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It is tempting to assume that after three to four years of intense study, the holder of a doctorate should be able to walk into a job of their choosing. However, doctorate holders are just as susceptible to the current economic climate as everybody else. Therefore you need to ensure that you do everything you can throughout your research project to enhance your employability, whether you wish to pursue a career within or outside of academia. The world of academia is a competitive one. But the non-academic sphere can, in some ways, be more difficult for a doctorate holder to find employment in. Some employers, for example, fear that the skills gained by PhD holders are ‘too specialised’ or that the isolation typical of the PhD experience results in a lack of interpersonal skills. It is up to you, as a research student, to recognise, emphasise and enhance the transferability of the skills you gain within the academic environment. Even within academia, universities are seeking more from prospective employees and with a PhD increasingly seen as a minimum requirement for posts in higher education, universities are looking for candidates who have gained an array of additional personal, professional and academic skills. Successful completion of your PhD is testimony to your skill and ability as a researcher. While this strand on ‘Beyond Your Research Degree’ may at times seem to be tailored to those seeking a career within academia, you should bear in mind that the skillset you are being encouraged to develop and enhance is also applicable to the non-academic world of work. By attaining these skills and providing examples of how you utilise them in all areas of work, you can help potential employers to recognise the contribution you can make to their workplace.