Researchers increasingly bring complex professional and personal challenges into career conversations: uncertainty, pressure, conflict, mental load, difficult supervisory relationships, mobility concerns, identity questions, and career transitions.
Professionals working in doctoral education and researcher career development are often expected to “help solve” these situations. Yet effective support does not mean taking ownership of the problem.
This highly interactive international training invites participants to explore what meaningful, professional and sustainable career support can look like beyond problem-solving.
Designed for professionals working with doctoral candidates, postdoctoral researchers and early-career researchers, the workshop focuses on strengthening coaching-like conversation skills, reflective practice and professional boundaries in individual career conversations.
Across 2,5 intensive workshop days, participants will work with real-life scenarios, case studies, peer exchange and practical exercises to explore:
The training emphasises practice, international exchange and collaborative learning within the PRIDE community spirit. Participants will leave with concrete tools, increased confidence for complex conversations, and a stronger understanding of their own professional role: not as problem solvers, but as skilled facilitators of reflection, direction and support.
Arrive register and use the time to exchange with peers.
In our welcome note we will give you an initial introduction to the aims of the training and the conference.
LinkedIn remains one of the most underutilised tools among researchers transitioning from academia to industry. While many PhDs recognise its importance, they often lack a clear strategy for how to use it effectively.
This workshop focuses on:
• Optimising a LinkedIn profile for industry roles
• Using LinkedIn strategically in the job search
• Leveraging LinkedIn to build a professional network beyond academia
Use the time to arrive in Helsinki. We will meet a bit later for our social program.
We will offer a social activity to explore Helsinki and exchange with your peers.
Arrive register and use the time to exchange with peers.
Many PhDs experience repeated rejection not due to lack of competence, but because their experience is presented in an overly academic way. Transitioning to industry requires communicating value to a different audience.
This workshop covers:
• Key differences between academic CVs and industry CVs
• Structure and content of an effective industry CV
• Translating academic experience into industry-relevant skills
Join us for lunch and get re-energised for the afternoon! Chat with the trainer and network with new PRIDE friends while enjoying a meal.
For many PhDs, the industry interview process feels opaque and unpredictable, leading to insecurity and under-preparation. This session demystifies the process and provides a clear framework for interview preparation.
Topics include:
• Structure of typical industry interview processes
• Roles of different interviewers
• Common interview questions and how to prepare strong answers
This session will include additional insights from a hiring manager with over 20 years of industry hiring experience.
Enjoy Helsinki. We will meet tomorrow at the 8th Annual PRIDE Conference.
Dr Liz Elvidge is the Director of Development and Engagement for the Early Career Researcher Institute at Imperial College London. She has spent all her career in Higher Education and is passionate about supporting early career researchers. She co-authored the book- What every postdoc needs to know.(2024) second edition, Elvidge, Spencely and Williams and has other publications on Academic Development in Higher Education and Leadership and Management Practice in Higher Education. Outside the day job Liz sits as a magistrate on the Cambridgeshire bench. The Early Career Researcher Institute (ECRI) was created in October 2024 bringing together the Graduate School and the Postdoc and Fellows Development Centre. Our mission is to attract, develop, empower, and advocate for the next generation of outstanding STEMB talent through learning and development opportunities, events, support, and resources for early career researchers.
coming
Founded in 1640, the University of Helsinki is Finland’s oldest and largest university, known for world-class research. Located in the capital, it is a leading European institution in sustainability, innovation, and open science.
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Applications will be approved on a first-come, first-served basis. The application is only completed when you have received the final confirmation by email after your payment.