Take charge of your career

What has Aarhus University decided?

Academic staff at the early career stages at Aarhus University should have a few consecutive short temporary employments, and they should include good opportunities for career clarification along the way. Only a minoritys in PhD and postdoc positions will be employed subsequently at Aarhus University, and the majority will use their academic competencies outside the university. Career dialogues must take place early in a postdoc employment, and for PhD students, career perspectives are made visible in the latter half of the PhD-process.

In the alignment of expectations between you and your employee, you are tasked with clarifying these terms:

1. The PhD is the end of a research programme that provides qualifications for continued research, but is not necessarily the beginning of an academic research career
2. A postdoc is a temporary position that can lead to a possible assistant professor position and possibly later permanent employment at AU
3. An assistant professor/research position is the usual entry point into a research career at a university with the associated important teaching competence.

Who is responsible for convening the career development dialogue?

You are responsible for systematically inviting to career dialougues – annually and in addition as needed (e.g. in connection with SDDs) – where you help the employee to align expectations with opportunities and limitations in the employee's career path. No later than a third temporary employment (excluding PhD), the realistic further career opportunities must be clarified.

The person who convenes the dialogue will let you know what to prepare ahead of the meeting.

What happens after the dialogue?

Following the dialogue, it is of course very important that you take the steps you and your manager agreed on during the meeting. Some of those steps can be taken through courses and additional training provided by Aarhus University or another organisation.

Click the links to read more about some of the options at AU:

• Career planning tools
• Courses for postdocs and assistant professors
• Courses in project and process management
• Courses in university teaching, teaching development and technology

Want to find out more?

In addition to the career development dialogue with your manager, you can also get advice and guidance from AU Career PhD & JR.

AU Career PhD & JR offers a wide range of career services for researchers in temporary positions. The services are available to researchers from all five faculties. Services include career guidance, career planning tools and a job application toolkit, career counselling and help to explore your career options.

Are you interested in entrepreneurship? The Kitchen can give you advice, guidance and inspiration on how to use your knowledge and skills to start your own business. 

Read more about The Kitchen and what they can provide here: https://thekitchen.io/

As a researcher in a temporary position, you can become a member of the Junior Researcher Association. As a member, you will receive newsletters and be invited to participate in association activities, including various courses.