Articles
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“Career Exploration Needs to Start Before Students Graduate,” by Derrick E. RancourtCiting the high rates of depression and anxiety that come with underemployment, and students’ tendency to delay their career planning, Derrick E. Rancourt offers strategies to analyze the career landscape, and to encourage students to explore how this landscape is constantly changing and how they can craft their own career niche. Friday, April 12, 2019 - 4:15pm |
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“Why Do We Talk Badly About Ourselves?” by Joseph BarberImpostor syndrome is rampant in academia, and even those who focus on their research topic for years on end often feel like they are not the expert they would like to be. Joseph Barber offers strategies to resist the academy’s ability to make one doubt one’s own skills, and shows how to explore one’s expertises and confidently incorporate these skills in one’s professional identity. Wednesday, April 3, 2019 - 4:15pm |
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“Overcoming the Ph.D. Stereotype” by Jennifer Polk and L. Maren WoodAcknowledging that many PhD’s simply don’t know where to start in their exploration of careers beyond the academy, Jennifer Polk and L. Maren Wood lay out strategies for starting this exploration, through introspection, and through research into how academic work experience translates into the specific language, work experience, and skill set that professional careers require. Thursday, March 28, 2019 - 3:15pm |
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“What Are Your Transferable Skills As You Exit Graduate School?” by Maryam Hejazi, Georgina Macintyre, and Hanne OostergaardIn the course of a doctoral program, you train to become an expert in your field—but in this process, you gain a great number of transferable skills as well, skills that can bridge the gap between a career in academia and one beyond the hedges. Among the most important transferable skills, this article shows, are effective communication, active listening, critical thinking and problem solving, independent work as well as teamwork, and project management. Tuesday, March 12, 2019 - 4:15pm |
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“Addressing the Academia-First Mentality in PhD Programs” by Jonathan Malloy and Joleen BerdahFacing the increased attention to diverse career outcomes and career options for PhD students, Jonathan Malloy and Joleen Berdahl critique the “academia-first” mentality that still prevails in the academy. They argue that although individual initiatives are important, a larger institutional shift towards career support for graduate students is needed, which integrates institutional career services, departmental and supervisor support, and graduate student initiative. Wednesday, February 27, 2019 - 3:15pm |
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“Succeeding Outside the Academy: Career Paths beyond the Humanities, Social Sciences, and STEM,” ed. Joseph Fuscione and Kelly J. BakeFilled with the experiences of PhDs who have left academia, this collection of essays offers advice, hope, and strategies for succeeding outside the academy. The essays offer firsthand accounts of the transition from professor to professional, along with practical advice to aid those who are considering this career change. Tuesday, February 12, 2019 - 3:30pm |
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"Maybe You’ve Already Found Your Next Great Career," by Danielle BarkleyDanielle Barkley describes her process of transitioning out of the tenure-track job market as a gradual one, aided by her increased honesty on her goals and priorities in a career. She advises students to gain the experience she gained through "side hustles" as early as possible, through work opportunities their universities might offer, such as peer-to-peer resume reviewing. Thursday, December 6, 2018 - 3:30pm |
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"Aurora, Career Advice By PhDs, for PhDs," by Beyond the ProfessoriateBeyond the Professoriate, an online career hub for graduate students and PhDs that offers resources for academic and professional careers, has recently launched the platform Aurora. Aurora offers two online programs for graduate students and PhDs looking to launch a professional career, in which students can explore career options, learn how to leverage their academic skills beyond the professoriate, and how to launch a successful non-faculty job search. Thursday, December 6, 2018 - 3:30pm |
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"Learning from an informational interview: how does a PhD enter the non-profit world?" by Molly AppelInformational interviews are an excellent way to orient oneself when transitioning from the academic job market to the job market beyond academia. In this post, Molly Appel chronicles how she approached a recent informational interview, and highlights four lessons this informational interview taught her about transitioning from the PhD to the alt-ac job market. Friday, November 30, 2018 - 3:00pm |
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"Dear PhDs: You Do You," by Caitlyn Perry DialCaitlyn Dial offers advice on leaving academia through her experience as a Public History PhD who, by making use of the resources her department offered, and by networking and expanding her marketable skills outside of the department, graduated with a full time job in the museum field. Tuesday, November 20, 2018 - 3:15pm |