Is your job search as effective as it could be?

Dear Reader,

People sometimes assume they need to figure a few things out before working with me.

For example, that you need to know what direction you want to go in—what specific kind of job you want—before getting my help.

That makes sense for some kinds of job search support (LinkedIn profile updates, resume writing, interview prep).

But much of my work with professors, postdocs, and other PhDs happens before that stage.

And, yes, there is a before stage.

Now, some of the people who join my program are already doing things.

They’re reading articles. Listening to podcasts. Updating LinkedIn. Applying for jobs. Going to conferences. Talking to people. Taking courses. Wondering if they should stay in academia or leave. Wondering if they made the right decision after already leaving.

They’re putting real time and energy into figuring this out.

They’re just… not getting what they wanted from all that effort.

One member introduced herself during a live discussion like this:

I had been applying to things before I signed up for this course and now looking back realize that my applications were really off the mark… now I’m trying to take a step back and figure out what I’m doing.

Another described the problem this way:

My problem is that I don’t have anything strong drawing me in another particular direction. I have some things that are strongly chasing me out of the industry… but there’s nothing that’s really calling to me as an escape route.

And another member, already juggling multiple opportunities, said:

I’m feeling like I’m getting too many projects too fast without having really assessed what I really want to do.

You probably do have a sense of what you want.

For example, maybe it’s things like better pay, more flexibility, a healthier work environment, meaningful work, a chance to use the skills you’ve spent years developing.

Awesome. Those are all important.

And they’re also not enough to run an effective job search.

They don’t tell you which opportunities are actually a good fit, which ones to ignore, what to emphasize in your applications, how to explain why you’re pursuing a particular role, or how to decide between two seemingly good options.

That’s why the first part of my PhD Career Clarity Program isn’t about resumes, networking, or interviews.

Instead, it’s about developing the kind of clarity that makes the rest of your job search work.

You need to figure out what’s actually important to you now, the strengths you most want to use, the kinds of problems you enjoy solving, the environments where you’re most likely to thrive, and the trade-offs you’re willing (or unwilling) to make.

Only then do you move into researching careers, networking, applications, and interviews.

Because a focused job search is almost always a more effective one.

If you’ve been trying to figure this out on your own—reading articles, networking, applying for jobs, having informational interviews—but you aren’t getting interviews or job offers, it may not be because you need a better resume or a more polished LinkedIn profile.

It may be because your job search isn’t yet focused enough.

And that often comes back to clarity.

The kind of clarity that helps you identify the right opportunities, explain why they’re a fit, and tell a compelling story about yourself.

If you’re wondering whether you’re at the right stage to work with me, you’re welcome to ask.

We can have a quick conversation before you decide either way. If I think the program is likely to help, I’ll tell you. If I don’t, I’ll tell you that too.

Just reply to this email.

Cheers,

Jen

Jennifer Polk, PhD