Navigating Workplace Culture and Candidature
Your supervisory team will be your most valuable support resource throughout your degree. It is important that you take advantage of these relationships and utilise them so that you best propel yourself forward in both your studies and work.
If you are struggling to navigate supervisory relationships...
Academia is home to a diverse range of personalities. We acknowledge that navigating supervisory relationships can become quite difficult when you do not feel you have a space to discuss your relationship with your supervisor.
The suggestions below are for those who currently feel comfortable opening a dialogue with their supervisor about their needs and wants. If you do not feel that you can approach your supervisor with these strategies, there are people you can talk to before you approach your supervisor:
Feel uncomfortable approaching your supervisor first?Accessing MGA advocacy is a free and confidential service that can offer you an appropriate and tailored path to navigating your supervisory relationship. You can also contact your course Coordinator or leaders in the Graduate Research Office. These individuals are dedicated to improving any systemic issues within graduate research and will respect your privacy if you ask to speak with them confidentially. |
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Using Assertive Communication
Assertive communication involves communicating in a respectful, direct, and honest manner with others. Being assertive with your supervisor can ensure that you needs are met and potential for conflict is minimised while fostering a positive relationship dynamic for both parties.
Assertiveness is not the same as aggression. To get a better understanding of what assertive communication is and how it can be used in real life situations, click here.
Power dynamics can make this intimidatingWe understand that there is a power dynamic between a student and supervisor, and so it can be intimidating to be assertive with them. HDR students may fear that if they attempt to communicate their needs, they will no longer be an ‘easy’ student, and this could impact their future in academia. |  |
 | Communicating our needs is importantHowever, when we fail to communicate our needs, we can develop feelings of resentment and isolation toward our team and our mental health and the quality of work will suffer as a result. If you are unsure of whether your requests are reasonable, consider asking other HDR students what support they receive from their supervisors. |
Begin a dialogue with your supervisor(s)Being honest and taking initiative is important when being assertive. Whether it be that you fear your research is not on track, you feel you need a short break, or need more structured support – it is best to speak with your supervisor to see what support they can offer you. If you are unsure on how to express your concerns in a professional manner, The Thesis Whisperer has an informative guide on how to go about this. |  |
Talking about your career with your supervisor
If you are feeling uncertain or anxious about your future in academia, it can be helpful to discuss this. While not all supervisors will be comfortable taking on a career mentor role for their students, there is still merit in letting them know you have specific aspirations and are seeking career guidance. If they then come across an opportunity that would be valuable to you, they can pass it on.
When should you talk to your supervisor about your career?It is best if you begin this dialogue early, so that as you progress through your HDR journey, your supervisor can seek out plenty of opportunities for you to network and gain research experience where viable. |  |
 | If you cannot seek out career guidance from your supervisorIf your supervisor is not comfortable taking on the role of a career mentor, consider talking to other academics in your lab or contact MGA to organise a career seminar for you and other HDR students. These seminars will allow you the opportunity to speak to a panel of academics about their own career journeys. |
Approaching the conversationIf you have found someone to give you career advice and are unsure of what questions you should be asking them, we provide a few to start you off with in the drop-down menu below. |  |
 | Considering a career outside of research?If you are considering a career outside of academia, it can be helpful to search for employment opportunities using PostAc. PostAc is an Australian platform made specifically for HDR students to find research work outside of academia based on their skillset. For more information regarding PostAc, click here. |
Graduate studies can be quite isolating. With less academic opportunities to work alongside your cohort and make connections with your peers, research is now showing that graduate students often experience feelings of loneliness throughout their academic journeys.
Connecting with others
Fostering connections with your peers during a graduate degree can be extremely valuable for your emotional health and academic progress.
Receiving social support from other graduate students can:
 Expand your academic and disciplinary knowledge |  Increase self-confidence and motivation |  Alleviate stress and academic isolation through peer support | Increase professional skills and networks |
There are ways to help foster connections with other HDRs and researchers and mitigate these feelings of academic isolation.
Utilising on-site workspaces
If you have been assigned a lab where you are the only HDR and you wish for a space to connect with your peers, there are specifically designated HDR workspaces so that work while surrounded by your peers.
If you prefer to work in your designated lab, it can help to use this time intentionally for collaboration and connection with your colleagues. Take initiative and talk to your labmates about:
Get to know who they areGet to know what days everyone frequents the lab so that you can all work together throughout the week. When everyone is in, consider organising a regular lunch that you all take to get to know each other. |  |
 | Get to know their workGetting to know what your lab mates are working on can let you both get a better idea of how you can best support each other and foster positive relationships with one another. It can also be helpful to have someone you can bounce ideas off of to improve your quality of work. |
Networking opportunitiesMGA hosts events for HDRs to connect with one another. There are a range of events that you can choose to attend, whether that be a shut up and write zoom session, a coffee social, or a parents catch up. To attend general networking events, it can be helpful to get in contact your supervisor or course coordinator and inquire about upcoming networking opportunities. | |
When the pressure of work bleeds into your home life, you are vulnerable to experiencing high levels of stress, depression, fatigue and overall poor wellbeing. When working from home, it is vital that you create boundaries to protect your work-life balance.
Setting up your physical space
 | Find a quiet work spaceIdeally, your would have an individual room dedicated to being used as an at-home workspace, however this is often not a viable option for many students. If this is the case, having a quiet and private corner to set up can work just as well. |
Have a dedicated work areaIt is extremely useful to work in a room or at a desk/table that is solely dedicated to work and not associated with any distraction. It will allow you to transition into a productive headspace more easily and further consolidate the separation from your work and home life. |  |
Mentally Separating Work and Home
It can be hard to establish boundaries when you are in your own space devoid of typical workplace markers i.e., colleagues, Monash issued desks and chairs. Those who work remotely as opposed to those at the office are more likely to work longer hours and have blurred boundaries between work and home.
It can be tempting to sleep in, and work through your entire day with a Netflix show in the background. However, working longer hours like this often contribute to feelings of stress, anxiety, burnout, and reduces productivity.
 | Replicating your workplaceYou can prevent this by making working from home as similar to working in the office as possible, and this starts with having a regular sleep schedule. Tips for maintaining healthy sleep habits are found on our Healthy habits page. |
Creating routines for work and relaxationUse your usual ‘commute’ time to the office to instead engage in a morning routine eg. changing clothes and eating breakfast. Ensure you have a consistent start and finish time for your work with regular breaks scheduled. When you are finished with work, engage in specific activities that allow you to switch off from ‘work mode’ eg. changing into comfy clothes and going outside for a bit to relax. |  |
If you are struggling with your degree…
Access emergency services (000), Lifeline (13 11 14), Employee Assistance Program (EAP) , Monash Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS) or other free, confidential counselling services:
Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636),
Qlife - LGBTQIA+ (1800 184 527)
Mensline (1300 78 99 78)
WIRE - Women, non-binary and gender diverse people (1300 134 130)
13YARN - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (13 92 76)
Beyond Blue, Mensline, WIRE and Qlife also have webchat options if you prefer messaging.