Coming to a conference like the European Conference on Educational Research is one way to contribute to building a career in academia. Presenting a paper is another and even better one. Many emerging researchers pursue a career in academia: becoming an assistant professor and the steps beyond. Universities have fewer positions available than they supply PhD graduates who want to have such a position. To get such a position you first of all will have to survive during your PhD, to work productively with your supervisor and other young and experienced colleagues. Furthermore, you will have to make your CV as competitive as possible.

For those who are theoretically interested in a model that helps understand the pressures and opportunities for young researchers is available. In relation to this model I will present what young researchers can (or should?) do to build a career in academia. I will also approach the criteria that govern institution’s decisions on hiring and promotion of staff from a critical stance and point to some developments in these criteria.

.

.

.