HDR Employability Symposium

Higher Degree Research (HDR) Employability Symposium is a free program to all UNSW HDR candidates.

The Higher Degree Research (HDR) Employability Symposium is a one-day event empowering research students to confidently control their career trajectory and help candidates to critically think about their current skills and goals. UNSW Employability is proud to host this event in collaboration with the Graduate Research School to identify and equip our higher degree research students with skills that support the transition to the workplace after graduation - applicable for academia as well as industry careers.

This event will have opportunities to learn about career planning from certified UNSW Career Coaches, tackle the job search process, hear first-hand from industry guests on their transition from research to the workplace, and connect with a diverse range of HDR employers.

When

Wednesday, 9 October 2024.

Where

John Niland Scientia Building, UNSW Kensington campus.

Note: Some aspects of the program may be offered in hybrid format or recorded to be distributed at a later date but this is subject to change.

Learning Outcomes

Practical tools for building professional networks and transferrable skills
Increased confidence and readiness of HDRs to engage in the job market
Improved understanding of career planning and job searching strategies
Connections with industry partners, employers, and fellow researchers

If you would like to attend, expressions of interest will open in August.

Sessions

Hear from the UNSW Dean of Lifelong Learning and Director of the Australian Graduate School of Management, Nick Wailes on research supporting the importance of professional development at all career levels. Learn about what you can do during your candidature and start thinking about what’s next!
Join UNSW Career Coaches in an interactive workshop outlining key steps in career discovery and planning. Dig into your personal motivations and purpose to refine your vision of your future career or professional goals. Begin identifying important skills you may need to improve and reflect consider how you can align your strengths to achieve professional success … and satisfaction.
Choose from an industry- or academia-focused workshop covering all the tips and tricks to secure your dream role. This interactive workshop will be hosted by guests with extensive recruitment experience and will cover key strategies for identifying, applying for, and securing roles in a competitive global job market.

Details of attending guess to be shared once confirmed.
Transferrable skills are essential when securing and succeeding in the workplace. Dr Anna Kirwan from EY will explore the myriads of transferrable skills developed within research degrees and how to leverage this for professional success in any field by sharing her own experience moving from nutrigenomics research to her current role.
Dan Hart will lead a workshop demystifying the processes organisations follow in order to train, teach, and develop their employees for the requirements of their current role and future opportunities. As a UNSW Masters alum, Dan has immensely valuable lived experiences to share on this topic but also has an established track record as a professional overseeing learning and development in organisations such as Indeed.com, Canva and now Quantum.
A diverse panel of research graduates and professionals will discuss the next steps for HDRS in and after their degree to successfully transition into employment. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions and learn about the panellists' lived experiences in different sectors and careers.
A diverse range of employers will host stalls sharing information on employment opportunities and more. This final part of the event will be an opportunity to network with these organisations, attending UNSW staff, and fellow research students.

Note: Industry guests may be subject to change.

Information for industry partners

We are inviting organisations to connect with research students at UNSW for a one-day symposium on Wednesday the 9th of October 2024. This event will empower research students to confidently control their career trajectory and help them plan for the next stage in their employability journey. If you would like to support the learning and development of these highly skilled students, consider hosting or attending one of the below opportunities.

Benefits for industry partners

Connect with Higher Degree Research (HDR) students at UNSW.
Share thought leader insights and build a community with UNSW researchers.
Directly contribute to the career development of HDR students, the next generation of innovators.
Build your employer brand awareness amongst UNSW research students.

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