Overview

I studied for a PhD in Translation Studies in the French Studies department at Warwick and took my viva on 1 October 2010. I wanted to continue working in academia so had applied for a number of posts beginning a year prior to completing my PhD.

My year in jobs

In the year immediately following my viva (1 October 2010 to 1 October 2011) I took on a number of different jobs at Warwick and beyond in order to develop my academic employability as well as being able to survive financially. These were:

• Freelance Translator (ongoing)
• Course Tutor, Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) (until 30 Sep. 2011)
• Early Career Fellow, Institute of Advanced Study, University of Warwick (1 Oct. 2010 – 31 Mar. 2011)
• Early Career ‘Research Exchange’ Project Officer / Web Writer – University of Warwick (Mar. 2011 – 30 Sept 2011)
• Researcher: Women from Muslim Communities in France, School of Health and Social Studies, University of Warwick (1 Oct. 2010 – 23 Dec. 2010)
• Teaching Fellow, French Studies (From 1 Oct. 2011)

Details of these posts and how they have contributed to my career development have been detailed below.

1. FREELANCE TRANSLATOR

I have a PhD in Translation Studies and have worked as a part-time freelance translator (French to English) since 2006. As I hope to lecture in Translation Studies and French Studies, having professional experience of translation and the French language is of great benefit to me, especially if my literary translations are published. I published one piece in a publication issued by the French Institute in London.

2. COURSE TUTOR, WEA

I have taught World Literature for the WEA for over two years and it has provided me with invaluable experience in the classroom as well as in course development, lesson planning, student assessment and module review. These are all skills that are transferable to academic posts.

3. EARLY CAREER FELLOWSHIP, UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK

I was fortunate to be awarded an Early Career Fellowship from the Institute of Advanced Study (IAS) at Warwick which began on the day of my viva. This was an immense relief, but it also put extra pressure on me as it was dependent on receiving no more than minor corrections. Luckily, all went well.

The IAS Early Career Fellowship is 0.5 FTE (Full Time Equivalent) and its main aim is to give new researchers time to advance the development of their research career by:

• Writing research publication
• Compiling and presenting conference papers
• Applying for jobs and postdoctoral fellowships
• Engaging with IAS activities

Writing research publications

I worked on a number of publications during my IAS fellowship and continued to do so after the award finished. These are:

• The Novels of Francophone Senegalese Writer, Sokhna Benga: Interview and Literary Translation. Contemporary French and Francophone Studies: Sites. New York: Routledge. (Forthcoming 2012)
• A Collision of Cultures: Translating the ‘Two’ Faces of Senegal. Translating beyond East and West. Philadelphia: John Benjamins. (Forthcoming 2011)
• (Re)Play. Fiction France: A Selection of French Contemporary Fiction to Be Read and Translated. 8 (Mar. 2011): 24-29.
• Conference Report: Between Utopia and Dystopia – The Afterlives of Empire. Bulletin of Francophone Postcolonial Studies. Spring 2011.
• The Translator as Mediator – Interpreting ‘Non-Standard’ French in Senegalese Women’s Literature. Lost in Translation – PEER English: The Journal of New Critical Thinking. Leicester: Leicester UP, Oct. 2010. 98-113.

Compiling and presenting conference papers

I also worked on a number of proposals and papers, which include:

• Translating Orality in Francophone Senegalese Women’s Literature. Symposium for Young Researchers in Translation, Interpreting and Intercultural Studies. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. 20 Jun. 2011.
• Translating Gendered Language in Francophone Senegalese Women’s Literature. New Research in Translation and Interpreting Studies. Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona. 12-14 May 2011.
• Literary Translation and the Francophone African Text. Leamington Literary Society. The Royal Pump Rooms, Leamington Spa. 19:30-21:30. 10 May 2011.
• Translating Wolof in the ‘Francophone’ Senegalese Text. African Languages and Translation. Institute of Advanced Study. Warwick University. 11 Mar. 2011.

Conference organisation

During the course of my IAS fellowship, I organised the following events:

• Publishing your Thesis in the Humanities
• African Languages and Translation
• Between Utopia and Dystopia: The Afterlives of Empire, The French Institute, London

I am now organising a further conference at the French Institute on behalf of the Society for Francophone Postcolonial Studies. This is called The Postcolonial City and will be held in November 2011.

The events I organised enabled me to discuss potential research projects with academics in related areas such as African Languages and Translation and also Francophone Postcolonial Studies. As a result, I have put together a three year research project.

Engaging with IAS activities

Whilst working at the IAS, I attended a number of skills sessions, research seminars, publishing workshops and events organised by members of the Sub-Saharan African Research Network (SSARN). It was great to have access to both the skills workshops as well as research events, which allowed for continued professional development following achievement of the PhD.

Applying for jobs and postdoctoral fellowships

During the course of my Early Career Fellowship I applied for a number of jobs and post-docs, which can be a full-time job in itself. It can be very difficult at times to remain enthusiastic and continue to give every application considered attention following any rejections. Having said this, I made sure I put great effort into each application, preparing for interviews and listening to any feedback, and this paid off in the end.

4. ‘RESEARCH EXCHANGE’ PROJECT OFFICER / WEB WRITER, UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK

Due to relationships built between the IAS and Wolfson Research Exchange at Warwick, I started working for the Exchange immediately following my IAS fellowship. Primarily, I have written guides to aspects of research that I have experience in as well as assisting in the development of the exchange as a hub for research at Warwick. I focus on promoting the space, facilities and networks for Early Career Researchers as well as organising events that bring researchers together for interdisciplinary projects.

5. RESEARCHER: WOMEN FROM MUSLIM COMMUNITIES IN FRANCE, UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK

I worked on a research project with the Centre for Research in Ethnic Relations. I collated information on Muslim women’s organisations and networks in France, translating text from French to English and editing and formatting entries of an online journal. It was good experience working with a different department and on an ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council) funded project, as well as using my translation skills.

6. TEACHING FELLOWSHIP, UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK

After one year of juggling a number of different roles as well as developing my career by attending conferences and writing papers, I was offered an 8-month post in the French Studies Department at Warwick.

Final thoughts

It has been an exhausting year. When I finished my PhD, I am not sure I realised the hurdles I would still have to jump before attaining a full-time post. Having said that, I have thoroughly enjoyed the variation of jobs I have had the opportunity to do, I haven’t been without work and I am very excited about the pathway that my academic career is taking.

Next steps

I hope that the skills I have gained over the last year as well as my Teaching Fellowship will provide me with the experience needed to gain a permanent position.

Related researcher articles on this site

• Carrying out a new job after your PhD
• Maximising your time after your PhD
• Fellowship applications and transferable skills
• Impact activities for ECRs
• Presentations to non-academic audiences

You may also be interested in...

• The Workers’ Educational Association
• IAS Early Career Fellowships
• Warwick French Studies Department
• The Centre for Research in Ethnic Relations

Georgina Collins has a PhD in Translation Studies and recently completed an Early Career Fellowship in Warwick’s Institute of Advanced Study. She also teaches world literature for the Workers’ Educational Association and works as a freelance translator.

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