Tag: consulting
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Your PhD won’t get you a good job (sorry)
One of the key texts for PhDs seeking careers outside academia is called “So What Are You Going to Do With That?” (affiliate link). I’ve got the third edition on my shelf, and I was re-reading the chapter on resumes and cover letters the other day. The chapter tells the stories of three people (two…
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My grad school application advice
‘tis the season for graduate school application advice. (Fun fact: The advice is often contradictory. “Reach out for prospective advisors because your relationship with your PI is the most important predictor of your success.” “Don’t email professors before applying; we don’t have time to talk to you.” Ugh.) I don’t work with folks on application…
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What if academic job apps were less burdensome?
I’m thinking this morning about what it would be like if academic job searches in North America required a LOT less from applicants. Imagine if all you had to do was submit a CV and a cover letter that includes X key info (as specified)? After an initial screen, 10-12 people could be asked for…
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These books will help your job search, PhDs
Over the years I’ve read and, uh, put on my shelf lots of books written by PhDs and other professionals that are great resources for any graduate job search. I recently updated my list and published it as a separate resource page: Recommended Reading. The first books I read that helped me include William Bridges’…
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Transition Q & A: Dawn Nickel
Dawn Nickel earned her PhD in the history of health care policy from the University of Alberta. She’s currently working as an independent research consultant and also operates She Recovers, a business that organizes yoga retreats in Mexico for women in recovery from addictions, chronic disease, and other life challenges. Follow her @dawnsherecovers. What did you…
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Tina Seelig’s post-PhD transition
I came across this recently: Soon after earning my PhD in neuroscience, my sights were set on working in a startup biotechnology company. The only problem? I wanted a job in marketing and strategy, not in the lab. This seemed nearly impossible without any relevant experience. The startup companies with whom I interviewed were looking…
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Transition Q & A: Alisa Harrison
Alisa Harrison earned her PhD in history from Duke University. She’s principal at A. Harrison Research & Consulting and the executive director of the Victoria (British Columbia) Division of Family Practice. What did you hope for in terms of employment as you completed your PhD? I wanted work that would be intellectually as well as socially/politically engaging; I felt like…
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Transition Q & A: Brad King
Brad King earned his PhD in history from the University of Toronto. He is a vice president at Lord Cultural Resources, an international museum and cultural planning firm. A tenure-track job at a research institution is often seen as the supposed goal of a post-PhD job search. What was your experience? What did you hope for…