Proof That Industry Postdocs Are A Scam

Join Isaiah as he explores why industry postdocs are not as great as you may think

Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s episode…

• First, Isaiah explains the reason industry postdocs were developed (and it’s not what you think)
• Next, Isaiah reveals the shockingly low proportion of industry postdocs that are hired into permanent positions
• Finally, Isaiah list the reasons why the industry postdoc actually sabotages your industry career in the long-term

From This Week’s Show… 

The Unexpected Motives Behind The Industry Postdoc

Many PhDs think the only way to get their foot into the industry door is through an industry postdoc. But this just isn’t true.

In fact, industry postdocs are a complete scam created only to benefit big companies.

They were created to breath new life into Research & Development Departments, not to bolster company recruiting efforts.

That means PhDs shouldn’t expect their industry postdoc to end with a job offer.

What Proportion Of Industry Postdocs Are Offered Fulltime Positions

You’d be surprised at how few postdocs are hired into permanent positions.

In fact, studies show that 40% of industry postdocs don’t end up working in industry at all.

You heard that right. Four in 10 industry postdocs don’t end up working in industry! They go back to academia.

Other studies show that up to 90% of industry postdocs don’t get hired at the company they did the postdoc with.

So, if your postdoc company isn’t going to hire you, then what other advantages does it provide?

Why An Industry Postdoc Should Make You Run The Other Way

Many PhDs assume that an industry postdoc is a great way to build a strong industry network.

But they’re wrong.

In an industry postdoc, you’re working closely with industry professionals at your company. However, due to the sensitive nature of the work, external collaborations are extremely limited.

And if your current company isn’t going to hire you, those external collaborations are what you need to find an industry job.

Not only that, but as a postdoc in industry, your travel budget is extremely limited. This means you won’t be able to attend many conferences, making you miss out on yet another networking opportunity.

Another misconception is that an industry postdoc better prepares PhDs to work in industry. But as a postdoc, you’re just a temporary employee.

To protect their trade secrets, companies often assign postdocs projects that are on the outskirts of the real research.

That mean you’d experience many closed doors – not being allowed to attend important meetings or any other internal discussions pertaining to classified information.

So, if you’re considering an industry postdoc – stop. Consider a full time role in industry instead.

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.