‘How many of the criteria do I need to meet to be considered for a job?’ It’s a question that never goes away. It’s a particular bugbear for researchers looking to move into sectors beyond academia, as you try to grapple with industry jargon and decipher exactly what it is that employers are really lookingContinue reading “I have a PhD but don’t meet all the requirements for this job. What do I do?”
Category Archives: Articulating your skills
Repackage your PhD: How to pitch your skills to any employer
I remember the day when weekends away with friends would begin by comparing the new outfits we’d each bought for the holiday. Now we’re into our 40s, it seems that comparing new threads has been replaced by comparing what medications we’re all on. C’est la vie. Anyway, one weekend over the summer I realised thatContinue reading “Repackage your PhD: How to pitch your skills to any employer”
Pitching Perfect: Leveraging your Research Communication, Public Engagement & Outreach Experience for a Rewarding Career
In my experience, I’ve only been able to reflect that I’ve got a certain skill once I’ve used it in a different environment.’ – Katrina Roberts SPERM BIOLOGY! Did that distract you?! Well, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about distractions… more specifically, about the things we might feel guilty about giving time to duringContinue reading “Pitching Perfect: Leveraging your Research Communication, Public Engagement & Outreach Experience for a Rewarding Career”
Leaving Academia in the Humanities: Five practical steps to help you find what’s next
‘You don’t realise the value of (and the extent to which you have) these skills as a humanities PhD, until you’re in an environment when not everyone has them.‘ – Cat Quine: career changer from academia to tech You know how career guidance appointments rarely go? ‘So, you’re looking to leave your lectureship in BiblicalContinue reading “Leaving Academia in the Humanities: Five practical steps to help you find what’s next”
I’ve done a PhD: Does that make me a ‘project manager?’
You’ve done a PhD… that means you’re already a project manager! I hear this A LOT. I *may* even have said it at some point. But the more I’ve heard it, the more I’ve started to doubt it… or at least critique it. For example, back in October I had the pleasure of working withContinue reading “I’ve done a PhD: Does that make me a ‘project manager?’”
Non-academic job interviews: convincing your interviewers that you’re “just the job”
‘Just the job’: [British. Informal. Idiom] – exactly what is needed. E.g. ‘I was so thirsty, that cup of tea was just the job.’ Synonyms: excellent, ideal. This post is based on a recent interview with Grad Chat for PhD Balance on top tips for PhD career transitions beyond academia, available as a podcast orContinue reading “Non-academic job interviews: convincing your interviewers that you’re “just the job””
What industries really value… and how to leverage this in your post-PhD job hunt
In academia, you might publish a paper and then say to an industry employer ‘hey, look, I have this thing!’ And the industry employer will respond ‘Ah, ok great…… what is that??’ – Eric James Stephens There’s a line in the Barenaked Ladies song ‘One Week’ (or as we called it at school, ‘The ChineseContinue reading “What industries really value… and how to leverage this in your post-PhD job hunt”
Be the solution: how to really articulate your PhD (and other) skills to employers
‘Change your perspective from “how can I beat the odds and win the tenure-track jackpot prize?” to “how can I be the solution to a department’s hiring problem?”’ – Dr Loleen Berdahl & Dr Jonathan Malloy There’s nothing like friends sending you photos of their home-baked halloumi and mint focaccia to make you feel inadequate.Continue reading “Be the solution: how to really articulate your PhD (and other) skills to employers”
PostGradual: what’s this all about, then?
In the beginning was the word, and the word was… ‘overqualified’ My post-PhD job hunt wasn’t going well. It was mid-October, T-minus three weeks to viva day. I’d finally gotten sick of the endless ‘oh, it’s your viva soon? Well, I heard a friend of a friend was in theirs for 6 hours and thenContinue reading “PostGradual: what’s this all about, then?”