Networking

PhDs know the value of networking to gain access to industry jobs. Yet, many network ineffectively or refuse to network altogether. Those who do network get caught in common networking traps that result in loss of rapport, opportunity, and even reputation. By avoiding the 7 deadly sins of networking outlined in this article, PhDs can increase their odds of making a good impression to industry professionals and unlocking the hidden market of industry jobs.

Recognizing the emotional intelligence you developed during academia will help you get ahead in your job search. To recruiters and hiring managers, emotional intelligence is seen as more valuable than logical intelligence. Emotional intelligence gives you the ability to express yourself appropriately in high-pressure situations and gives you the know-how you need to effectively resolve conflict. Here are 5 academic emotional intelligence skills all PhDs have.

Referrals are the number one choice for job hires but obtaining these referrals takes time, and requires networking and adding value to industry professionals. Don’t wait until after graduation to take this on. Make the investment in networking and building industry relationships early, and tend to them often. Offering value to your industry connections will help build meaningful connections and increase your chances of getting a referral. Here are 5 ways to add value during your networking interactions with industry professionals.

Mastering the skill of networking is no easy task. Most PhDs find networking awkward and try to avoid it. Yet, learning how to carry yourself with confidence and start conversations with people at networking events can yield significant benefits to your job search strategy. Equally important is the skill of gracefully and professionally exiting a conversation when it’s appropriate and without appearing rude or lacking confidence. Here’s how to do both.

If you want to get a job referral and maximize your job hunting efforts, you need to stop making common networking mistakes. You need to start networking in unconventional locations and in unconventional ways. You also need to start communicating your transferable skills, not just your technical skills. Here are 3 common networking blunders that keep many PhDs unemployed, as well as how to avoid them.

Independently piloting your career transition may initially seem like a noble endeavor, but you are missing out on a vital lifeline of support. Mentors and mentor networks will help you build your professional network and validate your job search and career trajectory. They will prepare you for every step of the transition process — from resumes to negotiation — and will help you cope when things fail, and celebrate when they succeed. You will execute your transition and start your new job filled with confidence and motivation with an ongoing network of support and shared interests. Here’s how.

Having a PhD is a significant advantage. Don’t let other people confuse you. PhDs get paid higher than non-PhDs and are in high demand. Trained professionals who know how to create information, not just repackage it, are desperately needed. If you have a PhD or are on your way to having one and you’re reading this, you are poised to enter into any alternative career of your choice. The only thing that can hold you back is yourself. Here is the survey data you need to get into the alternative career path of your choice.

Finding an industry job is its own full-time job. PhDs lack the resources and knowledge to transition out of academia as easily as they might have thought. The market is competitive and many PhDs opt in for the default postdoc they think they have to do before transitioning into industry. That idea is an archaic trap. To find an industry job, PhDs need to put time and effort into diversifying their job search strategy and use multiple sources if they want to ever make it in front of a hiring manager. Here are the top 3 sources for PhDs looking…

When it comes to getting job referrals, it’s not what you know but who you know. This is especially true for PhDs looking to transition out of academia and into an industry job. An industry referral will separate you from thousands of other candidates and give you the biggest advantage for landing an interview and getting hired. If you want an industry job, stop blindly applying through online job sites and start making in-person connections. Build your network to increase your chances of landing a referral. Here’s how.

Due diligence simply means taking reasonable steps to prepare for something. It means getting informed. In industry, due diligence refers to gathering information in order to make an informed decision prior to a merger, acquisition, job hiring, or any other important event. As a PhD, you hold yourself to the same standard. In other words, you should do your own due diligence before choosing a career where you will spend the majority of your daily time and efforts. When it comes to a job search, the most effective way to do your due diligence is by setting up informational interviews…

When a current employee of a company refers a job candidate, that candidate is hired by the company about two-thirds of the time. Top companies only resort to advertising a job when they cannot find the right candidate through other channels, such as ‘word of mouth’ or referrals. This is because advertising jobs online is a painful process for hiring managers. These managers have to wade through thousands of job applications from people they do not know. By setting up an informational interview, you are able to learn about an alternative career while also strategically placing yourself within the hidden…

According to Quint Careers, only 5% of job seekers obtain jobs through online advertisements. Only 15-20% of all available jobs are ever publicly advertised in any medium. Do you now understand how much time you’re wasting by only uploading resumes to jobs you see online? Do you now see how much you’re embarrassing yourself by continuing to do this? Your time is too precious to waste on 5% odds. Why not direct your attention to the other 95%? Here are 3 ways to redesign your job search strategy for a smooth transition into industry.