PhD Transition Report Podcast

Ready to start your transition into industry? Apply to book a free Transition Call with our founder, Isaiah Hankel, PhD or one of our Transition Specialists here.

Ready to start your transition into industry? Apply to book a free Transition Call with our founder, Isaiah Hankel, PhD or one of our Transition Specialists here.

Ready to start your transition into industry? Apply to book a free Transition Call with our founder, Isaiah Hankel, PhD or one of our Transition Specialists here.

Ready to start your transition into industry? Apply to book a free Transition Call with our founder, Isaiah Hankel, PhD or one of our Transition Specialists here.

Join us as we talk about… In this week’s episode… You will what the challenges are from transitioning from Academia to Industry You will learn that if a PhD is leveraged correctly it can be a gateway to personal and professional advancement Finally you learn that having a PhD gives opportunities for innovation, making contributions to knowledge, meaningful collaborations, and professional relationships. If PhDs struggle to get hired in industry, then why should they get a PhD in the first place? I had a PhD send me this question recently and wanted to share it because I get asked it a lot. The problem is not that a PhD is not worthwhile, it’s that the academic-publishing complex doesn’t train PhDs on how to leverage their PhDs to get hired into a meaningful career that rewards them for their investment. And to be fair, why would academia or academic publishers want to help PhDs get out of academia? All of higher education and academic publishing is held up on the backs of underpaid PhD labor. Think about it. Have you ever been given a royalty for a paper you published? Nope. You were indoctrinated on the publish or perish culture keeping…

Join us as we talk about… In this week’s episode… You will uncover the importance of highlighting soft skills, such as work ethic, resilience, and passion for the company’s mission, in addition to technical qualifications You will explore the influence of effectively communicating skills during the job search, focusing on showcasing rigorous training in research and analysis, analytical abilities, time management, and organizational skills Finally you will recognize the importance of a deadline driven work ethic and perseverance gained through the challenges of earning a PhD “I just can’t seem to get hired Isaiah, even for jobs where I have all the skills.” This is something I hear often. But I also hear, “Isaiah, I don’t have all the skills and I don’t have experience, so I’ll never get hired.” Yet, these 2 classes of PhDs continue to get hired in industry every single day, regardless of how their skills match. How is that possible? Well, eventually these PhDs stop obsessing over their skills and start focusing on mastering the job search process and mastering how to communicate other key skills. In particular, when PhDs lean into communicating how productive they are, how strong their work ethic is, how quickly…

Join us as we talk about… In this week’s episode… You will learn the importance of giving to receive during a job interview You will learn the influence of showcasing endorsements and approvals from previous employers or colleagues Finally you will learn the concept that once someone commits to something small, they are more likely to agree to something bigger. As PhDs, we really hate the idea of selling ourselves. Even watering down the word “selling” to “marketing” ourselves or “persuading” others hurts. But to get hired, that’s exactly what you have to do. This is especially true during the interview process. When it comes to sitting across from another person, by video or in person, the art of persuasion can significantly boost your chances of success. So today I wanted to talk about 5 psychological tricks (they’re not really tricks, more like nuances, but the word trick spices things up a bit). First is the law of reciprocity: you have to give to get. The concept here is simple, people feel obliged to return favors. So how do you apply this? Offer something valuable during your interview, like unique insights or solutions to potential problems the company faces. This…

Join us as we talk about… In this week’s episode… You will learn that how important transferrable skills and communication are You will learn the importance of optimizing your resume content Finally you will that you must manage your online presence “I have an interview coming up in 3 days Isaiah. It’s by video.” Congratulations, I said. “What are some of the big things I should pay attention to?” They asked. So, I told them how to research the position, how to approach the panel by making each person feel heard and paid attention too, not just the most vocal person, and we talked about some more practical tips like blurring his background or using a different virtual background (his current background showed a very messy bookcase and desk). “My background is good, I’ve used it before. It will be fine.” Okay, sure, I said. Why fight with him? You’re either coachable, or you’re not. Too many PhDs fail to get hired because they’re not coachable. They insist, without any openness or humility, that they’re not getting hired because they lack the skills, not because they’re coming across as unlikable, or naive to the social norms of industry. I see…

Join us as we talk about… In this week’s episode… You will learn that that employers are looking for PhDs that can adapt quickly and learn autonomously. You will learn 5 reasons why PhDs learn faster then anyone Finally you will that having these skills make PhDs valuable candidates in the professional world I often get asked what is the number one skill that I think PhDs have and every time I’m quickly able to respond with “learning how to learn”. PhDs learn faster and more autonomously than any group of people in the world. In fact, they’re doctors of learning because they’re doctors of philosophy and philosophy is knowledge and the ability to ascertain knowledge. In today’s rapidly changing job market, employers are constantly on the lookout for candidates who can adapt quickly and learn autonomously. PhDs are at the top of this desired pool, and it’s not just because of their specialized knowledge or research skills. Here are five reasons why PhDs learn faster and better, making them prime candidates for employers who prioritize quick and independent learning. 1. Advanced Research Skills. PhDs are trained to dive deep into complex subjects, dissect large volumes of information, and distill…

Join us as we talk about… In this week’s episode… You will learn that you will need to move fast when transitioning into an industry position You will learn why speed is a factor in your job search Finally you will learn some action steps you should implement now Every week I talk to dozens of PhDs personally, at least, and one of the most common things I hear from them is that they want to take their time to consider all their options in industry. This is understandable but “taking your time” in academia is far different than taking your time in industry. In industry, things move much faster. And your career and other people’s perception of it, from an industry standpoint, can change rapidly. In short, time matters and most often, you need to push yourself to get hired faster. There are many compelling reasons to expedite the job search process. The first is to maintain relevance. In industry, sectors evolve rapidly, and skills can become rusty or outdated if you’re not in a role that allows you to use them regularly. A quick job search and reentry into the workforce help ensure that your skills and knowledge…

Join us as we talk about… In this week’s episode… You will discover the crucial role of technical preparedness You will uncover the link between professionalism and presentation Finally you will recognize the key role of nonverbal communication I was at a networking event several months ago and this PhD who didn’t know me came up and introduced themselves and then asked me where I worked. I told them and then they told me they never heard of it. Fair. But then they said, “can you get me a job at your company?”. Wait, what? I politely told them to share their resume and then asked what they wanted to do. “I’m pretty desperate at this point, I’ll do anything.” Oh my God. Then they went on to tell me that no one is responding to their resumes or giving them a chance. I hate being in situations like this because what do I say – hey, I mentor PhDs on job searching, let me tell you everything you’re doing wrong. Nope. That is surely worse. So I gently guide the conversation constructively and help in any way I can. Don’t worry though, the story has a happy ending. I…

Join us as we talk about… In this week’s episode… You’ll learn that technical preparedness is crucial Next you’ll learn why professionalism extends to presentation Finally, you’ll learn that nonverbal communication is key If you can’t manage your internet connection, why should we put you in charge of managing anything else. This was actually said to someone I know when they’re wifi kept dropping and buffering during a video interview. They were at one of the later stage rounds with a very busy executive. Needless to say, they didn’t get the job. Was the executive a jerk about this wifi issue – absolutely? Does it matter in terms of my friend getting hired? Absolutely not. In reality, the message the executive was conveying was right. The way they presented it was not. In today’s job market, video interviews have become the norm, allowing candidates to showcase their skills and personality from the comfort of their own homes. While this format offers convenience, it also presents unique challenges. To help you make a great impression during your next video interview, let’s explore some common video interview mistakes to avoid. First, don’t neglect your technical setup. Technical issues can be a major…