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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
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
Doctoral Education Mismatch?
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?
Academia or Industry?
It's a tough decision. Here are some points to ponder.
Making the Transition to a NonAcademic Career
On old article with timely advice.
NonAcademic Careers for Psychologists
Have a PhD in psychology and wonder what else you do besides teaching and therapy?
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.
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.
Careers in Educational Consulting
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"
Do Today's Faculty Support Nontraditional Careers?
From the American Psychological Association's Monitor, this article examines faculty views of leaving academia.
Leaving Academic Physics -- What's Out There
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.
Careers for PhDs in the NonProfit World
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.
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.
Transferring Your Skills
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.
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.

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