Charity and Voluntary Work Case Studies
The Transitions Survey was originally conducted in Autumn 2019 in order to gather data about the post-graduation jobs of recent PhD graduates. Participants were asked about their roles, the transition into their roles, and their advice for current PhDs to make the most of their PhD experience and prepare for post-PhD life and job searching. Those participating in the case studies included here also had the opportunity to update their responses in Summer 2020.
Niamh Brown, School of Critical Studies
Employment
Learning and Development Consultant at Money Advice Scotland, a Glasgow-based charity.
Three weeks for initial entry to the organisation and 18 months for current role.
What does your role entail?
I run our Wellbeing project, which involves running research and training on wellbeing among advisers in the free sector.
What do you like and dislike about your current role?
I like that my current role gives me a chance to research, write and teach – the three things I have always wanted to do. I have gained a lot of specialist knowledge and find the role to be an interesting challenge. It has also given me some policy/research experience outside of academia which will be valuable going forward.
How did your doctorate lead to your current post?
During my PhD, I was a Graduate Teaching Assistant, and I undertook two internships at the university. These jobs were my favourite parts of my PhD, which made me realise that academia was probably not for me. After graduating, I looked for work in the charity sector as a stop-gap. I got a job at my current organisation as an administrator based on one of my internships, then got two promotions due to my teaching experience, the second of which was to my current role. I knew I wanted a job that involved research, writing and teaching, which made me think academia would be a good fit. It wasn’t, but the transferrable skills I gained prepared me for other, more suitable roles which involved some of the same elements.
Transitioning to Employment
What was most helpful to you in managing your transition on from your PhD?
By the time I finished my PhD I was ready to leave academia, so my transition was aided by my eagerness for something new. My supervisor and the careers service also offered good advice and support.
What did you find most challenging in making the transition?
Moving to a much more structured day – someone else’s timetable rather than my own – was a challenge. I also dealt with some anxieties around moving out of academia, even though I was ready to do so.
The PhD
What advice would you give in terms of making the most of the PhD experience?
I went for a lot of opportunities not tied directly to my PhD such as internships, teaching, and a leadership course which gave attendees a management qualification, which were all really helpful and enjoyable for me. I would therefore advise PhD researchers to go for as wide a range of opportunities as possible during their studies as they do not know where this will take them.
Niamh Brown, School of Critical Studies
Employment
Learning and Development Consultant at Money Advice Scotland, a Glasgow-based charity.
Three weeks for initial entry to the organisation and 18 months for current role.
What does your role entail?
I run our Wellbeing project, which involves running research and training on wellbeing among advisers in the free sector.
What do you like and dislike about your current role?
I like that my current role gives me a chance to research, write and teach – the three things I have always wanted to do. I have gained a lot of specialist knowledge and find the role to be an interesting challenge. It has also given me some policy/research experience outside of academia which will be valuable going forward.
How did your doctorate lead to your current post?
During my PhD, I was a Graduate Teaching Assistant, and I undertook two internships at the university. These jobs were my favourite parts of my PhD, which made me realise that academia was probably not for me. After graduating, I looked for work in the charity sector as a stop-gap. I got a job at my current organisation as an administrator based on one of my internships, then got two promotions due to my teaching experience, the second of which was to my current role. I knew I wanted a job that involved research, writing and teaching, which made me think academia would be a good fit. It wasn’t, but the transferrable skills I gained prepared me for other, more suitable roles which involved some of the same elements.
Transitioning to Employment
What was most helpful to you in managing your transition on from your PhD?
By the time I finished my PhD I was ready to leave academia, so my transition was aided by my eagerness for something new. My supervisor and the careers service also offered good advice and support.
What did you find most challenging in making the transition?
Moving to a much more structured day – someone else’s timetable rather than my own – was a challenge. I also dealt with some anxieties around moving out of academia, even though I was ready to do so.
The PhD
What advice would you give in terms of making the most of the PhD experience?
I went for a lot of opportunities not tied directly to my PhD such as internships, teaching, and a leadership course which gave attendees a management qualification, which were all really helpful and enjoyable for me. I would therefore advise PhD researchers to go for as wide a range of opportunities as possible during their studies as they do not know where this will take them.