Cheeky Logo
Ready To Transition Into Industry?
Apply To Book A Free Call With Our Transition Specialist Team

3 Things PhDs Must Know To Land A Great Project Manager Job

One thing I love about being a project manager?

I get to wear multiple hats and drive change every day.

Once I decided to leave academia, I had to identify the industry role I wanted.

I started by identifying the roles that I didn’t want – for example, I knew that I didn’t want to do bench research.

I wanted a multi-functional, leadership-oriented position – this led to project management.

After doing extensive research, building my network, and conducting informational interviews, I got a few project manager job offers.

I accepted a job as an associate clinical project manager, which meant that I would manage all aspects of various clinical studies.

Once I really started getting comfortable in my new role, I realized how different it was from academia.

The work I do in this role has a ripple effect across the entire company.

I have control over studies from start to finish, and I play a pivotal role in whether they are successful or not.

It’s a lot of responsibility, but it’s also incredibly fulfilling.

Project management represents a great opportunity for PhDs who want to transition into industry.

And sectors like pharma, biotech, and IT are always on the lookout for talented project managers with advanced degrees.

How Project Managers With PhDs Contribute To Industry

project manager smiling

A project is an undertaking with a specific goal, and that requires more than 2 steps to be completed.

This means that every company has several projects going on at any given time.

Some of these can even make or break a company.

So decision-makers need professionals that understand those projects and can lead teams to finish them within budget, and a given timeframe.

In fact, PmSolutions reports that 85% of firms have a project management office.

And Indeed shows that base salaries for project managers can go over $100,000 per year.

This kind of investment shows that project managers are valuable assets.

As a PhD, you already have the transferable skills required to succeed as a project manager.

You have been practicing those skills on a daily basis during your research.

Anyone who’s worked in a university lab or been a TA has had to manage different academic projects and lead undergrads and grad students.

That means you know how it’s done, and you can take that knowledge with you into an industry career in project management.

What PhDs Must Know About Becoming Project Managers

PhDs are highly suited to work in project management, they know how to oversee parallel projects and juggle multiple tasks.

They can also coordinate different teams and integrate separate features into a cohesive whole.

Industry project managers do the same thing.

But there are some key differences PhDs need to understand before they transition into this industry role.

The driving forces behind industry and academia are pretty different, and project management encompasses a wide range of things.

Here are 3 important concepts that PhDs need to consider before they pursue careers as industry project managers.

1. Project managers perform many tasks.

project manager working in industry

In industry, project management means undertaking many tasks and adapting to different management styles.

As a project manager, you’ll be responsible for removing obstacles from other team members’ workloads as they develop products or services.

This means increasing the flow of communication, coordinating efforts, managing budgets, and keeping ahead of risks and changes.

Generally, project managers are problem solvers who come up with innovative solutions for the people on their teams.

You will also oversee the processes and techniques in play during project development.

This will ensure that resources are allocated properly and that the project aligns with the long-term strategy of the organization.

As a project manager, you need to guide and protect your project during all stages of development – from ideation to marketing and completion.

You’ll need to understand the goals of your company, market needs and changes, and overall trends related to your specific project.

That includes decisions about which existing projects should be prioritized.

2. Industry and academia have different styles of project management.

Has a PI ever ruined your day by completely changing the priorities of your research project?

This situation can make a researcher feel lost and unmotivated – why put in the effort if it could all go to waste?

Most academic projects have no set milestones and can change without apparent reason.

Things get shuffled around, and goals are constantly changing.

But in industry, things are different.

Industry project management is broken down into defined work cycles.

Project managers set goals and team roles, hit predefined milestones, and follow up with team members – nothing changes until the work cycle is over.

Industry doesn’t want theory and speculation – it wants results.

As a project manager, your goal will be to produce tangible results, and the project will only be completed once those goals are achieved.

Of course, even in industry, things can change…

This can lead to new goals or the cancellation of the project altogether.

But even then, you’ll know the reasons for the change, and you can plead your case to the decision makers if you don’t agree with their vision.

This kind of acknowledgment is rare in academia, and it is a major advantage that project managers have over academic researchers.

3. Project managers have to master cross-functional work.

project managers meeting in office

As a project manager, your projects will be carried out by certain departments within the company.

Project managers have to know the “ins and outs” of these departments, and they must interact with managers and personnel from other sections throughout the company.

A project manager won’t have any authority over someone from a different department, so it will be an equal work relationship.

This is called “cross-functional” work, in which employees from different company divisions work toward shared goals.

As a PhD, you’re highly trained for this.

By now, you’ve probably had to work with postdocs, PhD students, people from other labs, etc.

You weren’t in charge of these people, and they weren’t in charge of you – mastering this style of collaboration will be key once you start managing projects in industry.

You have to influence people and work together to get results.

Project managers bring all parts of the company together – they act as communication hubs for the different activities that need to happen as a project moves forward.

Does a role in project management sound right for you? Are you a PhD who loves multitasking and diverse responsibility? Remember, project managers perform many different tasks. And while you may have a lot of experience managing academic projects, industry and academia have different styles of project management. Remember also that project managers have to master cross-functional work, so the ability to coordinate with other personnel will be essential. Project management may be demanding, but if you love to wear multiple hats and take up leadership roles, few careers are as fulfilling as this one.

Do you want a career where you can leverage your leadership skills and turn meaningful ideas into transformative products? Cheeky Scientist’s new advanced program, the Project Manager Consortium (PMC), is designed with PhDs like you in mind. This program provides everything you need to obtain a high-paying project management career. The PMC program leaders and board members are actual project managers currently working in industry – they will teach you to communicate your relevant experience throughout all steps of the hiring process and help you land a PM career that is right for you, no matter your background or target industry. This is the only program designed specifically by PhDs for PhDs. And it’s managed by professional project managers who are currently living out their fulfilling industry careers. Are you ready to join them?

Book a Transition Call
Get Free Job Search Content Weekly

ABOUT DEVSMITA DAS, PHD

Devsmita Das, PhD, is a trained physician with 7 years of experience in public health, neuroscience, and cancer research. Included among her numerous contributions to science are published studies in high-impact journals and international conference presentations. At heart a self-motivated clinical scientist, Devsmita’s passion for data analysis and experimentation are lighthouses in the receding mist of the medical unknown.

Devsmita Das, PhD

Similar Articles

15 Questions To Ask Employers To Show You're Industry-Ready

15 Questions To Ask Employers To Show You're Industry-Ready

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

I know many PhDs who moved from one lab to another or one adjunct ship to another and never really had to interview. Because academia is such an isolated environment most PhDs already know most of what they need to know about the culture, pay, and what’s expected of them. This familiarity gets them in the habit of not asking questions during industry interviews and blowing it spectacularly.  I kept bombing my early industry interviews and I couldn’t figure out why – I knew I was the most qualified candidate they’d interviewed. Many of the interviewers told me so. I…

The Inside Scoop On The Industry Onboarding Process

The Inside Scoop On The Industry Onboarding Process

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

Nothing could prepare me for the shock I received walking into my first industry onboarding experience. Literally, everything was different from what I had experienced in academia. The processes, the culture, the pace – absolutely everything. I also had no idea what onboarding meant. I heard the word tossed around but, to me, it was just the process you went through to get all the mandatory paperwork out of the way. That was so far from the truth. My first onboarding experience lasted almost 6 months. Yet, throughout that whole process, I had no idea that I was still being…

4 Questions That Turn LinkedIn Connection Requests Into Industry Job Referrals

4 Questions That Turn LinkedIn Connection Requests Into Industry Job Referrals

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

Referrals are extremely powerful. They can give your resume directly to a hiring manager, help you skip steps of the hiring process, and even have a hiring committee reverse a rejection. One of our transitioned members recently shared the following story about a candidate they referred for a position at their company. Someone connected with me and sent me a message on LinkedIn. As they were polite, I agreed to have a voice chat. I attended a few meetings in my company and found out they were looking for someone with a profile that fits this person’s. So, I invited…

Why PhDs Are Talking About Wage Push Inflation And Leaving Academia Early Because Of It

Why PhDs Are Talking About Wage Push Inflation And Leaving Academia Early Because Of It

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

PhDs are talking about the wage push inflation. We are going through a very rare time in the economy. A very rare time in the timeline of humanity. So, if you are a PhD looking for an industry job, it’s possible that you feel lost most of the time.  You might feel like you don’t know the rules you need to follow to get hired. You might feel that the rules are constantly changing. I’m here to tell you that as scary as this time might seem. There are a lot of opportunities that you can take advantage of. In…

The PhD’s Guide To Picking The Best Industry Data Scientist Jobs

The PhD’s Guide To Picking The Best Industry Data Scientist Jobs

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

When I started the long road toward my doctorate, I never would have put “PhD” and “unemployed” in the same sentence.  Nevertheless, that’s the reality 60% of all PhDs will face at some point in their career. You might even be living (or soon facing) that reality right now. With more universities scaling back in-person classes in favor of virtual learning, you can expect those secure full-time professorship jobs to grow fewer by the day, too. Why offer a tenured position when you can just hire low-paid adjuncts – especially with online courses becoming the norm? Fortunately, PhDs in data…

3 Fears That Are Strangling Your Career Options

3 Fears That Are Strangling Your Career Options

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

Fears destroy your poetntial. I don’t understand why anyone would get their PhD and stay in academia anymore. Logically, that is.  Logically, any PhD can see how postdocs and PhD students are exploited by the system as cheap labor.  Many of them go as far as working for free once they get their PhD, or they get into postdocs that don’t allow overtime, don’t contribute to their retirement, and pay them peanuts.  That’s when self-justification occurs … “I’m doing noble work”  “I’m doing important work”  “I can still be a professor”  “An adjunct professorship is a real professorship”  “Everyone is…

Your Complete Guide To Real Networking For PhDs (Not Just A Means To An End)

Your Complete Guide To Real Networking For PhDs (Not Just A Means To An End)

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

“Networking?” For PhDs? The whole idea of networking always seemed strange…. Kissing up to strangers with small talk all for personal gain? No thanks. Wouldn’t people know I’m just trying to use them?  Well, if the industry hiring manager can’t see my value through a resume and CV, then I don’t need them anyway. I’ll always have academia! …Except I know those secure academia jobs are getting slimmer by the year (and never pay what we deserve to begin with). Okay, fine, I’ll network—but only at a few conferences where I know I’ll run into people who can help me. …

Where Do You Measure Up To The Average PhD Looking For A Job? (Data From 1,679 PhDs Reveals The Truth)

Where Do You Measure Up To The Average PhD Looking For A Job? (Data From 1,679 PhDs Reveals The Truth)

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

My resume is above average. Certainly it’s at the mean. That was my belief when I started my job search. I’m way ahead of where I should be when it comes to transitioning into industry. I mean …I haven’t even graduated and I was already looking at options. That was another belief I had when I started my industry job search. Looking back, I’m amazed at how unscientific my approach was when it came to the most important thing in my life at the time – my career. In retrospect, I had no idea what I was doing. I was…

Salaries For 43 PhD Industry Jobs (The Highest Paying Job Is No Surprise)

Salaries For 43 PhD Industry Jobs (The Highest Paying Job Is No Surprise)

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

PhDs are increasingly being hired in the top-paying jobs across industries. So, there is no reason for you to stay stuck in academia where PhD salaries are stagnant or plummeting. The U.S. National Institute of Health reports a starting annual salary of US $37,740 for academic postdocs and a study published in Nature reported a starting salary of US $23,660 — the minimum wage set by the U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act.  Even with the current inflation, the average salaries for postdocs are below $49,999 per year. This means that rent and prices of other day to day products and…

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.

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.

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.