Unboxing Myself and Recognizing My Skills and Their Value

AM I BOXING MYSELF IN WITH MY PHD SPECIALIZATION?

When I initially thought about life after my PhD, my focus was primarily on my technical skills. How could I use my pipetting prowess? My extensive experience in single-cell RNA sequencing seemed to point towards a potential position as a researcher in the pharmaceutical industry.

But my perspective underwent a significant shift when I became part of an organization called “PhD Careers Beyond Academia” at Karolinska Institute. Inviting successful PhDs who had transitioned into various fields exposed me to a breadth of possibilities: Marketing Manager, Management Consultant, Data Scientist, Editor, Research Equity Analyst—the list went on.

What resonated in their stories wasn't just their subject matter expertise but the emphasis on transferable skills. Communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, resilience, persistence, and creativity emerged as pivotal, making these PhDs remarkably employable across diverse industries. It reshaped my perception of a PhD's skillset.

From then on, my new mantra became: A PhD can take you anywhere. The world is your oyster because I realized a PhD can open numerous doors.

I started recognizing that PhDs possess a T-shaped skillset, combining deep knowledge with a breadth of transferable skills—the most valued skillset in the professional landscape.

RECOGNIZING OUR VALUE: TRANSFERRABLE SKILLS

As we embark on our journeys beyond academia, we become acutely aware of our value and the transferrable skills we've acquired. Some of the ways I've come to realize PhDs can embrace and market these skills:

Communication Skills: Showcase your ability to convey complex ideas clearly. As a PhD, you've honed your communication through presentations, publications, and collaborations.

Problem-Solving: Highlight instances where you've tackled intricate problems, emphasizing your analytical and innovative approach.

Critical Thinking: Share examples of how your research involved critical evaluation, demonstrating your capacity to analyze information thoroughly.

Resilience and Persistence: Detail challenging projects or experiments, underscoring your resilience and persistence in overcoming obstacles.

Creativity: Illustrate instances where you've applied creative thinking to devise novel solutions or approaches.

UNLOCKING OUR POTENTIAL

Our PhD journey equips us with an array of skills, making us an asset across industries and roles. Unbox yourself, embrace your T-shaped skillset, and confidently sell the unique value you bring to the table.

You got this!

-Elena

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