Will your PhD open doors for you? + other PhD business owners

Dear Reader,

“Your PhD opens doors,” we were told.

Not so much for me.

At least not when it came to finding a full-time paying job.*

When I was figuring out how to pay my way through life after finishing my doctorate, I attempted to identify positions and places where my PhD credential, disciplinary training, and research expertise would be valued.

I struck out.

I know now that there’s a lot of variety to what folks go through in getting work outside academia.

That variety stems from all the demographic factors you imagine they do (gender, citizenship, age, location, degree, discipline, etc.).

Many PhDs move into roles where, even if the specifics of their publications and teaching don’t matter so much, their more general work experience and knowledge absolutely do.

How directly that general experience and knowledge connects with their new careers varies.

Some find a pretty close match, all things considered; others rely much more on transferable skills to get them going as they build up necessary job-specific expertise.

I put myself with the latter folks.

My career isn’t meaningfully connected to what I researched and taught. But I still hang around—that is, work with—long-time academics, as I did then.

Initially, I drew heavily on my own personal experience to relate to my clients.

Now that I’ve been at this for over a decade, I’ve picked up a great deal of other insights to better serve clients who aren’t just like I was.

For example, I love that I work with scientists and engineers as well as artists and humanists, and everyone in between and all around.

I think it’s neat that my clients are typically professors and postdocs—role I never had myself—instead of graduate students.

The fact that I have a PhD myself is meaningful to my clients, but the specifics don’t necessarily matter so much.

How does your work and career now connect with what you did back then? Or, better yet: how you do want it to connect?

I wrote something similar on LinkedIn, and got great comments. Check out the discussion and add your own thoughts.

* I think having a PhD has opened doors in other ways for me! And I leverage the credential it in my marketing, as you may have noticed.

What’s Happening

I’m booking workshops and speaking engagements for next academic year. Let me know if you want bring me to your campus or office (online, hybrid, or on-site).
… but I might not get back to you immediately because I’m on vacation for the next two weeks! Hope you’re taking time off soon (or have already done so).

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What Are Your Character Strengths?

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How to Convince Employers to Take A Chance on You

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On the Value of Community While You Seek What’s Next

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A few weeks ago I mentioned my friend Jennifer van Alstyne, who’s been doing awesome work on my website. (Anything still bad is my fault!) She helps busy professors have an online presence they’re confident in.

There are a few other business owners I regularly collaborate or scheme with, and all of them have PhDs. Sharing in case you might need what they have to offer!

Anna Clemens helps researchers get their papers published using an efficient writing process.
Emily Crookston is a ghostwriter and thought leadership strategist who helps quirky, deep-thinking experts and entrepreneurs get their ideas out of their heads and into the world.
Ramona Houston creates transformative event experiences that drive social impact for organizations that want to positively contribute to society but lack the time, staff and expertise to execute their ideas.
Lisa Munro is an academic publication consultant who helps scholars turn good ideas into great scholarship.
Echo Rivera can help you create powerful presentations and communicate your work/ideas is engaging and creative ways.
Michelle Dionne Thompson helps women in big law firms who work 70-90 hours per week improve their productivity for increased rest, more pleasure, better health, and building the families and communities they need to support their well-being.
Anna Marie Trester helps linguists build careers where they can find meaningful expression of their research and analytical skills.
Serena Williams helps people connect with their heritage through family history travel.
Tory Wobber helps social science PhDs exit academia and land industry jobs.

As for me, you know it: I help professors, postdocs, and other PhDs who are ready to leave academia but struggling to land jobs where they’re valued and respected! 😁

Cheers,

Jen

P.S. Want to explore working with me? Visit my Services page to learn about options, or reply to this email and let me know what you want my help with!

Jennifer Polk, PhD