Using Your PhD Outside of Research

Dear Dora,

Are there certain career paths outside of research where the PhD dramatically helps your career advancement? I’m a third-year grad student planning on leaving the bench (to do what, I’m not sure) but I feel like I’m half way there so if getting the letters is important I could tough it out.

—MM, grad student

Dear MM,

There are many alternative paths where a PhD would enhance your career advancement (see Q&A column below on administrative positions). Other careers include patent law, science writing, and regulatory jobs (e.g. working for the FDA). Many scientist positions in the pharmaceutical industry are away from the bench as well (e.g. project management, report writing). I listed several references below (including a group on LinkedIn) on alternative careers for PhDs.

If you are interested in these careers I recommend researching job postings, since some of these positions only require a Master’s Degree. In fact, I have a patent lawyer friend who left graduate school after five years (!) with a Masters Degree to go to law school. It is important to evaluate whether staying in graduate school is worth your time (for example, will you school give you a Masters degree if you leave early). My friend had a few publications already, so he had something to show for the time he spent in graduate school. Another friend of mine left graduate school after 2 years, but he already had a job offer for a position that only required a Bachelors.

Whether you decide to stay or leave it important to have a plan both for your finances and your career advancement. Employers will understand if you change your mind about earning a PhD, as long as you have the right skills, enthusiasm and commitment to your new career path.

If you have any doubts whether it is worth getting a PhD, visit our latest blog at:

http://gradschoolnet.org/2013/04/is-it-worth-getting-a-phd/

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References

Articles on job search and alternative careers:

http://www.phds.org/jobs/

http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/tools_tips/outreach/events/2010_06_17

http://acswebinars.org/carlo

http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Alternative-PHD-Careers-3404777/about

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2012/08/what_is_the_value_of_a_science_phd_is_graduate_school_worth_the_effort_.html

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Dora Farkas, Ph.D. is the author “The Smart Way to Your Ph.D.:200 Secrets from 100 Graduates,” and the founder of Grad School Net, an online community for graduate students and PhDs. You will find links to her book, monthly newsletters, and discussion board on her site. Send your questions to [email protected] and keep an eye out for them in an upcoming issue!

Stay tuned for the next Dear Dora in two weeks!  In the meantime, check a few of Dora’s recent posts:

• The Conferencation: Adding Personal Time to a Scientific Meeting
• Keeping Preliminary Results Private with an Overexcited PI
• How Long is Acceptable for Holiday Vacation?
• Graduate School: How Long is Too Long?
• Is a Parasitic Postdoc Trying to Steal Your Project?
• Is the NIH Minimum Binding for All?
• Backing Out of a Postdoc Offer for a Better One
• Managing Publication Jealousy in the Lab
• Debriefing the Lab After a Scientific Conference
• Music in the Lab: MyTunes, iTunes, or No Tunes?

Submit your questions to Dora at [email protected], or use the comment box below!

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