How to Get a Great Job Outside Academia
(even if you have no idea what you want to do next or why anyone would hire you)
For professors, postdocs, and other PhDs who know their current role isn’t the right fit anymore, but don’t yet know what they want next.
If you’ve been scrolling job boards, rewriting your resume, or thinking “I should have figured this out by now,” this training will help you move forward strategically.
About Jennifer Polk, PhD
Jennifer Polk, PhD, is a career coach, educator, and recognized expert in PhD careers. She facilitates professional development workshops and delivers keynote presentations at institutions across the US, Canada, and internationally. Jen created her PhD Career Clarity Program to help PhDs navigate their career paths with confidence. She currently serves on the board of directors for the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies. Her writing has appeared in Inside Higher Ed, University Affairs, and The Chronicle of Higher Education. She earned her PhD in history from the University of Toronto.
By the end of this free 80-minute training you will be able to
Focus on what’s important to you instead of letting academia’s expectations determine what your career should look like next.
Approach your job search more strategically instead of applying broadly, rewriting your resume endlessly, or following generic advice that doesn’t fit your goals.
Identify career directions that fit so you can pursue work that uses your strengths and interests without staying stuck in a role that no longer works for you.
You want to launch your new career without wasting time applying for the wrong jobs
…but you don’t know where to start.
(If you already know you want more structured support, you can also learn about the PhD Career Clarity Program on this page.)
As a professor or other long-time academic, you want to know what viable career path to pursue. You don’t want to give up what you most value, including stability, flexibility, autonomy, and more.
Sign up for the free training to stop worrying about making bad decisions and start being in control of your career. Yes, this training is right for you even if you have no idea what you want to do next.
What PhDs say about this training
“Really loved your webinar and how positive you posed things. Helping me feel less overwhelmed about the next career move.”
“A complete reframing of my process. This is extremely valuable.”
“Thank you for the webinar! You made me realize that I was going back my CV-to-resume conversion all wrong and I now completely reworked my resume.”
“Loving it! It’s such a perspective shift from academia.”
“Awesome, thank you! This has been fantastic and definitely nailed a lot of the things I was doing that probably weren’t working.”
“This was one of the resources that helped me the most in making the decision to leave academia. If you are going through such a process and need support, I definitely recommend you to take a look.”
“I appreciate the webinar! Been feeling really uninspired and demotivated in my postdoc and it’s leading to some serious mental health issues. I’m itching to try something new, but I don’t know where my interests would fit. This definitely helped give me some clarity and a starting point for the job search. Thanks!”
“Thanks for this presentation – it is immensely helpful!“
“Practical and clearly explained. Graphics are engaging.”
Yes, you can have a fulfilling career outside of academia even if you…
- love teaching, mentoring, or helping people learn
- care deeply about research, ideas, and solving complex problems
- can’t imagine wanting a shallow or meaningless job
While still…
- having time and energy for a life outside work
- earning a stable income and supporting yourself or your family
- living and working where you actually want to be
- contributing something meaningful to your community or the wider world
- working with thoughtful, capable people who value your perspective
A letter from Jen Polk, PhD
Hello! 👋🏻
I’m Jen Polk, the career coach for professors, postdocs, and other PhDs who know their current role isn’t the right fit anymore—but don’t yet know what comes next.
Over the past decade, I’ve helped thousands of academics navigate career transitions inside and outside academia through workshops, coaching, online programs, and speaking engagements.
One thing I’ve learned is that most struggling PhD job searches are not actually resume problems.
They’re clarity problems.
When you don’t yet know what kind of work fits your strengths, priorities, and long-term goals, it’s incredibly hard to:
- search strategically
- communicate your value clearly
- feel confident in your decisions
- or know which opportunities are actually worth pursuing
That’s what this free training is designed to help with.
I’d love to help you approach your next career step more thoughtfully, strategically, and sustainably.
Have questions? I’m happy to answer them! Email me at Jen@FromPhDToLife.com