http://youtu.be/nl393d4wzXM If not academia, then what? Career exploration for PhDs Here's a list of common and emerging sectors: nonprofit, philanthropy, government, legal, marketing/PR, communications, business/strategy, consulting, operations, management, public safety and security services, social entrepreneurship, social impact careers What others would you add to this list? Let us know in the comments section.
Some of the most common concerns I hear from PhDs considering a career outside of academia go something like this: How do I know what kind of job I would be good at? What company will want to hire someone my age with little “real world” experience? Who will serve as references for me when all my references are from my lab or dissertation committee? These concerns are valid for any graduate student who wants to be a viable candidate for industry careers. However, the divide between the academic and the workplace can be bridged with one or two well-placed volunteer, intern or part-time work experiences. A little experience goes a long way to helping you get your foot in the door in a new field. You’ve heard this advice before but you aren’t sure where to find such opportunities and the [...]
Yesterday, I participated in a cool Twitter chat led by Jennifer Polk - @phdtolife - on the subject how academics talk about themselves to employers and nonacademic audiences. Academics from ABDs to postdocs to tenure track professor weighed in with questions and comments on positioning and branding. You can check out the Storify compilation here sfy.co/fX5p or you can follow the entire Twitter chat by searching for hashtag trend #withaPhD. Some of my tips from our chat: Don't lead with "I have a PhD in..." - This type of introduction quickly derails any introduction or interview. Your listener begins to focus on your degree rather than the skills, interests and values you bring to the position. The conversation can go down a deep rabbit hole really quickly, especially if you have not learned to quickly describe your research in terms that nonspecialists find [...]
Be Bold.Nothing about the Ph.D. process prepares you to find a career outside of the academy, which means you probably have no idea how to navigate the mainstream job market. Making the transition to a meaningful job that pays well may feel like a scary process, but you have help.
Be Bold is a daily action guide to keep you motivated and on track during your job search. Boost your confidence and align your job search strategies with your goals when you buy Be Bold today.
Be Bold takes the guesswork out of your job search. You’ll get 30 daily statements and 30 bite-sized action steps to keep you on track.
[su_button background="#4ec1c0" center="yes" radius="0"]Get Your Copy[/su_button]
Are you exploring your nonacademic career options or actively searching for a nonacademic job? This 50-page weekly organizer will help you organize all the moving parts of your job search and career exploration.
Identify and track career paths you've considered, job ads of interest, companies, networking contacts, and applications submitted in one easy-to-reach place. The Career Clarity assessments guide you in narrowing down the broad range of jobs you could do, to the one or two that you will pursue.
Perfect for graduate students, postdocs and faculty who are exploring or transitioning to nonacademic careers.
[su_button background="#4ec1c0" center="yes" radius="0"]Get Your Copy[/su_button]