Career advice
Tips and resources for building a successful academic career and how to enhance your reputation or move into industry
Faculty exit interviews: the when, how and why
There’s never a good time to say goodbye. But here, Eli Joseph provides tips and insights on conducting exit interviews for different types of faculty
What’s your scholarly ‘next big thing’, and how should you choose it?
For those who want to be setting the agenda in their field, a big project is one of the clearest ways of doing it. Lucas Lixinski ruminates on what that could look like
How to raise the bar on the teaching section of your CV
From not burying the teaching section to developing a broad range of experiences, Emma Williams gives tips on making your CV shine when applying for a lectureship
Dos and do-overs: reflections on life as an early career researcher
Reflecting on her time as an early career researcher, Edzia Carvalho looks back at the things she did successfully – her dos – and the things she wishes she had done from …
Questions for thinking about your career vitality
Vitality is at the opposite end of the motivation spectrum from burnout. Where do you sit? Here are 10 questions that university faculty can use to reflect on their experience
The art of fostering collegiality
With responsibility to encourage collegiality in their domain but limited authority to make it happen, what is a department chair to do? Kevin Dettmar shares the uses and…
How to build quantitative evidence of your teaching expertise
Teaching impact can be difficult to measure but by sharing insight, resources and teaching materials online, you can start to build quantitative evidence of your expertise …
Leadership and the intersectionality of being queer and living with HIV
Coming out as gay was a first step, but it was being open about living with HIV that showed Raymond Crossman how his whole self shaped his role as president. Here, he…
Campus webinar: The keys to a successful academic career
Three female academics in Europe, the UK and Australia give their advice on how to land a promotion, networking for introverts, how much you should be publishing – and…
What is responsible leadership in tertiary education?
This leadership model emphasises participation and community over individual heroics and champions broad measures of success, writes Harry Gill
Considerations when focusing your career on teaching over research
Brooke Wilson provides tips for those attempting to enter higher education with, or pivot an existing academic career towards, a focus on teaching
Practice makes perfect and other networking tips for academics
The benefits of networking for academics and how to do it well, both in person and online, explained by Eleanor Hennige
Techniques for managing and learning from failure in academia
Failure in academia does not have to be entirely negative – it can provide an opportunity to grow, build resilience and is an essential part of the self-improvement process
Top tips for choosing a PhD Supervisor
Özge Özden lays out the pros and cons you need to consider when choosing a PhD supervisor, as well as five key qualities to look out for
How to write an academic CV: dos and dont's
What key information to include on your academic CV and how to present it, alongside some common mistakes to avoid, by Eleanor Hennige
Leadership styles in higher education that work in the ‘new normal’
University leaders require a broad set of skills – from using data to creating long-term strategy – as well as the ability to adapt to changing times
Tips to balance teaching and research activities
Five tips to help academics balance their teaching and research duties without compromising the quality of one or the other, by Abdullah Khadim
When am I going to be found out? Tackling academic impostor syndrome
Do you find yourself thinking ‘everyone knows more than I do’ or ‘I shouldn’t have got this promotion’? If so, Jo Clift has tips for challenging your impostor syndrome
Leading through mentorship: a guide to the ups and downs
Anna Chur-Hansen reflects on her experiences as a mentee and mentor, how this skill can be developed and how it contributes to the building of a meaningful career
How to be an empathetic leader during times of change
No one style is the panacea for all leadership challenges but, as Rachel Gibson explains, empathy is a crucial ingredient for leadership success
Being a public scientist is not an easy choice
When scholars know their data well and can see their findings being ignored, they should be comfortable enough to speak out. Here, Paul McGreevy offers advice to those…
Authentic leadership: the four pillars of keeping it ‘REAL’
Corinna van den Heuvel explains how developing a strong personal leadership philosophy is key to authenticity as a leader
Modern higher education leaders must blend business and educational knowledge
Clearly articulated values, structures that support accountability and metrics that align with strategic goals are the new leadership competencies, says Angela…
You can have it all, just not all at once
It might just be possible to achieve a good work-life balance in academia, but it requires focusing on certain areas of your life and career at certain times, says Lucas…
Salary negotiation – a guide for faculty members
In the age of inflation, increased competition and an emphasis on adjunct faculty roles, knowing how to effectively negotiate your salary is key
Looking for a tenured teaching job? I’ve got one piece of advice: get lucky
By reinforcing the myth of meritocracy, we perpetuate a system grounded in cruelty and false promises. It needs to stop, says David Webster
Three cornerstones of a successful research career
Success in academia requires much more than topical expertise. Jackie Carter shares three vital areas of focus for building a research career
Career mentoring can support student employability
Support for students extends beyond the classroom. Here’s how to develop a successful mentoring programme to help students take their first steps into the workplace
In the search for work-life balance, going part-time could provide an answer
James Derounian makes the case for part-time work, particularly as academics advance in their careers – and gives tips on how to begin the transition and make a …
Towards independence: blazing your trail as a freelance researcher
What options are open to you as a researcher if you decide formal academia within a university is not for you? Helen Ross outlines considerations and useful advice for anyone…
Bad news, kids (and academics): the magical motivation fairy doesn’t exist
Motivation for tricky tasks doesn’t just appear magically, but with these psychological tricks you can get yourself and your career moving, says Hugh Kearns
Ask for help: a survival guide for inexperienced academics
Research and teaching are two sides of the knowledge coin: creation and dissemination. How do young scholars learn to balance these fundamental roles?
Failure can feel hot and shameful, but we must normalise it
Failure is essential in research, so we need to reframe it into an opportunity for learning, says Emma Williams
Five steps to help adjunct professors prioritise competing workloads
Teaching at universities while also working in industry can require superhuman powers of organisation. Brooke Wilson offers pointers for staying on top of things
Zoom fatigue and other exhaustions of international academic life
For many scholars, a sustainable career means moving countries to follow jobs and opportunities. Here, Clare Griffin talks about the financial, mental and social…
Classroom management techniques you don’t get taught
‘Fake it till you make it’ is a useful motto for new university teachers facing a classroom of antsy students for the first time. Here are seven basic skills to master
Why my hobbies make me a better scholar
Non-academic skills, both motor and cognitive, can enrich research capabilities in unexpected and often unexamined ways, writes Stephen W. Harmon
Advice for academics interested in working in the Netherlands
Ten tips for academics interested in relocating to work at a university in the Netherlands, by Tetyana Krupiy, who spent three years carrying out research in…
Switching career directions: lessons from the first year as a teaching academic
The first year in a teaching role is challenging, particularly following the disruption caused by the pandemic, yet rewarding. Janine Wilkinson shares what she has learned
Tips for new PhD supervisors: how to hold effective meetings
Supervisory meetings should be planned, regular and positive in tone. Here are key elements to include in thesis supervision meetings for academics new to the role
How to get through your first year of teaching
For any new teacher, standing in front of a class is daunting – professionally and emotionally. Here are some tips to help you prepare, adapt and conquer nerves and self-doubt
Get yourself a teaching buddy to help you thrive
Rather than struggle through classroom-based problems alone, we should recruit meaningful support by seeking out a colleague to discuss our teaching, says Flower Darby
Let’s get professional: advice for new university teachers
No matter if you’re a just-minted postdoc or transferring from industry to academia, a professional approach will give your new teaching career a solid foundation. In this …
Why we should be humans first and academics second
James Derounian argues for the spirit of kindness in all we do – and provides tips to improve your everyday collegiality
Embracing your impostor syndrome: advice for shifting between disciplines
Changing disciplines can appear impossible at times, but it’s not, especially if academics embrace the mindset that disciplinary boundaries are often…
Five strategies to generate a sense of satisfaction in your academic work
Academia is challenging so developing coping mechanisms and boosting satisfaction in your work can be instrumental in building a successful career. Houry…
ECRs can still evidence leadership and management skills on their CVs
Even when you’ve ‘just’ been a postdoc, the key is correctly labelling your skills and experience so potential employers understand what you bring to the table
Being inclusive also means remembering not everyone has rhino-thick skin
The way we give feedback, from the undergraduate essay right through to peer review, provides opportunities to unconsciously exclude people, says Hugh Kearns
What is tenure in higher education – and how to get it
For many scholars, permanent employment is the light at the end of a years-long tunnel. Here, Henry Reichman explains the US tenure system and why it is key to …
The summer life of a teacher can be a boon for creativity in the classroom
For me, what makes a teacher interesting in the classroom is proportional to what interests them outside it, says Zachary Michael Jack
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