FINDING A NEW CAREER
your reading list
When it comes to starting a job search outside of academia, it can be easy for you to get overwhelmed and struggle to know where to begin.
To help you get started and stay on track, I’ve created a 5-step framework to guide and support your efforts.
For each of these steps, I’ve written detailed articles exploring the activities you need to undertake, and the outputs you need to create. I’ve also written about the whole process of getting started with your job search, for instance, learning about the non-academic job market and adopting the right mindset for changing careers. There are also guest articles by other career experts.
You can work through this reading list according to which step of your job search you’re at, or dip in and out, depending upon where you feel you need support.
My 5-step job search framework:
Getting started (things you need to know first)
Step 1: Identify your transferable skills – knowing what you can do
Step 2: Choose your profession – focusing your job search
Step 3: Get the right experience – proving that you can do it
Step 4: Create your professional brand – communicating your value
Step 5: Tell a great story – shining in interviews
filter articles:
Your job options after a PhD – in a diagram
Check out the four main employment pathways open to doctoral graduates.
Life after the PhD: 8 inspiring post-PhD interview websites
What could your life look like after your PhD, if you chose to pursue a career outside of academia? You can find out by browsing through the hundreds of inspiring post-PhD interviews, profiles and autobiographies available online.
Free resource guide: 10 career websites every PhD should visit!
‘Who do you want to work for?’ and ‘Where do you want to work?’ are two questions you’re unlikely to hear in a discussion of the current academic job market.
Take control of your career by switching into a job outside of academia
‘Who do you want to work for?’ and ‘Where do you want to work?’ are two questions you’re unlikely to hear in a discussion of the current academic job market.
The most underrated career option for PhDs
This month we welcome a guest post by Courtney Danyel, who is a course creator, business writer and anthropologist.
What jobs does a PhD qualify me for?
Question: What jobs does a PhD qualify you for? We know it’s a prerequisite for working as a teacher or researcher in a university department, but what else?
Interview with Lisa Qian, Data Scientist at Airbnb
In this month’s post we catch up with Lisa Qian, a Data Scientist at Airbnb, to find out what it’s like to work as a data scientist.
Getting a job in finance, after your PhD
Are you interested in breaking into financial services and/or banking? I recorded a 10-minute guide on how to get your first job in finance, for the PhD Career Stories podcast. I’ve included the 7 actions you need to take to get started – listen here.
‘Image Consulting – why it’s a rewarding career option for you
Here at Jobs on Toast our aim is to expand your employment horizons, and get you thinking about your wider work options beyond the academy.
‘Alternative Career Pathways After Your PhD’ – live Q&A hosted by Chris
I put your questions on ‘Alternative Career Pathways After Your PhD’ to a panel of experts on Thursday 8th June. Click the play button to watch the recording!
How to search for your ideal job outside academia
If you’ve already started looking for a job in academia, do you use Google to find available lectureships and research posts?
How to research your target job sector
Learn tips and tricks for researching your target job sector, to improve your chances when applying for jobs.
How to find jobs advertised at PhDs
As a PhD applying for jobs outside academia, getting help and advice with your job search can be a real challenge. While PhDs looking for academic posts can ask their supervisors and careers staff for assistance, those of us wanting to work outside of higher education may find ourselves with no-one to turn to.
How to get help and advice when applying for jobs outside academia
As a PhD applying for jobs outside academia, getting help and advice with your job search can be a real challenge. While PhDs looking for academic posts can ask their supervisors and careers staff for assistance, those of us wanting to work outside of higher education may find ourselves with no-one to turn to.
‘But I don’t really know what I want to do!’
Some postgrads and PhDs will still struggle to decide upon a non-academic career area. After all the focus that it’s taken to get through school and university and post-grad life, it can sometimes be difficult to think of a work area that really excites you as much as your academic subject.
Guest post: Deciding who to work for after the PhD
When you start looking for a job outside of academia, the sheer range of opportunities can be bewildering. So I wrote a guest post on the theme of ‘Deciding who to work for: finding employment outside academia’
Guest post: Project Management as a career path for PhDs
I’ve spent the last ten years working as a project and programme manager in various sectors: transport, technology and financial services. Read my guest post here.
How PhD holders can find and secure an IT job – interview
I was recently interviewed about how doctoral graduates can find a good job in the IT and tech sector.
Career Opportunities in the Esports Industry
In our latest guest post, Marcus Clarke introduces career opportunities in the growing esports industry.