Paris-based Adoc Talent Management has implemented innovative approaches to support career transitions for PhD holders through its involvement in the SECURE project. The initiative focuses on addressing key challenges faced by researchers and developing tools to facilitate smoother transitions between academic and private-sector careers.
Many researchers in France and across Europe face uncertainty in their career paths due to high competition for permanent academic positions and the prevalence of temporary contracts. Additionally, professional development opportunities are often unclear, leaving researchers without adequate support to transition into non-academic careers. These challenges not only impact individuals but also hinder broader innovation potential.
To address these issues, Adoc Talent Management has focused on three main areas: improving employer awareness of PhD holders’ skills, supporting researchers through training programs, and conducting interdisciplinary research on career development. By aligning academic and industry expectations, the agency helps PhD holders navigate career transitions effectively.
Innovative Approaches in the SECURE Project
As part of the SECURE project, Adoc Talent Management has introduced several initiatives to bridge academia and industry:
Standardization of sector language: A structured scoring model was developed to classify research roles within the European R1-R4 framework. This ensures consistency in evaluating research positions across sectors, helping employers recognize the expertise of PhD holders.
Webinar on career transitions: A webinar on career interruptions and intersectoral mobility gathered public and private-sector recruiters to discuss how PhD holders’ competencies are perceived in hiring processes. The discussion provided insights into transferable skills and challenges faced during transitions.
Intersectoral mobility analysis: A comprehensive mapping of career trajectories across academia, private research, public administration, and industry highlighted key transition points and the importance of structured career support.
Key Achievements and Future Steps
The SECURE project has led to significant progress in supporting researchers’ career mobility. The newly developed R1-R4 mapping model enables PhD holders to better navigate career opportunities beyond academia. Insights from intersectoral transition analysis have also enhanced Adoc Talent Management’s ability to provide targeted career advice and training.
Looking ahead, the agency plans to expand its initiatives, including the development of a training module on interdisciplinarity and the creation of guidelines to implement the R1-R4 framework in private-sector recruitment. Adoc Talent Management has also enrolled in the HRS4R process, reinforcing its commitment to aligning HR practices with European standards and further strengthening collaboration between academia and industry.
By continuing to develop innovative career support tools, Adoc Talent Management remains dedicated to ensuring sustainable career pathways for researchers, fostering a workforce that drives both academic and industry innovation.
This is one of six SECURE trials – programs being implemented by institutions as part of the project. We will introduce each of them to showcase how different organizations are working to improve research career pathways across Europe.
These trials will be presented at the final SECURE summit in Brussels in March 2025.
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