Supporting data for the thesis titled 'Factors Influencing Career Trajectories of PhD Students and Graduates in Greater China: Focusing on the Role of Labour Market Conditions'

This is the supporting data for the thesis titled 'Factors Influencing Career Trajectories of PhD Students and Graduates in Greater China: Focusing on the Role of Labour Market Conditions'. The participants of the thesis comprised 117 PhD students and 48 PhD graduates in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. Participants provided accounts of their career intentions or career trajectories through a one-on-one interview that lasted 60 to 90 minutes.

Interviews with PhD students mainly centred on motivations to do the PhD, experiences during the doctorate that influence career intentions, concrete career planning, perceived advantages or attractions of working in academia and beyond, job characteristics valued, critical events that influence career intentions, job preparation, and the influence of experiences mentioned in the pre-interview questionnaire. Besides all the questions for PhD students, the interview protocol for PhD graduates also includes questions on job-hunting experiences, entry requirements, experiences of all work experiences after PhD graduation, and reflections on the work environment in each stage after graduation.