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Academic career advice

Tips and resources to help you build a successful career in academia. From skills development during your PhD to preparing for a role in university administration, all academic career steps are covered. Here, you will find advice on promoting your work, growing your professional reputation and developing collegiate networks to support your academic career progression - or to help you move into industry.

Catching up with academic colleagues is part of keeping it REAL

Authentic leadership: the four pillars of keeping it ‘REAL’

Corinna van den Heuvel explains how developing a strong personal leadership philosophy is key to authenticity as a leader

Corinna van den Heuvel

The University of Adelaide

Combining business and educational acumen is required for HE leaders

Modern higher education leaders must blend business and educational knowledge

Clearly articulated values, structures that support accountability and metrics that align with strategic goals are the new leadership competencies, says Angela Hernquist

Angela Hernquist

Colorado State University Global

Work-life balance in academia can be achieved, but it's not easy

You can have it all, just not all at once

It might just be possible to achieve a good work-life balance in academia, but it requires focusing on certain areas of your life and career at certain times, says Lucas Lixinski

Lucas Lixinski

UNSW Sydney

Tips for university faculty on negotiating salary

Salary negotiation – a guide for faculty members

In the age of inflation, increased competition and an emphasis on adjunct faculty roles, knowing how to effectively negotiate your salary is key

Vanessa Claus

Colorado State University Global

Pretending that academia is a meritocracy harms tutors and students

Looking for a tenured teaching job? I’ve got one piece of advice: get lucky

By reinforcing the myth of meritocracy, we perpetuate a system grounded in cruelty and false promises. It needs to stop, says David Webster

David Webster

King's University College

Image showing networking and peer support

Three cornerstones of a successful research career

Success in academia requires much more than topical expertise. Jackie Carter shares three vital areas of focus for building a research career

Jackie Carter

The University of Manchester

Illustration of mentoring tree of lightbulbs

Career mentoring can support student employability

Support for students extends beyond the classroom. Here’s how to develop a successful mentoring programme to help students take their first steps into the workplace

Zurria Qureshi

University of Westminster

Part-time work could be a great option for work-life balance

In the search for work-life balance, going part-time could provide an answer

James Derounian makes the case for part-time work, particularly as academics advance in their careers – and gives tips on how to begin the transition and make a success of it

James Derounian

University of Bolton

Towards independence: blazing your trail as a freelance researcher

What options are open to you as a researcher if you decide formal academia within a university is not for you? Helen Ross outlines considerations and useful advice for anyone wishing to become an independent researcher

Helen Ross

Independent academic

The magic motivation fairy does not exist for academics

Bad news, kids (and academics): the magical motivation fairy doesn’t exist

Motivation for tricky tasks doesn’t just appear magically, but with these psychological tricks you can get yourself and your career moving, says Hugh Kearns

Hugh Kearns

Flinders University

Illustration of young woman with pile of papers, laptop and timer

Ask for help: a survival guide for inexperienced academics

Research and teaching are two sides of the knowledge coin: creation and dissemination. How do young scholars learn to balance these fundamental roles?

M. C. Zhang, Aliana Leong

Macau University of Science and Technology

Failure is crucial in academia, science and research

Failure can feel hot and shameful, but we must normalise it

Failure is essential in research, so we need to reframe it into an opportunity for learning, says Emma Williams

Emma Williams

EJW Solutions

Many adjunct professors find themselves pulled in two different directions

Five steps to help adjunct professors prioritise competing workloads

Teaching at universities while also working in industry can require superhuman powers of organisation. Brooke Wilson offers pointers for staying on top of things

Brooke Wilson

Colorado State University Global

Cat in travel cage with plane in background

Zoom fatigue and other exhaustions of international academic life

For many scholars, a sustainable career means moving countries to follow jobs and opportunities. Here, Clare Griffin talks about the financial, mental and social costs of relocation and offers practical tips for coping

Clare Griffin

Indiana University Bloomington

Classroom management techniques you don’t get taught

‘Fake it till you make it’ is a useful motto for new university teachers facing a classroom of antsy students for the first time. Here are seven basic skills to master

John Weldon

Victoria University

Why my hobbies make me a better scholar

Non-academic skills, both motor and cognitive, can enrich research capabilities in unexpected and often unexamined ways, writes Stephen W. Harmon

Stephen W. Harmon

Georgia Tech’s Center for 21st Century Universities

Advice for academics interested in working in the Netherlands

Ten tips for academics interested in relocating to work at a university in the Netherlands, by Tetyana Krupiy, who spent three years carrying out research in Tilburg

Tetyana (Tanya) Krupiy

Newcastle University

Image of a male teacher hosting a university seminar

Switching career directions: lessons from the first year as a teaching academic

The first year in a teaching role is challenging, particularly following the disruption caused by the pandemic, yet rewarding. Janine Wilkinson shares what she has learned

Janine Wilkinson

The University of East Anglia

Signposts for help, support, advice and guidance

Tips for new PhD supervisors: how to hold effective meetings

Supervisory meetings should be planned, regular and positive in tone. Here are key elements to include in thesis supervision meetings for academics new to the role

Alice Ling Jiang

Macau University of Science and Technology

Young Asian woman working at laptop in library wearing headphones

How to get through your first year of teaching

For any new teacher, standing in front of a class is daunting – professionally and emotionally. Here are some tips to help you prepare, adapt and conquer nerves and self-doubt

Beiting He

Macau University of Science and Technology

Getting an academic teaching buddy can help you work out lots of classroom issues rather than struggling alone

Get yourself a teaching buddy to help you thrive

Rather than struggle through classroom-based problems alone, we should recruit meaningful support by seeking out a colleague to discuss our teaching, says Flower Darby

Flower Darby

University of Missouri

Let’s get professional: advice for new university teachers

No matter if you’re a just-minted postdoc or transferring from industry to academia, a professional approach will give your new teaching career a solid foundation. In this video, Carl Sherwood shares his top tips

Carl Sherwood

The University of Queensland

Academics need to get the balance right between working hard and being a good colleague

Why we should be humans first and academics second

James Derounian argues for the spirit of kindness in all we do – and provides tips to improve your everyday collegiality

James Derounian

University of Bolton

Changing academic disciplines is not as impossible as it might sometimes appear

Embracing your impostor syndrome: advice for shifting between disciplines

Changing disciplines can appear impossible at times, but it’s not, especially if academics embrace the mindset that disciplinary boundaries are often somewhat artificial

Amber Phillips

University of the West of England Bristol

Image representing the building of a career

Five strategies to generate a sense of satisfaction in your academic work

Academia is challenging so developing coping mechanisms and boosting satisfaction in your work can be instrumental in building a successful career. Houry Melkonian shares five approaches she has found useful

Houry Melkonian

The University of Exeter

illustration of written and online resumes

ECRs can still evidence leadership and management skills on their CVs

Even when you’ve ‘just’ been a postdoc, the key is correctly labelling your skills and experience so potential employers understand what you bring to the table

Emma Williams

EJW Solutions

Academics and students should not require rhino-thick skin to succeed

Being inclusive also means remembering not everyone has rhino-thick skin

The way we give feedback, from the undergraduate essay right through to peer review, provides opportunities to unconsciously exclude people, says Hugh Kearns

Hugh Kearns

Flinders University

What is tenure in higher education – and how to get it

For many scholars, permanent employment is the light at the end of a years-long tunnel. Here, Henry Reichman explains the US tenure system and why it is key to protecting academic freedom

Henry Reichman

California State University, East Bay

Living an interesting life over the summer can help teachers be creative in the classroom

The summer life of a teacher can be a boon for creativity in the classroom

For me, what makes a teacher interesting in the classroom is proportional to what interests them outside it, says Zachary Michael Jack

Zachary Michael Jack

North Central College

Woman at a laptop holding temples with stress

Women in academia are doing too much non-promotable work – and that has to stop

The No Club shares advice for women about how to spend their time at work, how to change the environment to stop saddling women with unrewarded work, and prioritise the tasks that get noticed

Linda Babcock, Brenda Peyser, Lise Vesterlund, Laurie Weingart

Carnegie Mellon University , University of Pittsburgh

Bridge made of cogs with red connecting section

Blended professionals: how to make the most of ‘third space’ experts

Integrated practitioners – staff who bridge the worlds of academia and professional services – are increasingly important to universities. Here’s why this space matters and how to capitalise on it

Emily McIntosh, Diane Nutt

Middlesex University

A lecturer taking questions from his students

Rebalancing research and teaching within universities: rethinking recognition and reward

Adrian Lam looks at what changes to recognition and reward in higher education would help academics better balance a focus on research with need for quality teaching

Adrian Man-Ho Lam

The University of Hong Kong

Mind the gap: how to write career breaks into your CV

What counts as a career break, and how much information is too much information? Emma Williams provides strategies for filling in any spaces in your academic work history

Emma Williams

EJW Solutions

What to do when an academic journal rejects your article

Nobody likes negative feedback but rejection is not all bad. Here is how to see rejection of your article by a peer-reviewed journal as an opportunity

Catherine Léglu

University of Luxembourg

The cruel optimism of research careers: how to support contract workers

The conversation needs to switch from academic careers being the responsibility of individual researchers to what employers can do to support those in precarious roles

Jess Harris, Simon Bailey, Mhorag Goff, Nerida Spina

The University of Newcastle, Australia, University of Kent, The University of Manchester, Queensland University of Technology

How to write a diversity statement

What should you put in a diversity statement? In this video, Pardis Mahdavi gives examples of what to include and how candidates for academic jobs and search committees can use the document to reflect on EDI actions, impact and goals

Pardis Mahdavi

Arizona State University

Social media can make you sad, so here's how to battle the LinkedIn

Does seeing others’ success on LinkedIn make you unhappy?

LinkedIn can help you find a job and promote yourself, but it may also leave you questioning your own career trajectory – here’s how to combat the social media blues

Laura Lavertu, Sebastian Oliver

The University of Edinburgh

LinkedIn is becoming academia’s key tool for career progression

For students and academics alike, it’s harder to ignore LinkedIn’s combination of networking and self-promotional opportunities

Gillian McCurdy

Arden University

Opening the Twitter app on a mobile phone

The 10 commandments of academic Twitter

Lucas Lixinski offers tips on how to engage positively with the social media platform, from ‘honour thy hashtags’ to ‘thou shalt live-tweet at events’

Lucas Lixinski

UNSW Sydney

Using social media data and analytics is key for academics hoping to expand their network

How to use social media analytics to effectively expand your network

Digging deeper into social media, through stats and data, is the key to understanding audience and carving out your niche, says Michael Skiba

Michael Skiba

Colorado State University Global

Sometimes quitting your PhD and leaving academia can be the most rational move for students

Thinking about quitting your PhD? Maybe that’s the right decision

Sometimes not completing a PhD is the rational choice, and having open conversations around it helps stop people feeling isolated and uncertain, says Katherine Firth

Katherine Firth

La Trobe University

A PhD student falling asleep on their books in a higher education university - check out these five top tips for completing your thesis

Five tips for surviving your doctorate after moving over from industry

Moving into the academy after a professional career can be daunting and difficult – and never more so than when penning your thesis

Kumud Wijayaratna , Ed Cottam

Northumbria University

Building your research profile via social media, with a focus on LinkedIn

A guide to creating effective researcher profiles on social media, with practical tips for using LinkedIn

Tjitske Dijkstra

Academic Career Coach

Sessional academics early in their careers should learn how to balance the competing demands of teaching and research

Sessional academics: how to balance the demands of teaching and research

Teaching and research are the pillars of academia, yet these two roles often end up in opposition to one another, says Tara East

Tara East

The University of Southern Queensland

Academics looking to move up the higher education career ladder might consider becoming a dean

How to become a dean

Paul Baines talks through the pros and cons of being a dean, plus the skills you’ll need to display during the recruitment process to get there

Paul Baines

University of Leicester

What is peer review and why it is important?

Peer review is the lifeblood of good science. But understanding the process can take time, and gaining review experience can be daunting. Marc Gillett explains the key elements of this critical component of science

Marc Gillett

IOP Publishing

Advice for black and minority ethnic academics who are trying to make their way on the higher education career ladder

Fool’s gold: career advice for young, Black academics

Freshly minted professor Jason Arday provides tips for aspiring Black and ethnic minority academics on how to safeguard themselves on the hazardous journey to the top

Jason Arday

University of Glasgow

Early career researchers not let previously invested time and money impact the decision to leave university and research

Is the ‘sunk cost fallacy’ sinking your career?

Making the decision to move away from research can be daunting, but a big dose of rational thinking can help you make the right choice, says Emma Williams

Emma Williams

EJW Solutions

IT technician with a laptop computer and black male engineer colleague in data centre

Connecting on-campus learning with preparation for careers and life beyond the hedges

Career preparation begins before graduation. Ellenor Anderbyrne and Daniel Youd describe lessons learned from building a student career-readiness programme from the ground up

Ellenor Anderbyrne, Daniel Youd

Beloit College

Design thinking can be used in universities and by academics to help bring about new approaches to working in teams

Five tips for using design thinking to transform your academic practice

Jenny Moffett explains how embracing design thinking may offer ways to combat academic perfectionism and develop vital skills for navigating uncertain paths

Jenny Moffett

RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

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Academic career advice

.css-1ndcrd1{overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;max-height:108px;text-indent:0px;}Authentic leadership: the four pillars of keeping it ‘REAL’

Modern higher education leaders must blend business and educational knowledge

You can have it all, just not all at once

Salary negotiation – a guide for faculty members

Looking for a tenured teaching job? I’ve got one piece of advice: get lucky

Three cornerstones of a successful research career

Career mentoring can support student employability

In the search for work-life balance, going part-time could provide an answer

Towards independence: blazing your trail as a freelance researcher

Bad news, kids (and academics): the magical motivation fairy doesn’t exist

Ask for help: a survival guide for inexperienced academics

Failure can feel hot and shameful, but we must normalise it

Five steps to help adjunct professors prioritise competing workloads

Zoom fatigue and other exhaustions of international academic life

Classroom management techniques you don’t get taught

Why my hobbies make me a better scholar

Advice for academics interested in working in the Netherlands

Switching career directions: lessons from the first year as a teaching academic

Tips for new PhD supervisors: how to hold effective meetings

How to get through your first year of teaching

Get yourself a teaching buddy to help you thrive

Let’s get professional: advice for new university teachers

Why we should be humans first and academics second

Embracing your impostor syndrome: advice for shifting between disciplines

Five strategies to generate a sense of satisfaction in your academic work

ECRs can still evidence leadership and management skills on their CVs

Being inclusive also means remembering not everyone has rhino-thick skin

What is tenure in higher education – and how to get it

The summer life of a teacher can be a boon for creativity in the classroom

Women in academia are doing too much non-promotable work – and that has to stop

Blended professionals: how to make the most of ‘third space’ experts

Rebalancing research and teaching within universities: rethinking recognition and reward

Mind the gap: how to write career breaks into your CV

What to do when an academic journal rejects your article

The cruel optimism of research careers: how to support contract workers

How to write a diversity statement

Does seeing others’ success on LinkedIn make you unhappy?

LinkedIn is becoming academia’s key tool for career progression

The 10 commandments of academic Twitter

How to use social media analytics to effectively expand your network

Thinking about quitting your PhD? Maybe that’s the right decision

Five tips for surviving your doctorate after moving over from industry

Building your research profile via social media, with a focus on LinkedIn

Sessional academics: how to balance the demands of teaching and research

How to become a dean

What is peer review and why it is important?

Fool’s gold: career advice for young, Black academics

Is the ‘sunk cost fallacy’ sinking your career?

Connecting on-campus learning with preparation for careers and life beyond the hedges

Five tips for using design thinking to transform your academic practice

Authentic leadership: the four pillars of keeping it ‘REAL’