimally necessary for passing an academic course. It makes you a more well-rounded individual, which means that you will be easier to train for future employers, and able to pick up new ideas more quickly. Breadth of education As well as different learning styles, you might well have experienced a different focus of study, even within the same discipline. In philosophy, for example, Britain and Northern America tend to teach analytic philosophy with a focus on logic and mathematics, whilst in Continental Europe and South America, the continental philosophy tradition focus more on phenomenology and subjective experience. Or if you work in history or cultural studies, then studying abroad can expose you to an entirely new perspective and approach to your topic, as well as giving you factual information unique to the location in which you are studying. Hence study abroad can help you to gain experience in more than one aspect of your field, and give you a broader perspective of the topic. Be sure to highlight the diversity of your studies by listing some of the unique or unusual topics which you worked on whilst abroad. Hopefully this will give you some ideas about how you can show off all of the skills and experience which you gained from your study abroad time. And if you haven't studied abroad yet but are considering it for the future, you can see some of the many advantages. To find out more about study abroad opportunities, as well as tips for students and the latest international job opportunities, see our articles!
When you're been abroad for a semester or longer during your studies, you're bound to have picked up lots of new skills and knowledge that can help you to stand out when applying for a job or course of study. But in order to take advantage of this, you need to know how to convey your extra skills to potential employers or universities. So today we're offering advice on how to show off the best of your study abroad on your resume. You can use the following ideas as skills to highlight on applications, or find ways to include this information in your cover letter, letter of motivation, or to answer interview questions.
If you're teaching in a university, working with either undergrads or masters students, then you class size could vary from anywhere between just a few students in a discursive atmosphere, to hundreds of students in a large lecture hall. So what are some strategies for adapting to the varying requirements of class sizes? Today we're sharing some tips to help you create the best teaching experience you can deliver to your students. Encouraging student participation In order to hold your students' attention, and to make sure that they are processing and understanding the material that you are teaching, it's important to include elements of participation in your classes. In a group of five to twenty students, you can encourage your students to ask questions, raise criticisms, and conduct discussions between themselves. In a small group, students will be more willing to share their ideas and uncertainties. You can help to promote a discursive atmosphere by allowing diversions when students ask a question or raise a related point, and by allowing students to comment on each other's questions. In a larger class, however, especially in a lecture-style class of more than fifty students, many students will feel too shy or self-conscious to raise their hands and participate. So you need to encourage participation in a way which will make students feel comfortable sharing their ideas. One approach is to break the class down into smaller groups – so, for example, you lecture for the first half of the time, then ask the students to split into groups of five to ten, and give them exercises to complete or topics to discuss together. If you want to ensure that the students are using their time productively, you can ask one person from each group to briefly summarise their discussion for the rest of the class at the end. You can also consider holding debates in large class, where you split the class into two and ask each half to argue for one side of an issue. By making this a matter of adopting a position rather than having to share their own personal opinion, you can encourage some shier students to get involved, and the splitting into two sides will help to create an atmosphere where students encourage and engage with each other. Assessment You will also need to consider what type of assessment is appropriate for your class size. Often, especially in the humanities, the best method for assessing how much students have understood a topic is to have them write an essay on it – either in a timed examination situation, or as take-home coursework to be completed over the semester. An essay will give you a lot of information about how well the student has grasped the material. However, essay marking is a very demanding task, requiring serious time and attention. For a small class of up to twenty, it can be feasible for you to do this marking yourself. But for a larger class of more than twenty, you will either need support from other lecturers or graduate students for your marking, or you will need a different assessment style. For larger classes, multiple choice tests are among the easiest and fastest form of assessment to mark. However, these tests must be designed with care, to ensure they are not too easy or too obscure. They tend towards testing factual knowledge rather than understanding, which is not suitable for all subjects. You could instead consider setting a group assignment to assess a larger class. Although group projects are often not popular among students, they do teach important teamwork and management skills, and they allow students to perform different roles according to their strengths – in research, data analysis, writing, and presentation, for example. If you assess group work through oral presentation and assign a different topic to each group, then it can be helpful and informative for the whole class to hear the presentations of their peers. You can find more tips on teaching for professors and lecturers as well as teaching assistants on our website. Image Credit: martaposemuckel on Pixabay (published under the pixabay content license)
When you're teaching, it's important to find a way to engage with all of your students, to keep their interest and to make sure that they understand the information that you're conveying to them. However, the size of a class can make a huge difference to what teaching methods are most appropriate and effective.
Enrolled at University? Now just where to live?
Studying abroad is often a fantastic experience, but successfully pulling it off can be a challenge. One complication that is made harder for foreign students is the issue of housing. Accommodation options can be difficult to find. Universities all over the world are investing time and money in providing information about housing opportunities for their incoming students, but is this enough to help students feel at home? We know how difficult it is to find accommodation, especially for a student who has just landed in a new country. Here we provide some tips to help you get settled quickly: Visit websites from government organizations dedicated to promoting the country as a study destination. They are often happy to help you and provide you with information about legal issues related to accommodation, housing providers, etc. You can also check out our related article, How to Find Student Accommodation in a Foreign Country, for more suggestions to find student housing. If you are interested in student housing options provided by your new university (for example on-campus options), remember to apply as soon as possible. Most universities have long waiting lists for residence halls and other on campus housing. Additionally, in some countries restrictions linked to study credits per term will be considered during your application and will narrow your eligibility for university housing. You can always use services provided by national agencies and institutions dedicated to the student accommodation business. Whether real state agents, websites or associations, these will be able to guide you, provide you with advice and in some cases personally assist you until you are comfortable inside your new room. Join social media groups to get to know more about the housing options in your destination country and city, to browse through offers from fellow students and to find support from other students. You might even find the perfect roommates this way. When you find a room or apartment that seems good, try to look at the property in person before accepting it. It is never advisable to sign documents or verbally agree to a property before you are completely sure that you feel comfortable there. Pictures, videos, and rules/conditions of common areas need to be experienced personally before deciding on an offer. This is especially important when considering accommodation provided by private individuals or companies - university accommodation, while often not luxurious, is normally above board in terms of legal and contractual issues. For the student-housing niche, websites like Uniplaces and Housing Anywhere offer a good solution to match supply and demand for accommodation. Uniplaces is dedicated to helping international students find housing, and has locations available in many European cities. Be sure to type in the name of the city your university is located in, even if it isn’t one of the major capital cities listed on the homepage – Uniplaces has offerings in many other places, too. Housing Anywhere offers outgoing students the possibility to sublet their rooms when they go on an exchange semester, and at the same time gives incoming students a platform to look for short-stay options. If you are in the exciting position of being about to embark on an international study adventure, you can check more information about Housing Anywhere here. Wherever you are about to start your study abroad experience we hope you will be able to find your new home and enjoy what is for many a memorable living and learning experience. Photo Credit: IMC Berea College
INOMICS has partnered with Uniplaces to help students find accommodation. This means that on articles related to student accommodation or housing, we may make some money if a user clicks through to an affiliate link and makes a qualifying purchase. However, these posts are not sponsored posts. INOMICS users gain a 15% discount on the Uniplaces Service Fee at the time of booking payment (the discount of your promo code must be entered in the payment session before sending the reservation request). Use the promo code: UP15INOMICS.
Free Online Courses Websites like Duolingo or Livemocha are advantageous as they are free, you can learn at your own pace, going as fast or as slow as you need to, and you can fit this learning in whenever you have time. This is particularly good if you are working full-time, as you can fit in your learning around your working hours, and you needn't be committed to language lessons at a particular time each week. However, this can be a disadvantage too – it means that you must motivate yourself! You have to push yourself to put in the time required to learn from these services. And remember, even if you've been practising your pronunciation with a microphone, you'll still need to go out into the real world to gain confidence with your spoken language and to ensure your pronunciations are correct. Mobile Apps In addition to online courses, you can also find mobile apps to help you learn a language. Duolingo offers an app as well as an online service, Anki is a popular flashcard app to help you remember important words, and Memrise augments your learning of languages with information about history and culture. For many people having this resource on their mobile phone is extremely convenient. It means that you can learn wherever you are, fitting in language practice while you're on the bus or waiting to meet a friend. These tools are great for brushing up your skills or adding some more vocabulary to your repertoire, but to get the most from them you need to have a decent understanding of the language before you start using them. University courses If you're already enrolled at a university, then it should be easy for you to sign up for a semester-long language course. The advantage of such a course is that it is often free for students to attend, and that it will have a regular structure of classes and assignments, which is helpful if you struggle to motivate yourself and manage your time unaided. They also tend to have different levels of difficulty offered, and may include an exam or test which you can put on your CV as proof of your language skills. The disadvantage is that such classes are frequently large, sometimes having hundreds of students in one room, and hence they are not personalised or able to adapt to your specific learning needs. Short Courses Abroad If you have the time and the money, there's no better way to learn a language than to immerse yourself in it completely. When you are obliged to practise your language for social interactions as well as everyday needs like shopping or ordering in a restaurant or bar, you will pick up words and gain confidence in your language skills far faster. One way to do this is to take a short, intensive course of a few weeks. This will load you up with a large amount of knowledge in a short time, and the intense focus makes it easier for you to understand the principles of grammar and to get a good overview of the language. However, the large amount of classroom time will leave you with little time to explore and get to know the country in which you are staying. Long Courses Abroad The great advantage of a longer-term course of study abroad is that it allows you to really get to know the people and the place in which you are staying. When you have a course of a few months rather than a few weeks, you can build up social connections with local people and experience some of the local culture, like food, music or books. The downside is that such an extended course of study can be expensive, both in terms of the language lessons and your living costs. But if you want to know about the history and society of another country as well as being able to speak the language, this is a great option.
Studying a new language can be fun, exciting, and valuable for your career, and there are now more options than ever for how to learn. From casual to fully immersive, and from short-term to long-term, there are a plethora of options for language learning. Today we're discussing some of these options and the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Working as a researcher in a company vs university: Social Sciences
It is possible to go into research after completing an undergraduate degree or master's degree (typically employed as a research assistant or research worker), after a PhD (employed as a postdoc), or from a more senior position. But there is one big question to consider: would you rather work in an academic setting (that is, in a university structure) or in a business setting (that is, working for a company)? Today we're reviewing the points in favour of each setting, to help you decide where to focus your interest for your research career. Advantages of working in a university One of the great advantages of working in a university setting is the freedom to determine the direction of your own research. Once you are in a senior enough position that you are writing grant applications and managing others, then you are free to pursue whatever avenues of research seem interesting and worthwhile to you. As long as you are successful in securing funding, most universities will allow you complete freedom to choose the topics and methods for your research, and give you autonomy over the publishing process. Another advantage is the connection with students that is available in a university. If you are interested in teaching or supervising, there will be students who wish to learn from you. Many people find teaching to be a rewarding and engaging process, which gives the opportunity to broaden your own understanding and to help others. Advantages of working in a company On the other hand, there are distinct benefits to working in a company. The business world is more goal-driven and faster moving than academia, so if you are frustrated by the slow pace of universities and find the bureaucracy and paperwork too much for you, then business may be a good fit. The competitive aspect of business can be an excellent motivator for those who respond well to a challenging environment, as it encourages you to work quickly and in innovative ways so that you produce work which is unique from your competitors. Another practical advantage of working in business rather than academia is that the pay is generally better, and benefits such as vacation time and health insurance may be better too. If you are looking for stable, long-term employment, and do not want the stress of having to find a new position and relocate every two years as some postdocs do, then a company is a safer choice. This is advantageous particularly for those with family or caring responsibilities, as you can find a position within a company which is long-term and offers good benefits. Disadvantages of working in a university As mentioned above, a disadvantage of working in a university is that some positions are only offered short-term (often for 2 years at a time), after which you may be expected to relocate to a new city or country. There is a general lack of job security for researchers; cuts to university funding can lead to researchers being laid off or not having their contracts renewed. However, this becomes less of a problem as you become more senior. Disadvantages of working in a company The fast pace and competitive environment in businesses which are advantageous to some may be off-putting to others. If you struggle with taking instruction about your research from a hierarchical system, and dislike the pragmatic compromises which are required to get work done quickly, then the business environment may not be for you. You are beholden to research the topics and methods which are demonstrably able to produce results which can be monetized, and which are approved of by your company. So there is a restriction on your freedom to pursue the research which most interests you. We hope that this helps to illustrate the different options available to researchers. For the latest positions in both business and academia, check out jobs on INOMICS. Image Credit: pxhere (CC0 - public domain)
For graduates of the social sciences, there is a wide range of career possibilities open. For people who are curious, self-motivated, and capable of both good organisation and creative thinking, research can be an extremely rewarding career.
English Language Courses: Which Country Should You Choose For Your Studies?
As with other languages, if you want to learn English, then your pronunciation and sentence structure will be greatly improved through regular interactions with native speakers. For this reason, moving to a country whose native language is English in order to study can be greatly beneficial. Today we're discussing the different countries where you could consider studying English, and the advantages of each. An important issue to remember is that English varies considerably in pronunciation, grammar, spelling, and vocabulary between different countries. It's not for nothing that the US and UK are known as “two countries separated by a common language”! However, the good news is that English speakers of any background can generally understand each other, despite the differences in their language use. Wherever you choose to study English, it's likely that you'll have no problems in communicating with other English speakers from around the world. So how do you choose where to study? US/Canada: The obvious choice for a location to learn English is Northern America. In either Canada or the US, you will be surrounded by native speakers. There are many structured programs in universities and at private institutions which teach English as a foreign language, including intensive full-time programs. This is helpful in securing a student visa, for which you must have a minimum of 18 hours teaching per week to qualify. Another advantage is that because America is so diverse, you can find the right environment for you – would you prefer to be in a big city, or in a rural area? Somewhere modern and progressive, or more traditional? Somewhere hot or somewhere cold? All of these are available in America. UK: If you study in the UK, you will learn classic British English. In European schools and academia, British English is sometimes considered preferable to use in a university environment. Also, some non-native speakers find British English to be easier to understand than other versions, as it is often spoken at a slower speed and with a clearer accent. However, within Britain there are still a wide variety of regional accents. Particularly in London, you'll have to adapt to hearing a broad spectrum of accents, but this can be excellent practise for speaking to others from around the world. Australia/New Zealand If you're considering somewhere further afield, then Australasia has a reputation for excellent English teaching, and for being particularly good value for money when compared to US or UK institutions. Living costs are generally low, and quality of life is high, which makes for a comfortable and pleasurable learning experience. However, a disadvantage is the remoteness of Australia and New Zealand – they are a long way from other countries, making travel to and from them difficult. So if you choose to study here, it will likely be harder for you to take a trip home for a visit. Other options: South Africa, Malta Remember, you are not limited to the obvious choices. In countries like South Africa or Malta, English is not the most spoken language, but it is an official language of the country and is frequently used. It can be even easier to pick up English in these countries, because it is usual for people to have to learn English as a second language, and so there are many teaching institutions. You will need to do research to identify a reputable institution at which to study, and you may even need to have a basic understanding of another language (like Afrikaans or Maltese) to get by in your day-to-day life. But for the adventurous student, such countries offer the chance to study English while also learning about a new culture and experiencing a different way of life. Image Credit: Brane from Pixabay (published under the pixabay content license)
When you want to learn a new language, there's no better way than to immerse yourself in that language's culture. If you have to use your new language for your everyday needs, for example in shops and restaurants, in dealing with paperwork, and for socialising, then you'll pick up language skills much more quickly than you would from casual use.
How to make the most of PhD journal clubs
Keep yourself informed and up to date Any researcher knows that huge numbers of new and exciting papers are published every month, and it can be hard to keep track of all the latest developments even within your sub-field. A journal club can be the ideal chance to learn about new papers coming out which you may have missed. Regular meetings - around once or twice a month - offer a chance for you to check up on the newest research being published and to discuss it among your peers. Self-organization skills Journal clubs are most often organized by the PhD students themselves, which can be a chance to get some experience with the organization of academic events. You can choose the topics and style of presentation and discussion which are most of interest to you, and this is a good chance for experimentation. If you're interested in bringing in research from another field to your own work, or if there's a new style of group discussion which you've heard about and want to try, these clubs allow for trying out these ideas in a low-pressure setting. Sharpen your presentation and debate skills An important and unique feature of most journal clubs is that the material is typically presented by the PhD students to one another. Although it might seem a little intimidating, do volunteer to give a brief presentation or to lead the discussion at one of these meetings. This gives you the chance to practice your presentation skills in a low-pressure setting; you can get more comfortable with describing the research of yourself and others to a group, and you can even ask the other students for feedback on your presentation style at the end. You can also get in practice at putting forward your opinions in a discussion, amongst peers in a setting which is less intimidating than at a full lecture. This is great practice for PhD students who are less experienced in group discussions. Learn from others As a PhD student, one of the greatest assets and resources available to you is is to be found in your peer group of fellow PhDs. Whether they are from your department or school, or even if they are from a totally different field from you, you can learn a huge amount from listening to the informed opinions of other students. You can find out about the major debates and developments in fields of research which are adjacent to your own, and keep up to date on a broad range of knowledge. In some ways, the more diverse the members of your journal club, the better your opportunity for informative debate. Socialize The life of a PhD student can be somewhat isolating, so it's important that you make time to develop an active and supportive social life. As journal clubs tend to be rather informal, you can use them as a chance to get to know other students socially as well as professionally. You could even consider hosting the journal club at a restaurant or bar, to encourage informal social interactions and to help break out of the usual patterns of discussion. Or of course you can always meet for a journal club first, and then decamp to another location for socializing after the academic discussion has concluded. Journal clubs can be a surprisingly fun and enjoyable part of the PhD process and give you the chance to get to know your fellow students outside of the more strict structures of the work environment.
A popular activity among PhD students, particularly for those in structured programs, is a journal club. This is a regular meeting at which PhD students gather together to read and discuss a journal paper from their field. These meetings can be a fun and educational addition to a PhD program, and today we're discussing how you can make the most of the opportunities presented by these meetings.
Spain If you want to learn Spanish, where better to study than the home of the language? Spain has an extensive academic system, so it will be no problem for you to find a reputable institution which teaches languages. Additionally, there is a great deal of Spanish culture which will surround you – literature, film, history and so on – which will help to boost your understanding of both the language and the people. The Spanish spoken in Spain is distinctly different from that spoken in Latin America, so if your aim is to communicate with other Europeans, then Spain will be a good option for you. Mexico However, if you want to communicate with an international audience, you would be better off learning Spanish in a Latin American country. There are many more people speaking this form of the language, though of course there is variation between countries too. One popular option for studying Spanish, particularly for Americans, is Mexico. As it is geographically near to the US, and shares some cultural similarities also, it can be easier for visitors to adjust to life there. Guatemala Guatemala is known as one of the most beautiful countries you can visit, with jungles, volcanoes, and coastlines adding to its reputation for stunning landscapes. An advantage of learning Spanish there is that people typically speak more slowly than in other Spanish-speaking countries, which makes it easier for learners to understand. Also, it is one of the best value places where you can learn, as both general living costs and the costs of lessons are extremely cheap. The country is relatively small, but you can use all the money you save on living costs to explore the beautiful scenery and diverse geography. Argentina The Argentinian Spanish accent has a reputation for being difficult for foreigners – it's spoken fast and fluently, and frequently intercut with slang which often isn't taught in formal programs. However, it's also regarded as being one of the most sophisticated and appealing of accents. So if you don't mind a challenge, and you want to learn Spanish that will sound eloquent and beautiful, then Argentina is the place to study. Places like Buenos Aires are popular with expats, which means that many people there need to learn more Spanish, and hence there are a very large number of Spanish schools, in addition to well-regarded universities which are relatively cheap to attend. Colombia Although it used to have a bad reputation for drugs and crime, in recent years Colombia has become much safer and is now an appealing destination for visitors. It is especially popular for learning Spanish, as Colombian Spanish is pleasing to the ear and sounds rhythmic and elegant. The Bogotá region is particularly popular for learning the language, as in addition to being a fun and lively place, the Spanish spoken there has a neutral accent which means that it can easily be understood by people from all over Latin America. Bolivia Finally, consider one of the lesser-known options for learning Spanish: Bolivia. As the cheapest place to live in South America, it also offers low-cost tuition which will leave you with plenty of cash to explore the beautiful mountains of the country. The majority of the population are indigenous peoples, and so it's common for Bolivians to speak one or more indigenous languages in addition to Spanish. If you're interested in the development and evolution of languages, you can directly see how these indigenous language influence the Spanish which is spoken there. For the adventurous learner, it's hard to find better value for money than Bolivia.
Spanish is spoken by more that 400 million people around the globe, which makes it the second-most common language in the world. So naturally, if you are considering learning a new language, then Spanish is a great choice as it will allow you to communicate with lots of people. It's well-known that immersing yourself in a culture is the fastest way to learn - but where is the best place to do this? Below we'll look at some suggestions for the best country in which to study Spanish.
Professor Jan Oosterhaven to receive The EIB-ERSA Prize 2015
The EIB-ERSA Prize 2015 is awarded to Jan Oosterhaven, professor of Spatial Economics at University of Groningen in the Netherlands, for his lifetime contribution to regional science. The independent jury praises Jan Oosterhaven for his numerous contributions to interregional input-output analysis, regional economic modelling, assessing economic impacts of infrastructure, and the evaluation of regional and urban policies. The EIB - European Prize in Regional Science has been created to acknowledge outstanding regional scientists at the European level and to increase the image of ERSA in the scientific world. The prize is awarded by an independent jury, which consists of six eminent regional scientists, four from Europe, one from the Americas and one from the rest of the world. The awarding ceremony will take place on Friday 28th August 2015 during the closing ceremony of the ERSA Congress 2015 in Lisbon (Portugal). Jan Oosterhaven will give a presentation of a new model for estimating the economic impacts of disasters and trade boycotts. The new model combines the simplicity of an interregional input-output model with the plausibility of a spatial general equilibrium model. Jan Oosterhaven is internationally known for developing new methods to consistently construct interregional input-output tables and applying these to the European Union for the period 1960-1990. He also contributed to the consistent incorporation of supply shocks in the demand driven input-output model and to the correct incorporation of the wider economic impacts of transport infrastructure into social cost-benefit analyses of investments. In the Netherlands, Jan Oosterhaven has been involved in many high policy impact studies including the estimation of the indirect effects of the relocation of the Headquarters of the former PTT from The Hague to Groningen, the evaluation of land reclamation plans for a part of the Wadden Sea, and the operation of high-speed rail lines within the central Randstad region and from the Randstad to the peripheral North (the Zuiderzeelijn).Jan Oosterhaven has been acknowledged for his scientific work with the Fellowship Awards of the International Input-Output Association and the Regional Science Association International and was appointed as an Officer in the Dutch Order of Orange-Nassau by her Majesty the Queen. Guy Clausse, Dean of the European Investment Bank Institute, commented: “Regional policy is an important part of the internal policy of the EU as well as of many Member States; therefore it is all the more important that regional policy be based on a sound scientific base. Professor Oosterhaven clearly contributes to laying such base.” You can download an original press release here. Further information about the EIB-ERSA prize is available here.
ERSA Office Louvain-La-Neuve BELGIUM 25th AUGUST 2015
Open access: the case for making your research publicly available
For the public good One argument in favour of open access publishing is regarding the funding of scientific projects. As most labs receive at least some of their funding from governmental organisations, it is fair to say that tax payers' money goes towards scientific research. Therefore some argue that the public has a right to see the outcome of this research as they helped to pay for it. Further, it would be of great benefit to the public's understanding of science if research were to be made more easily available to more people. Public scientific literacy is important in order to promote understanding of scientific topics and to support evidence-based policies, and open access research can help with this. The more journal articles and other materials that are publicly available, the better interested members of the public will be able to learn and keep up to date with the latest findings. For the benefit of other researchers Greater participation in open access publishing would also be of benefit to the research community as a whole. Many researchers work in institutions where only some journals are available through the library, and it can be difficult or inconvenient for them to read other journals which are not available. Therefore a portion of the audience for your work may be lost because their institution does not subscribe to the journal in which you publish. Particularly those researchers who work at smaller institutions which have a more limited budget may not have access to niche journals, which creates a hierarchy where information is available only to those with more money. With open access, all researchers will be able to access the information which is relevant to them. A notable practical advantage of open access publishing is that articles are generally made available online immediately after they are accepted for publication. Whilst some traditional publishers have instituted a policy of making work available immediately too, open access publishers tend to be more strongly focused on web publishing. This immediate availability is useful in fields which are fast-moving and in which the latest findings are always changing. It makes it easier for researchers to stay up to date and to hear about new work as soon as possible. This also help to avoid the duplication of work – researchers can make sure that they're not performing the same experiment as someone else. For the benefit of students One group who are sometimes overlooked in the discussion of open access publishing are university students. Not only do students benefit from better informed lecturers, but it is also very important for them to have access to journal articles directly. Students need to learn not only how to read and interpret articles, but also how to find them and cite them. With open access, it is easier for students to find and read the information they need. It also encourages curiosity and interest in different disciplines and further research – when information on all topics is freely available, students may explore more widely and discover a new area of interest or topic. To help promote your work A further benefit or publishing open access is that you can promote your work widely, in diverse forums, and know that everyone who is interested will be able to read your article. If you wish to reach an international audience, or to promote dialogue between academic disciplines, it's particularly important that access to your work is not restricted. Open access can also help to boost the impact of your work, as papers can be cited more when they are publicly available. Finally, open access articles can be shared on social networks such as Twitter or Facebook, so links to your research can be spread via personal networks which can help your work to be seen by a much broader audience than would be possible from only your own contacts.
Open access refers to materials which are publicly available without restrictions on access or reuse. To publish your research in open access means that anyone, including other researchers and the public, will be able to read your paper in its original form. In order to support this free access for users, journals which publish open-access charge a fee (often in the region of several thousand Euros) to the authors. But, this cost comes with advantages. Today we're looking at the case for making your research available in open access form.
How can social media help you to make the right decision about your Masters
Certainly, as large and small businesses alike sort through the litany of job applications they receive, possession of a postgraduate qualification emerges as a distinguishable marker. Thus, how we choose which Masters to pursue and in which institution to enrol in becomes a critical decision as it will have long-lasting professional consequences. This article in the Guardian discusses the various issues and benefits of pursuing a Master’s, and provides helpful information with regards to how this will be viewed by employers. Here we highlight how the network of online - microblogging, social networking, social bookmarking and social curation - are creative assets in making your decision and provide an alternative to traditional sources. When deciding what Masters to do and at which institution, there are 5 main questions to consider (in no particular order): 1) What subject, themes and issues are of interest to you? 2) Do you have the necessary entry requirements? 3) How would the qualification enhance/further your future career? 4) How much will it cost and are there funding options? 5) What is the reputation/standing/ranking of the university? There are various approaches, techniques and sources available to gain the necessary information to answer these questions, none of them though are exclusive, and instead should be used in tandem with the others. Sources include university online/offline prospectuses, which provide detailed information about the content, structure and course syllabus, as well as information about the university itself. Postgraduate Study Fairs also provide useful face-to-face introductions to particular institutions, and are a great way to get answers to your questions. However, it should be noted that both of these sources by definition portray their institution in the most favourable light possible. In this regard, it is also strongly advisable to attend Open Days, as a way to gain a personal feel for the institution and its various departments. It is also possible to contact academics directly - lecturers and tutors - and ask specific questions about the course. However it should be noted that these tend to be rather busy, as their primary focus is on current students and not prospective students. It is at this point that I would like to turn to social media, as arguably it presents an increasingly poignant alternative to the sources mentioned above. The various strands and outlets of social media offer a more pluralistic voice and are not necessarily anchored by the rigid biases of prospectuses and other university produced paraphernalia. In essence social media is the honest and unfiltered account of current and past students, as well as academics. Otherwise said, it is ‘word of mouth’ marshalled into digital forums and thus presents a potent aid as you try to make the right decision about your Masters. They provide first hand accounts, lived information and personal experience and as such in many ways trump traditional sources. Institutions themselves are not blind to the power of social media. For instance, most universities have their own Facebook page, and more and more universities even have their own Twitter accounts. These serve as both a means of publicising their activities to prospective students, as well as keeping current students abreast of their activities. Besides, social media is the “voice” of existing students and can offer you a great deal of personal insights and reviews which you would not be able to receive elsewhere. Although the educational path is littered with critical decisions and crucial intersections, choosing which Master’s you do and where you do it could prove to be the most important decision you have to make in your young professional career. If we accept that as with many important decisions, research is key, then social media offers an unparalleled tool when choosing your Master’s.
In the intensly competitive and narrow job market, prospective job seekers are increasingly discovering that a Bachelor’s degree is not enough, as more and more job profiles require you to have a Master’s (or similar postgraduate diploma/certificate). Whereas once postgraduate qualifications were reserved for the rare elite, today they are increasingly becoming the norm. With the often remarked upon generalised and broad character of many undergraduate degrees, it is not uncommon for employers to attach great importance to postgraduate qualifications.
Supervision - tips for PhDs supervising bachelors or masters students for the first time
Postdocs and professors have limited time and busy schedules, so often enlist the help of their PhDs in the supervision of more junior students. You may be called on to manage the research project for a bachelors or masters student: this involves helping them plan their research, choose a methodology, showing them how to collect and analyse data, and providing feedback on their written work. While supervision can be an interesting and rewarding experience, it is one for which PhDs often feel unprepared. Today we're sharing some tips on the supervision process to help you through your first time supervising. Choosing the right student Straight away, it's important to consider whether you are a good match for the student in question. To be an effective supervisor you need to be interested in the student's project and to have some experience with the sort of work that they'll be performing. You should be able to communicate with your student and develop a healthy rapport, and you should look for indications that the student can think independently and bring their own ideas and insights to the project. You should also have support from more senior postdocs or professors who can support the areas of knowledge or skills which you lack. Management: setting the correct level of involvement Everyone's had the experience of an overbearing boss who wants to micro-manage every aspect of the work which you perform, and knows how frustrating this can be. You don't want to be a micro-managing supervisor, but remember that your students will need specific guidance. Start off by setting them small, specific tasks, and give them clear step-by-step instructions. Once you have seen the quality of work that they can produce, and you can estimate their ability to work independently, you can start to set them larger tasks and to allow them to approach a task in whatever manner they choose. Be as clear as possible with your students about your expectations regarding time frames and the allocation of tasks. The importance of feedback It's important for the motivation of your students that you recognise the work that they have performed, and give them praise when they have completed a challenging task well. Don't underestimate the value of just smiling and saying "well done"! In some ways, it's even more important to give negative feedback when it's required. If your student has made a mistake or an error, you need to let them know so that they know not to do that in future. There's no need to be harsh or critical, but you do need to inform them about their mistake and show them how to correct it. If you can support them through the process of revise or re-doing work you can help to ensure that they don't make the same mistakes in the future. The importance of communication Make sure that you're available to your students, either by phone or email or in person, so that they can come to you with questions if they're unsure how to proceed. Some students can be shy about admitting that they don't know how to do some tasks, so try to be open and understanding if there's something that they are unsure of. It's up to you to set the tone of your interactions, so strive for a professional but friendly manner in your communications. Try to get into good habits, like replying to emails in a timely manner, and your students will follow your lead. Supervision can be an interesting and rewarding process, and you can learn as much from your students as they can from you. It's also a chance to practice your management skills, which are valuable both within and outside of academia. If you're looking for opportunities for PhDs or for more junior student positions, check out open positions here.
One part of the PhD process that students are not always aware of when they begin is their role in the supervision of bachelors or masters students.
Tips For Dealing With Language Issues When Studying Abroad
Language of the teaching versus generally used language in the institution If you're looking into studying abroad, likely you have already checked what language the teaching is performed in. The majority of courses, especially bachelor's degrees, will take place in the native language of the country in which the institution is located. Universities with a focus on international students, especially at postgraduate levels, may also offer teaching in English. Obviously you'll need to be confident in the language used for teaching at your institution. However, don't forget that there may be a different language used for administrative or social purposes at universities. In German institutions, for example, it's common for some teaching to be done in English, but for the majority of university administration, such as enrolment, library use, and assessment submission, to be done in German. So remember that you may need to have at least basic knowledge of more than one extra language to be comfortable as an international student. Tips on learning a new language: before you go It's important to get in some practise with your new language before you depart for your international study time. You don't need to be an expert, but you do need enough knowledge to deal with basic tasks and questions, such as asking for directions or ordering food in a restaurant. Of course, a great way to learn these basics is to take a language course in your home country. If you have the time, this is sure to increase your knowledge and your confidence when you arrive in your new country. But if you don't have the time or money to attend a course, don't despair! There are lots of other way you can practise your language before you start travelling. Websites like Duolingo teach you the basics and allow you to practise your reading, writing, and even speaking of a new language if you have a microphone, all for free. You can also learn a lot about the sounds and typical sentence formations of your new language by watching TV shows or films in the new language. You can listen along in the new language while using the subtitles in your native language, for example. Or pick a favourite film which you know well and watch it in your new language, which can be a fun way to learn new words and phrases. Tips on learning a new language: once you arrive Once you've arrived in your new country, the way to get comfortable with the new language is practise, practise, practise! If you didn't take a language course before you left, then you should look into the possibility once you arrive. Universities often have language courses which international students can attend for free, often once or twice a week for a semester. Alternatively, you might consider an intensive language course, in which you work only on your language skills full-time for around two to eight weeks. Many people find that this intensive approach allows them to pick up all the essentials they need before they begin their studies, so this is a good option if you have the time and the money to pay for a course. But there are free options here too. One great method for practising your language is to find a tandem partner. This is a native speaker of the language you want to learn, who themselves wants to learn your native language. You meet in an informal setting, such as at a coffee shop, and you each speak you new language and correct each other on mistakes made in your native language. This is also a great way to meet new people and make new friends. And once you have made friends with some native speakers, do badger them to practise with you! Nothing will help you learning so much as regular practise with a native speaker. We hope that these tips can help you in your language learning!
One big challenge for students who are studying internationally is dealing with language issues. If the native language of the country in which you're studying is not your own native language, it can be difficult to make the most of your studies. However, it can also be a fun opportunity to learn a new language and to pick up new language skills. Today we're offering some tips on dealing with language issues when studying abroad.
How to target your announcements: Case-Study from Belgium
Firstly, preparing a clear and attractive job description is already half of the recipe to success. Candidates need to know what the position entails, and what you expect of them in terms of work-tasks and qualifications. A common oversight is providing clear instructions to apply – it is crucial that you supply either a link for an online application or an (email) address for candidates to send a CV and documents. The second ingredient is to communicate this description via an effective channel to the right audience. Make sure the channel you select offers you people with the right level of education, and in the right field. The final and perhaps most important challenge is how to strike the balance between advertising the job as broadly as possible while keeping it targeted according to your criteria, for example by applicants’ country. One option is to write an extensive qualifications list in your job advert, which is especially tempting when there is no limit on characters in one announcement. A more effective, and easier, method currently offered by INOMICS is Geo-Targeting. This option allows you to specify countries where you would like your advert to be shown most. As an example of how this can work in your favour, we took similar recent Job Announcements from Belgium, split into two categories: 1) Targeted to a set of European countries (Austria, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom). 2) Regular announcements without Geo-Targeting (usually mostly viewed by applicants of the same region, language and discipline). The graphs below show how a higher percentage of potential applicants from the target countries were attracted by the Geo-Targeted ads (Figure 1) compared to regular ads without Geo-Targeting (Figure 2). The Geo-Targeting option is automatically included in all Premium announcements on INOMICS (up to 10 countries), but it is also possible to add it to any announcement of your choice for €75 per country. For bookings made between 10th June and 15th August 2015, we are offering a free Promotion Boost, which means you can try Geo-Targeting (up to four countries) with your Standard and Featured Ads too. You can also pre-book for campaigns later in 2015 and 2016, to benefit from this boost for future job openings (or programs, courses, scholarships or conferences offered by your institution) as well. If you want to know more about ways to target your ads smartly, don’t hesitate to contact us. Your INOMICS Team will be happy to help!
Finding the best candidate for any open position at a university, research institution or bank is rarely as easy as ABC. In this case study, we look at ways to prepare your recruitment campaign to get the most suitable applicants with the least effort.
<11an>limit:3;categories:PhD Programs;disciplines:Economics</11an> Finding a Supervisor The first thing to remember when you begin searching for a supervisor is that you are looking for someone who will fit well with you both professionally and personally. Try not to be too swept up by the famous names in your field - although in some ways, having a senior or well-known professor as your supervisor can be a great career advantage, the most famous professors are often those with the highest workload, and they may have little time to devote to supervision. Consider that more junior or less well-known researchers can make excellent supervisors if you have good rapport together. Try to find someone with whom you feel comfortable, and who challenges your ideas in a constructive and helpful way. Remember that supervision is a relationship which should be beneficial to both parties. When you meet a potential supervisor, the meeting is as much for your benefit as for theirs – you can learn a lot about their supervision style, and how much time, funding, and other resources that they can offer you. Do ask direct questions, such as how much time they can devote to you, what duties you will be expected to perform as part of their research group, what funding is available and what will happen if the funding runs out before your project is completed, and so on. These practical matters can often be forgotten in the excitement of discussing your research ideas, but it is very much to your advantage to have as much information about these matters as possible. Finding a Lab or Research Group You are unlikely to be working alone with your supervisor, and it is probable that you will be joining a laboratory or research group headed by the supervisor. You may be working closely with other PhDs and postdocs in the group, so it's important that you get to know them too when making a decision. If you can, attend a lab meeting or discussion group, and see what topics are debated and how group members engage with each other. Talk to as many members of the group as you can – then can tell you not only about their research and how it might relate to your project idea, but also they can offer insight into the daily workings of the group, talk about their experience with supervision, and tell you more about what resources and support are available. Do consider social aspects too – you'll be working a lot with other group members, so it's important that you get on well and feel comfortable talking to them. Does the group have organised social activities, and do lab members socialise outside of work? This can be a positive indication of a friendly, sociable group, which can be a source of support in stressful times. Finding a University Finally, remember that your supervisor and group will be located within a university structure which you should consider. Although the reputation of a university is not as important a factor as the reputation of the supervisor at the PhD level, you will still have to deal with the administrative and organisational aspects of the university. So find out what kind of systems are in place to deal with PhD students – some universities have co-ordinators or groups who specialise in overseeing this. The university should be able to help you further with practical matters such as finding housing, learning any required languages, or joining social or sporting groups. There are many factors to consider when looking for a supervisor, so take your time and find out as much information as you can from as many sources as possible before making a decision. To see some of the most exciting PhD opportunities as they arise, sign up for our email alert.
When planning to pursue a PhD, one of the most important decisions you must make is to choose a supervisor for your project. A supervisor supports you and advises you in your research, helps you with your career development (for example by introducing you to relevant people in your field and suggesting conferences that you should attend), and provides encouragement to you throughout your PhD. Your supervision will be the most important academic relationship of your PhD years, so it's vital to find someone who fits your research interests and personality well. Below we'll share some tips for helping you to find the best supervisor for your project. If you plan to start your PhD application this autumn, download our free guide "How to successfully apply to a PhD in Economics".