Individual career coaching

A PhD degree opens up a wide range of avenues for challenging and exciting job opportunities. Pursuing a career in academia is only one of the options. In a climate of innovation and growth, the qualities of young researchers are an excellent match to the needs of the labour market. Sometimes it is difficult, however, to find the right match on your own.

In order to support PhD students and postdocs in their career development, individual career coaching is offered - through the doctoral schools (in collaboration with the career center), but by an external coach.

There are about 12 spots available per year.

The doctoral schools collaborate with 'Make me Fly!' and Octoplus. More information on both career coaches can be found below.

1. Make me Fly!
(Please do NOT contact the organisation directly, but follow the procedure as described at the bottom of this page.)

Make me Fly! is known for its no-nonsense yet innovative approach to career questions that are never standard. For many years we apply positive psychology and the Solutions Focus methodology to working with (former) academics, using our experience in Human Resources and recruitment in the scientific sector and beyond.

Your questions could include:

• Does research really suit me? Why do I question my abilities so often? Is this my ‘greatest place to work’?
• Can I combine a career in research with raising a family? Do I want to pursue an academic career?
• What are my skills and career goals? What will I do after this contract? If not in academia, how can I use my skills and experience to go for something else? What is that ‘something else‘ and how do I get it?
• How do I translate my academic experience into a valuable profile in the world outside academia to get hired for a job that I really want?
• How to deal with feelings of stress, overwhelm, solitude,… that take away the fun in my work? What do I need to feel happy and satisfied with the work that I do and how can I influence this?
• Maybe you feel burned out or depressed, making you doubt if this is your place to be and if you’ve got what it takes.
• Can my academic work help me to found my own company? How? What? Where to start?
• Or any other struggle that keeps you from enjoying what you do.

Your result after usually 4 hours of coaching:

• You know where you want to go and how to find and select opportunities that you feel passionate about. You’ll also know what to stay away from;
• You know how to match your skillset and experience to the desired profile and how to represent your professional image in the outside world (your CV, your LinkedIn profile, how to deal with interviews,…);
• You have a clear picture of a working environment that allows you to thrive and how to detect that from the first instance with potential employers;
• You may even know what your entrepreneurial path could look like;
• You’ll know what steps to take, at your pace, in the right order, matching your personality.

Coach

Els Deboutte has a sound experience in the academic sector as well as other sectors, as coach and trainer. They offer coaching in both English and Dutch. Online coaching is possible. Please carefully read her agreements for coaching here. 

2. Octoplus

Octoplus provides career guidance to cognitively strong and highly educated (young) adults. We work inside out: by gaining insight into your strengths, areas for development, drivers and values, self-direction becomes possible. After all, strong self-awareness is essential for feeling fulfilled in your professional life. The starting point for each coaching trajectory are the context and question(s) of the coachee. Together, we determine the most suitable approach. The process is solution focused and action-oriented, using practical exercises and reflections, both during and in-between sessions. In order to increase confidence and resilience - also at later career crossroads -, we focus on the development of so-called career competences: the competences you need in order to find your own answers to career questions and to take ownership of your career. Authenticity, openness, and respect are core principles. You are encouraged to engage in critical self-reflection and self-direction.  

Possible topics include:

• Strengths and areas for development 
• Values and drivers: what is truly important to you in your work and career?
• Career exploration: actively exploring the labour market and opportunities within and beyond academia 
• Career management: actively shaping and directing your own career 
• Networking: building, maintaining, and using professional relationships in line with your career goals
• Self-presentation: making your qualities and experiences visible, for example in a job application

Coach

Ilse Van Damme, the coach, has extensive experience in academia (both as a researcher and at policy level), allowing her to quickly and accurately understand your context, combining realism with a constructive and positive perspective. Career coaching can be provided in English or Dutch. Sessions take place in Leuven or online. 

Social support at UHasselt

In addition to the coaching trajectory, we would like to underscore our social support channels at UHasselt:  all info can be found here. Alternatively, the general UHasselt page on Well-being provides an overview for UHasselt staff as well. Do not hesitate to seek support in case you bump into possible challenges during your research journey.  

Who can apply?

• PhD students and postdocs, who ...
  • have been working at Hasselt University for at least one year, and
  • have already participated in at least one career event or workshop

How to apply

• Send an email to careercenter@uhasselt.be, entitled 'application career coaching'.
  Please include the following elements:
  • motivation statement: your reasons for wanting a career coach and the career questions you are struggling with
  • the number of years of working experience you have, including your PhD 
  • previous career events or workshops you participated in
  • your faculty and the year in which you obtained or plan to obtain your PhD
    
    
• It is possible to apply throughout the year.
• Please bear in mind that our cancellation and no-show policy is valid for individual career coaching as well, which means that you have to let the career coach know at least one week in advance if you cannot come to a scheduled appointment. All details of our policy can be found here. 

Further procedure

• Together with the career center, the doctoral school team assesses whether the application is eligible. If so, the researcher is brought into contact with 'Make me Fly!'.
• A (free) introductory interview is set up, based on which both parties can decide whether or not they want to start a coaching trajectory together.
• Coaching trajectory:
  • All agreements are made in direct correspondence between the coach and the coachee.
  • The costs for maximum 4 hours of coaching are borne by the doctoral schools.
  • If more coaching is needed, this is paid for by the researcher. The costs for this should be clear from the start, and the researcher may decide independently whether they need/wish to continue the coaching or not.
• After closing the trajectory, you will be asked to complete a brief evaluation survey.