Checklist for vacancies
PhD Vacancy Checklist
Based on the Monitor of Employment Conditions and the often prevailing lack of clarity regarding PhD vacancies, PNN has drafted a checklist for open use.
Core Requirements:
- Contract Duration and Scope:
For what period is the contract valid and for how many FTE? How many hours per week does this correspond to according to the relevant collective labor agreement (CAO)? Is there an evaluation moment? If so, when will a potential go/no-go decision be scheduled (maximum 18 months based on CAO-NU)? - Teaching Load:
What fraction of the total working hours per week is allocated to teaching? Optional: What is the time ratio between research and teaching? - Salary:
In which scale will the applicant be placed upon employment, and is negotiation on placement possible? What (gross) salary corresponds to the relevant salary scale? - Reference to the Applicable CAO:
Which CAO applies to this vacancy? Optional: Include a link to the relevant CAO.
Additional Conditions:
- Specific CAO Provisions:
Which other conditions stated in the CAO are applicable? Some common examples referenced in vacancy texts include:- Possibility of contract extension in case of pregnancy/maternity leave/sick leave for long-term illness
- Participation in a participation council or internship
- Year-end bonus / 13th month
- Relevant number of vacation days and holiday allowance
- Pension arrangements
- Secondary Employment Benefits:
Which specific facilities are offered by the institution and available to applicants upon employment? Examples include:- Relocation allowance
- Career training and development programs
- Sports facilities
- Childcare
- 30% Tax Ruling for Expats:
For foreign employees, the 30% tax ruling may apply. In such cases, no income tax is due on 30% of the salary.
Final Note:
To promote diversity in the workforce of research institutions, offering vacancies in multiple languages (most relevant: Dutch/English) may be helpful. In our experience, this is already quite common, but we wanted to explicitly include this recommendation.
Are you currently experiencing issues during your PhD that you need help with?
Most institutions have a number of contact points for help. This compass is designed to help you find the right support.
In the drop-down menu you can select the institution that you are doing your PhD at. Then the roadmap will show you available contact points. In most cases it makes sense to start by considering contact points in your immediate work environment first and then progress to higher levels (like institutional or national).
At the bottom of the page you can find some examples of problems you can run into and a list of descriptions of each contact point.
Your first contact points
Colleagues: Sometimes it can already help to talk with your colleagues about the issue you are experiencing. This will help you judge the severity of it and can provide you with allies in taking further action.
Daily supervisor*: Naturally, your daily supervisor is the first contact point for all issues. They can help you determine the next steps. Of course, you may not feel comfortable discussing everything with your supervisor, or maybe your daily supervisor is involved in the issue. In these cases have a look at the other available contact points.
Promotor or Co-Supervisor*: Especially, in cases of issues with your daily supervisor, consider reaching out to your promotor or another member on the supervision team and ask for a one-on-one meeting. Maybe they can (temporarily) step-up and help you resolve the issue.If you have a conflict with your supervisor(s), you can also have a look at the PNN PhD supervisor conflict roadmap.
*Note that your annual review talk with your supervisory team is a good opportunity to address issues or suggestions for improvement.
National contact points
Labor unions: Organizations representing the interests of academic staff, offering support on employment-related matters, rights, and fair treatment.
NWO Scientific Integrity Desk: A specialized desk addressing scientific integrity concerns in projects related to or funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO).
Netherlands Board of Research Integrity (LOWI): An independent body handling complaints related to scientific integrity, providing a platform for fair investigation. If you feel like the local scientific integrity committee at your institution did not handle a case correctly, the LOWI can be the next contact point.
Making a police report: In cases involving a criminal offense, please consider contacting local law enforcement to report incidents and seek assistance.