Personalized support for professors, postdocs, and other PhDs
Feel stuck? Want something different? When you need help figuring out your next direction beyond academia, book a consultation with career clarity coach, Jennifer Polk, PhD.
Maybe you know it’s time for something different.
Maybe you’re trying to decide whether to leave academia.
Maybe you want to move beyond academia but don’t know what kind of work you’re actually looking for.
Maybe you’ve been reading, applying, networking, or updating your materials—but still feel like you’re searching too broadly or not getting anywhere.
Maybe you already left, but the job you landed doesn’t feel quite right.
Or maybe you have one specific career question or decision you want to talk through with someone who understands where you’re coming from.
Whatever brings you here, you don’t have to figure it out alone.
In a one-hour consultation, we’ll focus on the question, challenge, or decision that feels hardest to sort out on your own. I’ll help you make sense of what’s going on, identify what you may be overlooking, and decide what to do next. You may not leave with your entire career figured out, but you should leave thinking more clearly and knowing where to focus next.
A note about scope: I can help you consider whether staying in academia is right for you, but I do not provide academic job-market coaching or support with securing or advancing within academic roles.
Session Details
1-on-1 Career Clarity & Strategy Session
60 minutes • Zoom • US$225
What we can work on together
Every conversation is different because every career is different.
People book consultations to discuss things such as
- figuring out what you actually want next when everything still feels vague or wide open
- deciding whether it’s time to leave academia
- exploring careers and work beyond academia
- turning a broad, unfocused search into a more strategic one
- figuring out who to talk to, what to ask, and how networking is supposed to help
- making sense of a role that no longer fits
- building confidence during a career transition
If your question relates to leaving academia, building a career beyond it, or figuring out what comes next after you’ve left, that’s great. You don’t need to know exactly what kind of help to ask for. Bring me the part you’re stuck on, and we’ll work from there.
My approach
There are plenty of people who’ll rewrite your resume, LinkedIn profile, or tell you what jobs you should apply for based on your educational and professional background.
That’s not the work I do.
I won’t tell you what job to pursue.
I won’t pretend there’s one perfect answer.
And I definitely won’t hand you a generic list of “good jobs for PhDs.”
Instead, I’ll help you sort through what you’re thinking, question conclusions you may be taking for granted, evaluate your options, and make a decision you can actually move forward with.
Sometimes the problem is practical: your search is too broad, you don’t know who to talk to, or you’re unsure what to do next.
Sometimes the harder part is deciding what you actually want—or trusting yourself enough to choose.
Often, it’s both.
My goal is to support you in getting what you want, and that usually starts with clarifying your thinking, adjusting your strategy (what you’re doing), and making decisions.
Who I work with
People usually book with me because they recognize themselves in one of these situations:
- “I’m seriously considering leaving academia, but I haven’t decided.”
- “I know I want out, but I don’t know what I want instead.”
- “I’m searching too broadly and need help narrowing my focus.”
- “I’ve started applying, but I’m not confident that I’m approaching this strategically.”
- “I already left academia, but this job isn’t the right fit either.”
- “I have one specific question or decision and want an experienced outside perspective.”
I also work with ABD scholars and other terminal degree holders whose experience and professional identity are strongly connected to academia.
Some clients are actively applying for jobs. Others haven’t updated a resume yet. Many simply know they want something different but aren’t yet sure what.
What you’ll leave with
Every conversation is different, but people commonly leave with
- greater clarity about their situation
- a better understanding of their options
- practical next steps they feel confident taking
- a clearer strategy
- renewed confidence in themselves and their abilities
- a fresh perspective on a challenging situation
Sometimes one conversation is enough to help someone move forward.
Sometimes one question leads to several others, and it becomes clear that ongoing support would be more useful. We can talk honestly about that too.
Still figuring things out?
That’s completely normal.
In fact, many of the people who eventually become my clients begin with exactly the same question:
“I’m not sure what I need.”
You don’t need to decide that before reaching out.
That’s something we can figure out together.
Watch my free webinar
Want to get a sense of how I think before spending any money?
My free webinar is an introduction to how I approach career clarity and job searching beyond academia. It’s a great way to learn something useful, hear how I work, and decide whether my approach resonates with you.
Many people watch the webinar before booking a consultation or joining my program.
Think of it as a helpful resource, and a way to do a vibe check on me.
Looking for ongoing support?
A consultation is a focused conversation.
If you’re looking for a structured process, coaching, accountability, community, and support over several months as you navigate a career transition, my PhD Career Clarity Program is likely the better fit.
Inside the program, members work through my four-step PhD Career Clarity System, participate in live coaching and workshops, and connect with a community of thoughtful professors, postdocs, and other PhDs navigating similar questions.
If you’re looking for more than one conversation, I’d love for you to take a look.
Ready?
I’d be delighted to help you think through your questions about leaving academia, building a career beyond it, or deciding what comes next after you’ve left.
1-on-1 Career Clarity & Strategy Session
60 minutes • Zoom • US$225