Themes of the NWO-Talent Classes
| Branding yourself |
Personal branding is the new buzz in career management, yet you might wonder what it has to do with your career in academia or with your transition into a new direction. Wherever they are, successful professionals have a few things in common: chances are that they know what they are good at and how they manage their careers by playing to their strengths; they often stand out for what they do, know or the way they are; they are clear about what makes them unique and how they differentiate themselves from their peers. And importantly, they also know how they are perceived by others and what their reputation is. In a nutshell, this is what personal branding means. In this Masterclass, we will help you get a sense of your own personal brand and how you can use it effectively to manage your career. We will look at real examples of strong personal brands that we are all familiar with, to identify key components of a brand; do a number of exercises for you to appreciate your own brand, and discuss different approaches to managing your brand at work. We will also discuss how to use online tools such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and your (university) web profiles to help you manage your online identity and reputation. This Masterclass is also useful preparation for career management classes such as Marketing Yourself Effectively and Making Effective Career Choices. |
| Creative thinking |
As a scientist you must be creative. This Talent Class learns you how the process of thinking works, and how you can use it to push your research to another level. You’ll get to step out of your usual way of thinking to find solutions for your own challenges. With this knowledge you can easily overcome any future hurdle and become the exceptional researcher you’ve always wanted to be. (in Dutch) |
| Media training Jeanine de Bruin More information... |
Avoid awkward moments of not knowing the answer to a friend’s difficult question or of stuttering as soon as you see a journalist’s microphone. This Talent Class trains you in communicating with ‘laymen’, such as family, friends, but also strangers and journalists. By the end of the day you can make the difference between the scientific and the journalistic value of your research. You’ll learn how to describe your research when being interviewed and how to deal with unexpected questions. (in Dutch) |
| Marketing yourself effectively |
Competition for academic positions is fierce and many excellent candidates fail to convince universities that they are the best person for the job. Whatever your career aspirations, how do you communicate your existing skills and experiences to set yourself apart from the competition? To achieve this we will:
This interactive workshop aims to improve your ability to write and talk yourself into your next job, whether in academia or the wider labour market. It will be based on real vacancies brought along by attendees and the day will include mock interviews for selected volunteers, with feedback. |
| Moving on in your career - making effective career choices Sara Shinton or Ruth Winden |
The job market looks and feels very different in the 21st century. The concept of a job for life is increasingly disappearing and the focus is on a personal responsibility for “employability” rather than reliance on an employer offering security. In the global economy the need for career planning is more vital than ever to ensure that you stay on track with your career. In this workshop we will present a range of tools which will equip you for the new job market and enable you to take control of your career even in the most uncertain times. |
| Networking |
It is absolutely required for your career, and this Talent Class shows you that networking is actually fun, and not something you have to worry or feel nervous about. You do it naturally, but you can always improve your networking skills. An intensive program of exercises shows you the do's and don'ts of networking. During the day you’ll find out what your networking capacities and opportunities are and how you can improve them. And finally you’ll see the importance of a strong network for the next step in your career. (in Dutch) |
| Negotiating |
How to gain the most out of a negotiating situation, or maintain your relationship? This Talent Class learns you how to deal with different situation with your colleagues and supervisors. WeŽll do this by learning how to stay focused on strategy and communication while negotiating. (in Dutch) |
| People, politics and power |
Why do some people succeed in academia, whilst others (who appear to do everything right) fail or falter? What do you need to do to have an impact as a researcher and who do you need to impress? What is academic esteem and how do you develop it alongside knowledge and research skills?
This Talent Class is highly interactive and personal. It will explore your situation and give tools and ideas to deal with the forces in that. You will identify the next steps to improve your impact and build success. |
| Presentation |
During the first minutes of your talk, presentation or meeting, people in the audience unconsciously estimate what kind of person is in front of them. At such a moment you should be aware of your posture and use of language. You should be aware that the person you are in contact with is unconsciously trying to find out who you are. Your audience gets both verbal and non-verbal signals you send. Based on that they form an opinion of you. Each impression is a unique combination of neutral characteristics which you can use to your advantage. In order to do so, you have to know the impression you make on others. Realize that during your presentation people will use the first minute to make an impression of you unconsciously. They will focus more on your non-verbal than on your verbal communication. What can you do with your first impression?
(In Dutch) |
| Funding |
If you have a brilliant idea for a research project, but don’t know where to get funding for it and how to convince potential investors, you can’t miss this Talent Class. Of course you can find many funding possibilities on the internet, but do you know where to start? You’ll get a short overview of where you can find the main funding information sources. However during the rest of the day you’ll work on a funding application of your choice. Of course you won’ t end up with a complete application, but you’ll get a feeling for writing one. (in Dutch) |
| Write it right |
If you’re having difficulties convincing editors of scientific magazines that your results are definitely worth publishing, then this is your Talent Class. It covers structured writing, titles and abstracts, the use of graphics and technical English. The supervisors pre-read all the manuscripts making written comments as to any weaknesses. These are then discussed with the participants within the context of the master class material. In the exercise, the participants re-write a short version of their manuscript. These mini-manuscripts will be peer-reviewed. In the discussion the supervisors address the peer-review results and the publishing process. |
