Authors

• Aarresaari network of the Academic Career Services in Finland

Keywords

career, career development, doctoral degrees, employment opportunities, higher education institutions, labour and employment, occupational life, recruitment

Abstract

The survey charted the employment and early careers of people who had attained doctoral graduates in Finnish universities in 2006 and 2007.

The respondents were first asked how they had financed their doctoral studies, what their reasons for taking up a doctoral degree had been, and whether they had been an unemployed job-seeker during their doctoral studies. Relating to employment situation and quality of work, questions charted what the respondents' occupational status was, whether they had been unemployed after doctoral graduation, and what reasons had potentially hindered their employment. The respondents who were in paid work were asked their employer type, tasks at work, gross monthly income, satisfaction with work, and ability to make use of skills learned in doctoral studies in their job.

With regard to the significance of doctoral degree in occupational life, opinions were charted on whether the topic of doctoral dissertation had been useful in employment, and whether having a doctoral degree had led to an increased salary and better standing in occupational life. Relating to developing and improving doctoral education, views were probed on the guidance received during studies, satisfaction with the studies, and things that should be emphasised in the education (e.g. teaching skills, entrepreneurship).

Background variables included the respondent's gender, university, field of study, and age at the time of graduation.