Career planning beyond the PhD: Exploring options outside academia
Wondering what’s next after your PhD? This post explores options outside academia.
Formulating your next steps after completing a PhD can feel overwhelming. While many PhD graduates consider academia as their first career choice, the reality is that academic positions are highly competitive and often scarce.
Written by Philip Ireland, Careers Adviser, this is the second of a two-part series designed to discuss transitioning from PhD completion to planning your next steps. This post considers how to approach exploring non-academic career opportunities for PhD graduates. The first post focuses on continuing in academia beyond the PhD.
The initial challenge of transitioning beyond academia
A PhD is a requirement for an academic career, and many graduates aim to continue their work in universities. However, with the number of doctoral graduates far outstripping the available academic positions, many PhDs eventually move into other sectors. Although this transition may seem challenging at first, countless PhD graduates have successfully found fulfilling careers outside academia.
Exploring non-academic career paths
A common question for PhD students is: ‘What are my career options with a PhD? There’s no single, definitive list, as career opportunities depend on your research experience, skills, and personal preferences. While some sectors (e.g STEM industries such as pharmaceuticals, as well as policy-focused roles such as within think tanks) value a PhD, for most jobs, it is not a requirement. Your research experience, however, provides valuable transferable skills that can make you an appealing candidate in a wide range of fields. This is, of course, quite different to academia, where a PhD degree is a minimum requirement. However, this does not mean that you cannot apply or that the job will be “below your level” – it may well be the case that the skills and experience you developed during your research degree would make you a good candidate.
Understanding your transferable skills
Think about the transferable skills you’ve gained during your PhD, such as research, critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication. These skills are highly valued in many non-academic sectors. Rather than focusing solely on specific job titles like “PhD History Jobs,” consider the broader set of skills you’d like to apply and search for roles that align with those strengths.
Should you pursue a research role?
Many PhD graduates wonder whether they should continue in a research-focused career. PhD training equips you with advanced research skills that are applicable in many sectors, including healthcare, technology, and policy. If you enjoy research, there are opportunities to continue in that capacity outside academia. However, if you’re open to exploring other career paths, there are many roles where your skills can be applied in new ways, and many PhD graduates begin new career directions in non-research roles.
Categories of post-PhD career options
In terms of how non-academic careers can be visualised, Vitae has several helpful resources and e-books geared towards supporting early career researchers with planning their next steps. For example, in ‘The Career-wise researcher’, Vitae indicates that post-PhD career options can be categorised into the following five broad areas:
- Academic roles;
- Non-academic roles in higher education;
- Research roles in sectors other than academia;
- Roles using your subject area but not research-focused;
- ‘Anything goes’ – i.e. roles that may not directly involve your subject area or research, but utilise transferable skills gained.
This framework can help you start exploring your options, though it’s important to tailor your search based on your interests and skills.
Key questions to consider
As you reflect on your next career move, ask yourself:
- What are my top career priorities now?
- Which aspects of my academic work do I want to continue in a future role?
- Are there skills or elements of my PhD I’d prefer to leave behind?
- Would I consider staying in a research-based role, or am I open to other career paths?
- What skills or strengths would I like to use in my next job?
These questions can help clarify your goals and guide your job search toward roles that match your aspirations.
Careers Centre support
The Careers Centre offers valuable resources, including the What can I do with my PhD webpage, which provides additional insights into career planning. You can also book a one-on-one appointment with a Careers Adviser or attend GRADskills workshops to refine your career strategy.
In conclusion, while transitioning from academia to a non-academic career may seem daunting, the skills you’ve developed during your PhD are a valuable asset. With the right approach and support, you can successfully find a rewarding career that leverages your expertise and experience, whether in research or beyond.