Dear Reader,

How do you figure out what you want to do outside academia if all you’ve ever known of the world of employment (since shitty jobs in your youth) is working as a faculty member or postdoc?

A couple program members had an exchange about exactly this recently. They framed it as looking for “something that sparks.”

It sounds like magic (or physics) but this is about recognizing opportunities that offer what you know you want without crap you don’t.

This recognition comes out of self-reflection and assessment, that is, clarity about who you are, what you’ve got, and what you want to focus your energy on.

When folks like me say that self-reflection is the most underrated part of the job search, this is why!

It’s crucial to build a sense of self that doesn’t stem directly from what academia has you believing about yourself and the jobs you should want.

Here’s Alex:

“I have had a huge amount of change and shift in energy in the last few weeks. Two weeks ago … I ended up finding a listing for a position at the University of X, which is 15 minutes from my house.”

“I’m really excited about it. It was a breeze to get my application in and I felt amazing about it all.”

Heck yeah!

The reflection he’s been doing for the past few months coalesced into a clear understanding of what kind of job he wants next.

“I just completely shifted from being in this soul searching mode for a long time to being ‘I really like this’ and going full tilt into it within a few days. So now I am considering other similar jobs where something sparks for me.”

Another member spoke next:

“What Alex just said resonated with me, around finding something that sparks for you in terms of your search. It’s been a struggle for me in that way, feeling this desperation and urgency to just apply, apply, apply.

“I get myself into trouble when I do that, because if I do progress [to the interview stage] I’m like, ‘oh, no, I shouldn’t have done this. This wasn’t the right move.’

“For me, more recently, I’ve had a shift of just calming down and taking a step back. Working through the program so that I can feel more confident in what I’m applying for and feel excited about it, like Alex said as well, instead of not feeling great.”

Instead of looking for “whatever job,” she says “now, I’m really trying to find what sparks.”

Yes! Love it. This is the way.

My favorite part of working with PhD Career Clarity Program members is facilitating these group discussions.

I know group experiences don’t work for everyone. I’d like to think mine are better than average.

I’ve incorporated them in my businesses in multiple ways over the years: Small group coaching as its own thing; community discussions for membership sites; drop-in live Q&As for a self-paced job search program.

When I encourage my clients to draw on their strengths, when I write about noticing what brings you energy, when I ask workshop participants about how they best show up in the world (those “sparks”), this is an example from my own life of what I mean.

The facilitator role suits me. Facilitator as community builder, mentor and coach, and learning experience developer.

What about you? What are ways that you show up best in the world, that transcend job-specific skills and contexts?

In other words, what are your sparks?

Are you curious about why I do what I do?

Because too many professors, postdocs, and other PhDs who are ready to leave academia are struggling to figure out what else they can do and land jobs where they’re valued and respected.

I help them focus on what’s important to them now, discover exciting opportunities, and confidently communicate what they have to offer so they can live their version of success even if it’s very different from where they imagined they’d be at this point in their careers.

What’s Happening

Regular 90-minute weekly co-working continues on Wednesdays this summer. Sign up here (it’s free): Co-Working Sessions.
In addition to my own free co-working sessions, I host 60-minute co-working sessions most mornings on Flow Club. Use my signup link to get a free two-week trial: Join Flow Club.
This month’s member-exclusive workshop (live and recorded) is happening on Friday, 31 May, at 12pm EDT. Program members have access to all previously recorded workshops.