Like PostGradual the Blog?
Then check out my book!
Navigating Careers Beyond Academia: A Practical Handbook for Doctoral & Postdoctoral Researchers is available for pre-order from 27 July, 2026, with a release date of 17 August, 2026.
It’s an evidence-based, step-by-step guide to career transition beyond academia, grounded in scholarship from the field of career transition, and packed full of strategies for you to proactively pivot your career into other sectors.
It’s designed to help you address barriers to exploring careers beyond academia, determine your priorities, generate career options, and navigate some of the most persistent questions about preparing for career transition beyond academia. It also guides you through strategies for identifying relevant opportunities, communicating your skills and value effectively to potential employers, and concludes with a framework for building your career in the longer term.
Grounded in case studies of former researchers from a range of backgrounds and disciplines across STEM, social sciences, and humanities, the book is a definitive guide for researchers. It also acts as a toolkit to support the work of careers consultants, researcher developers, and all involved in facilitating the professional development of doctoral and postdoctoral researchers.
Reviews
“Navigating Careers Beyond Academia is the smart, structured, and research-backed guide that so many PhDs need in today’s job market. Whether you’re just starting your doctorate or are already years past graduation, this book offers clarity, compassion, and a treasure trove of evidence-based insights and exercises that will support you in your career decisions. With case studies and advice relevant to both STEM and humanities backgrounds, this book tackles the emotional and practical hurdles of career change beyond academia head-on. If you’re a researcher wondering what’s next, this guide offers not just answers, but a confident way forward.”
David Mendes, PhD, Creator of the Papa PhD Podcast.
“This book is like a compass and a map for anyone lost in the post-PhD wilderness. Blending research and experience, Navigating Careers Beyond Academia is both thoroughly practical and deeply kind. The detailed background research will appeal to the academically minded, while the exercises provide a step-by-step guide to navigating the world beyond academia. A must read for anyone who is feeling adrift.”
Dr Sarah McLusky, consultant and host of the Research Adjacent Podcast.