Cheeky Logo
Ready To Get Hired?
Apply To Book A Free Call With Our Transition Specialist Team

A Complete Career Development Plan For PhDs Wanting To Transition Into Industry

Forget networking.

It’s a complete waste of time.

After all, Einstein didn’t come up with his Special Theory of Relativity because he had a strong network.

He worked tirelessly by himself to discover it.

Right?

Getting a job in industry would be the exact same.

I would work hard by myself, crafting magnificent resumes and uploading hundreds of them daily to open positions, to get a job.

I would use my massive PhD brain to outthink and outmaneuver the competition.

Hiring managers and recruiters would be dazzled by my resume-writing, my publications, and my accolades.

They’d be falling all over themselves to hire me.

And—well—if they didn’t rush to hire me, that would be their loss.

I wouldn’t be hurt by it because they would be the ones that failed to act on my impressive resume.

I wouldn’t be hurt by it because I never put myself out there.

I just played it safe behind my computer screen.

Yep—these are the thoughts and feelings that actually went through my head the last year of graduate school.

I was such a moron.

My job search strategy looked like this…

Write resumes. Get interview. Get job. Win.

Instead, it ended up looking like this…

Write resumes. Fail. Fail. Fail. Fail. Fail.

My complete workflow for getting an industry job was backwards.

No networking.

No industry credibility.

This is why month after month went by without hearing a peep from the hiring managers I contacted.

I thought my strategy was aggressive, intelligent, and even revolutionary when in fact it was tired, dumb, and obsolete.

Silly PhD—Your Resume Doesn’t Matter

You’ll never hear back after submitting your resume online.

A report by FlexJobs showed that 95% of resumes submitted online never get a response.

NPR reported that 80% of industry jobs are not advertised.

Think about that.

Guess which jobs are NOT being published online—the good jobs or the bad jobs?

The good jobs.

Of course.

Networking is the ONLY way to get industry referrals and getting referrals is the ONLY way to find out about the best jobs.

As reported by The New York Times, nearly 50% of jobs at top companies come from direct referrals.

50 percent!

And this number is climbing.

All of this makes your resume (mostly) useless in industry.

A good resume won’t get you a job, but a bad one will keep you from getting a job.

When you first start an industry job search, it’s natural to think that having a great resume or CV is all you need.

Most PhDs believe that the resume is the starting point of every job search.

This is absolutely false.

Networking is the starting point of every job search.

You need to connect to other professionals (both PhDs and non-PhDs) to find out where jobs are and to get referred to the hiring managers for those jobs.

Don’t worry about your resume until after you build up your network and industry credibility, and start getting industry referrals.

Then and only then should you carefully craft a targeted industry resume.

The Incorrect Career Transition Workflow

Your job search strategy is measured by where you put your time.

The more time you spend on a particular part of your job search, the more important that part of the job search is to you.

That last word is critical—YOU.

YOU may think that a particular part of your job search is important, like crafting the perfect resume, but that doesn’t mean it’s actually important.

Maybe you read some outdated article online on the importance of resumes.

You’re stressed out trying to get your next paper published in the lab so you didn’t have time to check the article’s source.

If you would have done your research, you would’ve found out that the article was written by some nameless lifelong academic or journal editor who has never worked in industry.

Now, you’re in trouble.

Now, you’ve primed yourself to think that resumes are important.

Now, whenever you do more research online about transitioning into industry, you automatically focus only on articles that confirm to you that resumes are important.

Now, you build up references to support this one idea—resumes are important.

As a result, you dedicate all of your time to writing your resume and uploading it to job sites.

Then you’re baffled when you hear nothing back.

You’re baffled when you run out of funding and are unemployed or working for free.

the wrong career development plan workflow diagram | Cheeky Scientist

This is what happens to most PhDs.

They skim some article online or they recall something they read or heard a long time ago about how important resumes are and act accordingly.

They prioritize their time accordingly.

They spend the majority of their time, energy, and resources on crafting and uploading resumes, and practicing scripted interview answers.

Here’s the problem—it’s not 1985 anymore.

High-level professionals don’t get jobs by sending in resumes and getting invited to interviews anymore.

This workflow is obsolete.

Every hour you spend crafting your resume and preparing for interviews before networking and creating a job search strategy is a wasted hour.

The Correct Career Transition Workflow

The fastest and most effective way to get an industry job is by getting referred for one.

This makes networking critical to all PhDs who want to move their careers forward.

Most PhDs fail to recognize two important facts about networking in relation to finding an industry job.

First, networking is a skill.

It’s not a talent.

It’s not something you’re born with.

It’s a skill that can be improved just like any technical skill you’ve learned and improved in the lab.

Oh, you don’t know how to network?

And…?

When you didn’t know how to clone a DNA sequence in the lab, what did you do?

When you didn’t know how to run a Western blot or make a knockout mouse, what did you do?

You learned.

How did you learn?

You practiced it over and over and over again, failing numerous times in the process.

The reason most PhDs refuse to execute this same practice-to-improve strategy when it comes to networking is because they’re scared.

Yep, they’re scared.

They’re scared of getting their feelings hurt.

What if I put in all of this effort to go to a networking event and no one talks to me?

What if I try really hard and don’t get a referral?

What if nobody likes me?

Of course, these fears are mutated into reasonable, PhD-level objections like “I have too many experiments to do in the lab.”

“My PI won’t let me leave the lab during the day.”

“No one responds to my LinkedIn messages.”

“There’s no networking events near me.”

Come on.

Seriously?

You’re a PhD and you can’t see through your own weak excuses?

You can’t sit down with your PI and map out a networking event schedule in advance?

You can’t create your own networking event series and invite people to it or join an existing online networking group?

The hard truth is you will NEVER get an industry job without building up your network.

If you want to transition into industry, networking should be your number one priority.

the correct career development plan workflow diagram | Cheeky Scientist

This is the second fact most PhDs fail to recognize about networking—it should be your top priority.

Everything else should come second.

Your thesis should come second.

Getting published should come second.

Keeping your PI happy should come second.

If you’ve made a decision to transition into industry, you must make networking your top priority.

You must also make creating a job search strategy a top priority.

You must remind yourself over and over again that you’re leaving academia.

If you’re going to leave—leave.

Move your academic priorities downward and your industry transition priorities upward.

Once you make the decision to transition into industry, start making networking and your job search strategy your highest priorities. Start learning the transferable skills you need to get into the position you want. Start mapping out the networking events you’re going to attend every week and the industry professionals you’re going to contact and follow up with them daily. Get serious about these efforts and make sure you’re executing them in the right sequence. The wrong industry transition workflow will keep you unemployed or stuck in academia for a long time to come. But the right workflow will get you the job referrals and job you want quickly.

If you’re ready to start your transition into industry, you can apply to book a free Transition Call with our founder Isaiah Hankel, PhD or one of our Transition Specialists. Apply to book a Transition Call here.

Book a Transition Call
Get Free Job Search Content Weekly

ABOUT ISAIAH HANKEL, PHD

CEO, CHEEKY SCIENTIST & SUCCESS MENTOR TO PHDS

Dr. Isaiah Hankel is the Founder and CEO of Cheeky Scientist. His articles, podcasts and trainings are consumed annually by millions of PhDs and other professionals in hundreds of different countries. He has helped PhDs transition into top companies like Amazon, Google, Apple, Intel, Dow Chemical, BASF, Merck, Genentech, Home Depot, Nestle, Hilton, SpaceX, Tesla, Syngenta, the CDC, UN and Ford Foundation.

Dr. Hankel has published 3X bestselling books and his latest book, The Power of a PhD, debuted on the Barnes & Noble bestseller list. His methods for getting PhDs hired have been featured in the Harvard Business Review, Nature, Forbes, The Guardian, Fast Company, Entrepreneur Magazine and Success Magazine.

Isaiah Hankel, PhD

Here's What Others Are Saying

"Hi Isaiah, I hope you are good....I did receive and accept a job offer!"

Debadrita Pal

Debadrita Pal

Scientist

at Sanofi

"I am grateful to Isaiah, Meera, Abha and all the CSA for their constant help and support. This was my transition from academia to the healthcare industry...I accepted this offer as I am in urgent need of a job as my current lab is closing soon. Thank you!"

Divya Amin

Divya Amin

Program Coordinator

at University of Missouri Healthcare

"I accepted my job offer today. I was able to get 5k more + the exact PTO package I wanted. I am very happy and very thankful for everything that I learned through the event. I plan to stay involved with Cheeky Scientist as I love what y'all are doing and I'm still learning."

Tracy Gardner, PhD

Tracy Gardner, PhD

Senior Measurement Advisor

at Pearson

"I am thrilled to be starting my position as a Scientist at bioMeriuex! I will be joining the device validation team to bring #invitrodiagnostics to the market!"

Alec Vallota-Eastman

Alec Vallota-Eastman

Scientist

at bioMeriuex

"I aced the interview, I signed yesterday and begin next month!"

Sinduri Vuppala

Sinduri Vuppala

Field Application Specialist

at Bruker Daltonics

"I am BEYOND ECSTATIC to finally say I am starting a new position as Patent Examiner in Biomedical Engineering at USPTO!"

Jo Ramos

Jo Ramos

Patent Examiner in Biomedical Engineering

at USPTO

"I'm happy to share that I'm starting a new position!"

Norhaziland Mohamed Zaid

Norhaziland Mohamed Zaid

Senior Development Scientist

at Haleon

"I signed the offer today! I am will be working as a technical support manager - it is what you call a field scientist within Cheeky. I am super excited and already feel welcomed!"

Maria Terra Terra

Maria Terra Terra

Technical Support Manager

"I started working with you all back in October 2022 and it took me about four months to secure my new role. I actually had two six figure salary offers in the learning and development arena! One was from a prestigious HBCU and the other one was with a scientific research organization. I signed my six figure offer letter for a Head of Talent Development role with the scientific research organization on March 1st. I negotiated and received a $7,500 increase in salary and I also received an increase in my relocation package. I cannot thank you all enough!"

Dr. Rhonda Anderson

Dr. Rhonda Anderson

Head of Talent Development

at Southern Research

"I am happy to share that I'm starting a new position as a European Portfolio Manager at Scientific Instruments!"

 Shikha Acharya

Shikha Acharya

European Portfolio Manager

at Scientific Instruments

"Good news...I've secured a job! Thank you for your support during the job search process and for giving me the courage to transition from academia to industry."

Marlyn Brookins

Marlyn Brookins

Regulatory Submissions Coordinator

"The made an offer and I accepted it. I am excited and nervous to start a new job and leave academia!"

Valentina Dallacasagrande

Valentina Dallacasagrande

Sr. Scientific Advisor

at reVision Therapeutics, Inc.

"I started my new job as an MSL on the 13th. I never would have got an interview without your company's help on CV and interview prep. I am on a much better salary and have a much better quality of life than I did as a postdoc. So thank you."

Edward Law

Edward Law

MSL

at AbbVie

"I am THRILLED to share that I am starting a new position... my sincerest thanks and gratitude to all the inspirational people who've I met along the way in my journey as an aspiring MSL, who helped make this happen."

Leandra Mangieri

Leandra Mangieri

Medical Science Liaison

at Allergan Aesthetics

"I'm happy to share that I'm starting a new position as Senior Actuary, Pricing at HDI Seguros!"

Claudia Wehrhahn

Claudia Wehrhahn

Senior Actuary, Pricing

at HDI Seguros

Similar Articles

Have A PhD And Over 40 Years Old? Better Do This

Have A PhD And Over 40 Years Old? Better Do This

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

“Isaiah, I’ve got 15 years of experience, a PhD, and more publications than I can count, yet no one seems to want to hire me.  What am I doing wrong?”  I hear this from PhDs over the age of 40 who are struggling to get their foot in the door, and the truth is, your age and experience may be working against you in today’s job market.  Employers, especially younger hiring managers, may see you as overqualified, set in your ways, or not as easily trainable as a younger candidate.  The unfortunate reality is that ageism is rampant in today’s…

Why PhDs Are Mentally Tough (& How They Use It To Get Hired)

Why PhDs Are Mentally Tough (& How They Use It To Get Hired)

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

“Isaiah, I’m at my wit’s end.  I’ve applied to countless jobs, networked extensively, and still, nothing.  It feels like I’m just spinning my wheels.”  This is a sentiment I hear often from PhDs who are navigating the challenging waters of the job market.  The frustration and mental fatigue are real, especially when you’re used to achieving high levels of success in academia.  But let’s get one thing straight – you are not alone, and this is not the end.  It’s just a bump in the road.  Yes, the job search is grueling.  There’s no sugar-coating it.  But here’s the thing…

3 Entry-Level PhD Jobs Pay Six Figures A Year

3 Entry-Level PhD Jobs Pay Six Figures A Year

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

I was determined to stay in academia… until I wasn’t.  It took almost six years for me to reach the conclusion that academia just wasn’t for me.  My PhD defense was just a few months away, and I can’t lie: I was literally willing myself to stick it out. But what about after that? Professorship had been the goal for me before I ever even enrolled in college. It had been my dream. I had absolutely no idea what to do if it wasn’t going to teach. I knew what I didn’t want: I didn’t want to be tethered to…

5 Positions In Biopharma Perfect For Any PhD

5 Positions In Biopharma Perfect For Any PhD

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

It was by chance that I even considered a career in biopharma.  As far as I was concerned, academia was all there was. The world of industry was a big question mark to me, and that was fine. I found myself working on a postdoc, waiting for a tenure-track position to open up.  At first, it was exciting: a real, paying job as a PhD-level scientist. I showed up early, stayed late, and was happy to do it.  But a change happened, gradually. There was so much repetition in my day, and so much emphasis on performing tasks that required…

Top 5 Industry Career Tracks For PhDs

Top 5 Industry Career Tracks For PhDs

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

From the time I started graduate school, there was only one point in the future that I could focus on: the finish line. I was swept up in my own expectations and also caught up in what I thought was expected of me. But something I hadn’t given much thought to was what I actually wanted to do. I was about six months away from defending my thesis. That’s when I started to give some serious thought to what would happen after I added the “Dr.” to my name. It’s when I began to admit to myself that academia was…

Spin The Hard Knocks Of Academia To Your Advantage To Get Hired

Spin The Hard Knocks Of Academia To Your Advantage To Get Hired

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

Something that comes up a lot when I talk to new PhDs is that they think they don’t have enough on-the-job experience to apply for the high earning jobs they’re perfect for. I see this imposter syndrome prevent PhDs from even trying to apply for jobs – and puts a stop to their journey to getting hired in industry. So they settle.  For academia, where they don’t have job security.  For jobs that pay less and don’t value their abilities.  For a job they’re not interested in and don’t want, but they think it gets them “started” in industry when…

6 Rewarding Careers In Research Policy, Funding & Government

6 Rewarding Careers In Research Policy, Funding & Government

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

An indomitable spirit is a rare quality, but not among PhDs. Perseverance is a prerequisite that comes standard with every doctorate.  It seems like there’s no shortage of things that can stand in the way when you’re pursuing a terminal degree. Yet I’ve only met a handful of PhDs who weren’t cut out for the hardships of academia. They made it past the gauntlet of frustrating academic advisors, endless hours in the lab, and year upon year of compounding stress. But there are some things that arise that you simply can’t prepare yourself to push through. Sometimes life happens. PhDs…

Best Of Transition: Ph.D. Jobs & Job Search Strategies January 7, 2023

Best Of Transition: Ph.D. Jobs & Job Search Strategies January 7, 2023

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

Every week, we at Cheeky Scientist scour the Internet for the best articles on topics that help in the search for the Best of Transition: PhD Job Search in the industry. Our two consultants independently search for the most informative articles in the categories of networking, CVs/resumes, interviews, transferable skills, academic blues, industry positions, and business acumen. Our consultants vote on a top article for each category and a top overall article for the week – if it’s a recent article that can help readers find and acquire PhD jobs, then we want to include it in this weekly digest.…

4 Red-Hot Intellectual Property Positions For PhDs

4 Red-Hot Intellectual Property Positions For PhDs

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

I just got off the phone with an old friend of mine.  We were researchers at the same lab back in our university days. We had lost touch, but when he found me on LinkedIn I couldn’t wait to hear what he’s done since graduation.  He told me he had not wound up in chemistry, which had been his major. Biomolecular chemistry, he reminded me. Instead, he decided to pursue a career in patent law.  Here’s his transition story: I was in the process of earning my PhD in biomolecular chemistry. That’s where I learned that patents were unrecognized by…

Our Members Get Hired At Top Industry Companies

Top Industry Career eBooks

63 Best Industry Positions For PhDs

63 Best Industry Positions For PhDs

Isaiah Hankel, PhD & Arunodoy Sur, PhD

Learn about the best 63 industry careers for PhDs (regardless of your academic background). In this eBook, you will gain insight into the most popular, highest-paying jobs for PhDs – all of which will allow you to do meaningful work AND get paid well for it.

Industry Resume Guide for PhDs

Industry Resume Guide for PhDs

Isaiah Hankel, PhD

Learn how to craft the perfect industry resume to attract employers. In this eBook for PhDs, you will get access to proven resume templates, learn how to structure your bullet points, and discover which keywords industry employers want to see most on PhD resumes.

AI & ATS Resume Filters

AI & ATS Resume Filters

Isaiah Hankel

In today's competitive job market, understanding the impact of AI is crucial for career success. This involves ensuring your resume stands out in the digital realm, mastering your online presence, and being aware of how AI assigns reputation scores. Discovering how to leverage AI to your advantage is essential, as it plays a pivotal role in shaping professional opportunities.

Complete LinkedIn Guide For PhDs

Complete LinkedIn Guide For PhDs

Isaiah Hankel

The LinkedIn tips & strategies within have helped PhDs from every background get hired into top industry careers.