S02E02: Holly Prescott – Expanding career options beyond academia

In this episode I had a nice conversation with Holly Prescott about career options for postgraduates beyond academia. She is not against academic careers––and me neither. She just wants postgraduates to know it’s not their only option. Holly Prescott is a career guidance practitioner specialising in working with postgraduate researchers. She is based at the University of Birmingham in the U.K. She completed a PhD in Literature and Cultural Geography at the University of Birmingham in 2011. Since then, she has gained ten years' experience in postgraduate student recruitment, admissions and careers support. Holly is particularly passionate about developing Postgraduate Researchers' awareness of career routes beyond and adjacent to academic research, and helping them to make transitions into meaningful careers. In 2021 she founded the PhD careers blog ‘PostGradual’: www.phd-careers.co.uk Holly holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Career Guidance from Coventry University and the Career Development Institute (UK), and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Outside of work, Holly is Assistant Artistic Director of Ottisdotter Theatre Company in London, and is a volunteer story writer for the British sight loss charity RNIB. Enjoy