#58 Beyond Academia

I was speaking with a PhD candidate recently who doesn’t know what to do after his PhD

Many PhD candidates and researchers think that their PhD is only good for universities

In reality, it can help you get great jobs in other fields too

Simply because all the skills you get while doing a PhD are in high demand in other sectors

For every academic task, think of ways it fits a job (like research, analyzing large data sets, problem-solving, communication, collaboration, presenting, teaching, leading, management, etc)

Look around you or search online people who had their PhDs recently and check what they do now.

Talk to them to see how they made the transition

Let me give you a few examples

Corporate Trainer

Teach employees in companies using your subject knowledge.

Skills You Need:

• Create lessons

• Teach customers and colleagues

• Check learning

• Stay up to date

Science Communicator

Turn complex ideas into clear messages for the public

Skills You Need:

• Clear writing

• Know your audience

• Use videos or blogs

• Tell stories

Data Science & Analytics

Companies want people who can work with data and explain what it means.

Skills You Need:

• Statistics

• Coding

• Data tools

• Business thinking

Product Manager

Use your planning skills to build and improve products

Skills You Need:

• Lead projects

• Study markets

• Talk with users and tech teams

• Make decisions

Strategy Consulting

Help companies solve tough problems using logic and research

Skills You Need:

• Break down problems

• Use data to make choices

• Talk with clients

• Think fast

Research & Development (R&D) Leader

Use your research skills to lead big projects in tech or biotech companies.

Skills You Need:

• Plan and manage research

• Lead teams

• Handle budgets

• Work with different departments

Intellectual Property (IP)

Help protect inventions using your science and legal knowledge

Skills You Need:

• Understand tech

• Read legal papers

• Write clearly

• Think ahead

Let me know if you have any other suggestions.

As always, if you need clarification or assistance with your research projects, feel free to reach out to me, and I will respond

See you next Sunday!

Jamal

My favorite things this week

1.    Reflecting on the month of May with lots of various activities with universities and researchers

2.    A session focusing on bibliometric analyses with researchers from Morocco

P.S.: If you enjoyed this newsletter, forward it to a friend! And if you aren't subscribed, subscribe here.