I’m almost done with my doctorate (engineering). I want to go into industry instead of academia. I’ve been in academia my entire adult life – no breaks. I did bachelor’s, immediately master’s, immediately PhD. I have never had an industry job. As in, I’ve only ever got paid to do academic work (teach or research). People tell me I don’t know what the real world is like and I’m naive and I wanna go see that real world, however horrible it is! Except, now I’m freaking out about it.
I’m in a weird position. Having a PhD means I must go after senior level jobs but then it’ll be my first ever job so how does that make sense? I’m so scared of actually applying anywhere. My resume is filled with academic projects, and nothing industry not even an internship. On top of that, I’m kind of old! Like will anyone hire a 31 year old intern? I am on the younger side in the academic sphere (or actually average, as in, mid20s to early 30s), so I don’t feel like I stand out. But in industry? I’m probably the same age or even older than the directors.
On top of this, my lease is up in August and I can’t extend it because I will no longer be a student. So, I need to find a place to live. I’m in Canada, btw. Rent is HIGH. like ridiculously high. Having no job lined up and having to pay new rent is terrifying. I have savings enough for about 6 months.
I have almost no friends. I have my ex who offered I move in with him until I find a place (literally the only person who even listened to my concerns and worries, whereas my friends’ solution was to move in to the basement of the same place I’m living in or offer sex for rent worst case scenario, and laughed it off). He says that now but idk if the offer will stand in 5 months.
Anyway. I’m freaking out. I need some advice you have on how to navigate this.
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My PhD friends who recently graduated started out at entry level jobs in industry because they did not qualify or have the experience for senior level roles. Yes, it may be a pay cut after all that education but the important part is to get your foot in the door. Industry jobs are quite competitive so I’d apply to all and take what you can get. As for renting, I’d rather look into roommates than move in with my ex.
Take a breather. You’re going to be fine. I know plenty of people that went the academic route. Besides you have experience teaching and on research and that is legitimately not nothing
PhD is a job, the people telling you otherwise are wrong
a PhD is a job, the people telling you otherwise are wrong
Mid 30s male for context (feel free to delete), but also have recently been in graduate school for both business and science. I say this just because I feel business school really teaches you how to translate experiences on to your resume, support I didn’t get in the sciences progeam.
Any experiences in a lab, research, etc, are real work experiences even if they’re not in industry. I would think of each bullet point as a story, and try to follow the STAR format. What challenges were you trying to solve, how did you solve them, and what was the result. Use this to show off your skills/attributes /capabilities that employers will find relevant. AI might also help craft these bullet points too. Generally a good bullet point is 2, sometimes 3 lines long. Others may disagree but this is how a top MBA program taught us to craft our resumes.
Don’t do this alone. Your school(s) have resources, and they also have people who want to help. Get yourself some teammates. Talk to your professors/ advisors/ people who get paid to find their students jobs.
Something you haven’t learned yet is that it is about one thousand times harder to get a job by submitting an application than it is to network your way in. If I were in your situation I wouldn’t be submitting any applications unless I’ve had a conversation with someone from the job first. Ask for advice, then ask for introductions, then ask for a job.