Dear Reader,
A lot of PhDs already know how to job search.
Is this you?
You have a job already, whether you work in academia or have switched tracks to industry, government, whatever.
The mechanics of a job search aren’t really your issue.
The problem? You don’t know exactly what you want next.
And that vagueness makes is impossible to do anything or gain traction when you do act. Ugh.
Plus, part of you worries that what you want… might not even exist? Thus hampering your efforts even more. (Self-fulfilling prophecy stuff.)
If that’s you, okay. We can fix this.
That’s actually the most important work for those of you who aren’t in crisis mode and would very much prefer not to get there!
Here’s how one of my humanities PhD clients put it after landing a great new role:
“This job I got was one that didn’t rely on any special connection or networking trick—it was advertised on LinkedIn and Idealist.
What helped me from the course was having laid out my priorities (which allowed me to apply without any self-imposed doubts that I was doing the right thing) and having gained some insights from multiple related informational interviews.
Resume modification also played a role—but my takeaway from this particular success is that being clear about what I was seeking and what I would and would not accept in a new role played a part in leading me to think I could get this.
So, to sum it up:
❌ No to pre-existing connections or networking “tricks.”
✅ Yes to knowing your own priorities.
✅ Yes to learning from informational interviews.
✅ Yes to tailoring and customizing your resume.
But mostly?
✅ Yes to career clarity: “being clear about what I was seeking and what I would and would not accept.”
Maybe you already have a job that ties to your PhD training.
On paper, it’s a success. Your family, colleagues, even your former advisor are proud of you.
But inside? You know it’s not right. You’re not truly thriving.
And the last thing you want is to swap one “not-quite-right” role for another in the same lane.
You’ve worked too hard and too long to land in another role that looks good on paper but leaves you feeling the same way six months later.
That’s why clarity matters.
And clarity doesn’t mean starting over.
It doesn’t mean applying harder, either.
It means getting clear on what really excites you, what you won’t compromise on, and what a career that truly fits could look like.
It means using what you already have in a way that aligns with the life you want going forward.
If you’re in a job now but know it’s not the right long-term fit, my PhD Career Clarity program was designed for you.
👉 Join the program or learn more.
Here’s what’s available to members right now:
🔹 One core self-paced course where you learn and apply the PhD Career Clarity System. A step-by-step process to go from “ugh” to “ooooh!” and feel confident as you apply, interview, and begin your next role.
🔹 A workshop library of 20+ past workshops, organized into five themes (reflection, storytelling, networking, applications, resilience). These expand on or offer alternative approaches if you need something different for your own specific job search.
🔹 Live small group coaching + workshops: Each month, members can participate in 3 coaching sessions + 1 live workshop. Here’s the October schedule:
- Tues, Oct 7, 12pm EDT – coaching & discussion
- Thurs, Oct 16, 10am EDT – coaching & discussion
- Wed, Oct 22, 7pm EDT – coaching & discussion
- Fri, Oct 31, 12pm EDT – workshop
👉 Join now and be part of the October live sessions.
Not sure if this is the right fit for you? Just hit reply and tell me a bit about your situation. I’ll let you know what I think.
If you’re in a job now but know it’s not quite right…
Or if you’ve stopped applying because you don’t know what you’re even aiming for…The PhD Career Clarity Program is for you.
Best wishes,
Jen
