Join Millions Of PhDs Who Use Our Job Search Resources Annually

A top concern for 55% of PhDs is their career path (Nature), because many graduate schools do not teach or prepare PhDs for careers outside of the university setting. A survey of more than 800 university staff members from 226 institutions found that 62% of respondents reported that only 44% of universities have professional development programs that prepare graduate students for non-academic careers. And, students are the ones who are suffering (Council of Graduate Schools). Only 33% of graduate students felt that their university provided useful advice about careers outside academia (Nature). If your university is not going to teach you about the opportunities that lie outside of academia, then you are going to learn about them yourself. And, conducting informational interviews with industry professionals gives you a direct line to what is happening in industry.

Every week we scour the internet to find the best industry transition articles for PhDs, so you don't have to. We have two consultants independently search for the most informative articles on networking, CVs/resumes, interviews, transferable skills, academic blues, industry positions, and business acumen. Our consultants vote on a top article for each category and for a top overall article each week. This week's best articles are here.

The average work week is 38.7 hours long and the average American works an average of 46.8 weeks in a year (Pew Research). There are only 52 weeks in an entire year. Ultimately, your workplace is where you will spend 90% of your year. Before you make a commitment to spend so much of your time somewhere, you need to do your research. One of the biggest things you need to understand is company culture. Company culture is everything from how the company is organized, to how they communicate, to how they dress — and, it’s all important. 89% of hiring failures are due to poor cultural fit (Forbes). Poor cultural fit leaves an employee feeling out of place and unsatisfied. Informational interviews, which often led to referrals, combat this issue. And, when you do decide to work for a particular company, having a referral and an understanding of the company will increase your job satisfaction level by 13% (Undercover Recruiter).

Every week we scour the internet to find the best industry transition articles for PhDs, so you don't have to. We have two consultants independently search for the most informative articles on networking, CVs/resumes, interviews, transferable skills, academic blues, industry positions, and business acumen. Our consultants vote on a top article for each category and for a top overall article each week. This week's best articles are here.

Are you still doubting the value of networking in your job search? A report in the Academy of Management Journal showed that successful industry professionals spend 70% more time networking than their less successful counterparts. And, Forbes reported that 80% of job openings are never advertised. The only way to achieve success and to have access to the hidden job market is to network with people in industry. But, are you networking to the fullest? If you are only networking online, from the comfort of your couch, then you are not getting all the benefits of networking. In-person contact is extremely valuable in relationship-building (a.k.a. networking). According to Harvard Business Review, a request made in person is 34 times more successful than one made via email. This is because when you speak in person, you are able to communicate so much better than just via text.

First of all, 85% of jobs are filled through networking (HubSpot). So, if you aren’t networking, you only have access to a small fraction of the total available jobs. But, what does your networking look like? Are you just sending cold messages on LinkedIn, or are you truly investing in people? The only way to make real connections that can last a long time is with in-person networking. Because networking in person is the only way you can fully communicate with another person. Pioneering work by Albert Mehrabian demonstrated that 55% of communication is body language, 38% is the tone of voice, and 7% is the actual words spoken (Psychology Today). Once you are present in person with someone, you have the opportunity to really connect with them — that is, to build a lasting professional relationship. In-person networking, although powerful, can be difficult for many people. So, you need to learn the right and the wrong way to network at in-person events.

Every week we scour the internet to find the best industry transition articles for PhDs, so you don't have to. We have two consultants independently search for the most informative articles on networking, CVs/resumes, interviews, transferable skills, academic blues, industry positions, and business acumen. Our consultants vote on a top article for each category and for a top overall article each week. This week's best articles are here.

Networking is what will get you hired in industry. 40% of hires come from referrals, but only 7% of applicants even have a referral (Undercover Recruiter). Very few people get referrals because doing so requires effort. Getting a referral requires you to put yourself out there, to meet new people, and to network. This includes in-person networking, which can be tough for introverts. But, the rapport you can build and the value you can gain from physically meeting someone is much higher than what is possible through online networking. A request made in person is 34 times more successful than one made via email (Harvard Business Review). That is a huge difference. Do not underestimate the power of in-person networking and make sure that it is an integral part of your job search strategy.

Every week we scour the internet to find the best industry transition articles for PhDs, so you don't have to. We have two consultants independently search for the most informative articles on networking, CVs/resumes, interviews, transferable skills, academic blues, industry positions, and business acumen. Our consultants vote on a top article for each category and for a top overall article each week. This week's best articles are here.

In this interview with Chris Drummond, Ph.D., he details how he made the transition from being an undervalued postdoc to an invaluable part of an industry team. He enjoys the pace, resources and real-world application of working in industry. As a PhD, he knows the struggle you face when trying to leave academia and shares great advice on how you can make the transition.

75% of employers attend career fairs held at universities (Glassdoor). These career fairs provide an opportunity for job candidates and employers to get valuable face-to-face interactions that they might not have had otherwise. It can be difficult to connect with potential employers face-to-face outside of these events. But, this in-person contact is very valuable. A request made in person is 34 times more successful than one made via email (Harvard Business Review). 34 times more successful! The mere opportunity to speak face-to-face with your target company at a career fair improves your chances of getting hired. But, you have to know how to make the most of these career fair events.

Every week we scour the internet to find the best industry transition articles for PhDs, so you don't have to. We have two consultants independently search for the most informative articles on networking, CVs/resumes, interviews, transferable skills, academic blues, industry positions, and business acumen. Our consultants vote on a top article for each category and for a top overall article each week. This week's best articles are here.