« Return to PCDI Postdoc Retreat 2010 - Put your career in perpective

Workshop session 1

Wednesday 21 April  14.00 – 16.45

Workshop 'Put yourself at work'

In this workshop we would like to invite you to explore your thoughts and ideas, qualities and competences in relation to your career, both in science and in the world of labour outside science.

We use dramatechniques to make you more aware of your abilities and wishes and turn passive knowledge about yourself into active knowledge.Your own contribution is very important in this phisically and mentally active workshop to make a outline of the next step in your career.

Workshop leaders: Ans Rekers and Marianne de Vries

The trainers Ans Rekers and Marianne de Vries are employed on the staff of 'Student affairs' at the Universiteit van Amsterdam. Their job is training and coaching of students and young researchers. For researchers they provide several training programs like, project management, communication, personal effectiveness and application. They also provide coaching on personal questions and career advice.

Workshop ‘Me at my best’ FULLY BOOKED

Many people don’t know what activities in their jobs make them tick, resulting in unnecessary dependency on qualifications and job offers. Knowing your motivational talents provides a compass for present and future career decisions. Motivational talents are activities you find yourself doing with pleasure and ease. Increase your awareness of these talents, and profit immediately by getting them noticed! Insight in your motivational talents helps to navigate through working life effectively. So come and find out about your talents, and start steering your career decisions!

Workshop leaders: Elders Loopbaan; Jeanet Elders and Klaas Jan de Vries

Ever since 1991 Jeanet Elders has been working as a coach and career coach with scientific researchers. She got a master’s degree in sociolinguistics at Utrecht University, specialising in language and expression. She started working as a job counselor at a Dutch top job agency to continue as a career consultant at Utrecht University. Jeanet has been a recruiter and career advisor in the social reintegration-sector, while studying creative life & career planning and  solution focussed communication skills. She started her own career counseling practice in 2000. Many of her clients come from a diverse range of departments in Utrecht University.
More information www.eldersloopbaan.nl.

Klaas Jan de Vries holds academic qualifications in music, classical languages, and political administration. Working in a political function with the European Union, he realized his interest in personal development. As a qualifitied trainer and coach he develops and delivers training programmes and workshops internationally. Klaas Jan has worked with performers (music/sport), artists, academics, teachers, coaches, politicans, managers, buisness people, and entrepreneurs. His special interst is optimising learning through innovative coaching techniques.

Workshop ‘My next career step…’ FULLY BOOKED

You're wondering, "Is this still what I want? How do I create more opportunities for myself within the organisation? A completely different course? How do I get there? How can I check if it is feasible?"
You discuss with each other in small groups, in a relaxed atmosphere. During various rounds, you discuss several questions that make you think about your work, activities, desires/dreams, needs, approach etc. The career counsellors keep the groups focused with critical questions and give personal advice. In the workshop, you will receive insight into your personal talents and wishes; you determine what is important to work on at this time and you receive new ideas for your career.

Workshop leaders: Gonja Hikspoor and Geraldine Sinnema

From 2002 Gonja Hikspoor (1963) has been coaching highly educated professionals, since two years with her own business, Ikken, for coaching, career counselling and entrepreneur counselling (start-up businesses). Earlier in her career she worked in commercial and communications positions at technological-scientific companies for 13 years; e.g. as a marketing manager, at Noldus IT, she worked on the development and worldwide sales of systems for behavioural science studies. She creates enthusiasm, and is good at finding out what you really want and figuring out how to make that come closer. More information www.ikken.nl.

Geraldine Sinnema (1966) studied Labour Sociology and Information Science at Wageningen University. From 1994, she has been coaching academics on their careers. The first 10 years from the career centre at Wageningen University and from 2004 with her own business, Een wereld van verschil (A world of difference). She provides career counselling, trainings, workshops and individual coaching. She also supervises career counsellors. In her counselling, she gets right down to the core and does not think in standard solutions. www.eenwereldvanverschil.nu.

Workshop ‘Transferable Skills’

Scientists who enter the jobmarket should know their own skills and should be able to communicate them. Current practice, however, teaches us that scientists can present their research and their practical skills verry well, but that they are less aware of the social, communication and directing skills they have. Interestingly, most postdocs have experience with completing their thesis, applying for grants, organizing conferences and directing other co-workers. They clearly possess a collection of skills they normally would not link or connect to their list of ‘Transferable Skills’; which are skills they can use in any situation and which make them valuable for the jobmarket. With use of some practical exercises this workshop will make sure that the postdocs get a better view on their own skills and that they will be able to present them and support them with good examples during e.g. a jobinterview.

Workshop leader: Brigitte Hertz

Brigitte Hertz studied social psychology at the University of Amsterdam, where she also started her scientific career (depart environmental science). She combined doing research with coordinating educational programs and training students, and worked as a presenter at a local radio station. After fifteen years she made training her profession and started her own company. She combines a large diversity of stimulating forms and an informal approximation with a structured and purposive approach. Special trainings for academics include: Presenting research, Negotiating skills, PhD Success, Time Planning, Supervising a PhD. She also wrote a book on presenting research, (in Dutch) called “Presenteren van Onderzoek”, ISBN 90 8506 140 7 and more recently “Klaar in vier jaar, projectmanagement voor promovendi “. She is doing a PhD in Scientific Presentations. For more information (in Dutch) see www.bhertz.nl.

Workshop: ‘From core qualities to careers’

Not seldom postdocs find it hard to plan their career, be it inside our outside the world of science. Therefore awareness of  personal qualities and knowing how to make use of these qualities are extremely relevant.

This workshop focuses on:
•    finding and discovering your own core qualities
•    recognizing situations in which these qualities emerge
•    developing awareness of the effects these qualities may have on others
•    getting insight in your functioning
•    providing you with a practical instrument for self assessment
•    helping you find suitable career opportunities
•    preparing you for job interviews.

Workshop leader: drs. Bud Bickes

Bud Bickes was the founder and manager of the career center of the Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam. Nowadays he is the owner of 'Bureau Bickes' (for: training, advising, coaching, search and selection)