Updated Saturday, April 25, 2009
5 Lessons in Ph.D. Career
Transitions
(or, What to do when the light at
the end of your tunnel is not in
Academia)
by
Jane Chin, Ph.D.
Copyright 2009 by Jane Chin, All Rights Reserved. http://www.PHDcareerclinic.com/

Updated Saturday, April 25, 2009
WHY?
I’ve read many books that are
catalogs of “alternative science
careers” but very few that tell you
the steps of “how to break out”.
Copyright 2009 by Jane Chin, All Rights Reserved. http://www.PHDcareerclinic.com/

Updated Saturday, April 25, 2009
THE “5”
“5”
1. Know Your Strengths
2. Let Go of What You “Should”
Want
3. Make Your PhD Work for You
4. Put a $ on Procrastination
5. Create Your Opportunities
Copyright 2009 by Jane Chin, All Rights Reserved. http://www.PHDcareerclinic.com/

Updated Saturday, April 25, 2009
1. Know Your Strengths
Invest the TIME
If you don’t spend time to really know who you are and what
you’re about, you won’t know your strengths.
Invest in TOOLS
If you aren’t willing in spend $ on your personal development,
you aren’t going to convince anyone else to invest in
you.
Invest in TEACHERS
Of course you can “do it yourself” and not pay for coaches
and mentors. Just be prepared to learn by trial and error,
maybe reinvent the wheel.
Copyright 2009 by Jane Chin, All Rights Reserved. http://www.PHDcareerclinic.com/

Updated Saturday, April 25, 2009
2. Let Go of What You
“Should” Want
“Should”
Imagine doing what you are doing now for
TEN MORE YEARS. Do you get a feeling
of purpose or a sense of “doing time”?
In the long run, disappointing other people is
LESS PAINFUL than disappointing
yourself.
Before you look at HOW you want to make a
LIVING, look at WHAT you want to make
of your LIFE.
Copyright 2009 by Jane Chin, All Rights Reserved. http://www.PHDcareerclinic.com/

Updated Saturday, April 25, 2009
3. Make Your PhD Work
for You
There is Truth behind all the PhD stereotypes
This only changes when PhDs change how they view their
profession and how they communicate with the world
Translate your CV for the real world
Most recruiters in the alternative careers you want don’t have
a PhD
See Your PhD Training through a different
lens
Imagine your lab as a company, what is your role, where do
you fit, how do you contribute?
Copyright 2009 by Jane Chin, All Rights Reserved. http://www.PHDcareerclinic.com/

Updated Saturday, April 25, 2009
4. Put a Price Tag on
Procrastination
You may be losing at least $30K
per year as a postdoc (versus
an entry level sales person).
• My calculation was around $34,102/year
• We procrastinate because we believe the
GUILT from not honoring commitments
would be less painful than FEAR of taking
action.
Copyright 2009 by Jane Chin, All Rights Reserved. http://www.PHDcareerclinic.com/

Updated Saturday, April 25, 2009
5. Create Your
Opportunities
3 ways to create opportunities
• Go to job fairs
• Go to industry conferences and trade shows in the new
field you want to work in (this will be $$, but it is a worthy
investment)
• Network with recruiters
#1 Turn-Off for myself and most of the PhDs
who carved their own roads in alternative
careers?
• Hearing a postdoc say about how s/he has what it takes IF
ONLY given the opportunity – sounds like whining
Copyright 2009 by Jane Chin, All Rights Reserved. http://www.PHDcareerclinic.com/

Updated Saturday, April 25, 2009
NOW WHAT?
Read more articles or
buy the book online at
http://www.phdcareerclinic.com/
Copyright 2009 by Jane Chin, All Rights Reserved. http://www.PHDcareerclinic.com/