Researcher Education and Development Scholarship Conference

Dr Lindsay Parker, King’s College London, UK (ORCiD) 

In the context of a challenging academic job market and diverse global research environment there is increased impetus to support researcher career development for a range of sectors (The Concordat to Support the Development of Researchers, 2019) and to better align doctoral training with the needs of industry (UKRI). Researchers (doctoral researchers and research staff) have many transferable skills that are in demand beyond academia and indeed many doctoral graduates go on to roles in diverse sectors (Hancock, 2023).However, there is limited data on the perspectives of employers that recruit doctorate holders (Skakni et al, 2025) and the value that they bring to roles beyond academia.  

Better understanding of employer perspectives can empower researchers to articulate their value and take control of their career management (Guccione and Bryan, 2023). For researcher developers, finding the time and resources to engage with employers can be challenging however doing so provides up-to-date labour market information and insights to enhance and develop careers support for researchers.  

Employer perspectives  

The Employer Perspectives project is an original piece of research conceived by the Researcher Careers team at King’s College London. The project sought to gather positive and motivating examples of employer voices and glean insights and practical information for supporting researchers in their career development.  

Firstly, Graduate Outcomes Survey data (gathered 15 months after graduation) combined with a LinkedIn search was used to identify employment destinations for doctoral researchers from King’s and build a database of contacts (100+). Then, an initial survey (20 respondents), sent to those with experience of hiring or line managing doctorate holders, explored the skills valued by employers as well as potential challenges for researchers moving into their field.  Finally, qualitative interviews with a sample of participants (8) were used to examine some of the survey results in further depth. Questions for both the survey and interviews also drew from the team’s experience of supporting researchers with exploring roles beyond academia. 

The project has expanded knowledge of King’s doctoral graduate destinations and the varied career trajectories of researchers, finding over 100 different organisations and myriad job titles held by alumni. Hearing from employers has highlighted the sought after skills that researchers bring to diverse sectors; independent working, problem solving, communication, project management, critical thinking. Whilst researchers bring “a range of highly valued skills that many sectors outside academia are craving” (Ana, Public Sector), they are not always confident in expressing them in a way that resonates with these sectors.  

Across all participants the study identified key themes and words of advice that can support researchers to articulate their skills for diverse industries including the value of effective storytelling, the need to adapt to the language of the chosen sector, and the importance of networking. 

Why having conversations matters 

Networking in particular was repeatedly cited by employers, with one describing it as “an absolute must do” (John, Biotech Consultancy). This was not only in the context of building connections and finding job opportunities but also for better understanding the sector and how their research experience translates. Each of the employers interviewed stressed that having conversations with those working in other sectors is vital for understanding how to transition or communicate beyond academia. As researcher developers, we can both engage in these conversations to inform our own practice and support researchers to build skills and confidence in having them themselves.  

Speaking with employers reiterated much of the guidance already provided by the careers team but also raised some key insights into their specific fields for example the variations in entry points for doctoral graduates compared to undergraduates across and within different sectors. Each participant, having made the transition from researcher to industry themselves, was cognisant of the value of a doctorate or research experience in their field. However, these conversations highlighted that outside of academia, this understanding is not universal (see also research from  Garcia-Quevado et al, 2011 ). Recruiters without this experience did not always automatically appreciate the skills that researchers bring, further emphasising the need to understand the sector, and its values and requirements, through meaningful conversations with alumni and employers.   

Doing employer research  

Data on the destinations of doctoral graduates and research staff beyond academia is scarce (Grove, 2025) particularly longitudinal, large scale, quantitative data. However, the employer perspective project demonstrates that a qualitative approach brings valuable insights. As careers consultants, we advocate the value of having conversations with people with a range of experiences. The message from employers echoes this advice; for researchers hoping to explore careers in industry, making connections and building understanding is key.  

Going through this research process also gave a sense of what researchers may experience when trying to expand their network beyond academia. The alumni database identified over 100 potential contacts; 45% of these became new connections but only 14% completed the survey or had a follow up conversation. For a researcher seeking roles beyond academia who is coming to the end of a fixed term contract or whose doctoral funding is about to end, this process could be frustrating and stressful. This raises the question of how we might encourage or embed this kind of exploration earlier in the doctoral journey.  

Employer perspectives matter in developing researcher careers 

Researchers bring sought after skills to diverse sectors however they need to be supported to explore, reflect and translate their transferable skills beyond academia. Through speaking with employers, we gained valuable and actionable insights. One of the standout findings is that it is essential for researchers to do the same. The employer perspectives project has shown that there are opportunities as well as challenges for researchers considering a move beyond academia. Making time for conversations is a good place to start.