Workshops Career Services for PhDs
Down below you find our workshop overview. At Career Services we believe that a healthy work-life balance, interpersonal skills and career orientation positively influence your productivity and well-being in the work place. With our workshops you can work on your employability skills. This is a long term investment because the skills you gain are transferable to every next opportunity or challenge you will obtain within or outside academia.
Is time slipping through your fingers? Are you running behind schedule? Or do you struggle with switching between all your interests and responsibilities? Or do you find it difficult to say no in time or ask for help? If some of these issues sound familiar to you, time may be managing you rather than you managing your time. This can lead to an ineffective way of working that triggers a unproductive spiral that feeds on itself.
In this workshop you will familiarize with some classic time management models and methods. These will help you organize and prioritize your work in order to get things done. For example, we will distinguish between urgent and important tasks and will discuss the psychology of our own decision making. Together we will make an inventory of proven time management principles from which you can choose the lifehacks that most resonate with you. You will also fill in a short self-assessment questionnaire to examine what working style(s) characterizes you best. You will learn more about the benefits that come with a working style and how to recognize and avoid the pitfalls.
After this workshop you will have more tools to improve your self-management and work more efficiently, effectively and consciously. As a result you will increase your productivity, reduce stress and experience more balance.
Please note: if you are specifically looking for guidance in how to deal with stress or to live a more balanced life we recommend you to attend the ‘Tackle Your Stress’ or ‘Energy Management’ workshop.
For
PhD’s of all graduate schools, regardless of your type of contract or the year of your PhD-project; Postdocs and temporary teachers from all faculties, regardless of your type of contract (pilot)
Costs
Free
Registration for:
Being a PhD, a lot of pressure can be felt. Perhaps you experience stress from finding funds, from striving for good research result or from being dependent on your supervisor/promotor. Moreover, a lot of work needs to be done. Sometimes self starting is difficult and you might experience guilt from procrastination.
In this workshop we take a closer look at stress. We will notice its benefits as well as its pitfalls. You will investigate for your own situation how it is provoked and in what ways it manifests. We will discuss good practices that can help you to find more relaxation. One of those practices we will particularly focus on is mindfulness. This combination of eastern meditation techniques and western psychology can help you to find stress relief. We will do some of its practices to calm your mind, to consciously relax your body and to deal with unpleasant situations. We train our attention in order to be more aware in the present moment and make our decisions consciously.
This is an introduction to mindfulness, it aims to let you experience what it is about. Practicing the exercises on a regular basis is needed for sustainable results. You can do the exercises at home, for which helpful apps and links will be provided.
After this session you are welcome to join our weekly sessions at the Meditation Lab where guided meditations are offered to keep up the mindful spirit.
For
PhD’s of all graduate schools, regardless of your type of contract or the year of your PhD-project; Postdocs and temporary teachers from all faculties, regardless of your type of contract (pilot)
Costs
Free
Registration for:
Only a small minority of PhD’s will progress into an academic career after completing their promotion. Most PhDs will continue their career in the public sector, business or industry. Do you know what you can do after obtaining your PhD? Having options broadens your horizon, decreases stress and will help you prepare for the future.
In this workshop we will focus on alternative scenarios for a non-academic career. You will do this by applying some principles from Design Thinking. This practice necessitates a certain level of self-knowledge and self-reflection. We will start by reflecting on past activities and finding your “why”. You will then be challenged to generate ideas for the future by using brainstorm-techniques. The focus will be on exploring various scenarios and not on finding the single right solution. In the last part of the workshop you will convert your findings into actions. If you then want to continue your explorations we advise you to attend the workshop Exploring the Job Market & Networking.
After the workshop Future Crafting you will have a better grip on what might come next after your PhD. Having options for your future career will help you to reduce stress and increase self-confidence in the present.
For
PhD’s of all graduate schools, regardless of your type of contract or the year of your PhD-project; Postdocs and temporary teachers from all faculties, regardless of your type of contract (pilot)
Costs
Free
Assignment
For this workshop we ask you to do a preparation assignment which you can do in 5/10 minutes per day over a period of a week. If you subscribe last-minute you can do the assignment retrospectively. You will receive the preparational assignment after subscribing.
Registration for:
As a PhD candidate, you often switch between different roles and responsibilities. In addition, the line between work and home can get blurred as a result of deadlines, conferences and flexible working hours. It is therefore important to recharge sufficiently and to experience a certain balance between exertion and relaxation.
In this workshop you will learn more about your personal energy management. What constitutes energy and how can you regulate that in a sustainable way? You will discover that your personal battery consists of several components. Every component can get empty while using it and needs to be recharged as a consequence – as you are only as strong as your weakest component. You will investigate what requires energy and what gives you energy and how to find a balance between both. Furthermore, you will investigate how boredom, feeling overwhelmed and the concept of flow are interrelated. This will help you to improve engagement.
After this workshop you will have more grip on your own energy pattern. This will lead to less drain, more flow, and a better work-life balance as a result.
If you are looking for time management tips and tricks it is recommended to (first) follow the workshop “Working consciously & effectively”.
For
PhD’s of all graduate schools, regardless of your type of contract or the year of your PhD-project; Postdocs and temporary teachers from all faculties, regardless of your type of contract (pilot)
Costs
Free
Registration for:
A PhD-project comes with many challenges. You have to organize your research activities independently and are expected to handle workload. At the same time you are responsible to report your ideas, findings and progress to your promotors. Communication competency is essential to professional success and well-being in the workplace.
In this workshop we will focus on the communication between you and your supervisor. Managing your supervisor and co-workers starts with managing yourself. Therefore, you will answer a short questionnaire to reflect on your own working-style. We discuss the differences between styles and zoom in on strengths and possible challenges. Next you explore the leadership-style of your supervisor. We will discuss different types of leadership and how to deal with them. Ultimately, we will simulate feedback-sessions where you can practice your personal learning goal and improve on your communication skills
The result of this workshop will be that you have a better understanding of your own communication style and that of your supervisor. By combining these insights with experiential learning you will be able to improve the communication with your supervisor.
For
PhD’s of all graduate schools, regardless of your type of contract or the year of your PhD-project; Postdocs and temporary teachers from all faculties, regardless of your type of contract (pilot)
Costs
Free
Registration for:
At times, doing a PhD can be a solitary process. You are expected to work independently on your research and writing activities. At the same time you are required to collaborate with PhDs and scientists from your department. And for some of your (extracurricular) research activities you team up with people and professionals from different backgrounds. Developing your teamwork skills as a scientist is key to professional success and well-being in the workplace. What role do you prefer to take when working in a team?
In this workshop you will get an introduction to several team role theories. We will then focus on the 9 Belbin team roles. You will fill in a self-assessment questionnaire to explore your own team role preference. As a group we will make an inventory and you will learn more about the strengths and possible pitfalls that come with each role. You will also get a group assignment to further experience the various team roles and to understand how these roles are complementary. We conclude the workshop by looking ahead on how to maximize your team role preference(s) within your PhD-project and, possibly, the next step in your career.
After this workshop you will have a better understanding of group dynamics and your own team role preference(s). This can help you to make teamwork both more pleasant and productive. Aside from these benefits it may also guide you in the process of career orientation and planning.
For
PhD’s of all graduate schools, regardless of your type of contract or the year of your PhD-project; Postdocs and temporary teachers from all faculties, regardless of your type of contract (pilot)
Costs
Free
Registration for:
During your PhD, you will have many intercultural encounters. Your supervisor might be from another cultural background and you undoubtedly work with colleagues of varying nationalities. Also, the students you teach and supervise come from all over the world. Therefore, intercultural skills are essential to working successfully in a highly international workplace such as the university.
In this workshop we explore how cultural patterns can influence our thinking, feeling and acting. We analyze how miscommunication between people can be explained and solved by taking a cultural approach. To do that we will use and discuss Erin Meyer’s Culture Map. By zooming in on eight dimensions of communication you will learn more about your own pattern. For example, what is your preferred style of ‘providing feedback’, ‘decision making’ or ‘building trust’? You will simultaneously learn more about alternative styles and how to approach people with a different style.
After this workshop you are more aware of your own cultural patterns and how these can influence the communication with people from another background. This way you are better able to steer communication and prevent possible miscommunications. This makes future intercultural encounters more fun and more effective.
For
PhD’s of all graduate schools, regardless of your type of contract or the year of your PhD-project; Postdocs and temporary teachers from all faculties, regardless of your type of contract (pilot)
Costs
Free
Registration for
Don’t you mind being more forceful with someone or do you prefer to be more subtle and do you perhaps avoid possible frictions. During your PhD-project you will find out that disagreements about divergent ideas and interests are inevitable, normal and even healthy. To strengthen your interpersonal communication it is valuable to know what kind of influencing and conflict styles you can adopt.
We begin this workshop with exploring the various options for influencing one another. You will discover your preferred influencing style(s) and you will learn more about useful phrasings. Hence we take a look at the Thomas Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument to examine 5 different conflict styles. You will fill in a self-assessment questionnaire to identify your own preferences. We discuss the differences between these styles and zoom in on the importance of style flexibility. What style is most effective in a particular situation? In the last part of the workshop you analyze a conflict situation that you experienced to understand what you could do differently a next time.
After this workshop you are more aware of the various influencing and conflict styles. You know which style(s) suits you best and how to adapt to the circumstances when necessary.
For
PhD’s of all graduate schools, regardless of your type of contract or the year of your PhD-project; Postdocs and temporary teachers from all faculties, regardless of your type of contract (pilot)
Costs
Free
Registration for:
We believe that career orientation and planning boosts your self-confidence by decreasing doubts you have about your future. With the workshops in this category you can work on your job application skills. This will help you to broaden your horizon; find out what your next steps can be and how to present yourself to employers.
The workshops in this third category are also for 3rd year bachelor students, master students and recent graduates from all faculties. All the workshops are offered in both Dutch and English and participation is free of costs. New dates will be published quarterly.
The workshops below are offered both digitally and on location. The online workshops take place via MS Teams, you'll receive a link beforehand. The location of the offline workshops are specified per workshop.
Are you unclear about what kind of job will suit you, what you are passionate about, or where your strengths lie? In this workshop, we will explore these questions to find out what is in your wheelhouse. By consciously and actively engaging with these themes, you will find out what it is you really want and what you find most important.
An experienced career coach will encourage you to look at different aspects of yourself and your life, and based on that information, explore your future. By mapping your interests, capabilities, motives and career values, you will determine what is (most) important to you. After that, you will be better able to consider the jobs, organizations and occupations that fit your preferences.
After this workshop, you will continue your job search with more self-knowledge and more self-confidence.
Who is it for?
3rd-year and 4th-year Bachelor and Master students, recent UU graduates and PhDs of all Graduate schools
Tip:
Is the workshop you want to sign up for fully booked already? Check our website a few days before the workshop takes place because there will always be some spots available last minute. You can also choose to register for the Ikigai workshop from team Wellbeing. In this workshop you will explore what gives you energy and makes you happy workwise but also on a more personal level.
Free entrance
Registration for:
- Monday September 11 - Buys Balllot building (in English)
- Wednesday September 20 - Buys Ballot building (in Dutch)
- Thursday September 21 - Buys Balllot building (in English)
- Wednesday October 11 - Hijmans van den Bergh building (in English)
- Thursday October 19 - Buys Ballot building (in Dutch)
- Monday October 30 - Minnaert building (in English)
Do you know what skills you’ve acquired during your life as a student? People tend not to think much about these things. Transferable skills are useful in all kinds of professional contexts and you carry them with you from one job to the next.
If you want to convince an employer that you’re the right person for a job or an internship, you need the ability to present your skills with clarity and conviction. This workshop will make you aware of the transferable skills you’ve developed in your studies, at your (temp) jobs and in your extracurricular activities.
Furthermore, you’ll analyse a job offering and try to assess, as accurately as you can, what the employer is looking for. You’ll learn to distinguish between specialist and generic (though job-specific) skills. You will then catalog your transferable skills and practice by providing examples that show what skills you possess.
Upon completing the workshop, you’ll know exactly what your skills are and you’ll be able to advertise them better.
Who is it for?
3rd-year and 4th-year Bachelor and Master students, recent UU graduates and PhDs of all Graduate schools
Tip:
Is the workshop you want to sign up for fully booked already? Check our website a few days before the workshop takes place because there will always be some spots available last minute
Free entrance
Registration for:
- Tuesday September 12 - Buys Ballot building (in English)
- Wednesday September 20 - Buys Ballot building (in Dutch)
- Wednesday September 27 - ONLINE (in Dutch)
- Thursday October 5 - Ruppert building (in Dutch)
- Tuesday October 17 - Buys Ballot building (in English)
- Wednesday October 25 - Minnaert building (in English)
The job market offers innumerable possibilities. Do you know how to find organizations and jobs that suit your profile? Or how an employer searches for suitable candidates and what possibilities you have to increase job opportunities? In this workshop you will learn how to get a better understanding of organizations. Furthermore, you will also learn how to use and improve the network you belong to.
It makes sense to bear your preferences, qualities, and motivations in mind as you explore the job market. To do that, you need a clear picture of what criteria your future job has to meet. If you don't have that yet, it is recommended to follow the Self-analysis for Career Development workshop first. You could also look into some jobs that interest you and formulate criteria based on those.
In the Exploring the Job Market & Networking workshop you will learn how to explore the job market and search for vacancies by making use of your own network. Furthermore, we will look at the ways employers select employees and how to anticipate their needs as you look for a job. You will also learn how to present yourself in the best possible way to prospective employers by preparing a professional pitch.
When you complete this workshop, you will gain a better understanding of how to approach the job market and will be more aware of the potential of your own network. As a result, you will approach prospective employers with greater confidence.
Who is it for?
3rd-year and 4th-year Bachelor and Master students, recent UU graduates, and PhDs of all Graduate schools
Tip:
Is the workshop you want to sign up for fully booked already? Check our website a few days before the workshop takes place because there will always be some spots available last minute
Free entrance
Registration for:
- Tuesday September 12 - Buys Ballot building (in Dutch)
- Monday October 9 - Buys Ballot building (in Dutch)
- Wednesday October 11 - Hijmans van den Bergh buidling (in English)
- Friday October 13 - Minnaert building (in Dutch)
- Tuesday October 17 - Buys Ballot building (in English)
- Tuesday October 24 - Minnaert building (in English)
Have you already made a LinkedIn account but is your profile still not set up properly? Are you unsure how to use LinkedIn and for what purposes? In this LinkedIn Basics workshop, you will learn how to build a strong online profile so you can start expanding your network. The sooner you start working on this, the easier it will be to use LinkedIn when searching for a job or internship. Especially since a strong online presence is essential nowadays.
In this workshop you will learn what a strong profile looks like and how to make sure that recruiters/employers find you. You will get to work on your own profile, and receive feedback on your profile. After this workshop, you will know how to further improve your profile.
If the workshop is being hosted on location, please bring your (charged) laptop with you so you can get started right away.
If you have followed this workshop before, or if your profile is as optimized as possible already, you can sign up for the Advanced LinkedIn workshop. In this workshop, you will learn how to connect with people (you don’t know very well) and how to use LinkedIn when trying to find a job.
Who is it for?
3rd-year and 4th-year Bachelor and Master students, recent UU graduates, and PhDs of all Graduate schools.
Tip:
Is the workshop you want to sign up for fully booked already? Check our website a few days before the workshop takes place because there will always be some spots available last minute.
Free entrance
Registration for:
Do you want to know how to make LinkedIn really work for you? In this workshop you will learn:
- how to build and maintain a good network
- how to find vacancies
- how to write a good summary
- how to use groups and company pages
To participate, you need to have a completed LinkedIn profile. Don’t have one yet? Sign up for the workshop LinkedIn Basics, or get started to work on your LinkedIn profile yourself first. It could also help to follow the workshop Exploring the Job Market & Networking. When the workshop takes place on site, please make sure to bring your (charged) laptop with you so you can get started right away.
Who is it for?
3rd-year and 4th-year Bachelor and Master students, recent UU graduates and PhDs of all Graduate schools.
Tip:
Is the workshop you want to sign up for fully booked already? Check our website a few days before the workshop takes place because there will always be some spots available last minute.
Free entrance
Registration for:
Are you ready to look for an internship or new job? In this workshop you will learn what is standard practice for writing an effective cv and appropriate cover letter.
Using instruction video’s and detailed explanations of do’s and don’ts, we will show you the different components that make up cv’s and cover letters. We’ll also discuss how employers select from all the cv’s and letters they receive, and how you can use this knowledge to your advantage. During the workshop you will start working on your cv and cover letter and give each other feedback with the help of a checklist. There will be plenty of time for you to ask any questions you may have.
Once you have finished your cv and/or cover letter using all the knowledge you’ve gained during the workshop, you can get this checked by a career officer in an individual session.
This workshop is an excellent starting point for students who are new to writing cv’s and cover letters.
Who is it for?
3rd-year and 4th-year Bachelor's and Master's degree students, recent UU graduates and PhDs of all Graduate Schools
Tip:
Is the workshop you want to sign up for fully booked already? Check our website a few days before the workshop takes place because there will always be some spots available last minute
Free entrance
Registration for
Do you know what is important during job interviews? This workshop will help you understand the employer's perspective and how to play into their needs effectively. In this workshop we will focus on the interview that you need to do to get a job or internship.
For this workshop, it is important that you have a relatively clear idea of what kinds of organizations and jobs appeal to you. If you are not there yet, we recommend that you follow the workshop Exploring the Job Market & Networking first. Do you want to learn how to write your CV and cover letter? Please follow the workshop Writing a cv and cover letter.
For the Preparing a job interview workshop, you will analyze a vacancy of your choice in order to assess what an employer is looking for. You will examine how your motivation and experience align with the job. You will also practice your answers to some common job interview questions and will be coached on how to improve your presentation.
This practical workshop will help you build confidence for your next application for a job or internship. Afterwards, you can make an appointment with a career officer to practice one-to-one.
Who is it for?
3rd-year and 4th-year Bachelor's and Master's degree students, recent UU graduates, and PhDs
Tip:
Is the workshop you want to sign up for fully booked already? Check our website a few days before the workshop takes place because there will always be some spots available last minute
NB. Are you a Social Sciences master student? Then this training is already part of Academic Professional.
Free entrance
Registration for:
- Tuesday September 19 - Buys Ballot building (in English)
- Friday September 29 - Buys Ballot building (in Dutch)
- Thursday October 5 - Ruppert building (in English)
- Thursday October 12 - Buys Ballot building (in Dutch)
- Thursday October 26 - Minnaert building (in Dutch)
- Tuesday October 31 - Ruppert building (in English)
Is time slipping through your fingers? Are you running behind schedule? Or do you struggle with switching between all your interests and responsibilities? Or do you find it difficult to say no in time or ask for help? If some of these issues sound familiar to you, time may be managing you rather than you managing your time. This can lead to an ineffective way of working that triggers a unproductive spiral that feeds on itself.
In this workshop you will familiarize with some classic time management models and methods. These will help you organize and prioritize your work in order to get things done. For example, we will distinguish between urgent and important tasks and will discuss the psychology of our own decision making. Together we will make an inventory of proven time management principles from which you can choose the lifehacks that most resonate with you. You will also fill in a short self-assessment questionnaire to examine what working style(s) characterizes you best. You will learn more about the benefits that come with a working style and how to recognize and avoid the pitfalls.
After this workshop you will have more tools to improve your self-management and work more efficiently, effectively and consciously. As a result you will increase your productivity, reduce stress and experience more balance.
Who is it for?
3rd-year and 4th-year Bachelor's and Master's degree students, recent UU graduates and PhDs
Tip:
Is the workshop you want to sign up for fully booked already? Check our website a few days before the workshop takes place because there will always be some spots available last minute
Free entrance
Registration for:
Master Choice and Career
Are you looking for a master's programme but don't know exactly what will suit you? Do you remain uncertain about your choice or do you not know whether you want to do a master's? In the workshop Master choice and career you will learn how to tackle this.
The workshop is free of charge and consists of one meeting.
- You learn more about making choices: how do you go about this? What is the function of doubts? The emphasis is on finding masters that match your wishes and guidance in the process of choosing.
- By means of tests and assignments, you will map out your motivation, interests and qualities. You learn how to translate this into master's programmes inside or outside Utrecht University and career perspectives.
- You will receive tips on how to find good information on masters and career options.
Are you in your bachelor and in doubt whether you have made the right choice of study and would like guidance on this? Then click here.
Workshops date and time (only for UU students):
Our no-show policy
We are happy to offer workshops for free to all Utrecht University students. However: free of charge does not mean free of responsibility. Our activities tend to be fully booked well in advance. For every late cancellation or no-show we have had to disappoint others who would have liked to attend. This is how we work:
- Once you have signed up for a workshop, we expect you to attend;
- If you need to cancel your registration, do so at the earliest possible moment, at least 24 hours before the workshop;
- Not showing up without notice will mean you cannot participate in any Career Services activity for 8 weeks. Two no-shows mean you cannot participate for the remainder of the academic year;
- When partner organizations or companies are involved, they will be informed of you not showing up without notice.
Development and Wellbeing
Are you curious what the possibilties are when it comes to development on both academic and personal levels? The University of Utrecht offers many different activities and services in relation to coaching and the development and wellbeing of students. We organize training sessions, study groups and give personal advice. In addition, you can also make an appointment with one of the coaches or fellow students to talk about your development and/or wellbeing.
Click here for more information