‘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: Job hunting
Research Skills Redefined: Leveraging simple thesis tactics to work out your next steps
‘Your research skills are by no means limited to a particular subject area. You can – and should – apply research skills to the job search itself.’ – Katina Rogers, Putting the Humanities PhD to Work (p.106) Picture the scene. It’s a Monday afternoon and you’re having lunch/coffee/PhD moral support chats with a pal. You’reContinue reading “Research Skills Redefined: Leveraging simple thesis tactics to work out your next steps”
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”
Silencing self-criticism & redefining ‘success’: maintaining mental health in your post-PhD job hunt
Found yourself contemplating these questions when looking to job hunt beyond academia? Then read on… A Tale of Two Mindsets Fawzi Abou-Chahine’s opens his book A Jobseeker’s Diary with the confession that he never anticipated ever developing a mental health issue. Fast forward to months of fruitless job hunting post-postdoc and his mental health startedContinue reading “Silencing self-criticism & redefining ‘success’: maintaining mental health in your post-PhD job hunt”
I Practised What I Preached: What happened when a PhD careers adviser took her own advice
‘I give myself very good advice, but I very seldom follow it’ – Alice, Alice in Wonderland 2022 marked me passing five years in my current job. Over five years… that’s the longest I’ve ever done anything. Longer than any degree I’ve done, relationship I’ve had, place I’ve lived (except my parental home). With thisContinue reading “I Practised What I Preached: What happened when a PhD careers adviser took her own advice”
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””
Curious, not creepy: ‘Networking’ your way to a post-PhD job
When your networking is driven by curiosity rather than asking for a job, I found people were very receptive to that. It didn’t come off as needy… or creepy! – Dr Kinga Stryszowska-Hill No, I’m not listing the world’s least effective dating strategies… these are all genuine ways in which I’ve known people findContinue reading “Curious, not creepy: ‘Networking’ your way to a post-PhD job”
‘I need direction!’ How research questions can focus your post-PhD job hunt beyond academia
‘Approach your [job] search as you would a research question -with curiosity, close reading skills, an eye for patterns, and perseverance.’ – Dr Katina Rogers Few people embraced virtual lockdown life like my mum. She got into Tai Chi classes on Zoom, a National Gallery podcast, and even found her way onto Rory Stewart’s TwitterContinue reading “‘I need direction!’ How research questions can focus your post-PhD job hunt beyond academia”
Leaving Academia, Grieving Academia: a message of hope from the other side
‘For me, the grief of leaving academia feels about the same as the loss and grief of the end of relationship. Even when you know that the relationship wasn’t right for you […] loss is loss.‘ – Lisa L Munro, PhD Out of my box of theatre and gig tickets that went unused due toContinue reading “Leaving Academia, Grieving Academia: a message of hope from the other side”
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”