Workstream 2 aims to empower researchers who are often “dropped in the dark” after completing their education and contracts by equipping them with digital credentials. These credentials are transforming the job market, providing a fresh, effective way for individuals to showcase their skills and improve their hiring prospects. By presenting skills in a tangible, verifiable format, digital credentials offer job seekers a competitive edge and enable them to demonstrate expertise with clarity and confidence. Most importantly, they give job seekers control over how their information is shared and processed, empowering them to manage their professional profiles with greater autonomy.

Through this workstream, we will collaborate with early-career researchers (ECRs) to co-design a platform that will help them “prototype their life.” This initiative encourages researchers to gain the flexibility and self-assurance to showcase their skills across multiple industries, ultimately broadening their career opportunities and making the transition out of academia more seamless.