So I got my PhD, but I want to do something different… August 23, 2010
Posted by Helen Curry in : postgraduate , trackback****Be aware this content is over two years old****
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It is a common enough situation to want a change, particularly after the stress of finishing that PhD dissertation, but where do you go from there?
I recommend treating this as your next research project. Think about the methods you can apply to find the information you need – from resoures, people and advice – can you apply those research methods here too? In that vein, here’s a reading list…
Websites
Vitae is an essential place to start as they have heaps of information and resources, including help if it is worries about family, age or disability that you feel are restricting your academic options. And if you are looking for career ideas, take a look at these reports to see what others in your position did next – What do researchers do.
From our own website, The Careers Group, download these specialised information sheets on CVs and careers for PhDs. See also our general CV guide How to write a CV (pdf) which actually has an example of a CV from a post-doc moving our of academia, p.34.
For a real-life stories of career choices following your research degree, Beyond the PhD is fantastic for getting perspective.
If you are a science researcher, I really recommend the QM researchers blog - the opportunities posted there are open to all and cover a range of career ideas relevant to your expertise. There are also some good lists of links.
And another blog worth trying is Leaving Academia, giving peoples’ experiences of changing paths.
Comments»
Although PhD graduates feel that their case is ‘different’ they are in a similar position to anyone else who has chosen a profession and then decides they do not wish to continue practising it. So the general ‘career change’ literature is just as helpful and relevant. The skills of a PhD vary betwen Phds. Some develop high level quant skills, some become skilled at interviewing people, assessing a whole literature, writng, presenting, project management, experiment design and analysis etc. The devil is in the detail of the individual PhD.
The vast majority of PhDs end up doing something completlely different. Its normal
I found a couple of other recent blog posts on this topic, so here are some more tips I liked:
- If you are dead set on becoming an academic, bear in mind that “90% of researchers who want to get into academia will have to give up their attempt sooner or later!”. Read this post for tips on how to get into that talented 10% who make it.
http://qmresearcher.wordpress.com/2010/06/30/what-does-it-take-to-become-a-successful-academic/
- For more must-read resources, see this post “Your PhD, what next”
http://uclpostgraduatecareers.wordpress.com/2010/07/05/your-phd-what-next/
Thanks for the comment Terry. It just reminded me I definitely should have included your blog too from King’s College Grad School http://kclgradschool.wordpress.com/ – lots of useful opportunities and ideas for postgrads