Our graduate researchers pursue many different types of careers both within academia and beyond. Recent data from 2022 reveals that about 20% of alumni secure postdoc positions within a year of graduating, with an additional 10% working in roles closely related to research within higher education. The reality is that each graduate researcher’s personal development journey and career aspirations are unique and will evolve overtime.
The UCD Strategy recognises the pivotal role graduate researchers play within the University as well as the importance of providing dedicated support and resources to facilitate their career progression. To this end, UCD established a unique careers service for graduate researchers in 2018, appointing a full-time Career and Skills Consultant exclusively for graduate research students. This role is currently held by Ms Tara Hughes.
The UCD Careers Network service for graduate researchers offers a range of supports for students throughout their research degree. These supports are detailed below. Additionally, one-to-one meetings are also available for two years following the completion of a research degree.
As a UCD EDI Ambassador, Tara Hughes has designed all her services to be inclusive and accessible for all graduate research students, and she welcomes any requests or feedback to better tailor the support provided.
Sixty-minute, confidential one-to-one sessions can be booked with Tara Hughes (Career and Skills Consultant for Graduate Researchers). They normally take place in the Careers Network offices beside the James Joyce Library or online via Zoom. Tara can also visit specific Schools or buildings on request.
Topics covered often include:
Thirty-minute follow-up appointments are also available with Careers Consultant Ann McCarry.
Topics covered normally include:
Book through MyCareer or email Careers@ucd.ie with any issues or questions.
Throughout the year, UCD Careers Network offers a range of specific career workshops that are open to all graduate researchers. Of course, as students of UCD, you may also attend any of the wider UCD Careers Network workshops that are available to all students.
Our graduate researcher careers workshops are advertised in advance and can be viewed and booked on MyCareer. Face-to-face and online workshops are available.
Topics covered include:
Workshop resources can be found on Brightspace – students can self-enrol in the open module ‘Career Workshop Series’, found in the Explore tab.
Tara is often invited to individual Schools/research centres and institutes, and can be contacted directly to create a bespoke session. Sessions can be tailored to fit the available time and often include topics such as graduate outcomes, market data and insights, career planning, job search, academic careers and faculty insights, and peer networking. For further information, email Tara at tara.hughes@ucd.ie.
Employer engagement takes place through a variety of channels, including:
The wider Careers Network team also deliver a wide range of careers events that graduate researchers can attend, including:
The Graduate Researcher Careers e-bulletin is issued every two weeks by email. This bulletin includes a selection of current vacancies that the team feel may be relevant, a listing of relevant UCD and external training and development events, funding opportunities, any recent labour market information and other useful resources.
If you are a UCD graduate researcher and are not receiving the e-bulletin, please email careers@ucd.ie.
You may also wish to subscribe to the UCD Careers Network LinkedIn newsletter, which is written for all students but may contain relevant information for graduate researchers.
My Career is an online platform, available 24/7, which covers a wide range of resources, from tools such as CV360 to Graduate Outcome information to eLearning to the UCD Careers Network jobs board.
You will find MyCareer on the UCD Connect main page and it can be accessed at any time.
The most popular links for graduate researchers include:
Alumni engagement consists of a range of varied events. Many but not all are recorded and available on MyCareer (these can be accessed by selecting the 'Career Options by College' icon).
Events include our annual Employer Networking Event (normally held in May), alumni panel sessions and previously Fireside Fridays. Fireside Fridays are a series of career chats with graduate research alumni, covering career journeys, useful employability skills acquired during graduate research, and tips for current students.
The chats run for 20 minutes and are followed by a Q&A, with guest speakers from a range of sectors.
For information about upcoming events, or to view recordings of previous sessions, visit the dedicated Fireside Fridays webpage.
Book a 60-minute one-to-one career guidance and coaching session with the Career and Skills Consultant for Graduate Researchers
Develop the skills, self-confidence and attitudes needed to flourish in learning and work within a global economy
Explore the desired learning outcomes and skills that doctoral students will acquire during their doctoral education and training
Explore and prepare for your future career by reading the range of UCD Career Guides