Key information
Tutor: Emma Francis
Duration: 3 hours
Delivery: Live (Online, Zoom) & Live (In-Person, South Kensington)
ECRI Credit (PGR only): 1 credit
Audience: Postdocs, Research Fellows, Research Degree Students
Dates
There are no further sessions taking place this academic year. Course dates for 2026-27 will be available to book from late September.
This interactive workshop is designed to help researchers take control of their career development—whether within academia or beyond. Through guided reflection, practical exercises, and peer discussion, you will:
- Develop your individual career plan
- Explore strategies for career progression
- Identify opportunities to make the most of your 10 Development Days
Whether you're just starting out or considering your next steps, this session will support you in making intentional, informed choices about your career path.
This course is aimed at Postdocs and Research Fellows, but there are a limited number of spaces for Research Degree Students
Intended Learning Outcomes
After completing this course you will be better able to
- Identify the key elements involved in effective career management
- Reflect on past career experiences to uncover personal career drivers and inform future decision-making
- Clarify career goals, values, and motivations, identifying what matters most in your career journey.
- Explore how to use your 10 Development Days effectively to support career progression.
- Begin to develop a personalised career plan
- Identify potential barriers to career progression and propose strategies to overcome them
How to book
Book via Inkpath using your Imperial Single-Sign-On.
Please ensure you have read and understood ECRI’s attendance & cancellation policy before booking.
Further Information
To make the most of this course, we encourage participants to complete optional pre-course self-awareness exercises, which will be emailed in advance of the session.
To note the Skills Analysis course will complement this course and can be attended before or after this workshop.
If you are a Postdoc looking to make a career change into a career beyond academia you are encouraged to attend Planning a Career Change for Postdocs.
This course is primarily aimed at Postdocs and Fellows with a limited number of places for Research Degree Students who may wish to attend the Career Planning for PhDs course.
For in-person:
Please note this course is highly interactive and we expect your full participation throughout.
For online:
Please note this course is highly interactive and we expect your full participation including access to the chat and the microphone/camera.
Please ensure you can participate fully and if you require any adjustment, please let us know in advance so that we can make the tutor/facilitator aware.
- Tip sheets (10 Development Days, Career Goals & Skills Analysis)
- Careers and Transitions (includes resources for academic pathways and careers beyond academia)
- Access to one-to-one support
- It is important that you are fully present and an active participant, to create a safe space for sharing and discussion.
- For some of our online sessions, you will be required to keep your video cameras on. Please ensure prior to attending that you have a fully functioning camera and microphone. If you have any issues with your equipment, please contact us as soon as possible. If you require your camera to be off as a workplace adjustment, please let us know in advance so that we can make the tutor/facilitator aware.
- Please ensure that you are in a private space where you can maintain confidentiality and the privacy of the other participants.
- To maintain confidentiality, all participants are asked to agree to keep what is said within the group, and not record or take screenshots/photos without permission. Pictures or quotes from the session should not be posted on social media or elsewhere without the express permission of those involved.
Previous participants have said they liked, “discussing with others, thinking about my own career journey” and said it is “very useful and makes you self-reflect”