Postgraduate researchers
Our step-by-step guidance on this page will walk you through your careers support options and provides advice and useful signposting, so you can progress with your goals and plans in confidence.
Careers support for researchers (postgraduate researchers and postdocs)
Your research experience gives you more than expertise. It develops your thinking, problem-solving and impact. These strengths open up a wide range of career possibilities within academia and far beyond it.
We’re here to help you understand your options, build your direction, and take your next step with confidence.
What do you need right now?
Explore your options
- See where your research could take you, and what fits your interests and priorities.
- Build your experience.
- Develop the skills, networks and experience that employers value.
- Strengthen your applications.
- Present your experience clearly through CVs, applications and online profiles.
- Move to your next step.
Find opportunities, prepare for selection processes and make your transition.
Learn more about Researcher Careers Management
Careers support designed for researchers
1:1 careers appointments
You don’t need to have it all figured out before you speak to us.
Our careers consultants work with doctoral researchers and postdocs every day. We understand the challenges, choices and pressures that come with research careers.
How we can help
- Work with you to make sense of your options.
- Translate your research experience into career value.
- Improve applications and interview performance.
- Build a clear and realistic plan.
Appointments are confidential and focused on what matters to you.
Workshops and programmes
Our workshops are practical, focused and designed around real career decisions.
You can take part in sessions on:
- Exploring careers within and beyond academia.
- Career Landscape for Researchers.
- Narrative CVs (for academia and research).
- Writing strong CVs and applications.
- Job search strategies and interviews.
Browse and book via the CPD training system
Key resources for researchers
- QMplus – structured careers resources tailored to researchers Researcher Careers Management | MyQMUL.
- Doctoral College – training, support and researcher community Doctoral College - Doctoral College.
- CPD training system – book development opportunities and workshops.
Take a structured approach to your career
There’s no single “right” path after a PhD or postdoc. But taking a structured approach helps you move forward with clarity.
- Explore – understand what matters to you and what’s possible .
- Acquire – develop experience, skills and connections.
- Showcase – communicate your strengths with confidence.
- Transition – apply, interview and secure your next role.
You’ll find practical guidance for each stage on QMplus.
Where could your research take you?
Queen Mary researchers go on to work across academia, industry, policy, healthcare, education and more.
Some continue in research. Others apply their skills in new ways. Exploring these options helps you make informed decisions about your future.
You can:
- Learn about different career paths.
- See how other researchers have progressed.
- Understand how your skills translate beyond your discipline.
- You can also explore resources from Vitae.
Tools to help you move forward
We provide practical tools to help you reflect, plan and take action.
- Researcher development roadmap PGR Roadmap - Doctoral College.
- Development Needs Analysis (DNA) Development Needs Analysis - Doctoral College.
- Skills and experience framework.
Use these to identify your priorities and focus your time where it matters most.