“Look for opportunities where they really are,
not where you want to find them”
dr. Catharina PEERSMAN
Algemeen Directeur ZAVO
1 profile / career?
Degrees
Skills
1. Degrees & qualifications
2003
‘Licentiaat’ Romance Languages
2004
Teacher’s formation
Translation Governmental French + English
Medieval Studies
2004-2005
BOF PhD
1. Degrees & qualifications
2004-2005
BOF PhD
2005-2009
FWO PhD fellowship
French
Historical sociolinguistics + dialectology
Medieval Flemish documents
1. Degrees & qualifications
the inevitable question
“Are you mobile?”
1. Degrees & qualifications
2009-2010
Fellowship Belgian American Educational
Foundation @ University of Minnesota
2009-2012
FWO postdoc fellowship @ KULeuven
French, Dutch, Latin
Historical sociolinguistics
Different types of medieval sources
Link with current Belgian politics
1. Degrees & qualifications
2009-2010
Fellowship Belgian American Educational
Foundation @ University of Minnesota
2009-2012
FWO postdoc fellowship @ KULeuven
French, Dutch, Latin
Historical sociolinguistics
Different types of medieval sources
Link with current Belgian politics
2. After the end of funding
Higher
Education
experience
-
research
publishing
presenting skills
teaching (max. 20%)
obtaining funding
selling ‘medieval Flemish stuff’ elsewhere
2. After the end of funding: the obvious
Higher
Education
experience
-
research
publishing
presenting skills
teaching (max. 20%)
obtaining funding
selling ‘medieval Flemish stuff’ elsewhere
2. After the end of funding : the obvious
2012-2014
Lecturer in French Studies, University of
Sheffield (UK)
description ⅓ teaching
⅓ administration
⅓ research
indeterminate time!
2. After the end of funding : the obvious
2012-2014
Lecturer in French Studies, University of
Sheffield (UK)
in reality -
3/8 administration
4/8 teaching
1/8 research
no funding
expensive living
2. After the end of funding : the obvious
2012-2014
Lecturer in French Studies, University of
Sheffield (UK)
in reality +
many opportunities to grow
more responsibilities
great teamwork
broader perspective on HE and life
editor of a new journal
3. After the end of funding : the not-so obvious
2013-2014
applying for jobs closer to home
“the marketable me”
HE
extensive CV of 15p.+
heavy duty application files
few jobs
no reactions
no luck
3. After the end of funding : the not-so obvious
2013-2014
applying for jobs closer to home
“the marketable me”
outside HE?
a different CV 1p.
researcher / administrator profiles
broadly linked to education
replies, selection tests, interviews
3. After the end of funding : the not-so obvious
2013-2014
applying for jobs closer to home
“the marketable me”
Dec. 2013
“Near Success Experience”
- research project
- personal interview
- role play finalists
- personal interview
3. After the end of funding : the not-so obvious
2013-2014
Spring 2014
applying for jobs closer to home
“the marketable me”
-
Jan-Feb 2014: pause
application experience
steep learning curve
personal network
3. After the end of funding : the not-so obvious
“Our school is looking for a new head. I bet you would be
good at it!”
June 2014: interviews, review day in an assessment
center
Aug. 2014: head of school in Zaventem
1522 pupils (age 12 to 19), 230 staff
4. Lessons learned
“That’s so you!”
1.
-
broaden your horizon
interdisciplinarity
networking
research / teaching stay abroad
4. Lessons learned
“That’s so you!”
2. Define the “marketable” you
- the 1-page CV
- transferable skills
- strenghts/weaknesses personalitywise
- acquire job application experience (the
more feedback, the better!)
4. Lessons learned
“That’s so you!”
3. Network
- be proactive
- talk to people (not just to colleagues!)
- ask for feedback and use it (how do
people perceive you?)