Articles Written By Klodjan Staffa, PhD

PhDs are highly qualified and have the ability to land any industry job, but this can take time. Transitioning into industry takes much more than just having your diploma and sending out resumes. You need to learn and be able to deliver a targeted personal brand and marketing strategy to differentiate yourself from everyone else. Here are 5 ways to prove yourself as the top PhD candidate that industry companies want to hire.

Doing a postdoc does not entitle you to a good job. Applying for an academic postdoc may seem like the obvious next step in your career, but it’s not. In fact, doing an academic postdoc could keep you from ever getting an industry job. The competition to get an industry job is intense. Staying in academia longer—becoming more and more removed from the real world—is only going to work against you. On-the-job training is much more valuable than a postdoc. The longer you stay in academia, the more likely you are to end up poor and unhappy. Here’s why.

If you think a postdoc is necessary for getting an industry job, think again. As a PhD, most industry jobs require “less training” than you have and no postdoc experience. Even if the job posting says postdoc experience required, it is often is not required. Many new PhD graduates and master’s degree graduates are hired into these “postdoc required” roles. A postdoc is not required for an industry job. It won’t help you get an industry job or higher-tier job in industry. So, quit lying to yourself. Stop obsessing over titles and publications. Instead, start marketing yourself for your new…

Working as an industry research scientist is much different (and better) than working as an academic research scientist. As an industry research scientist, you will get to do meaningful benchwork and be paid well. Yes, you can have both. Not only can you be paid well and do meaningful work, you can also work with a supportive team in a supportive environment. There are many advantages to working as an industry research scientist over an academic research scientist. The money is nice, but there are many other benefits. Here are the 3 biggest advantages of working as an industry research…

If you’ve decided to transition into an industry position, there’s nothing your advisor can do to help you or harm you. Getting an industry job is up to you and you alone, so stop fearing your advisor and start standing up for yourself. At first, it may be difficult to say “no” to your advisor or any other high-level academic, but it will get easier over time. Take action now to change the dynamic of your relationship with your advisor and to change the trajectory of your career for the better. Be respectful of your advisor but remember to respect…