Looking beyond academia
An exercise for everyone
Recently, five more copies of A Field Guide to Grad School were shared with prospective and current PhD students in the United States, bringing our total number of newsletter book winners to 103! Recipients included: Krandhasi Kodaiarasu, Esther Kwon, Urvi Maheshwari, Nikole Wilson-Ripsom, and Jeehyun Yoon. If you are a prospective or current PhD student in the United States and are interested in receiving a copy of A Field Guide to Grad School, be sure to enter the book giveaway linked below. More information on how to do this is at the end of the newsletter.
On, October 30, I was joined by three fantastic panelists, Drs. Belem López, David Tang, and Tyler Hein, to discuss career opportunities beyond academia. You can watch the entire panel at this link. However, if you don’t have an hour to spare, no worries! I’ve got you. In this post, I share some key insights and tips that will help you understand how you can begin exploring career opportunities “beyond academia.” Whether exploring your own career options or mentoring those who are, this post (and panel) is for you!
Important note. As I learn more, my language around “industry” continues to evolve. I recognize the power of language and am committed to being both inclusive and informed. Still, I may sometimes use terms that seem to privilege academia—this is not my intent, and I welcome accountability. Here, I use “industry” to describe careers outside “traditional” academic paths, though I use quotes, as academia is an industry too. The line between “academia” and “industry” is often blurry, and I aim to respect that complexity.
Below are the three main topics covered during the panel, along with key tips and insights shared by the panelists.
NETWORKING
Networking is about building a diverse set of professional relationships. Although it may feel uncomfortable to reach out primarily to advance your career, this approach is common and widely accepted. To help you begin, the panelists shared several recommendations for effective networking—valuable advice that applies to anyone, not just those exploring careers outside academia.
Build authentic connections: Approach networking as “making professional friends.” Focus on learning about others' experiences rather than solely aiming to advance your career.
Start with familiar contacts: Begin with people you know or secondary connections (friends of friends), then gradually move to cold outreach. Practicing with familiar contacts can help ease you into the networking process.
Prepare for a low response rate: Many people won’t respond initially, which is normal. Aim to keep building connections over time, not just when you need immediate help.
Use conferences to expand networks: Attending conferences outside your field can expose you to diverse range of professionals and help you build connections that extend beyond academia.
Be clear and consistent with your purpose: When reaching out, explain your genuine interest and specific questions to make a memorable impression. Showing curiosity about someone’s field rather than seeking immediate job referrals can foster lasting professional relationships.
SKILL TRANSLATION
Effectively communicating your skills in a way that resonates with different audiences is essential. It’s important to remember that prospective employers may not fully understand the scope of your work as a researcher. To help you articulate the value of your skills, the panelists offered the following recommendations:
Reframe academic tasks as general skills: For instance, managing a classroom can be described as “team leadership,” and creating a syllabus is akin to “project planning.”
Tailor language to job descriptions: Look at key terms in job postings and rephrase your skills to align with them, such as calling “research protocol writing” a “standard operating procedure.”
Seek feedback from people outside academia: Have friends or contacts outside academia review your resume to help identify and clarify transferable skills.
WORK, CULTURE, AND WORK CULTURE
Throughout the discussion, the panelists explored workplace norms, feedback styles, and work-life balance as they’ve experienced them across academia, government, and industry. They shared the following insights:
Career flexibility and evolution: Career goals and interests may evolve over time, and it's valuable to remain open to new opportunities that align with changing personal and professional goals.
Importance of mission alignment: Many industry jobs are mission-driven, similar to academia, but with a focus on practical applications, public service, or industry innovation.
Stability and work culture: Although government roles may offer structured growth and stability, industry jobs can be more dynamic, with varying timelines and a faster-paced environment, especially in tech and startups.
Work-life balance and stability: Industry roles, especially in government, may offer a more predictable workday and greater job security, which may become increasingly important to some as they progress in their careers.
Until next time!
How to reach me: You are always welcome to email me (letstalkgradschool@gmail.com). You can also find me on Bluesky @bskybymidge.
Want to support my #hiddencurriculum efforts? Consider “buying me a coffee” via Ko-fi. All funds will be put back into my Let’s Talk Grad School initiatives (i.e., weekend groups, buying/mailing books, etc.). Learn more about my efforts here.
Let’s give away some books: Readers located in the United States are eligible to enter the book giveaway to receive a copy of A Field Guide to Grad School by Dr. Jessica Calarco. To do so, complete this survey and note that you only have to complete it once to be entered in all subsequent giveaways! I do hope to expand the reach of the giveaway; however, at the moment, the shipping costs are too great to scale. If you’d like to talk about ways your institution could secure an electronic (or hard) copy, please let me know.
Wishing you all the best!
Margaret