Advancing your career

During your time as a contractual employee, you will receive INRAE support to advance your career and develop your skills.

Team work & support

From your first day on the job, research unit staff will use a structured approach to ease you into your work responsibilities. They will introduce you to the key players within your unit or centre, allowing you to orient yourself within your new professional environment. During your time at INRAE, you should participate in scientific and/or group events to help you find your place within the research unit, centre, and/or division. Such interactions will also fuel your professional future.

If you are employed for 1 year or longer, you will have an assessment meeting with your supervisor or research unit director at the 6-month mark. This meeting has the following objectives: 

• Take stock of your work
• Define new goals
• Identify potential training needs
• Think ahead to your contract’s end
• Fill out your skills passport (optional)

Before you move on from INRAE, you will have an exit interview with your supervisor or research unit director to help you prepare for the next steps in your career. The purpose of this exchange is not to evaluate your work, but rather to assess the skills you have utilised and developed over the course of your employment.

Career counselling

Anyone working at INRAE can take advantage of the institute’s career counselling services, which are available in both French and English. INRAE career counsellors provide confidential and customised support tailored to your specific situation and needs, including career diagnostics, professional assessments, skills assessments, coaching, and project development. Each research centre offers walk-in and scheduled appointments with career counsellors year round, and you can take advantage of these services as soon as you arrive at INRAE.

Training 

As a contractual researcher at INRAE, you can benefit from a range of training opportunities, with the approval of your supervisor. There is something for everyone: for example, you can learn how to transition more smoothly into your new job, sign up for courses that teach scientists new approaches or technical skills, or take an in-person or remote training course.

Each INRAE research centre has teams whose job is to help their fellow employees access further training. Do not hesitate to reach out to them.