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Industry Careers

Insights from some of our top Associates on the best industry careers for PhDs that you can use to determine which role(s) are right for you

5 Reasons Only Certain PhDs Should Transition Into Research Scientist Positions In Industry

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

As a PhD, you can’t afford to ignore the facts. Things are NOT getting better in academia. The number of tenured professors at universities is steadily declining. Even worse, a large portion of non-tenure-track professors live below the poverty line. Yet, reports show that PhDs in the Life Science Industry (not in academia) earn more average income than those employed in other sectors of the economy. The problem is not that research isn't needed anymore. Research and research scientists are in high demand. The problem is academia. It’s time to start leveraging your skills to get the research job (and…

Why You Should Make A Career Move And Leave Academia Now (#3 Ruins Lives)

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

It’s impossible to get respect in a system that doesn’t value you at all. Yet, most PhDs latch on to academia as their one and only hope for career success. The truth is a PhDs best option for both success and happiness is to transition OUT of academia. The system is completely broken. If you’re sitting in the middle of your graduate school career or in the middle of your first or second postdoc thinking that things will get better in the next few years, you need to wake up. The academic system is not being fixed. It’s becoming more…

How To Transition Into Technical Sales Jobs At Biotech Companies Without Sales Experience

By: Catherine Sorbara, PhD

Why aren’t more PhDs in sales? The problem is that very few PhDs apply to technical sales positions. Most PhDs fail to apply for one of two reasons. First, they think they need sales experience to get a sales job. Second, they think that salespeople are manipulative or “bad” in some way—like they can’t be a scientist and a salesperson at the same time. Both are incorrect. As a technical salesperson in industry, you can apply your scientific skill sets to a variety of labs and projects. With your PhD in hand, you will maintain your credibility with customers and…

5 More Transferable Job Skills Top Biotech Companies Look For In PhDs

By: Arunodoy Sur, PhD

When it comes to getting an industry job, transferable skills are more important than your technical skills. No one wants to hire a candidate who is going to be difficult to work with. No one wants to hire a candidate who is going to be the new guy or girl on the team who is awkward to talk to and makes everyone feel uncomfortable. Studies show that hiring managers prefer to hire graduates who demonstrate strong transferable skills over graduates with demonstrate strong technical skills alone. You will not get hired into an industry role if you fail to develop…

Why It’s Better To Be A Research Scientist In Industry Than In Academia (It’s More Than The Money)

By: Klodjan Staffa, PhD

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…

Top 5 List of Transferable Job Skills Biotech & Biopharma Companies Look For In PhDs

By: Arunodoy Sur, PhD

Transferable job skills are essential for getting into any top industry position. The problem is most PhD students and postdocs do not fully understand what transferable skills are or how to develop them. More importantly, many of these PhDs are unaware of which transferable skills are sought after by biotech and pharma hiring managers and recruiters. Ignoring these skills can seriously hurt a PhDs chances of landing a job in the biotech or biopharma sector. A survey of major biotech and biopharma companies found that in spite of having the appropriate academic degree and academic qualifications overall, new graduates were…

7 Tips To Help Women Scientists Overcome Impostor Syndrome And Transition Into Industry

By: Catherine Sorbara, PhD

If you’re a woman and have a PhD or are on your way to having one, the future is yours. The only thing that can hold you back is yourself. The first step to transitioning into industry as a female researcher is knowing your worth and refusing to feel like an impostor. The second step is knowing what you’re up against. The odds may be against you but you can still transition into the non-academic career of your choice by asking the difficult questions and finding a supportive network. By wearing many hats, refusing to apologize for the fact that…

7 Career-Killing Mistakes PhDs Make That Keep Them Poor And Unhappy

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

If you’re waiting for someone to come save you from academia and line up a great industry job for you, you’re going to be waiting a long time. The only way to get your career back on track is to take matters into your own hands. You must realize that the biggest obstacle between you and getting the industry job of your dreams is yourself. It’s your own bad attitude and bad habits that will keep you unemployed after graduation, nothing else. Stop blaming other people for your situation and start blaming yourself. Take responsibility. Make a decision today to…

Top 10 List Of Alternative Careers For PhD Science Graduates

By: Arunodoy Sur, PhD

When choosing the next step in your career, be sure to consider not only the title and salary you want to have, but the lifestyle you want to live. PhDs should gain a thorough understanding of their non-academic career options. Otherwise, they will be forced by circumstances to take positions that are not in alignment with their long-term career goals. To help you avoid this fate, we’ve collated a list of the 10 hottest non-academic jobs today. Understanding which industry positions are on the rise will help you see what’s available to you outside of a traditional postdoc or professorship.…

How To Go From Unemployed PhD To Successful Industry Professional

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

Cathy was in a tough place. She had been employed for 3 months after getting her PhD and finishing a postdoc. But this wasn't the end of Cathy's story. By making a few intelligent decisions, Cathy turned things around and is now a Cheeky Scientist success story. Wherever you are at in your PhD career--postdoc, graduate student, or even unemployed--you can turn your story into a success story too. Here's how.

Why Postdocs Make The Best Industry Employees

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

Every graduate student and technician knows that postdocs are the keepers of the lab. Postdocs know the most current technologies and methodologies, they know the literature, they know where everything is in the lab, and they know how to get reagents from other labs. Altogether, postdocs know how to get things and how to things done. These are the same skills that make postdocs great industry employees.

How To Be A PhD Big Companies Want To Hire

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

More than anything else, big companies want to hire confident people who understand the system. The problem is that the system in question is different than what most graduate students and postdocs are used to. But this system, like any other, can be mastered. Here are 15 things PhDs can do to make themselves better job candidates for big corporations.