Afternoon workshops

SPEED MEET: A quick way to explore job opportunities for PhD degree holders at ArcelorMittal

The speed meet provides a low-threshold meeting place to get better acquainted with 8 duos of PhD degree holders occupying different positions in different domains within the world’s largest steelworks.

'Where do I fit into the world beyond academe?’  (Filip Bauwens & Marion Liberloo, PROPEL)

Wondering whether you will ever leave academe? Tired of the insecurities of a researcher’s existence? Doubting whether your profile meets the expectations of the ‘real’ world?

To answer these questions, self-knowledge is crucial. In this workshop, you will take a first step towards raising your consciousness and find out what opportunities lay ahead of you and best suit your personality.

Come and taste PROPEL’s approach in this interactive workshop. Warning: participation may trigger a different point of view on your future career.

'You’re in the driver’s seat of your career' (Veroniek De Schamphelaere, Vlerick Business School)

Happy and engaged employees have one thing in common: they know what their career drivers are, and found out where to find the response to those needs. Your levers to feeling successful in your work life are different from the ones of other people.

The good news is that every organisation is different as well: they have unique characteristics in terms of their corporate culture, their vision on what ‘Being a Best Workplace’ means. Finding the right match is hence crucial! And finding the right job is as much a ‘heart-core’ business as it is a ‘hard core business’…. It all starts with you, you’re behind the steering wheel of your career: know what you want and what you value!

Veroniek De Schamphelaere will allow you to come across with a convincing message towards a potential future employer.

'A career in the EU institutions: opportunities, application process and useful tips' (Michiel Humblet, DG ECFIN)

This seminar offers participants comprehensive information on career opportunities at the EU institutions. It will include an overview of possibilities to work for the EU, the organisation and the various stages of the selection process, as well as a practical module giving participants some hands-on experience with the various tests that have to be passed.

The seminar's facilitator, Michiel Humblet, has been working as a permanent official at the European Commission for five years, and before that also participated in the European Central Bank's Graduate Programme as well as the European Commission's traineeships programme.

‘"Welcome to the real world" – What is your role as PhD in R&D?’ (Damien Rogival, P&G & Robin Lefebvre, Grow2Excel)

Learning objectives:

  1. Understanding the general structure of an (industrial) R&D organisation.
  2. Understanding the different roles and responsibilities within an R&D organisation.
  3. What are the key expectations and deliverables of a PhD profile in an R&D organisation?
  4. Break the ‘real world’ myth, by identifying the parallels between academia and industry.

Summary:

“The real world starts after your PhD”: is it truth or myth? How can you bridge the gap between academia and industry? To solve this question you need to start by understanding what is available in the industry. What are the different types of roles? What are the parallels and differences with your academic career?

In this workshop we will provide a behind the scenes perspective of a typical R&D organisation, the different roles and responsibilities. You will go through an R&D case study and get to experience the typical functions involved in the innovation and production process. For full disclosure, the R&D process, roles and responsibilities are based on P&G positions, however they are similar to most large size R&D organisations.

'Serving the world – working for the UN' (Christophe Verhellen, UNRIC)

Many young people are dreaming of an international career with the UN. But what does one have to study to join the organization? And how do you apply for a job?

During the session, the speaker will talk about the different types of jobs (headquarters vs field work), the different working conditions, the opportunities, downsides and pitfalls, all aimed at young professionals. The session will be illustrated with pictures from the speaker’s past experiences in different countries in Africa, Afghanistan and Belgium.