As a PhD student approaches graduation, the uncertainty of “What’s next?” can feel overwhelming. While academia may seem like the default option, the reality is that only a small proportion of graduates continue into faculty roles. Yet many rewarding and impactful careers exist that align with researchers’ passions. Informed by the Academia and the World Beyond interviews, I have mapped post-PhD career journeys into a comprehensive hierarchical framework encapsulating the breadth of potential post-PhD options.
In this interactive half-day workshop, I guide participants to:
- Map the spectrum of post-PhD careers spanning traditional academia, “academic-adjacent” roles, and “skill-transfer” paths
- Self-assess skills, interests, and values to determine best-fit career paths
- Consider which job characteristics are most relevant to them and how to focus on finding jobs that align with these criteria
With an extensive network spanning diverse post-PhD careers and first-hand experience mentoring PhD students to a variety of careers, I offer invaluable guidance for careers in academia and beyond. My workshop is designed to enable students to discover the option that best matches their skills, interests, and values.
