PhDs: Your Degree is More Than Just Academia—it’s Real Work Experience!

Navigating from academia to industry, you might wonder if your PhD experiences count as "real" work. Absolutely, they do. Here’s how to frame them:

Project Management: Reflect on those times you juggled various tasks, from setting up experiments to coordinating with other researchers. This is project management at its core. You've not only managed the logistics but also adapted to changing circumstances, keeping your projects aligned with goals under tight deadlines. These are the same dynamics project managers deal with in industry. Demonstrate how you've led projects, tackled challenges, and driven results—valuable skills in any sector.

Corporate Development and Finance: Grant applications are your entry into understanding investment in the business world. This task required you to identify funding opportunities, align your research objectives with the interests of funders, and manage the funds responsibly. Highlight your strategic planning and financial stewardship. Explain how these skills can translate into identifying growth opportunities and managing budgets within a corporate setting, showing potential employers your financial acumen.

Mentorship and Skill Building: Teaching and mentoring are about more than imparting knowledge; they involve building relationships and fostering development, key components in any leadership role. Discuss how you’ve guided students through complex problems, crafted educational materials, and provided feedback, all of which are critical in roles focused on training and development. This experience showcases your ability to nurture talent and adapt teaching methods to various needs, a direct parallel to corporate training strategies.

Marketing: Each conference presentation was an exercise in marketing your research to a diverse audience. Discuss the preparation involved—crafting compelling narratives, designing engaging presentations, and networking. These tasks mirror the essential duties of a marketer, who must capture the audience's interest and communicate value effectively. Your ability to engage listeners and promote your research at these events underscores your potential to thrive in marketing roles.

Management: Leading a research team is no small feat. It involves orchestrating group efforts, resolving conflicts, and ensuring project milestones are met. Share specific instances where you led your team through challenges, facilitated collaboration, and achieved objectives. This experience is directly applicable to managerial roles in industry, where effective leadership and strategic oversight drive success.

When updating your resume or interviewing for jobs, take stock of all these responsibilities and skills from your PhD. Match them with industry job descriptions and articulate them in terms the industry understands. Your PhD has armed you with a versatile toolkit—make sure potential employers see the value you bring to the table. Step into your new career with confidence, equipped with a robust understanding of how your academic skills translate into the industrial landscape. Embrace this mindset, and you'll open up a world of opportunities in your professional journey.

-Angela Priest

COO, Alma.Me