Ron Culley
Transcript of Ron Culley
Life after your PhDLife after your PhD
Ron CulleyRon Culley
Outline of DiscussionOutline of Discussion
BackgroundBackground Life Beyond AcademiaLife Beyond Academia First StepsFirst Steps Work ExperiencesWork Experiences Lessons LearnedLessons Learned
BackgroundBackground
1995-1999: Undergrad @ Strathclyde Uni1995-1999: Undergrad @ Strathclyde Uni 1999-2000: Travelled1999-2000: Travelled 2000-2004: PhD @ Glasgow Uni2000-2004: PhD @ Glasgow Uni SAAS GrantSAAS Grant Political philosophy, Dept. Politics (Mike Political philosophy, Dept. Politics (Mike
Lessnoff)Lessnoff)
Preparing for life outside academiaPreparing for life outside academia
Decided against academiaDecided against academia Diversified my work experienceDiversified my work experience
Childline; tutoring; wider access; EFLChildline; tutoring; wider access; EFL
Evidenced added value of PhD to prospective Evidenced added value of PhD to prospective employersemployers
First StepsFirst Steps
Variously applied to work for: Variously applied to work for: Civil Service Fast StreamCivil Service Fast Stream Information Commissioner Information Commissioner OxfamOxfam
Scottish Refugee CouncilScottish Refugee Council
Economic Development Economic Development
COSLACOSLA
What do we do?What do we do? Who works for COSLA? Who works for COSLA? How do we influence?How do we influence? Why do our members need COSLA?Why do our members need COSLA? Where do we operate?Where do we operate?
COSLACOSLA
Personal Progression:Personal Progression: Policy Officer (2006)Policy Officer (2006) Policy Manager (2007)Policy Manager (2007) Head of Health and Social Care ( 2008)Head of Health and Social Care ( 2008)
What does a PhD buy you?What does a PhD buy you?
Authority?Authority? Fast Track?Fast Track? Money?Money? Kudos? Kudos?
Marketable skillsMarketable skills
Intellectual Curiosity Intellectual Curiosity Analytical CapacityAnalytical Capacity Organisational Skills:Organisational Skills:
Planning and executionPlanning and execution Autonomous workingAutonomous working
Communication Skills:Communication Skills: Debate and argumentDebate and argument Reports and the written wordReports and the written word
Reflections on workReflections on work
Know what you wantKnow what you want Academia or not?Academia or not? Desk job or people job?Desk job or people job? Money, location, sector, etc.Money, location, sector, etc.
Skills Gap Skills Gap DemonstrateDemonstrate added value; don’t rely on title added value; don’t rely on title