Alternative Careers for PhDs
These resources on alternative, non-academic, careers for doctoral graduates will help you start on a new career path.
Graduate Students Skills Translate to Non-Academic Careers
A graduate degree offers preparation for careers outside of academic because it develops a variety of skills useful for employers
A graduate degree offers preparation for careers outside of academic because it develops a variety of skills useful for employers
Career Alternatives for Art Historians
You're not limited to a career in academia! Take a look at these career options for Ph.D.s in art history.
You're not limited to a career in academia! Take a look at these career options for Ph.D.s in art history.
What is Success?
In academia, success often refers to finding a tenure-track job --- a difficult task that not all PhDs accomplish. We need to expand our notions of success
In academia, success often refers to finding a tenure-track job --- a difficult task that not all PhDs accomplish. We need to expand our notions of success
Doctoral Education Mismatch?
Findings from a recent survey of graduate students reveals a mismatch between doctoral education, student expectations, and career realities.
Findings from a recent survey of graduate students reveals a mismatch between doctoral education, student expectations, and career realities.
Resources on NonAcademic Careers in the Humanities
Question: I am a college senior considering a PhD in English, but I am aware of the unencouraging academic job market. Are there any resources to help me learn about nonacademic job opportunites for Humanites PhDs?
Question: I am a college senior considering a PhD in English, but I am aware of the unencouraging academic job market. Are there any resources to help me learn about nonacademic job opportunites for Humanites PhDs?
Academia or Industry?
It's a difficult decision that requires you to consider many factors. Here's some help in sorting it all out.
It's a difficult decision that requires you to consider many factors. Here's some help in sorting it all out.
Alternative Careers for Scientists
Science careers for doctoral degree holders outside of academia, including science careers away from the bench, and careers as a technical writer, patent attorney, patent agent, public policy specialist, science journalist, and science textbook editor.
Science careers for doctoral degree holders outside of academia, including science careers away from the bench, and careers as a technical writer, patent attorney, patent agent, public policy specialist, science journalist, and science textbook editor.
Career Alternatives for Art Historians
You're not limited to a career in academia! Take a look at these career options for Ph.D.s in art history.
You're not limited to a career in academia! Take a look at these career options for Ph.D.s in art history.
Careers in Educational Consulting
This article, from the Chronicle of Higher Education, discusses higher-education consulting, a growing industry with career opportunities for PhDs
This article, from the Chronicle of Higher Education, discusses higher-education consulting, a growing industry with career opportunities for PhDs
Deprogramming from the Academic Cult
"Graduate students spend years in a culture that views academic careers as the crème de la crème (this is especially true at elite institutions), and pretty soon they begin to believe it. Not pursuing an academic career can be seen as settling for second best, if not downright failure"
"Graduate students spend years in a culture that views academic careers as the crème de la crème (this is especially true at elite institutions), and pretty soon they begin to believe it. Not pursuing an academic career can be seen as settling for second best, if not downright failure"
Do Today's Faculty Support Nontraditional Careers?
From the American Psychological Association's Monitor, this article examines faculty views of leaving academia.
From the American Psychological Association's Monitor, this article examines faculty views of leaving academia.
From Benchtop to Laptop
A profile of scientists who have moved into freelance science writing and editing How can you use your scientific expertise in new ways? (Requires free registration.)
A profile of scientists who have moved into freelance science writing and editing How can you use your scientific expertise in new ways? (Requires free registration.)
Job Interviewing Tutorial
Designed to help job applicants prepare for interviews, this tutorial is also helpful for admissions interviews.
Designed to help job applicants prepare for interviews, this tutorial is also helpful for admissions interviews.
Leaving Academic Physics -- What's Out There
Jennifer Hodgdon's extensive list of career opportunities for scientists who want to leave the ivory tower.
Jennifer Hodgdon's extensive list of career opportunities for scientists who want to leave the ivory tower.
Management Consulting
Considering an alternative career? More Ph.D.s are goind into management consulting.
Considering an alternative career? More Ph.D.s are goind into management consulting.
Nonprofits
Take your skills into the nonprofit arena.
Take your skills into the nonprofit arena.
Recasting Yourself for Nonacademic Jobs
Graduate school has provided you with many skills. Here's how to apply them in nonacademic settings.
Graduate school has provided you with many skills. Here's how to apply them in nonacademic settings.
Survey Results: Academia vs. Industry
The results of a survey of researchers in academia and industry, assessing work and quality of life. Essential reading for grad students - plus the graphs make it easy.
The results of a survey of researchers in academia and industry, assessing work and quality of life. Essential reading for grad students - plus the graphs make it easy.
Tips for Leaving the Academy
This very helpful article notes that before leaving academia we must first deal with and overcome the fear of failure.
This very helpful article notes that before leaving academia we must first deal with and overcome the fear of failure.
Traitors or Trailblazers?
A look at scientists who pursue nontraditional careers. Are they traitors or trailblazers? What can you expect in an alternative career setting?
A look at scientists who pursue nontraditional careers. Are they traitors or trailblazers? What can you expect in an alternative career setting?
Transferring Your Skills
Info on how to find non-academic positions and transfer your skills beyond academe.
Info on how to find non-academic positions and transfer your skills beyond academe.
What If You Love Teaching, But Can’t Get an Academic Job?
Chronicle of Higher Education article discusses options and offers suggestions on how to make the most of your situation.
Chronicle of Higher Education article discusses options and offers suggestions on how to make the most of your situation.
Working in Academia and Industry
Summary of the results of a survey of researchers in both areas - with advice from those in the trenches!
Summary of the results of a survey of researchers in both areas - with advice from those in the trenches!
Leaving Academic Physics -- What's Out There
Jennifer Hodgdon's extensive list of career opportunities for scientists who want to leave the ivory tower.
Jennifer Hodgdon's extensive list of career opportunities for scientists who want to leave the ivory tower.
Where to Find Information on Nonacademic Careers
Part of the difficulty of deciding to go for a nonacademic career is getting info, as this is a taboo topic in most departments.
Part of the difficulty of deciding to go for a nonacademic career is getting info, as this is a taboo topic in most departments.