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•       Resources       What to do After Grad School: All Your Questions Answered

What to do After Grad School: All Your Questions Answered

Finishing graduate school and moving toward a professional career can be complex for some new grads. Many aspects of our lives change during these transitions and, for many, it’s challenging to keep a positive attitude, stay focused on our goals, and face the competitive job market. From job hunting and professional development to managing student debt and networking strategies, the following guide offers some tips and resources for new graduates getting ready to tackle life beyond grad school.

Adjusting to Life After Grad School

The five tips listed below offer links to helpful resources and methods of preparing for the stresses of the job search, life after school, and how to cope with inevitable emotional and professional challenges.

Make time for yourself: According to a Harvard study, by the time students enter their final years of graduate school, up to 25 percent experience moderate or severe symptoms of depression. Upon graduation, these symptoms don't necessarily disappear. In her article “ The Grief of Graduation ,” Anne Guarnera discusses graduate students' feelings of loss upon finishing their programs. For the most part, she considers these feelings to be a loss of student identity and all the social and spatial connections that one develops while spending three to six years in a town, city or campus environment. When we graduate, many of us move elsewhere. We leave the area in search of a new job, to find a fresh landscape to begin the next chapter or even move in with family or friends to save money. Whatever the scenario, Guarnera suggests that we all need to practice emotional self-care as a means of dealing with these transitions. To do so, she urges us to schedule time to organize our thoughts and process the changes in our lives.

Prepare early: While you’re still in school, take advantage of career-focused resources available through your program. These resources include career planning and coaching, interview workshops, job fairs and networking opportunities. If your department or school doesn’t have free services readily available, you can reach out to professors for help in this area. Many of them will be glad to offer advice on how to prepare for the job market and help you avoid any mistakes they may have made.

Change your perspective on graduate school: Many students, especially first-generation graduate degree seekers, approach graduate school as an extension of their undergraduate program. Nathaniel Lambert argues that students should treat their post-baccalaureate training as more of an apprenticeship instead of “school” as they’ve traditionally conceptualized it. This concept comes from the middle ages when craftspeople would study with masters of a trade and learn by imitating their techniques and processes. Lambert suggests that graduate learning should be no different and, whenever possible, we should learn by doing, “not simply by reading about it and talking about it in classes.” As a result, we may be better prepared for the transition into our careers upon graduation.

Remember: Your thesis or dissertation doesn’t guarantee you a job: While creating a well-formulated, written document based on original research that contributes in some way to your field is important, it’s best to keep that work in perspective. Whether you pursue a career in academia, at a Fortune 500 company or in a research laboratory, there’s little chance that anyone wants to hear about your thesis or dissertation in detail. That said, it’s still essential that you create a thorough and meaningful project. Bear in mind, however, most employers want to know how your knowledge and expertise makes you a good fit for a position. At this point in your career, they want to know what makes you a good problem-solver, teacher, researcher, etc. You need to tell them how you can meet and exceed these expectations and not simply show them what you’ve written in the past.

Cultivate a support system and friendship: Our expert, Rebecca Newman, urges professionals after graduate school to find trusted individuals outside of work with whom they can share their personal, academic or professional frustrations. “Have a strong support network when entering a new field after graduate school. This can take the form of family, friends, a partner or a mentor. They can offer you support that will keep your ’dirty laundry’ out of your workplace,” Newman says. “You might think you’re venting to a friend in the form of a colleague, but it can be more professionally advantageous to look at work as being ’on stage.’ If you have a valid concern, you should absolutely bring it up at work in a thoughtful, constructive manner.”

Landing a Job after Grad School

Now that you’ve completed your degree and you’re on the job market, where do you start? There are an overwhelming number of job search engines and, depending on your area, just as many jobs to consider. While all of these jobs may not be a good fit, you still end up spending time reading job descriptions, researching companies, locating salary information in certain geographical areas and more. It’s time consuming, no doubt. Here’s some tips to help you streamline your search and save some time. We’ll offer more advice on this topic throughout the guide as well.

Where and how should I look?

TheCollegeInvestor.com suggests that job seekers leverage both their personal network and online search engines or job aggregators. In addition to asking colleagues, professors, friends and family for leads on open positions, job aggregators such as LinkedIn, Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter, Indeed and HigherEdJobs can alert you to positions as soon as they’re posted. Additionally, most of these websites allow job seekers to post their resumes or CVs. This feature allows employers to search for candidates using keywords. Dora Farkas of FinishYourThesis.com , argues that it’s a common and fatal mistake to avoid using LinkedIn and related sites as part of your front-facing, public image, as many of your prospective employers use these sites to find out more about job candidates.

Should I only look for dream jobs?

Truth be told, many graduate students don’t land their dream job immediately after graduation. For Ph.D.’s interested in teaching at the college level, most don’t secure a tenure-track position until after they’ve acquired solo teaching experience in community colleges, adjunct positions or visiting professorships. (That’s not to say that one teaching job is necessarily “better” than another. Many scholars dream of the tenure-track position, however, because of the job security and various freedoms that come with it.) Whatever your field, you may need to find some stepping stones before landing the perfect position.

“To land your dream job, take every responsibility at every job seriously, and prioritize your relationships,” Newman says. “When I was once grumbling about an unrelated task we were doing as interns, the senior intern said to me, ’Sometimes, social work is doing the hustling that no one else wants to do.’ That stuck with me, and I tried to be thoughtful about what I expressed on the job while venting my frustrations elsewhere when I needed that support. Based on having a strong ethic at a past job that was very challenging, my former director cold-called me to ask if I wanted to come back to the organization in a different capacity, in what is now my dream job.”

Should I apply for jobs I’m overqualified for?

While it depends on whom you ask, most professionals will tell you to avoid applying for jobs for which are you overqualified. Some employers might be interested in having someone like you on staff because you may already know the ropes or can act as a leader. More often than not, however, they will see you as someone who will probably get bored and move on to another job before too long. They may also see you as a threat or internal competitor who could take their place later on. On the other hand, if you are unemployed, you are probably in need of a job immediately or in the very near future. In that case, cast a wide net and apply for jobs even if you appear overqualified.

Once You’ve Got the Job, Ask Yourself These Questions

After all of your hard work, applications, and interviews, you finally land a job you’re excited about. As with most positions, you won’t get a full picture of the position, your tasks, the work environment and other details until you’ve had a chance to settle in and take on some responsibilities. Scott Webb, an academic adviser at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, suggests that we ask ourselves a series of questions after several weeks on the job, then after several months and finally at the end of a year. Newman echos Webb’s techniques for checking in with ourselves, making the most of a job and planning ahead.

What are the pros and cons of this job? How do I make it work?

Both Newman and Webb suggest that in the first several weeks of a job we identify those aspects of the position that are the most fulfilling and the most challenging. Acknowledging these positives and negatives helps us get a clearer picture of what we need out of a job and helps us identify our strengths. As Webb points out, during these early stages it’s important to keep an open mind and be willing to embrace unexpected challenges and difficult tasks. These challenges can help us grow as individuals, allow us to do well and advance in our current role, and teach us something about ourselves that may have otherwise gone unrealized.

Is this job a good fit for now, or could I see myself here for longer, perhaps in a different capacity? If/when I leave this job, what are things I would want to be different in my next role?

Newman advises us to plan ahead and think about our next career move, if that’s something we anticipate. This certainly depends on the individual and career path. Professionals with a Ph.D. or master’s degree working in academia, for example, may be content with their current teaching position. If they’re on the lookout for a tenure-track job, then they need to consider if their current role helps make them a stronger competitor when the opportunity presents itself.

What do I like about this job: the camaraderie, content of work or both? Which of those is more important to me?

Of course, we all want to be happy with our work responsibilities, work environment and our coworkers. In a perfect world, we would be satisfied with all three. In addition to planning ahead, Newman suggests that we weigh the quality of the work environment and camaraderie versus how much we enjoy the actual tasks of the job. Which aspect is more important to you?

Licensing and Credentials

Licensure and certifications are required by law for many professions across the U.S. License-based credentials ensure that professionals meet a high standard of practice and are up-to-date on relevant research or advancements in their field. Certifications are usually voluntary credentials, which professionals earn through a professional society or educational institute. The terminology and requirements vary per field.

Licensure requirements vary by state. In psychology, some professionals with a master’s degree can obtain licensure to be professional counselors. More often than not, most states require a Ph.D. All states require supervised training, a written examination and/or oral examination for practicing psychologists. Similarly, those graduate students in criminal justice who wish to become lawyers must complete law school and pass the bar exam. Other roles in the criminal justice system, such as holding a position as a judge, require extra credentials. They also must pass a written exam administered by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management .

While most certifications are voluntary, they help you secure higher-level positions in various professions. Advanced positions in public administration, for example, sometimes require professionals to obtain a Certified Public Manager credential. Prospective recipients must have a bachelor’s degree or higher and complete the required 300 hours of study through a program accredited by the National Certified Public Manager Consortium . Comparatively, the National Board of Public Health Examiners offers the Certified Public Health exam. Professionals who wish to obtain some of the higher-paying jobs in public health must meet the certification standards of their state, along with obtaining a graduate degree.

Professional Development and Continuing Education

Professional development and continuing education are opportunities for students and professionals to enhance their current skill set, learn new techniques and methods in their field, and keep up with the latest advancements and research. In general, we can organize these opportunities into categories: teaching, mentorship, research, networking, workshops, professional conferences, certificates and volunteer work. While some of these categories apply more to some professions than others, they help us locate possibilities for bolstering our resumes, improving our skills and, in some cases, keeping us eligible to work in our fields.

If teaching is part of your profession, you’re required by most states to participate in continuing education classes to keep your teaching license. It’s easiest to think about these opportunities by separating them into categories. Consider looking into professional development courses in behavioral, classroom technology, Common Core, English and reading, mathematics, science and special needs, as well as taking online courses for credit.

This is a great chance for experienced professionals to share their knowledge with the future leaders of their fields. Mentors motivate and empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve their goals. Mentees must be willing to take advice, change their habits and further develop a body of knowledge that supports their efforts with short- and long-term plans. Both mentors and mentees benefit from these encounters, and you should experience both roles.

Research opportunities for master’s and doctoral degree holders come in many shapes and sizes. For the most part, keep an eye out for post-doctorate positions, fellowships and research assistantships. All of these opportunities depend on your field. For example, in the area of the humanities, it’s rare to seek out post-doctorate positions. Researchers in the hard sciences, however, often spend a lot of time and energy trying locate those research opportunities. These research positions look good on your resume or CV, and many of them offer job security for a couple years at a time with a steady paycheck.

You may not be a "people person" or enjoy getting to know new faces. Unfortunately, the tired and old-fashioned saying, “It’s not what you know, but who you know,” rings true to some degree. Making the most out of every networking opportunity is essential to your success after graduate school. From informal gatherings to organized meetings at professional conferences, you need to cast a wide net and actively expand your professional and personal networks.

Practical and theoretical training workshops benefit professionals in virtually any specialty area. These hands-on meetings are often taught by leading academics or highly experienced practitioners. Workshops are available both online and in-person. They can be as short as one day or last the duration of a summer semester.

Professional conferences

You may not be a "people person" or enjoy getting to know new faces. Unfortunately, the tired and old-fashioned saying, "It’s not what you know, but who you know," rings true to some degree. Making the most out of every networking opportunity is essential to your success after graduate school. From informal gatherings to organized meetings at professional conferences, you need to cast a wide net and actively expand your professional and personal networks.

Certificates

Certificates are typically voluntary in most fields and offer additional training to boost your marketability in a competitive job market. They can also help you climb the ladder at your current job. You can easily access on-demand courses in widely useful topics through popular sites such as LinkedIn’s certification and continuing education programs page.

Volunteer work

Improving your skill set and bolstering your resume can also come in the form of volunteer work. In some professions, substantial volunteer work in one area can count as documented work experience. At the same time, many volunteer opportunities allow you to help those in need. You can also gain exposure to new ideas, organizations and connect with a new network of people through this type of work.

Managing Grad School Student Debt

Some colleges and universities offer graduate students some type of funding, maybe even a full tuition waiver plus a stipend, to defray the cost of their education. In other cases, MA and Ph.D. students may receive no funding at all. Unless they are fortunate enough to receive a tuition waiver and a stipend, many graduate students still take out student loans to cover tuition and living expenses. In fact, about 40 percent of the $1.5 trillion in student loan debt comes from graduate students and professional degree seekers. GoGrad offers 10 helpful strategies for paying off student loan debt.

From the Expert

Advice from a psychiatric social worker.

Rebecca Newman is a psychiatric social worker at the Thomas Jefferson University Physicians Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, where she provides individual psychotherapy in Philadelphia. She specializes in working with eating disorders, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, grief and loss, LGBTQIA+ topics, trauma and adjustment to life changes.

What’s one tip for current graduate students or new graduates to manage student debt?

Don’t avoid dealing with your loans or repayment out of anxiety. Your student loan servicer can and wants to help you make your payments. You can work with them on an income-based repayment plan, which can then inform your budget about other expenses. Do your best to develop a budget and stick to it when you’re adjusting to making loan payments.

What are some benefits of participating in professional development or continuing education programs and workshops?

Continuing education programs are a great opportunity to meet other professionals who are a few years ahead of you in your career and can perhaps support you moving forward in your trajectory. Additionally, staying current in your field is important. Think about whether you had a professor or instructor in graduate school who felt out-of-touch. They might not be engaging with continuing education in a thoughtful way, or staying in a lane that is comfortable for them. Professional development requires a certain degree of humility to acknowledge that you don’t know everything, and placing yourself back in the position of a learner can ultimately make you more effective in a role or on a team.

What was your licensing process/timeline to become a licensed social worker?

In my field, licensing is an essential and somewhat lengthy process. Upon graduation (or in your last semester of graduate school, if you’re in good standing), social workers are eligible to take an exam to become a licensed social worker. For this exam, some preparation is necessary -- it is a combination of theoretical knowledge that is a direct reflection of the program curriculum and clinical vignettes. Following passing this exam, in order to move forward, you must accrue 3,000 hours of supervised work experience over no less than two years. With a full-time job this is manageable, as long as your responsibilities at work are relevant to the profession. In conjunction with those hours, you must accumulate 150 hours of clinical supervision, half of which must be individual and with another licensed professional in the field with years of experience. The other half can be in a group, with another mental health professional or a combination of the two. Once you have accumulated 150 hours of supervision, worked 3,000 hours in your job and two years have elapsed, you can apply to take the clinical licensure exam. Upon passing, you are a licensed clinical social worker and can function independently as a clinician and become credentialed with private insurance carriers.

Additional Resources

For those who might feel overwhelmed by the results of a follow-up query into criminal justice or for the experts who want a refresher, here’s a list of industry-leading agencies, institutes, universities and opportunities.

• AcademicLadder.com's "Depression in Grad School and Beyond" : Symptoms of depression among graduate students, how to make sense of it and practice self-care.
• Chemical and Engineering News' "How to Prepare for Life After Graduate School" : Helpful column with career advice for graduate students in the hard sciences.
• Dorsa Amir's "Modest Advice for New Graduate Students" : An excellent list of wise and calming advice for all graduate students.
• Finding Brave's Podcast: "How to Land a Dream Job at the Salary You Deserve" : Advice from Austin Belcak on confidence, networking and going the extra mile.
• Finish Your Thesis Blog : A collection of articles that help graduates handle the stresses of writing a thesis or dissertation as well as job hunting advice.
• Kathy Caprino's "Preparing for Life After Graduation: How to Land a Great Job Your First Time Out" : Interview with Austin Belcak, founder of Cultivated Culture, that offers unconventional strategies to obtain employment after graduate school.
• Northeastern University's "How To Be a Successful Graduate Student" : The large Boston institution's take on getting ahead and making the most of your resources in graduate school.
• Peterson's "A Guide for Potential Grad Students: Should You Go To Graduate School?" : A numbered list, broken into convenient sections, with dozens of salient points to consider before taking the plunge into graduate school.
• StudyBreaks.com's "Tips for Life After College Graduation" : Practical advice and pep talks for graduates from all walks of life.

• PhD Careers: What to Do After a PhD?

Deciding what to do after your PhD can be daunting. Whether you're contemplating a career in academia or considering opportunities outside it, you have numerous paths to explore. Completing a PhD is a significant personal and professional achievement, but it's often just the beginning of your journey. The world brims with opportunities for those ready to take the next step, and understanding these paths can help alleviate the uncertainty and stress that many new PhDs face.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll look into varied career avenues, including academic roles and alternative options in various industries. By the end of this article, you should have a clearer understanding of your prospects and be better prepared to make informed decisions about your future.

To help you make the best decision, we also have guides on PhD employability and earnings , and how you can decide if PhD study is worth it .

We've answered some of the most frequently asked questions about PhDs, covering course types, applications, funding and the benefits of further study.

Will a PhD help you get a job or earn a better salary? And what are your career prospects in and outside of academia?

Everything you need to know about part-time and full-time work as a student or recent graduate in the USA.

Everything you need to know about part-time and full-time work in Germany as a student or recent graduate in Germany.

Academic careers

If you’re inclined towards academia, you're aspiring to join the ranks of researchers focused on advancing knowledge and educating the next generation. Academic careers are prestigious and intellectually rewarding but often demand a blend of teaching, research, and administrative duties. Your work can shape future generations and contribute to groundbreaking discoveries.

Academic roles and responsibilities

Academics primarily work in universities but can also be found in government-funded research institutes and cultural heritage sites. The core objective is to produce original research while often engaging in teaching and administrative duties.

As an academic, you’ll be expected to publish your research findings, supervise students, and contribute to your academic community through various service roles.

How much do academics earn?

According to official data produced by HESA, in 2021-22 most full-time academics employed by a university in the UK were salaried between £47,419 to £63,668 . The second largest salary range, with just over 33% of academics falling into, was £35,326 to £47,419.

Salaries also vary by department. For example, those in Biological, Mathematical, and Physical Sciences earn between £34,000 and £45,000 , while Humanities and Archaeology academics often earn over £45,000 . These figures showcase the range of earning potential, influenced by experience, field of study, and institutional funding.

Pathways to academia

To become an academic in the UK, a doctoral degree is increasingly essential. Generally, you will need at least an upper second-class undergraduate degree, often followed by a Master’s degree. After your PhD, two main pathways lead to permanent positions:

• Teaching Route : Starting with part-time teaching roles can make you competitive for research or teaching fellowships and eventually, permanent lecture positions. These roles often involve a mix of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, curriculum development, and sometimes even student advisory responsibilities
• Research Route : Alternatively, you could apply for post-doctoral positions (postdocs) to gain valuable experience. Postdocs are temporary research roles typically lasting 1-4 years, under the supervision of an established academic. These positions help strengthen your research profile and often provide opportunities for publishing papers and attending conferences.

Candidates are not always expected to have completed a fellowship to apply for a lectureship. These roles can be obtained after completing a postdoc or teaching experience.

Postdocs and fellowships

Postdocs are excellent for building research and teaching experience. Fellowships, on the other hand, are more competitive and prestigious, allowing you to undertake your own research project—sometimes leading to a permanent role. Fellowships can be a crucial stepping stone to further academic opportunities, offering funding and resources to focus intensely on your research.

Though not mandatory, completing a postdoc or fellowship significantly boosts your employability in academia. These temporary roles help you gain the experience needed to secure permanent positions and build a network within the academic community. Networking is vital, as academic positions are often filled through a combination of formal applications and personal connections.

What is a postdoc?

A postdoc is a temporary funded research position at a university or in industry. Postdocs work under the supervision of a research group or established academic and are considered an employee, unlike PhD students. Some roles will include teaching responsibilities and assistant supervisory roles to students. Responsibilities will also include grant writing, funding applications and administrative duties.

Sometimes postdocs can be referred to as Postdoctoral Research Assistants or Postdoctoral Research Fellows. A postdoc, however, is not the same as a fellowship.

What is a fellowship?

Research fellowships are competitive and prestigious positions. Unlike postdocs, you will be funded to complete your own research project. Some positions will also guarantee a permanent academic role after completion. To successfully achieve a fellowship, you’ll need an interesting and viable research project, a history of academic excellence, and experience in writing successful funding or grant applications.

The other type is a teaching fellowship . These roles are not always for early career academics and will be offered to senior researchers so make sure you check the job description.

Do you need a postdoc or fellowship to work in academia?

Technically you do not need to have completed a postdoc or fellowship to work in academia, but it is becoming increasingly expected.

Employment in academia is more competitive each year as the number of PhDs rewarded is increasing, whereas the available permanent academic positions are not. The experience gained from completing one or more temporary positions can help you increase the competitiveness of your CV, make connections and build a positive reputation within the academic community.

Permanent positions

To secure a permanent role, you'll generally start with a lectureship, an entry-level position requiring teaching, research, and administrative duties. After successfully navigating a probationary period (usually three to four years), you might be promoted to Senior Lecturer, Reader, or even Professor, based on the evidence of your contributions and progression. Each upward step typically brings higher responsibilities, leadership opportunities, and an increase in salary.

In the UK, tenure, as understood in North America, doesn't typically apply. However, academics in permanent roles receive standard employment protections. Instead of tenure, UK academics undergo periodic reviews to ensure continued performance and contribution to the institution.

Non-academic careers

Choosing to step outside academia after your PhD opens numerous opportunities. According to the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), over 70% of PhD holders are not working in academia three and a half years after their graduation. This statistic highlights the diverse range of career paths available to PhDs outside of the traditional academic route.

Transferable skills

A PhD equips you with a range of transferable skills that are highly valued in various industries. From analytical thinking and project management to excellent written communication, your PhD experience sets you apart from Bachelors and Masters graduates. Skills such as problem-solving, data analysis, and independent research can make you an attractive candidate in many fields.

Industry examples

Here's how your PhD can translate into various industries:

• A PhD in the Arts and Humanities demonstrates excellent written communication, presentation skills, creativity and analytical thinking. You may be suited to work for jobs in the Publishing industry , Digital Marketing or Civil Service .
• A PhD in Biological and Medical Sciences builds specialist subject knowledge, data proficiency and collaborative skills. This will compliment work in industries such as Pharmaceuticals , Genomics or Clinical Care .
• A PhD in Business and Finance will help build organisational and data experience that could benefit careers in Accountancy , Data Science or Consultancy .
• A PhD in Chemical Sciences will provide you with laboratory skills and an advanced understanding of chemistry needed to benefit jobs in Chemical Engineering , Industrial Chemistry and Food Technology .
• A PhD in Earth Sciences could set graduates up for careers in Construction , Environmental Protection or Mineral Surveying , utilising analytical skills and strong subject knowledge.
• PhDs in Engineering have a strong emphasis on project management and practical construction. This could aid jobs in Management Consultancy and Finance as well as more practical fields such as Aeronautics .
• The specialist knowledge gained from a PhD in Law can enable students to comfortably enter industries such as Investment . Additionally, soft skills gained in communication will help in careers such as Teaching or Public Engagement .
• A PhD in Maths and Computing could benefit jobs in Finance , Investment or Web Development , complimenting skills in logic, problem solving and data.
• A PhD in the Physical Sciences demonstrates experience with software and data. This could set graduates up to work in Software Engineering , Data Science or even Sound Engineering .
• A PhD in Social Science and Health requires a deep understanding of human society on a macro or micro level. Graduates may find themselves working in Epidemiology , Public Health or Social Work .

You may be inclined to apply for jobs relating to the subject of your research or previous studies. But a PhD is a versatile enough qualification that you can often look outside your discipline area.

Making the transition

You should invest some time during your PhD for personal and professional development (this is true if you want to stay in academia too!).

Even if you attend none of the formal training courses offered by your department, your PhD itself will provide you with many skills. When leaving academia, you'll need to translate your skills so they make sense to the industry and commercial employers. Think outside the box and take stock of what you are good at or have experience in.

Some translation examples include:

• The dissertation shows you're capable of presenting and organising large amounts of information.
• Having published papers shows you can communicate information across a range of formats.
• If you did interviews for your PhD project, you might graduate with skills in questionnaire design, sensitivity and data analysis.

There’s always a way to link your academic experience to the commercial world. Be prepared to do this in any upcoming job interviews.

It’s also a good idea to move away from the long, multiple page academic CV that you might be used to. Employers won’t read them. They also won’t be interested in scanning a lengthy list of articles. Instead, you should mention that you’ve had several publications without detailing every instance.

Want to find out more about PhD careers?

Check out our guide to PhD employability and earnings . Then, head to our course listings to find your perfect PhD opportunity .

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What to do after getting your phd: 5 next steps, published by steve tippins on february 11, 2019 february 11, 2019.

Last Updated on: 5th June 2024, 03:08 am

What to do after finishing your PhD is a surprisingly common challenge for students who have recently graduated. So if you’re asking this question, you’re not alone.

After years of hard work and passing on enjoyable opportunities to get your writing done, you have finished your dissertation. This is quite an accomplishment. But what do you do now that you’ve finished?

This is something that few doctoral programs prepare you for. How do you take what you have learned and capitalize on it? How do you start your new career or use your PhD to take the next step in your existing one?

What to Do After Getting Your PhD

Based on my own experience and my experience coaching countless recent graduates, I’ve come up with an answer. Here is what to do after PhD is officially part of your title.

Step 1: Take a Breath

It may be tempting to rush right into the next thing. You finally have your PhD, now you get to use it! Apply for a thousand jobs, become a postdoctoral fellow, take a research trip to Indonesia with your favorite professor, launch a consulting firm, and publish a Nobel-Prize-worthy paper in an academic journal. All before breakfast.

Or not. In fact, my advice is to slow down. Not for too long–of course you have to take the next steps in your career. But once you start your career, it’s that much more difficult to take a break. Relax for a moment, and then take a good long deep breath. You are at the summit of one of the largest (proverbial) mountains you’ve ever climbed. Take a moment to appreciate the view. Then, get back to work.

Step 2: Set your Goals

After taking a break, the first thing you need to do is figure out what your goals are . You employed a great deal of discipline to get to this point. Use that skill to determine how you want to move forward. Your doctoral degree is an asset, so try to maximize the return that you get. Getting clear on your goals will determine your next steps and provide a map of what to do after completing your PhD.

When setting your career goals, it’s important to remember your life goals. Remember why you started this journey in the first place. How have you changed? How have your goals changed? What is most important in your life, and how will your next steps support this? Considering how your career fits into your life as a whole will help you make decisions about how to move forward.

Here are some of your options:

Do you want to publish? Think hard about this. You are now an expert on your topic, it would be great if you shared that expertise with the world. Think about your goal in publishing. Is your goal to see your name in print so that your mother can brag about her child being a published author? Do you want to spread the findings of your dissertation across the world to help humanity? Different goals will lead you in different publishing directions.

What a noble profession. Many people want to use their degree to help shape the future by teaching. If this is a path for you, think about the following questions: Do you want to teach full time or part time? Would you prefer to teach online or in a traditional classroom setting? Are you bound to one geographic location or are you willing to go anywhere? Do you want to prioritize teaching over research or vice-versa? Each choice offers various, but different, opportunities.

Outside of Academia

Are there non-academic alternatives available to you? Are you looking for a promotion at your current job? Do you want to speak at conferences? How about a new job? Maybe consulting is the path that you want to take. Your degree puts you in a very small group outside of academia; use it as best you can, remembering that you will be seen as the expert in most settings.

There are many things that you might want to do with your degree. Stop and take the time to determine your goals and then you can see how all of the hard work that you put in to get your degree can get you there. If you find yourself stuck, or want support realizing your full potential, career coaching can help.

Step 3: Prepare your Material

No matter what you choose to do after getting your PhD, you will have to put together a package of material that represents you. This is true whether you want to apply for academic jobs, work outside academia, or start your own business as a consultant. This is the first thing that most employers or potential clients will see of you, so make sure it represents the best of who you are.

You will need a resume and to be ready to answer all kinds of questions. It’s important to update your resume after finishing your PhD, adding relevant accomplishments and experience besides your new degree.

Prepare to answer common questions (for example, “Why did you get a PhD?” “Can you tell me about a situation where you worked well with others?” and “Can you tell me about a situation where you were able to work with someone who was difficult to work with?”).

Also, remember to highlight the unique strengths and skills that you have as a newly minted PhD. Having spent the past few years in the company of other people who either already have PhDs or are trying to get them, it’s easy to lose sight of your uniqueness. Remember the grit and persistence you’ve shown, the critical thinking skills you’ve had to cultivate, and the balanced ability to simultaneously take direction from committee members and forge your own unique research path.

Remember that you are a member of a small group of people with an exceptionally useful skill set, and a degree to prove it. You have proven your capacity to innovate, learn, and work with others. Take a look at Catherine Sorbara’s excellent article on this subject.

Inside of Academia

Work on creating a CV (curriculum vitae) that fits the standards of your discipline. You will probably need to submit documents that cover your teaching philosophy, a list of references, a research agenda, and copies of teaching evaluations, if available.

If you get a campus visit interview, you will need to prepare a presentation about your research and may be asked to teach a class or give a seminar to interested students. Do not take these two steps lightly, as the search committee will get feedback from everyone who participates in these sessions about your suitability for the position.

Find research interest connections at prospective universities. Look within the department you are applying for professors who share your research interests, but also look more widely — to the college and to other colleges within the university — for others doing related studies that may dovetail with your work. The potential for collaborative research and interdisciplinary studies will catch the attention of university administrators and may well give you an edge.

Seek advice. Make sure you are prepared for all of this and get well-acquainted with norms. Your professors and advisors are an excellent resource to help you prepare for this, as are my career coaching services .

Step 4: Search for a Job

When people ask what to do after PhD completion, they’re usually trying to skip ahead to this step–but it’s vital to take the time to set your goals and prepare your material before looking for a job . Now that you’ve done that, you can set your sights on your new (or improved) career. Many people use their PhD as a springboard to an exciting new career path. Here are some insights to help you do that.

The Chronicle of Higher Education is a great place to start. The Chronicle posts jobs daily online for most disciplines. You can also look at HigherEdJobs which tends to have jobs that may not make it to the chronicle.

Conferences within your discipline are a very good place to find out about jobs. Also, the professors within your program may be a good source of contacts who may know about jobs. Remember, most academic jobs start in August/September and postings may come out as much as 11 months before a job starts.

Some professions specifically recruit PhDs. If you are in the sciences this may be the case. Consultancy firms also seek PhDs. Outside of these areas the job search may include networking, sending out resumes, and using the services of recruiters. Your committee chair may be able to connect you with former students in your field who would be willing to make introductions. Most universities have career centers that offer assistance with networking and other job-seeking skills.

Step 5: Stay on Track

Periodically reevaluate your goals–both whether you’re meeting them and whether the goals themselves need to change. Perhaps you started out wanting to pursue research but have fallen in love with teaching. Or maybe you started off teaching but found that consulting is much more enjoyable. Whatever your goals are, they’re subject to change as you learn and grow.

However, if your goal was to teach but you find yourself getting bogged down in research projects due to the pressure to publish, take some time to reflect on how you can better achieve the goals that are most fulfilling to you. Would you prefer an instructor’s position? Or perhaps looking at universities that emphasize teaching over research would be your solution.

What to Do After PhD Completion: A Summary

Getting your PhD is a huge accomplishment. However, if you’re wondering what to do after your PhD is complete, you’re not alone. Once you finish your PhD, take a breath and allow some space in your life. Next, determine your goals and create a plan for how to proceed. Once you are clear on your goals, prepare your materials and apply for jobs. Finally, periodically re-evaluate your goals to see whether you’re meeting them and whether they’re still relevant.

Many recent graduates use a career coach to help them in this process. If you are interested in this kind of coaching, feel free to take a look at my services page or get in touch.

Steve Tippins

Steve Tippins, PhD, has thrived in academia for over thirty years. He continues to love teaching in addition to coaching recent PhD graduates as well as students writing their dissertations. Learn more about his dissertation coaching and career coaching services. Book a Free Consultation with Steve Tippins

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• Career Development

What To Do After a PhD: Exciting Career Options for PhD Graduates

Choosing what to do after your PhD isn’t always easy, particularly when you’re not sure if you want to work in academia. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t plenty of career opportunities that come with a PhD – and a good chance it’ll increase your earning potential.

Weve answered some of the most frequently asked questions about PhDs, covering course types, applications, funding and the benefits of further study.

Will a PhD help you get a job or earn a better salary? And what are your career prospects in and outside of academia?

Everything you need to know about part-time and full-time work as a student or recent graduate in the USA.

Everything you need to know about part-time and full-time work in Germany as a student or recent graduate in Germany.

If you’re completing or applying for a PhD, it’s likely that at some point you’ll consider working in academia. Academia is the career path of researchers who work to advance teaching and research in institutes of education. While most academics are employed by universities, institutes could include government-funded experiments or sites of historical preservation, for example.

The main objective of academia is to produce original research. Though not all academics work in university, this page shall focus mainly on the university progression path.

Earning a PhD is a huge accomplishment that requires years of intense study and research. But once you’ve completed your doctoral degree, an important question arises – what’s next? Your PhD has equipped you with highly transferable skills, opening doors to diverse career opportunities. This article explores the many exciting options available for PhD graduates within and beyond academia.

Completing a PhD demonstrates your expertise in a specialized field through rigorous research and analysis. It also cultivates critical soft skills like project management communication, critical thinking and perseverance. With such versatile capabilities, there are diverse possibilities for stimulating post-PhD careers.

Common PhD graduate roles include teaching professionals, natural and social science professionals, research and development professionals, therapy professionals, and business/administrative professionals. But your options expand far beyond these traditional pathways. Whether you desire to stay in academia, transition to industry, or explore unconventional alternatives, this guide outlines promising directions to take your career after PhD graduation.

Academic Careers

For many, a PhD serves as preparation for an academic career centered on research and teaching. Academic environments allow you to utilize your subject-matter expertise and passion for discovery on a daily basis.

Postdoctoral Positions

After earning a PhD, one of the most common next steps is completing one or more postdoctoral appointments. Postdocs involve temporary research positions usually 1-3 years, under the guidance of senior academics. Postdocs build your skills, network, and publications to boost competitiveness for permanent faculty roles.

Research and Teaching Faculty

With postdoctoral experience, you can attain full-time academic positions like lecturer, professor, or researcher. Faculty spearhead courseloads, pursue grants, publish studies, mentor students, and more. Your PhD equips you to shape minds and advance knowledge within your discipline.

University Leadership

Further along your career, you may transition into academic administration as a dean, provost, or university president. These roles oversee university operations, formulate strategic plans, and represent the institution. Your PhD demonstrates the research background necessary to guide universities.

Research-Focused Careers

For those passionate about research numerous career paths allow you to apply your analytical acumen beyond academia. Your advanced methodological skills combined with deep subject-matter expertise make you an asset to research teams and think tanks.

Research and Development (R&D)

R&D drives innovation in various industries and companies by creating new technologies and products. Fields like engineering, computer science, life sciences, and more hire PhDs to lead complex R&D initiatives.

Government Research

Government entities like the CIA, Census Bureau, NIH, and Department of Defense house research divisions that benefit from PhDs’ expertise. Projects can cover wide-ranging topics from public health to national security.

Think Tanks

Think tanks are organizations that undertake in-depth research on policy issues to advise government, academia, businesses, and the public. PhDs often direct projects and author publications for think tanks.

Science and Health Careers

For PhDs in science, technology, engineering, math (STEM), and health fields, your advanced knowledge equips you for specialized technical roles improving society and lives.

Scientific Research and Consulting

PhDs enter private research firms analyzing chemicals, materials, agricultural products, and more to advance innovation. Consultants apply scientific expertise to advise companies on meeting lab standards, regulations, and safety.

Health Care

With a PhD in fields like microbiology, neuroscience, clinical psychology, and public health, you can take on vital health care roles. Options include epidemiology, lab management, hospital administration, and leading research/technical teams.

Business Careers

While less traditional, PhDs also thrive in business settings by leveraging their analytical abilities and mastery of complex concepts. Companies value PhDs for solving problems with critical thinking.

Data Science and Analytics

With expertise in statistical analysis and computational methods from your PhD research, data science roles allow you to uncover game-changing business insights from vast datasets.

Management Consulting

Strategy consulting firms like McKinsey, Bain, and BCG recruit PhDs to tackle multifaceted business challenges like operations optimization, growth strategy, and risk management.

Investment Banking and Finance

PhDs have the quantitative chops to excel in finance, whether analyzing economic trends, developing trading algorithms and risk models, or advising clients on investments as an advisor or portfolio manager.

Policy and Writing Careers

For PhDs in social sciences and humanities, your advanced writing and analytical skills open doors to careers shaping policy, public perception, and discussion through writing.

Policy Research and Analysis

Government entities hire PhDs to research and evaluate policies on topics like economics, education, transportation, and more to optimize effectiveness and outcomes.

Journalism and Publishing

PhDs are equipped for journalism with training in compelling writing and ability to explain complex issues to general audiences. Options include books, newspapers, magazines, websites, and more.

Also mentioned in research careers, think tanks utilize PhDs in social sciences and humanities for policy-focused writing and advising on domestic/foreign affairs, economics, education, and more.

Entrepreneurship

The critical thinking, perseverance, and passion cultivated during your PhD also prime you for entrepreneurship in wide-ranging fields. Your expertise and research skills give you an edge.

Academic Entrepreneurship

Commercialize your research through academic entrepreneurship. Options include starting spinoff companies, patenting/licensing inventions, or joining startups translating research into real-world tech and products.

Mission-Driven Ventures

Bring your PhD experience to mission-driven startups innovating in areas like health, environment, government services, and more. Lead teams applying technology to benefit society.

Start an independent consulting practice offering your specialized expertise to help companies solve complex problems in your field through strategic advising.

A PhD is incredibly versatile, preparing you for diverse, stimulating careers improving companies, societies, and lives. While academia is a common path, roles in research, science, business, policy, writing, entrepreneurship, and more allow you to apply your advanced expertise. Assess your skills, interests and values to determine the best direction for your post-PhD journey. With an open mind, you can land your dream career capitalizing on your PhD capabilities.

What is a fellowship?

Research fellowships are competitive and prestigious positions. Unlike postdocs, you will be funded to complete your own research project. Some positions will also guarantee a permanent academic role after completion. To successfully achieve a fellowship, you’ll need an interesting and viable research project, a history of academic excellence, and experience in writing successful funding or grant applications.

The other type is a teaching fellowship . These roles are not always for early career academics and will be offered to senior researchers so make sure you check the job description.

Non-academic PhD graduate jobs in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

If your PhD is in an Arts, Humanities or Social Science (AHSS) discipline, the skills you have to offer differ from STEM PhD holders.

Your aptitudes as a AHSS PhD graduate are likely to be suited for industries where communication skills are necessary. The ability to research and write about complex topics will be in-demand across any number of leading companies and sectors. Also, creative thinking will be highly valued by employers in strategic planning or industries such as marketing.

After a PhD what next? | 6 popular options

What is the next stage after PhD?

What comes after a PhD?

What happens after I get my PhD?

What can I do with a PhD?

Writing, lecturing and advocating a business all help market each other, and doing all three in tandem can help build a stable career with your Ph.D. Gaining a Ph.D. means you gain verified proof of your expertise on a subject. With this expertise, you can become a consultant in your field of study.

What can I do after getting a PhD?

Related: 38 Careers That Require a Doctoral Degree After getting a Ph.D., you have multiple options for what you can do next, including: Once you study and complete a Ph.D., you have expert knowledge in a focused portion of the field. As an expert, you can begin writing publications concerning the industry as an authority in the field.

How can I live a better life after a PhD?

If your goal is to live a better life after attaining your PhD in comparison to the one you had during your research, pick a career path that meets two requirements: Choose something you’re passionate about. Make sure the job is well-suited to your lifestyle. For example, consider three people with the same degree.

What can a postdoc do after a PhD?

A postdoc can be a crucial stepping stone to a successful career after completing a PhD. Find out what they are, what they involve and much more. From communication to time management, you will gain a large variety of transferable skills from completing a PhD. Learn what these are and how to use them in your CV. Life After a PhD: What Can You Do?

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Home / Graduate Student Career Resources / Resources / PhD Students

PhD Student Career Planning Timeline

No matter where you are in your doctoral degree, you can start preparing to find a career or job after graduation. See our guided timeline below for some ideas about how to prepare. You can also use our checklists to help you prepare for your job search.

Explore Our PhD Timeline:

• Years One-Two
• Years Three-Four + 

Years One-Two:  

Build Your Network

• Create a LinkedIn Profile and update it regularly.
• If you don’t already have an advisor, find an advisor who fits your academic interests and personal mentoring style. Ask them to connect you with other faculty or staff members who might be of interest to you.
• Evaluate your network using our Building and Evaluating Your Personal Network worksheet or on your own. Identify where your network is strong and make a plan to strengthen your network where it is weak.
• Conduct informational interviews with relevant companies and/or positions.
• If applicable, join professional organizations to expand your network.
• If applicable, attend professional conferences to learn more about your field and to network.
• Introduce yourself and get to know other graduate students and faculty in your department and around campus.
• Attend networking events on campus and throughout your own personal network (such as your undergraduate alma mater, conferences, industry events, professional associations,etc).

Plan for Success

• Create a long-term timeline that spans the entirety of your projected PhD degree (approximately 5-7 years depending on your department and personal schedule) that outlines your goals and deadlines for completing your degree. 
• Familiarize yourself with your department’s cycle of regular deadlines, research & travel grants, and fellowships and grants.
• Explore the Career Center website to learn about informational interviews, networking, and other pertinent information for job seekers.
• Draft a Master List of your past experiences for fodder to make your Resume.
• If you have a CV, convert it into a resume . Explore making several resumes for several types of positions.
• Do some self-reflection and research to determine possible companies or organizations of interest or desirable career paths or positions. Ask yourself what kind of lifestyle, locations, and career you’d like to have. Determine what steps you can take now to work towards these goals.

Gain Experience and Transferable Skills

• Research and apply for summer internships, jobs, and/or volunteer work to explore and hone your transferable skills.
• Visit the Career Center to identify transferable skills and help with your application materials for summer opportunities.
• Consider taking on a leadership role on campus through the Graduate Student Association , the Graduate Student Commons , or in a low-impact departmental or campus committee .
• Consider participating in the Graduate Division’s Graduate Student Leadership Certificate Program .
• If possible, do an internship, volunteer work, or hold a part-time job while you earn your degree to expand your network and skills.

Years Three-Four + :

• Update your LinkedIn Profile regularly.
• Continue to conduct informational interviews if necessary.
• Continue to attend networking events on campus and throughout your own personal network (such as your undergraduate alma mater, conferences, industry events, professional associations,etc).
• Adjust and update your long-term PhD completion timeline with appropriate goals and deadlines.
• Make drafts of cover letters and resumes for job applications.
• Ask trusted colleagues or mentors to critique your materials.
• Submit your documents to this form for a critique of your application materials.
• Monitor your desired job field to anticipate any developments and stay involved in contemporary conversations.
• Look at the current job market for the industries or positions you’re interested in and assess what skills you possess and where you could improve your skills to make your future applications stronger.
• When necessary, contact potential letter recommenders and/or references to meet with them, update them on your goals, and provide an updated resume.
• Continue to self-reflect on the progress you’ve made and your future goals and desired lifestyle. Ask yourself there are any adjustments you want to make and how you can make those adjustments.
• Visit the Career Center to identify transferable skills, get help writing your application materials for jobs and/or summer opportunities.

Final Year:

• Update your LinkedIn profile regularly.
• Continue to attend networking events on campus and throughout your own personal network (such as your undergraduate alma mater, conferences, industry events, professional associations, etc).
• If applicable, attend job fairs and networking events geared towards job seekers meeting recruiters.
• Create business cards to bring with you to job fairs or to give out when requested.
• Alert your network to let them know you are on the job market.
• Create a calendar with job application deadlines.
• Apply to jobs.
• Adjust and update your long-term PhD completion timeline with goals and deadlines.
• Balance your time between job seeking activities and finishing your dissertation.
• Visit the Career Center to practice interviewing.
• Visit the Career Center to have a Career Coach critique your application materials.
• Learn about negotiating a job offer .
• Learn about job salaries in your field.
• Bring your resume , business cards, research employers in advance, and attend job fairs on campus or elsewhere.
• Contact recommendation letter writers and/or references to keep them appraised of your progress.
• Research and apply for summer internships, jobs, and/or volunteer work to explore and hone your transferable skills if you haven’t secured a job or if your job doesn’t start until the fall.

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Ask the Expert: What should I do after getting a PhD?

One thing you may have realized — or learned from Charles Craik’s keynote lecture, if you attended the U.S. Symposium — is that tenure-track positions in academia are hard to come by.  Although academic research positions have historically been thought of the “default” career path for a PhD in science, they’re now considered anything but.

Instead, as Craik explained, there are a lot of exciting career options available to PhDs and a great need for PhDs across multiple fields, including law, communication, education, and business.

What do you choose? Or, at the very least, how can you learn more about your options? We posed these questions to Natalie Lundsteen, PhD, director of Graduate Career Development at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences . She specializes in working with graduate students undertaking PhDs, on a range of activities from career planning to negotiating job offers. Here are her (edited) responses.

Do graduate students come to your office interested in securing a postdoc?

NL: What I’m seeing now is students coming in, saying, ‘I’d prefer to go the academic track, but I know that option might not be open to me even if I choose that.’

The job market right now in academia is intensely competitive. Even students who want postdocs and academic careers aren’t assured of getting a position. There’s a logjam of postdocs for the past three years who are still trying to get tenure-track positions. So currently, graduating students are competing against postdocs for postdoc positions and academic positions.

When should someone start planning for the next steps beyond graduate school?

NL: As soon as possible. I’ve had students in this summer who are very active in looking ahead. They’re asking, ‘What can I do during my time here to be most competitive for an academic career as well as any other options I might choose?’

What do you tell them?

NL: The first thing is to identify and make use of all the resources at the university.

• The first place is in the department — looking to their adviser, other faculty, or postdocs as potential [career] mentors. Departments usually have an administrator or academic officer of some kind. That person is a good resource for career options too. They run the department announcements or listserv.
• Then there’s the career center. Usually, one person there works specifically with graduate students and PhDs.
• Most universities also have a teaching and learning center, which helps grad students get a teaching certificate. Or in some cases, they are a good resource for writing a teaching statement required for an academic application.
• Offices of technology transfer or research/community outreach might help graduates find places in industry that can use their expertise. Some of these offices even offer internships for PhD students.
• Reaching out to all these resources helps students create a network from the get-go, but it’s also important to just be aware of what’s available.
• Something that also goes along with the academic department is joining professional societies or organizations. That happens during the course of the PhD but it’s important to get involved early.

These are all things that a person can do right away?

NL: Absolutely. You don’t necessarily need to or want to because you have a lot going on. But it’s good to be thinking about it. After that first semester, you’re settling in, learning how to become an academic researcher. It’s kind of hard to think about the end game, but you should.

What steps can PhD students take to broaden their career options, before they’ve decided exactly what to do?

NL: Grab any opportunities you can. Teach. Universities always offer training for new teaching assistants. But if there’s any kind of certification you can get, it’s important to do that.

Along the way, too, if you’re considering a career in industry, be open to opportunities like internships or externships that will expose you to industry, even if it’s just attending panels with alumni who come back and talk about their jobs or going to any professional or trade industry events in your region to listen and learn.

Whether or not you’re going for the academic route, serve on committees. Manage activities and projects — even small ones. For example, you might be a peer mentor who helps younger students learn the ropes. Take those opportunities if you can because they can demonstrate a lot to employers both academic and other.

What about students who are toward the end of their PhDs? Does planning make all the difference?

NL: It’ll really depend on the individual, but just be aware of what your options are. Even students who have been planning throughout their doctorates to go into academia may not be successful, and this might happen at the very end of their PhD. They could be in the same position as someone who has done no planning whatsoever. But, emphasizing the activities I mentioned, like serving on committees, getting involved with extracurriculars, getting a teaching certificate, perhaps doing a mini externship or mini-project of some kind — those can still serve them well in applying to a non-academic job.

How can students research the career options available to them?

NL: The number one thing, no matter where you are, is to look at those who have gone before you. Think of it as a research question. Where have the PhD students with your same degree and at your same institutions ended up? Every university — not just in the US but I know we had it at Oxford where I worked before — has databases where you can look at what alumni have done. Your network of Amgen Scholar alumni is another option.

That’s “stage one” of the research — figuring out where the people are and how many of them are in academia or other industries. Stage two is contacting those people and having a chat with them, to learn what it means to be a principal manager, analyst, a consultant, or whatever the title might be. You will learn so much more valuable information about what a career is all about from the people who are doing those jobs.

Talking to people about what they do (and if they like it or not) is no different than gathering data about anything else. And this research helps calm a lot of people because, for example, they can see that there are hundreds or thousands of people who have gone out into the world and have jobs.

Recommended links:

My IDP (individual development plan).

Myidp.sciencecareers.org    

Helps scientists-in-training explore different career trajectories in science and set specific professional goals. Free for all users.

The Versatile PhD

Versatilephd.com

A community and resource for graduate students who are exploring or preparing for non-academic careers. Access to the community is free. Users must pay a subscription fee to access premium content. (See whether you belong to a subscribing university here.)

Bio Careers

Biocareers.com

Online career resources and job postings, aimed at expanding professional options for life science PhDs and MDs. You’ll need to pay to access this resource, but you might attend a member institution, which pays for access on behalf of its degree candidates, postdocs, and alumni. Caltech, Columbia, UCLA, Stanford and WUSTL are all members.

Amgen Scholars is an international program funded by the Amgen Foundation with direction and technical assistance provided by Harvard University .

Educational resources and simple solutions for your research journey

Career Opportunities After PhD: Tips for a Successful Job Search

Table of Contents

Challenges with employment and career opportunities after PhD

The current academic job market has become increasingly competitive for PhD graduates, which has made it important for them to explore the available options and careers after PhD. PhD holders exceed the limited tenure positions and are often forced to move to non-academic positions or remain underemployed in career paths after PhD that often require lesser degrees. Graduates of some fields may better navigate non-academic labor markets than others. 1

For example, STEM, business, and economics graduates are more likely to obtain industry-specific technical and applied skills. But, others wondering how to get into industry after PhD may not recognize the extent to which their problem-solving, analytical, and critical-thinking skills may be used outside academia.

Non-academic careers after PhD are not simply a preference but have become a necessity for many PhD holders, especially when academic jobs are limited. It could also be related to your personal values, family situation, instability/insecurities in working on a contract, preferences or available career options after PhD. Doctoral students also perceive limited support and a lack of resources to address their diverse career development needs during their training as a reason for this shift. 2 Most often, PhD scholars don’t know how to get into industry after PhD as they feel they are misfits here. The extent of mismatch could be in terms of skills, the field of study, and over-qualification. This article can help you overcome some challenges in finding suitable career opportunities after PhD.

Career options after PhD

Most often, PhD scholars don’t know how to get into industry after PhD as they feel they are misfits here. The extent of mismatch could be in terms of skills, the field of study, and over-qualification. This article can help you overcome some challenges in finding suitable career opportunities after PhD.

The following are just some of the PhD career options you have upon achieving your doctorate:

In academia

• Adjunct faculty position

In industry

• Policymakers/Adviser to policymakers
• Entrepreneur
• Public speaker

Optimizing your job search for great careers after PhD

As a PhD student, you might find it hard to decide the next step in your career after PhD. Not everyone completing a PhD will find full-time tenure positions at higher education institutions. You would naturally want a lucrative and rewarding career after PhD that makes all the hardships worthwhile. But choosing between academic/non-academic jobs or private/public sector jobs can be challenging, especially if you are unfamiliar with the job-hunting game inside/outside of academia. The following steps can help you with your job search process and steer your career path after PhD.

• Reflect : Look back on your experiences to identify what aspects of your research you enjoyed most. It could be experimental or fieldwork, creative writing, connecting with other researchers or managing your project. There are many career options for PhD holders in the market and some reflection will help you identify the direction in which you want to go.
• Decide location : Your preferred location can influence your job search. Think about where you’d like to live and the job opportunities and career options for PhD holders available there. Often, you might find that you want to go back to your home country to pursue a career after PhD and would have to adjust your job search depending on the type of jobs available locally. Therefore, looking for the right job in the right place can reduce your search time.
• Network : Many PhDs underestimate the importance of networking effectively and having a good communication strategy in determining their careers after PhD. Jobs received through university networks tend to align with your education and offer better career opportunities after PhD. 3 So find some time to attend events and network with stakeholders in top companies and other universities. Speaking to senior colleagues about your job search can also help you understand their experiences and learn how to get into industry after PhD. Finally, make sure to have a LinkedIn profile to connect with people having similar interests and careers after PhD.
• Career centers : Your university career center can also offer guidance on possible careers after PhD, especially finding a good position upon graduating. They can also help you familiarize yourself with institutions that award research grants and their requirements.
• Websites : You may find career opportunities for PhDs on university websites or other relevant platforms, such as:

-Nature careers

-New scientist jobs

-Science Careers

-Technojobs-PhD jobs

• Strong resume : When applying for non-academic jobs, focus on enhancing the many transferable skills from your PhD, such as:

-Communication skills – your work with presentations, lectures, or seminars

-Creative thinking – good at outside-the-box thinking

-Management – great with time, workloads, mentoring undergraduate students

-Problem-solving skills – mention the many research problems solved

Use the following strategies to enhance the quality of your CV or resume for better

• Highlight achievements: Your CV should include sufficient detail to show a selection committee that you are the perfect candidate for the job. Update your CV regularly to include recent achievements and skills gained that are relevant in careers after PhD.
• Tailor-made for the job: Fine-tune your CV to meet the job requirements. An academic CV should be different from a non-academic one to match the needs of that particular opportunity. A 1-2 page summary of your experiences and expertise is sufficient for an industry job, but your academic CV should include a full record of your work and can be much longer.
• Add specific, credible information: To secure the best career after PhD, ensure the CV you submit is supported by sufficient details of specific experiences that highlight your efforts and skills.
• Add evidence: Incorporate quantitative evidence or proof to support the facts in your CV. Do not fabricate information that will crumble under scrutiny and mar your career options after PhD.
• Start early and keep looking: Finally, start your job search early and keep looking until you have found a job that meets your requirements.

You can pursue a variety of careers after PhD, and we hope the points above help you find the best career opportunities after your PhD is over. Best of luck with your applications!

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Six Steps to Finding a Job after the PhD

Even though you think that the rest of your life will consist of the lab and your computer, there will be a day when you “come out.”  The day when you finally get your PhD, and then take your next step in life .

You might cringe when I mention “the next step in your life.” You might start giving me an entire list of excuses why you really don’t have the time and energy to start thinking of life after the PhD while you are still engrossed in your PhD. But unless you have a tree that grows money in your garden, you will need to find something that pays the bills once you finish your research and your scholarship runs out. A job.

Today’s article will not tell you to start sending your resume to 300 companies while you try to finish up your dissertation. The final months of the PhD can be incredibly messy with looking for a job, moving to a different place, often a different country, and then trying to finish the dissertation and defense. I’m in the very middle of all that myself  and can tell you that the final months of a PhD don’t allow much time for a big job hunt.

Before you actually reach those final months, there are many actions you can undertake to grow your network, so that your job search becomes easier once you are reaching the final months of grad life. I’ve outlined a simple plan with six steps that you can take from the very start of your PhD to transition into a job right after graduation.

1. Reflect on what you want

A PhD doesn’t automatically mean that you will stay in academia for the rest of your life. In fact, many graduate students wouldn’t  be happy staying in academia for the rest of their lives, and are anxious to roll up their sleeves and get a more hands-on job in industry.

Reflection is key. Spend some time  analyzing your strengths  and imagining what your ideal job would be like. Then, use your research as a leverage to work towards your ideal position. Your PhD research can be an incredible tool to grow your skills. You can learn new coding languages, delve into more theoretical work, or prepare to transition to industry.

Regardless of where you imagine yourself in three to five years from now, just realize that your PhD research gives you many more skills than “just” becoming an independent researcher. All these skills, along with your communication skills and the strong work ethic of graduate school, are additional elements you can later show to a prospective employer as benefits that come with hiring a (maybe overqualified) PhD.

2. Present at conferences

Get your face out there, show your work, and meet people. Conferences are a very important way to grow your network,  and the majority of jobs are still found through using your network, rather than simply reacting to a job opening at company X or university Y.

Similarly, use conferences to get an overview of what is possible after your PhD. Try to find conferences that combine research from academia with cases from industry and that come with a large exhibition hall. At the exhibition hall, you can learn about companies that might be interested in hiring new employees, even though their primary goal might be to sell their product or services.

3. Attend industry events

Again, get active, talk to people, and get your face out there. The benefit of attending industry events and becoming involved is broader than making sure people start to know you. It also helps you to explore what is out there in industry. You can get to know the different companies and get a feeling for their company culture. Would you “fit in” at that company? Do their projects look attractive to you to work on? Use your involvement in these events to get a taste of the world out there – sniff around and see what could be suitable for you.

4. Personal branding: offline and online

Personal branding is a fashionable term, and you might think that it is only for designers and the flashy men and women from the advertisement industry. In academia, we can rethink branding as having a clear statement on who we are and what we are good at. It’s about having a consistent image of ourselves—online and offline—and carrying that out into the world. It’s not about pretending you’re someone else, it’s not about compromising on authenticity , and it’s not about vanity or praising yourself either. It’s simply about your very professional essence and being okay with sharing that image with the world.

Once you have completed Step 1, and reflected on what your strengths are, and how you envision yourself in the future, you can use this information to show the world how you can help in situation Y because you are very good at doing Z. You can get active (Steps 2 and 3) in international organizations by volunteering to do something you are good at. You can build a digital footprint by using a blog or social networks to share what you’ve learned in your research, connect to like-minded people, and make your professional image and statements Google-able.

5. Cherish your network

Don’t build a network just for the sake of having contacts with certain people for whenever you need a job. Cherishing your network is about getting back in touch with people every now and then, about keeping good ties to your former classmates and rekindling the connection with professors from previous institutions because you are grateful for the people who helped you learn and grow over the years. And from these contacts, people who you truly enjoy being around, fruitful collaborations can grow. You can imagine that it can be very rewarding to be able to work later on with people with whom you have a very good relationship.

6. Let people know you will be available

Once you are nearing your final semesters, or your thesis starts to grow steadily towards it first draft version, don’t get too secretive about it. It can be hard to really tell people that you think you will be finished six months from now, if all goes well, as that might add pressure, but trust yourself. Something can always go wrong, but there’s no need to live life assuming all possible doom scenarios. Share the message that you are wrapping up your work. Write to people in your network to let them know when you will be defending, invite them for the day itself or send them a copy of your dissertation. Share  how your progress is going on your online networks. Share on LinkedIn that you have a few more weeks to finish your first dissertation draft. Share your updates on Twitter – get the word out that you are coming out soon! You might get some reactions completely out of the blue from people asking you if you’re interested in  learning about possibilities at their firm .

Have you started thinking about life after the PhD? Have you incorporated some of these ideas into your daily research life? Please share your thoughts with us!

[Image by Flickr user michael.heiss under Creative Commons license]

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9 things you should consider before embarking on a PhD

June 23, 2021 | 15 min read

By Andy Greenspon

The ideal research program you envision is not what it appears to be

Editor's Note:  When Andy Greenspon wrote this article, he was a first-year student in Applied Physics at Harvard. Now he has completed his PhD. — Alison Bert, June 23, 2021

If you are planning to apply for a PhD program, you're probably getting advice from dozens of students, professors, administrators your parents and the Internet. Sometimes it's hard to know which advice to focus on and what will make the biggest difference in the long-run. So before you go back to daydreaming about the day you accept that Nobel Prize, here are nine things you should give serious thought to. One or more of these tips may save you from anguish and help you make better decisions as you embark on that path to a PhD.

1. Actively seek out information about PhD programs.

Depending on your undergraduate institution, there may be more or less support to guide you in selecting a PhD program – but there is generally much less than when you applied to college.

On the website of my physics department, I found a page written by one of my professors, which listed graduate school options in physics and engineering along with resources to consult. As far as I know, my career center did not send out much information about PhD programs. Only after applying to programs did I find out that my undergraduate website had a link providing general information applicable to most PhD programs. This is the kind of information that is available all over the Internet.

So don't wait for your career center or department to lay out a plan for you. Actively seek it out from your career center counselors, your professors, the Internet — and especially from alumni from your department who are in or graduated from your desired PhD program. First-hand experiences will almost always trump the knowledge you get second-hand.

2. A PhD program is not simply a continuation of your undergraduate program.

Many students don't internalize this idea until they have jumped head-first into a PhD program. The goal is not to complete an assigned set of courses as in an undergraduate program, but to develop significant and original research in your area of expertise. You will have required courses to take, especially if you do not have a master's degree yet, but these are designed merely to compliment your research and provide a broad and deep knowledge base to support you in your research endeavors.

At the end of your PhD program, you will be judged on your research, not on how well you did in your courses. Grades are not critical as long as you maintain the minimum GPA requirement, and you should not spend too much time on courses at the expense of research projects. Graduate courses tend to be designed to allow you to take away what you will find useful to your research more than to drill a rigid set of facts and techniques into your brain.

3. Take a break between your undergraduate education and a PhD program.

You are beginning your senior year of college, and your classmates are asking you if you are applying to graduate school. You think to yourself, "Well, I like studying this topic and the associated research, and I am going to need a PhD if I want to be a professor or do independent research, so I might as well get it done as soon as possible." But are you certain about the type of research you want to do? Do you know where you want to live for the next five years? Are you prepared to stay in an academic environment for nine years straight?

Many people burn out or end up trudging through their PhD program without a thought about what lies outside of or beyond it. A break of a year or two or even more may be necessary to gain perspective. If all you know is an academic environment, how can you compare it to anything else? Many people take a job for five or more years before going back to get their PhD. It is true though that the longer you stay out of school, the harder it is to go back to an academic environment with lower pay and a lack of set work hours. A one-year break will give you six months or so after graduation before PhD applications are due. A two-year gap might be ideal to provide time to identify your priorities in life and explore different areas of research without having school work or a thesis competing for your attention.

Getting research experience outside of a degree program can help focus your interests and give you a leg up on the competition when you finally decide to apply. It can also help you determine whether you will enjoy full-time research or if you might prefer an alternative career path that still incorporates science, for example, in policy, consulting or business — or a hybrid research job that combines scientific and non-scientific skills.

I will be forever grateful that I chose to do research in a non-academic environment for a year between my undergraduate and PhD programs. It gave me the chance to get a feel for doing nothing but research for a full year. Working at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in the Space Division, I was the manager of an optics lab, performing spectroscopic experiments on rocks and minerals placed in a vacuum chamber. While my boss determined the overall experimental design, I was able to make my own suggestions for experiments and use my own discretion in how to perform them. I presented this research at two national conferences as well — a first for me. I was also able to learn about other research being performed there, determine which projects excited me the most, and thus narrow down my criteria for a PhD program.

4. Your current area of study does not dictate what you have to study in graduate school.

You might be studying the function and regulation of membrane proteins or doing a computational analysis of the conductivity of different battery designs, but that doesn't mean your PhD project must revolve around similar projects. The transition between college or another research job to a PhD program is one of the main transitions in your life when it is perfectly acceptable to completely change research areas.

If you are doing computation, you may want to switch to lab-based work or vice versa. If you are working in biology but have always had an interest in photonics research, now is the time to try it out. You may find that you love the alternative research and devote your PhD to it, you might hate it and fall back on your previous area of study — or you may even discover a unique topic that incorporates both subjects.

One of the best aspects of the PhD program is that you can make the research your own. Remember, the answer to the question "Why are you doing this research?" should not be "Well, because it's what I've been working on for the past few years already."While my undergraduate research was in atomic physics, I easily transitioned into applied physics and materials science for my PhD program and was able to apply much of what I learned as an undergraduate to my current research. If you are moving from the sciences to a non-STEM field such as social sciences or humanities, this advice can still apply, though the transition is a bit more difficult and more of a permanent commitment.

5. Make sure the PhD program has a variety of research options, and learn about as many research groups as possible in your first year.

Even if you believe you are committed to one research area, you may find that five years of such work is not quite what you expected. As such, you should find a PhD program where the professors are not all working in the same narrowly focused research area. Make sure there are at least three professors working on an array of topics you could imagine yourself working on.

In many graduate programs, you are supposed to pick a research advisor before even starting. But such arrangements often do not work out, and you may be seeking a new advisor before you know it. That's why many programs give students one or two semesters to explore different research areas before choosing a permanent research advisor.

In your first year, you should explore the research of a diverse set of groups. After touring their labs, talking to the students, or sitting in on group meetings, you may find that this group is the right one for you.

In addition, consider the importance of who your research advisor will be. This will be the person you interact with regularly for five straight years and who will have a crucial influence on your research. Do you like their advising style? Does their personality mesh with yours? Can you get along? Of course, the research your advisor works on is critical, but if you have large disagreements at every meeting or do not get helpful advice on how to proceed with your research, you may not be able to succeed. At the very least, you must be able to handle your advisor's management of the lab and advising style if you are going to be productive in your work. The Harvard program I enrolled in has professors working on research spanning from nanophotonics to energy materials and biophysics, covering my wide range of interests. By spending time in labs and offices informally chatting with graduate students, I found an advisor whose personality and research interests meshed very well with me. Their genuine enthusiasm for this advisor and their excitement when talking about their research was the best input I could have received.

6. Location is more important than you think — but name recognition is not.

The first consideration in choosing a PhD program should be, "Is there research at this university that I am passionate about?" After all, you will have to study this topic in detail for four or more years. But when considering the location of a university, your first thought should not be, "I'm going to be in the lab all the time, so what does it matter if I'm by the beach, in a city, or in the middle of nowhere." Contrary to popular belief, you will have a life outside of the lab, and you will have to be able to live with it for four or more years. Unlike when you were an undergraduate, your social and extracurricular life will revolve less around the university community, so the environment of the surrounding area is important. Do you need a city atmosphere to be productive? Or is your ideal location surrounded by forests and mountains or by a beach? Is being close to your family important? Imagine what it will be like living in the area during the times you are not doing research; consider what activities will you do and how often will you want to visit family.

While many of the PhD programs that accepted me had research that truly excited me, the only place I could envision living for five or more years was Boston, as the city I grew up near and whose environment and culture I love, and to be close to my family.

While location is more important than you think, the reputation and prestige of the university is not. In graduate school, the reputation of the individual department you are joining — and sometimes even the specific research group you work in — are more important. There, you will develop research collaborations and professional connections that will be crucial during your program and beyond. When searching for a job after graduation, other scientists will look at your specific department, the people you have worked with and the research you have done.

At the Asgard Irish Pub in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Andy Greenspon talks with fellow graduate students from Harvard and MIT at an Ask for Evidence workshop organized by Sense About Science. He grew up near Boston and chose to go to graduate school there.

7. Those time management skills you developed in college? Develop them further.

After surviving college, you may think you have mastered the ability to squeeze in your coursework, extracurricular activities and even some sleep. In a PhD program, time management reaches a whole new level. You will not only have lectures to attend and homework to do. You will have to make time for your research, which will include spending extended periods of time in the lab, analyzing data, and scheduling time with other students to collaborate on research.

Also, you will most likely have to teach for a number of semesters, and you will want to attend any seminar that may be related to your research or that just peaks your interest. To top it all off, you will still want to do many of those extracurricular activities you did as an undergraduate. While in the abstract, it may seem simple enough to put this all into your calendar and stay organized, you will find quickly enough that the one hour you scheduled for a task might take two or three hours, putting you behind on everything else for the rest of the day or forcing you to cut other planned events. Be prepared for schedules to go awry, and be willing to sacrifice certain activities. For some, this might be sleep; for others, it might be an extracurricular activity or a few seminars they were hoping to attend. In short, don't panic when things don't go according to plan; anticipate possible delays and be ready to adapt.

8. Expect to learn research skills on the fly – or take advantage of the training your department or career center offers.

This may be the first time you will have to write fellowship or grant proposals, write scientific papers, attend conferences, present your research to others, or even peer-review scientific manuscripts. From my experience, very few college students or even PhD students receive formal training on how to perform any of these tasks. Usually people follow by example. But this is not always easy and can be quite aggravating sometimes. So seek out talks or interactive programs offered by your department or career center. The effort will be well worth it when you realize you've become quite adept at quickly and clearly explaining your research to others and at outlining scientific papers and grant proposals. Alternatively, ask a more experienced graduate student or your advisor for advice on these topics. In addition, be prepared for a learning curve when learning all the procedures and processes of the group you end up working in. There may be many new protocols to master, whether they involve synthesizing chemicals, growing bacterial cells, or aligning mirrors on an optical table. In addition, the group may use programming languages or data analysis software you are unfamiliar with. Don't get discouraged but plan to spend extra effort getting used to these procedures and systems. After working with them regularly, they will soon become second nature. When I first started my job at Johns Hopkins, I felt overwhelmed by all the intricacies of the experiment and definitely made a few mistakes, including breaking a number of optical elements. But by the end of my year there, I had written an updated protocol manual for the modifications I had made to the experimental procedures and was the "master" passing on my knowledge to the next person taking the job.

9. There are no real breaks.

In a stereotypical "9-to-5" job, when the workday is over or the weekend arrives, you can generally forget about your work. And a vacation provides an even longer respite. But in a PhD program, your schedule becomes "whenever you find time to get your work done." You might be in the lab during regular work hours or you might be working until 10 p.m. or later to finish an experiment. And the only time you might have available to analyze data might be at 1 a.m. Expect to work during part of the weekend, too. Graduate students do go on vacations but might still have to do some data analysis or a literature search while away.

As a PhD student, it might be hard to stop thinking about the next step in an experiment or that data sitting on your computer or that paper you were meaning to start. While I imagine some students can bifurcate their mind between graduate school life and everything else, that's quite hard for many of us to do. No matter what, my research lies somewhere in the back of my head. In short, your schedule is much more flexible as a PhD student, but as a result, you never truly take a break from your work.

While this may seem like a downer, remember that you should have passion for the research you work on (most of the time), so you should be excited to think up new experiments or different ways to consider that data you have collected. Even when I'm lying in bed about to fall asleep, I am sometimes ruminating about aspects of my experiment I could modify or what information I could do a literature search on to gain new insights. A PhD program is quite the commitment and rarely lives up to expectations – but it is well worth the time and effort you will spend for something that truly excites you.

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How to set long-term career plans after a phd: 13 actionable tips  .

If you’ve just gotten your PhD, or even if you’re still working on it, now is a great time to think about your long-term career plans after a PhD. How will gaining a PhD fit within your career plan?

If you have long-term career goals in research, a PhD will obviously help prepare you for your future career since you will be participating in research as you pursue your PhD.

Long-Term Career Plans After a PhD

When making long-term career plans, you should try to project at least the next five years. You may even want to go out ten years if you have big career goals. As Antoine de Sanit-Exupery once said, “ A goal without a plan is just a wish .”

Even if you don’t need a PhD for your desired career, you may find that your after-PhD salary will be high enough to justify the additional education. 

The Conversation  used data from a  national survey  to determine that those students who planned to get more education than necessary for their careers ended up earning 7% more than those who planned to get just the right amount of education for the job.

Tips for Long-Term Career Plans After a PhD

According to Alan Lakein, “ Failing to plan is planning to fail .” So, to be successful, you must plan. Here are some actionable tips to help you plan your long-term career.

1. Plan to change jobs quickly

You’ll likely start your career at the bottom of the ladder–in an entry-level position. The sooner you can move on from that entry-level position, the faster your salary will increase.

Try not to stay longer than a year or two in your first job and two to three years in successive jobs in order to maximize your after-PhD salary.

2. Plan to network your way to a better job

Build a strong LinkedIn profile and update it regularly. Engage with your contacts, especially those who work in companies you’d like to work for.

Having a contact on the inside can give you a huge boost when you’re looking for a new job.

3. Set a big career goal

Remember that “No one has ever achieved greatness without dreams ( Roy Bennett ).” Set a big goal and visualize yourself achieving it. Make this goal the culmination of your 5- or 10-year plan.

4. Consider industry jobs after your PhD

When making your long-term career plans after a PhD, think about the industry you want to be in at the end and try to start out in that industry.

You will be gaining industry experience as well as job experience, which will increase your chances of landing your dream job in the end.

5. Find an advisor or mentor

Check with your school to see if they offer academic advising or mentorship. Find an advisor or mentor who works well with you and ask them for help in planning your career.

6. Evaluate your network

Every year, evaluate your network to see where it is strong and where it is weak. Are there certain companies you want to work for where you have no contacts? If so, try to make contact with influential people within those companies.

7. Set up informational interviews

Informational interviews are interviews with an employee of a company you think you’d like to work for. These interviews give you a chance to learn more about the culture of the organization and determine whether you might be a good fit.

8. Join professional organizations

Often, you can use these memberships as networking tools to help you find and meet contacts within the industry. You may even be able to find local peers you can meet up with and form real-life friendships.

9. Attend conferences

Attending conferences for your industry or profession is a good way to meet new people and expand your network. Be sure to take plenty of business cards and exchange cards with everyone you meet.

Make an effort to follow up afterward by sending an email or DM to tell them you’re glad you had a chance to meet them at the event. If they include social media URLs on their cards, be sure to follow them there.

10. Attend networking events

You may find these through your university or through a professional organization.

Everyone who attends a networking event seeks to make new connections, so you’re in the right place for trying to find peers who work in your industry in a similar position, or even those who may be in a position to make hiring decisions.

11. Create a resume

Make sure to include any relevant experiences you’ve had, even if you haven’t worked at a job before.

Try to craft your resume so that it is targeted toward a specific position. As you gain work experience through the years, update your resume to add your most recent work experience.

12. Get a part-time job during school

If possible, get a job during school so that you’ll have some work experience to put on your resume when you’re ready to look for an entry-level job in your field.

Even working at McDonald’s part-time shows future employers that you have a goo d work ethic .

13. Avoid unpaid work

Unless it’s all you can find, avoid unpaid internships. Accepting these positions shows employers that you are willing to work for free, so they can get away with a lowball salary offer. If you feel that you must work for free to gain experience, volunteer for an organization you care deeply about.

PhD Career Plan Example

Here is an example career plan to give you an idea of what your long-term career plan after a PhD should look like.

Year One: Work an entry-level job for one year. Toward the end of the year, start looking for a position that is at least one step up from your current position:

Years Two and Three: Work in one job for two years. Toward the end of the second year at this new job, start looking for another job that is a step or two up the career ladder.

Years Four and Five: Work this new job for two years. Near the end of the second year, start looking for your next job. Try to get one step away from your ten-year career goal if possible.

Years Six, Seven, and Eight: Work in a job that is one step away from your ten-year career goal. Toward the end of year eight, start applying for the job you’ve been working toward.

Year Nine: Start working your dream job.

The above plan gives you nine years to reach your ten-year goal, but it may take a little longer than planned to find each new job. In that case, you’ll still be right on track to reach your 10-year goal in 10 years.

• How Can I Find a Career Path When No Career Interests Me?
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The best answers to “What are your plans after graduation?”

If you are nearing the end of your degree, few questions are more annoying or nerve-wracking than “What are your plans after graduation?”. However, with a bit of preparation, you can offer a swift response , r egardless of whether you have any plans or not (yet).

Why “What are your plans after graduation?” is such a daunting question

The question “ What are your plans after graduation ?” triggers or increases stress, because it asks for certainty in an extremely uncertain time.

(So if you are curious about someone’s plans after graduation, ask this instead: “ How are you managing to finish your degree, and is there anything I can do to help ?” Soon-to-be graduates will start the conversation about their plan if they want to talk about it. If not, be kind and supportive, and don’t push them to reveal anything they may be uncomfortable with.)

Why you should prepare an answer to “What are your plans after graduation?”

Regardless of your situation, you may want to have a snappy answer up your sleeve in the (almost inevitable case) someone asks you about your plans after graduation.

The best answers to “ What are your plans after graduation? ” are prepared in advance. Preparation allows you to consciously share an amount of information that you are comfortable with. Know that you are under no obligation to share your (lack of) plans after graduation with anyone.

You may also like: Completing a master’s degree: What’s next? How to devise a plan for the future

Answers if you don’t know what you want to do after graduation

Keep it vague.

If you don’t want to get into a lengthy conversation, one of the best strategies is to keep your answer vague. Furthermore, actively try and shift the conversation away from the topic.

Shift the conversation to your interests

Talk about one option you may consider.

When people ask about your plans after graduation, they look for facts and details. Especially if they are not familiar with your studies or discipline, they can have a hard time imagining the types of jobs you could do. One way to give them something concrete is to simply talk about one option that you may consider.

Answers if you don’t have any concrete plans for after graduation

Explain different possibilities.

A good way to answer “ What are your plans after graduation? ” is to explain the different possibilities that you have once you complete your degree. This satisfies the curiosity of the person who asked the question, while also protecting your process of figuring things out.

Talk about your ambitions

Explain that you will figure it out once you graduate, say that you want to keep your plans a secret until they are confirmed.

If you are really not up for a lengthy conversation about your future plans, simply state that you do not want to share anything until it is confirmed. Don’t worry if you have actually no pending job applications or anything like that. This is a totally accepted ‘white lie’ to protect yourself.

Answers if you do have plans for after graduation but don’t want to talk about it

Don’t reveal that you already made a decision.

One way to avoid a lengthy conversation about your future plans is by not revealing your choice, and pretending that you are still considering your options. Again, this is an acceptable ‘white lie’ to protect yourself.

Tell the person to be patient

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Tress Academic

#43: Life after the PhD: It’s waiting for you!

March 3, 2020 by Tress Academic

Have you forgotten that there will be an end to the PhD? Have you ever thought about how you will feel after your graduation? Awesome! Your life will be all the better, so why not trying to end the hardship and complete your PhD? Let us help you to get there quicker and more easily. 

We know that PhD students often – in the midst of hard work – forget to see the end! You have so many struggles, so much on your plate, that you don’t realise anymore that one day this will all be over! There is a day in the future when you will be a PhD holder and your life will be significantly different! Yes, you’ll have your PhD degree and all the hardship will be an experience of the past! 

Realising this and reminding yourself of the bigger picture can have a great effect: It can make you realise that life after the PhD is something fabulous and worthwhile striving for. Keeping this in mind is motivating and can help you to endure the momentary struggles! But it can also make you want to get there sooner! So why not pushing on with your PhD a bit faster, or at least trying to finish on your planned completion date instead of going for an extension. 

In this post, we want to assist you in reaching your goal more easily. To do so, we

• remind you why it is so important to have the end in mind
• give you nice inspirations for your life after the PhD
• let you develop a vision for yourself so you get a taster of how life-after will feel, and
• give you hints, what you can do to get to the end quicker and more easily! 

1. Regain a sense of purpose

At the beginning of your PhD, it was very clear why you started all this – you wanted a PhD, and you wanted to do a research project. Some time into the PhD, this initial motivation fades, and sheer hard work is taking over. In the middle phase, PhD students often experience the most severe problems and the daily rut of work seems never ending. This is the hardest phase in the PhD because you cannot yet see the end, and you can’t be sure yet that you will succeed. 

In this period it can be very helpful if you from time to time look beyond what you do right now, leave the problems aside and imagine how it will feel when you have achieved what you are striving for. Just pausing a moment and thinking about how you will feel after the PhD is completed! 

Allowing this to sink into your brain, will bring instant relief of your struggle. It has two great effects. First, it is highly motivating and second, it can help you to re-gain this much needed sense of purpose. In the middle of seemingly pointless and tedious work, this will remind you of the bigger picture of why you are doing it and how this PhD will improve your life! 

So, allow yourself to develop a clearer idea of how you will feel after graduation (imagine the evening of graduation day or a few days after! Imagine how your life will be and create a vivid visualisation of this. And then, whenever you feel stuck with your PhD, one problem is piling up after the other, or you have a seemingly endless and tedious task ahead of you, do come back to this visualisation. Recall that situation and evoke that mental image of yourself after PhD completion! If you lack any idea of how much having the PhD degree can influence your life, below we give you some inspiration to start with! But then, we let you develop your own vision! 

Want to develop it right away: Get our free worksheet “My life after the PhD”

2. Imagine yourself after PhD graduation

Let us give you a few ideas about your life after graduation. We look at the professional and also on the private part of your life.

Career in science:

Professionally, if you enjoy research and stay in the academic world, you’ll likely work as a postdoc or junior researcher after graduation, and that opens a whole array of new and exciting opportunities. You can decide whether to work in the same field as for your PhD, or deliberately chose something else (new, more exciting!). You can seek your own funding and set up intriguing new projects. You can expand your professional contacts and join international initiatives or research programmes. You can sharpen and develop your own researcher identity, and you can have your own MSc/MA or PhD students, which allows you to have a higher throughput and work more independently. Over the years, I have seen many PhD graduates moving from a first postdoc to becoming an assistant professor or PI in just a few years time. It’s possible, it’s within your reach!

Non-academic career: 

If work in academia is not your first choice or you took the PhD with the aim to improve your career chances outside, there are a billion of great options waiting for you. If you have not made up your mind yet which career path exactly you want to pursue, you’ll probably spend some time researching your options and see what is be the best fit for you! This depends on your skills, your personality and preferences, e.g. what would make you truly happy in the long run. 

You can work in the private, public or voluntary sector. You can choose a career in a big global corporation or work for a regional charity, be one of several thousand employees, or contribute to a team of just ten! Either way, you’ll work in exciting new environments, and you can finally apply the knowledge and skills that you accumulated all those years at university, and you can make a real impact to the world!

Just a side note, because we know there are always a few among you who are afraid of being unemployed. You can calm your nerves because the chances are slim. Unemployment rates among PhD graduates continue to be lower than those of graduates of lower-level educations. In many countries across the globe, unemployment rates continue to be very low with 2% on average (varying between <1% and up to 4%), depending on the country or region where you work (see, OECD 2013, and ESF/Boman 2017).  

Your private life after PhD graduation:

The biggest immediate change for many PhD graduates comes from the fact that they finally get a decent payday. This is certainly true for all those, who were on a scholarship during their PhD, which often is barely enough to make a living. But even those with PhD positions will get a remarkably higher pay after graduation. You’ll be able to afford the things that make life a little bit easier and more enjoyable, and without any valuation, I guess everyone can find something they are longing for here. Whether you finally want to move out of your tiny overpriced apartment, make a travel you always dreamed of, spend more on your kids or their education, or donate to a charity, you’ll simply have more freedom to live the lifestyle that suits you. 

Does this sound good? Well, it is! It is totally worth striving for! Now, imagine a few things that will come true for you after PhD graduation. 

3. Create a vision

There are many ways in which you can create a stimulating and compelling vision of your life past PhD graduation. To help you along the way, we have compiled a free worksheet “My life after the PhD” with some great exercises to get you started. 

Have you ever tried to imagine how you will feel a few days after your graduation? How relieved and happy you will be! How proud and confident you will be! Or, jot down a few things that you dread now and which would change after the PhD, and would be over once and forever. Or, picture yourself in a great professional environment, working for a great company, exploring new applications or leading a team, or meeting clients or patients, who rely on your expertise. Yes, all of this is within reach once you have completed your PhD. Feels good just thinking about it, right?

4. How and when will this come true?

Did you enjoy envisioning your life after PhD graduation and the good things that will come along with it? It’ll be awesome, right?

So why don’t you ask yourself the following:

• What can I do to get there as soon as possible?
• What can I do to get there more easily?

We suggest that instead of moving on with your PhD in slow motion and leave your graduation day in the distant future, you plan for timely completion. Instead of begging for an extension of your PhD time, see what you can do to complete as initially planned. Instead of having nightmares about running out of funding ask yourself what you can do to get the PhD in a more straight-forward and direct route. 

So ask yourself: What is your most direct path between now and PhD completion? What are the current obstacles that have to be overcome? What decisions have to be taken? What changes do you need to make to move ahead? Think about the following:

• Do you need a mindset shift? Do you need to move from “I do everything everyone asks me to do” to “I focus strictly on what is necessary now to complete”? Or from: “I do this later” to “I tackle this right now and move on”?
• Do you need to re-organise your workload? So you can finally spend more time analysing your data and publish those papers or write chapters in your dissertation?
• Do you need to recalibrate your PhD goal? Maybe you had it some months ago, but now you deviated from that idea and you have lost traction? So it is about regaining clarity and defining exactly what will constitute your thesis in the end?
• Do you need a better overview? Have you lost track of what you have completed and what is still missing? In need to define the most crucial steps until completion? Is it about planning the remaining months in your PhD in a way that you CAN finish on time?

5. We help PhDs who want to complete

Have you silently nodded to one, two or all of the above? Do you agree that something significant has to change in order to move the needle? Well, then let us help you, because teaching PhD students how to move ahead and complete is exactly what we do! 

As a member of our community , you have access to a lot of great material to get you started right now: highly recommended free resources are the SMART ACADEMICS blog post no# 2: So you want to finish your PhD on time and our Expert guide: 5 reasons why PhD students delay and how to avoid .

We are offering a free PhD Webinar to help you complete your PhD project – if you’re interested , sign up here.  

Related resources:

• Worksheet “My life after the PhD”
• Smart Academics Blog #2: So you want to finish your PhD on time
• Smart Academics Blog #46: What makes PhD students succeed?
• Smart Academics Blog #60: Are you delayed with your PhD ?
• Smart Academics Blog #73: What’s needed to finish your PhD?
• Smart Academics Blog #77: When should I start searching for my next job?
• Smart Academics Blog #100: PhD success stories that motivate!
• TRESS ACADEMIC Free Expert Guide: 5 reasons why PhD students delay and how to avoid.  
• Free PhD Webinar
• EuropeanScienceFoundation/Boman, J. 2017. Career Tracking Survey of Doctorate Holders. Project Report.  
• OECD/Auriol, L., Misu, M., Freeman, R.A. 2013. Careers of Doctorate Holders. Market and Mobility Indicators.

More information: 

Do you want to complete your PhD successfully? If so, please sign up to receive our free guides.  

© 2020 Tress Academic

#PhD, #Doctorate, #PhDGraduation, #Career, #PhDStudy, #PhDCompletion

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What title do you hold after you've defended but before you graduate?

Two friends successfully defended their dissertations yesterday, and many people have congratulated them, calling them Doctor so-and-so. I explained to my wife that they actually don't have that title until the graduation ceremony, that it's similar to a President-elect, who isn't called the President until they are sworn in. So, what title does a doctoral candidate take after they've defended but before they graduate?

• 4 See this: academia.stackexchange.com/a/12447/5674 –  posdef Commented Oct 8, 2013 at 16:41
• 1 possible duplicate of When can you call yourself doctor? –  Samuel Russell Commented Oct 12, 2013 at 0:03

5 Answers 5

There isn't a formal, universally accepted title here. The general standard has been to call them "Doctor" since everything else is in principle a formality.

The only other note that I'd make is that it's not commencement that makes the student in question a doctor, but rather conferral of the degree by the university. Some universities may confer degrees multiple times per year, but only have one commencement ceremony.

So, I would not include "Ph.D." next to my name, but in the education of my CV, I'd write "Ph.D. (to be conferred Month Year )," as that is entirely accurate representation of the state of affairs.

Formally, they don't take a title before the university awards it, and the awarding is usually done by handing out a certificate stating the title (independent of whether that involves a ceremony or not).

In informal situations, it's nice to address them with the title because they are usually happy and proud of their accomplishment, and what remains to be done before they actually get the title is more or less a mere formality. But you shouldn't put any doctoral title on name tags, staff directories, or anything formal like that before they actually get the document.

• 6 I suppose this is similar to me calling myself a "dad" even though my daughter won't be born for another two months? –  Jonathan E. Landrum Commented Oct 10, 2013 at 19:00
• 4 @JonathanLandrum Yes, that's a nice comparison. Everybody will be fine with that, but you can't put it down in any official documents yet. –  silvado Commented Oct 11, 2013 at 6:32

In most countries "Dr" is an honorific (in Germany I believe it is a legal title and part of your name) that is typically used when referring to individuals that hold certain types of degrees (most doctorates but not all, for example holders of the JD degree are not typically called doctor, and some non doctorate degrees, for example a BMedSci in the UK). As it is an honorific I think it is perfectly reasonable to bestow that honor to someone during a party to celebrate a doctoral defence. Similarly when seeing someone the first time after the defence using doctor is a nice why of honoring them. In some countries one can pass the defence and still need to make substantial revisions. I would use the honorific as long as the person passed.

In non-formal situations I would avoid it, but then again I avoid using the honorific even for people with doctorates. In formal situations where honorifics are being used I would definitely avoid it. I think it would set a bad tone to go to a job talk an allow yourself to be introduced as doctor. In that situation I would deflect the honorific and say "not yet"

In the (British) English Language the correct name for someone who has qualified to graduate but has not yet done so is a graduand .

One could formally say you are a doctoral graduand, but only other academics would understand.

Also, at the ceremonies in British Universities, the point at which you hold the title is when the Chancellor (or similar awarding officer) intones the word "I award upon those students who have qualified the degrees listed in the official record.. etc". Until those words have been said, whatever handshaking and parading has happened, you do not have a degree!

In Germany, it is "Doctor Des." standing for Doktor Designiert (designated doctor)

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• Administration
• After Graduation

While some students know what they want to do after graduation, many do not.  This page can help economics-interested students think about some possibilities.  Here, we narrow 'after graduation' options to (1) work and (2) school.  (But, if you want to travel the world, take time off, or anything else, we'd love to chat with you about that too!)

As you browse this page, remember that (1) your concentration does not determine your career and (2) where you land after graduation does not determine your career.  And, as always, if you want to chat, come see an ec concentration advisor.

The world is your oyster after graduation!  But, there are some jobs that economics concentrators might find particularly interesting (many are places where ec alums have worked).  On careers in Economics, here is a recent panel discussion hosted by the Harvard University Inclusion in Economics , recorded on April 29th, 2022.  Additionally, here are just a few possibilities, in five broad categories: 

Private Sector/For-Profit

• Finance .  Many Harvard undergraduates join the financial sector after graduation, both at large organizations like Goldman Sachs, small firms targeting a niche market, and everything in between.  There is on-campus recruiting and a lot of information from the Office of Career Services' finance page . 
• Consulting .  Many Harvard undergraduates pursue consulting positions after graduation, at a huge variety of consulting firms.  There are large strategy consulting firms like Bain and Company and large economics consulting firms like Analysis Group and NERA, as well as other firms focused in specific areas such as the environment, health care, public policy, and development (eg, Oxford Policy Management ).  There is on-campus recruiting and a lot of information from the Office of Career Services' consulting page .
• Market Research .  Many companies have an interest in market research to better understand their current and potential clients, changing tastes and preferences, etc.  Your insight into decision-making combined with econometrics skills make you well-prepared for jobs like this.
• Risk analysis .  Many companies are interested in analyzing risk; your econometrics skills will really come in handy!  For example, Moody's Analytics , credit card companies, car insurance companies...
• Health industry .  Pharmaceutical companies (for humans as well as animals), health care insurance providers, health care exchanges, and many other places will all have jobs where the economics tool kit you've built over four years will be very valuable.
• Analytics and Strategy .  Many companies specialize in analyzing big data for companies, sports, elections, and so much more.  Check out groups like Civis Analytics , Clarity Campaign Labs , BlueLabs , Opta , and Avero . Professional sports teams also hire data analysts.  Moneyball is real!
• Social Enterprise .  Companies focused on social enterprises can be either for-profit or non-profit.  Some examples of interesting SE companies are Polymath Ventures ,  Reboot , and Central Square Foundation .
• A truly huge array of interesting jobs.  Past concentrators have gone to Tootsie Roll, Pinterest, Las Vegas casinos, Microsoft, the fashion industry, and more.  The possibilities are endless.  

Government and government-related jobs

• General website for US government jobs . USDA, DOT, HUD, EPA, BLS, Census… so many possibilities!
• Congressional Budget Office
• Federal Trade Commission  
• The Federal Reserve .  The  individual Fed Reserve Banks have their own websites and conduct their own job searches.
• LIS , the Luxembourg Data Center  

International Organizations

• International Monetary Fund  
• United Nations
• World Economic Forum
• DevJ , a site focused on jobs in international development  

Research and Think Tanks

• National Bureau of Economic Research
• Brookings Institution
• Abt Associates
• J-PAL , the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab at MIT
• IFPRI , the International Food Policy Research Institute.  One of 15 centers that forms the  CGIAR Consortium.
• Mathematica Policy Research , nonpartisan research organization
• Council on Foreign Relations
• RAND Corporation
• Urban Institute
• WRI , the World Resources Institute
• A list of econ-focused think tanks , from RePEc
• Compilation of job opportunities for those interested in  research-based careers  

Non-Profit sector

• Princeton in Asia   Program, one-year fellowship for an immersive work experience in Asia
• Princeton in Africa Program, one-year fellowship to work in the field of development on the African continent
• Teach for America
• Mercy Corps
• Environmental Defense Fund
• 3ie , International Initiative for Impact Evaluation
• The Asia Foundation
• IDinsight , using randomized trials to help developing country leaders improve social impact
• The Working World , venture capitalists with a social mission
• ideas42 , using behavioral economics to solve social problems
• Acumen , fellows program focused on solutions to poverty
• Bridgespan Group , aiming to advance social change

At some point in post-graduation life, many concentrators pursue an advanced degree.  Here we discuss (1) graduate study in a variety of areas common among our concentrators and (2) economics Ph.D. programs. 

Graduate Study: a variety of options

Economics concentrators pursue graduate programs in a variety of fields: Business School, Law School, Medical School, non-economics Ph.D. programs, and more.  In terms of Masters programs, the possibilities are huge: public policy programs, international relations, elementary and secondary education, statistics, mathematical finance, just to name a few.  Some concentrators also consider Masters programs in Europe; in particular, several universities in the United Kingdom have strong one-year Masters programs (as well as two-year programs). 

Masters programs in Economics and economics-related fields are plentiful.  While most top-tier US research universities do not offer Masters programs in their economics departments per se, you can find 'related' Masters programs.  At Harvard, for example, the Economics Department does not offer a Masters degree, but the Kennedy School offers economics-related Masters level studies.  

There is a lot of information online about all of these programs, and more.  And, of course, you can always chat with your concentration advisor.

Economics Ph.D. Programs

Graduate study in economics (at the Ph.D. level) is very different from undergraduate coursework.  It is not only a continuance and deepening of the undergraduate curriculum; it is also about research. In this sense, the honors thesis provides a closer look at the enterprise of graduate study. Although some doctoral students choose careers in nonacademic sectors such as government service or finance, most are accepted and trained with the objective of producing academic professionals whose research will advance the discipline. Most admissions committees gauge the potential applicants in three ways: preparation, aptitude, and creativity. A scholar with all three could make important contributions to our understanding of economics. Aptitude is assessed largely through one's undergraduate record and professor recommendations. To a smaller extent, scores such as the GRE (Graduate Record Exam) are also considered. Creativity is demonstrated primarily through work on the honors thesis and other research, the quality of which is relayed through professor recommendations. Preparation is particularly important and is demonstrated through coursework in mathematics, statistics and econometrics, and economic theory. First, candidates with a well-developed mathematical foundation will not struggle with the high level of abstraction of graduate work. Students interested in graduate school should take coursework in multivariable calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, and real analysis. Each area deserves a semester of study, though a year of real analysis is especially impressive.  Second, the greater a student’s training in statistics and econometrics, the greater the scope and depth of empirical research they can understand and complete. Students should consider statistics and econometrics courses using stochastic calculus, such as the graduate sequence ECON 2110 and ECON 2120.  Graduate schools also value theoretical courses, which prepare students for the demands of graduate coursework. At the intermediate theory level, students are encouraged to take the ECON 1011AB sequence.  Beyond that, graduate schools are impressed with further coursework in microeconomics and macroeconomics, especially at the graduate level. They also look for coursework in particular areas of theory, such as game theory. Graduate school represents an important and exciting decision in the academic careers of Harvard undergraduates.  Starting to develop and demonstrate these three components will provide you with an impressive background for graduate study in economics.

Interesting Links

• US graduate programs in economics
• Various programs in development
• COVID-19 Related Program Changes
• Concentrating in Economics
• Courses, Tutorials and Seminars
• Honors Program
• Senior Thesis
• Secondary Field
• Summer School
• Study Abroad
• Opportunities
• Alumni Resources

21 Things Nobody Tells You When You Graduate College

I have never been invited to give a commencement address at a college. This is disappointing because, for the first time in my life, I own a sports coat that fits and a belt that is not two-sided.

I might be considered too young, as I am only 39, despite the gray hair I’ve acquired that prompted a TSA agent to recently proclaim, “You sure that’s you?” upon seeing my dark-haired driver’s license.

But I have spent 17 years in the workforce. I’ve worked at big companies and small ones. I’ve been promoted and fired. I’ve started my own business. I found and left my dream job. I’ve learned a lot, mostly the wrong way (and would prefer you didn’t). So before you throw your cap in the air — or at least before you stage an Instagram photo of you throwing your cap in the air — allow me to share some things nobody will tell you.

The real world is more fun than grumpy adults have ever told you.

Don’t listen to people in their 40s who act like the best part of your life ends the minute you get your diploma. Is the real world all cotton candy and unicorn rides? No. But sometimes, misery loves company and recruits it too. When you start a new job there will inevitably be a group of people there who don’t like their job and don’t like being an adult. Avoid these people like the plague. They’ve bought into the cultural lie that a “job is just a job” and that you should only work for the weekend. Nonsense. Your job can be meaningful. Your weekdays can matter.

One of your friends will be instantly successful.

They will move to New York or San Francisco and make finding a great job seem easy. They will earn the kind of money that allows you to pay for your own HBOGo pass instead of stealing your parents’. You will hate them at least a little bit because watching their meteoric rise through the filtered window of social media will make you feel like it will never happen for you. Don’t get caught in the trap of comparison.

Your first job might not involve your major in a major way.

That’s only a minor problem though. You have 40 years to reunite your job with your major — or to find out your major may not have major bearing on what you do in life.

Your 20s are lonelier than you think they’ll be.

They’re glamorized in culture, presented as the time of your life. As you bingewatch an entire season of House of Cards on Netflix, you will wonder, Is every other person my age at an amazing party right now that I didn’t know about? They’re not. The truth is, when you leave college, you leave the tightest, largest concentration of people who are your age. Suddenly, you’re scattered around the country and community won’t involve walking out onto the quad. You’ll have to fight for it. That’s not failure, that’s reality. Seek it out. It’s not easy to make friends as an adult but it’s definitely possible if you’ll be brave.

Being an adult comes with an obscene amount of paperwork.

Stay on top of it. Taxes, 401K enrollment, healthcare, apartment contracts… Prepare to be awash in forms that make the Apple iTunes agreement seem pleasant. Don’t ignore the paperwork. I once did and assumed the company I worked for would handle a healthcare issue I had. (I thought I had kidney stones; turns out it was just an ultimate Frisbee injury. What an adult I was!) I threw the paperwork in the trash. I didn’t think anything of it until years later when a collection agency came after me for $81 and my credit was garbage.

Your generation gets unfairly labeled for entitlement. Don’t accept that.

Be humble at work. Show up with questions and a willingness to learn. Don’t act like you know everything already. You don’t, but you know what? Neither do we. People my age and the generations older than I am are a little afraid of you sometimes. We’re scared of the technologies you might know about that we’ve never even heard of. We don’t want to look dumb when we ask, “What is YikYak?” The truth is, we need you, just like you need us.

Pay attention in meetings.

Roughly 93% of your job depends on your ability to do this. You might have been able to tune out in a class of 400 people for an hour but if you try that in a meeting at work, people are going to notice. Don’t text under the table with your phone either. We can see you.

Treat email like it matters.

The other 7% of your job will be managing email. I sure wish it wasn’t because I hate email. (In fact, if you want to give me feedback about this article, just tweet me @JonAcuff instead. Feel free to say, “@JonAcuff your commencement tips are awesome/suck” depending on how you think it’s going.) You have to communicate clearly in your emails. You need to respond to your managers and coworkers quickly. You need to stay out of stupid passive-aggressive traps, like CCing someone’s superior, as a veiled threat. Work your inbox like it’s your job. Because it is.

Take risks.

You don’t have mortgages or kids or other responsibilities yet. Want to go abroad for a year and make a micro-salary teaching English? Want to start a business specializing in a heritage breed of rabbits for hipsters who are tired of suburban chickens already? Go for it. What’s the worst that can happen? You try it for a year, it fails and now you’re 23. You’ve got the rest of your life to play it safe.

Don’t put off your college loans.

The 9,000-pound elephant/gorilla/large scary animal in the corner is your student loans. Sallie Mae doesn’t mess around. Ignoring that you owe money doesn’t make the loans go away. Paying them back does.

Hold your money with an open hand.

Money is a something that pretends to be an Everything. It’s perfectly fine to take a job for a few years just to pay the bills and get by. There’s nobility in that. As your career progresses though, be careful that you don’t chase money at the exclusion of everything else. The amount of cash that will make you perfectly happy is always a “little more.” It’s a never-ending chase that has hollowed out many a 40-year-old.

If you move home, make sure you bring an exit strategy with you.

Pay rent to your parents. Do your own laundry. Buy your own food. Have a deadline for how long you’re going to stay there. Home is comfortable but the distance between comfortable and complacent is surprisingly short. Just because you’re sleeping in the same room you had in middle school doesn’t mean you have to act like an adolescent. And if anyone tries to make you feel ashamed to be living at home with your parents, don’t listen to them.

Don’t spend all your time with idiots and then wonder why it’s hard to meet someone great to date.

If you moved to the desert and then told me the kayaking there is terrible, I would agree. Then I’d ask why you expected sand dunes to offer optimal water sports. “Become the kind of person you want to be with” might be clichéd advice best suited to Hallmark cards, but “Go where the people you want to be like are” isn’t.

Don’t ask to work from home the first week of your new job.

Though more companies are offering that option, it’s still a privilege, not a right.

Jump into the wild west of side jobs.

The days of having the same job for 40 years and then getting a gold watch when you retire are over. Hooray! Your job won’t be limited or defined by geography. The Internet has leveled the playing field. Anyone can connect with anyone. You don’t need a physical storefront or even a physical product to start a business. Your ability to make money will only be limited by your ability to hustle.

Figure out which part of your career needs the most work.

The best careers and biggest adventures are determined by our ability to invest in four distinct things: Relationships, Skills, Character and Hustle.

Don’t become a dinosaur.

Just because your formal education might have ended doesn’t mean you should stop learning. If you don’t keep old skills sharp and continue learning new ones your career will become obsolete.

Don’t burn many bridges.

Every industry is smaller than you think. Do your best to leave as many relationships intact at every job you have. Chances are, you’ll work with a lot of the same people again during your career.

Put your phone down when you’re talking to someone.

Nothing says “this job doesn’t matter to me” like staring into your phone when you’re having a face-to-face conversation with a co-worker. Want a simple way to build the kind of character that will serve you for a lifetime? Ignore your phone instead of the people you’re with.

Remember, it’s all an audition.

I am one of seven people in America who have not seen the musical “Hamilton.” Despite that fact, I do know a thing or two about the audition process. That’s because full-time jobs are getting harder to find as more companies lean on the contract model. They’ll hire you on a part-time basis or even as a full-time contractor, but won’t jump into a long-term relationship without testing you out first. That’s not failure, that’s the future. Treat it like an audition. You might feel like just an understudy stuck backstage, but you’re not. You’re proving to that company you have what it takes to earn a leading role. Don’t have a “full time job or nothing” attitude when it comes to your job search. Today’s job market demands flexibility, hustle and occasionally tap dancing.

Drake was right.

You are going to start at the bottom. That’s OK. Put your pride aside and recognize this as a starting point. This isn’t your final job, it’s your first job. You’ve got one foot on the ladder and now you get to climb it. Give yourself time and be patient.

Welcome to the real world, where people who are almost 40 reference Drake in a thinly veiled attempt to seem hip. I’m not. I need you to teach me about what’s coming next. So does everyone else.

Congratulations on finishing college.

Congratulations on joining the real world.

We’ve been waiting for you.

Jon Acuff is the author of five books, including the recent Do Over : Rescue Monday, Reinvent Your Work & Never Get Stuck, which focuses on building a long-lasting career by investing in a “ Career Savings Account .”

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Home » Career Development » Best Courses After Graduation

25+ Best Courses After Graduation to be Pursued in 2024

Studies have reported that the employability of individuals increases tremendously when they pursue courses that align with current industry demands and emerging market trends. To stay relevant and adapt to the ever-evolving professional landscape, you can pursue postgraduate courses. These provide you with the in-depth knowledge and expertise required to remain competitive and valuable in the job market.

In this blog post, we will explore some of the best courses after graduation that can enhance your career prospects and enable you to achieve a rewarding career.

Table of Contents

Best Courses After Graduation in Science

Many courses are available for those who graduate in the science stream. The following are the best courses to consider after graduation:

1. Master of Science (MSc)

Pursuing an M.Sc. degree offers individuals the chance to explore any subject of science, such as the following:

• M.Sc. Chemistry
• M.Sc. Biology
• M.Sc. Physics
• M.Sc. Microbiology
• M.Sc. Mathematics
• M.Sc. Botany/Zoology
• M.Sc. Food Science
• M.Sc. Statistics/Computer Science
• M.Sc. Biotechnology/Bioinformatics
• M.Sc. Nursing

These subject-oriented M.Sc. courses build upon the knowledge gained during your undergraduate studies This means that students can specialize in a specific area within their chosen discipline.

Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree in science (BSc) in a relevant discipline from a recognized college or university with an aggregate of 50% to 60% marks. Additionally, you may have to clear entrance examinations like CUET PG, IIT JAM, BHU PET, ICAR AIEEA, etc. 

Popular Job Roles and Salaries After MSc

2. Master of Technology (M.Tech)

An M.Tech degree is a program that focuses on technology and engineering, making it a popular choice for engineering graduates. This course lasts two years and requires students to complete their BTech degree in any discipline. Some popular M.Tech. courses are as follows:

• M.Tech. Computer Science
• M.Tech. Civil Engineering
• M.Tech. Mechanical Engineering
• M.Tech. Electrical Engineering
• M.Tech. Chemical Engineering
• M.Tech. Data Science
• M.Tech. Robotic Engineering

Eligibility: Bachelor of engineering or technology degree from a recognized university with a minimum of 60% aggregate marks. Additionally, you have to qualify the GATE entrance examination.

Popular Job Roles and Salaries After M.Tech

3. Master of Computer Applications (MCA)

By enrolling in a Master of Computer Applications (MCA) program, individuals can increase their chances of securing corporate sector IT jobs. There are many career options available for those with an MCA degree, such as software developer, database administrator, IT consultant, systems analyst, etc.  A master’s degree in computer applications equips individuals with essential skills for designing and creating tools used in both the hardware and software industries. It also helps master the programming languages necessary for various IT career options.

Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field with mathematics as a subject and 55% minimum aggregate marks. For admission to some colleges, you may be required to clear entrance exams like NIMCET, CUET PG, MAH MCA CET, TANCET, etc.

Popular Job Roles and Salaries After MCA

Courses After Graduation in Commerce

Being a graduate in the commerce stream, whether B.Com., BBA, etc., opens the path for higher study options in banking, finance, and analytics fields. Here are the best courses after graduation in commerce you can pursue.

1. Financial Modeling

The financial modeling course focuses on building a comprehensive financial statement model, which is important for conducting effective financial analysis. Through this course, you will be able to provide valuable solutions to companies and develop expertise in investment strategies, credit management, profit maximization techniques, and equity evaluation. 

Eligibility: A bachelor’s degree in commerce or a related field. 

Popular Job Roles and Salaries After Financial Modeling Course

2. Financial Risk Management

This is one of the best courses after commerce graduation. The role of a financial risk analyst/manager is crucial for any company, which makes it one of the most in-demand positions. This profession provides insights into potential financial difficulties and equips individuals with knowledge about risk management in finance. 

Eligibility: You can pursue this course after completing a B.Com., Bachelor in Banking and Finance/Business Analytics/ Business Economics/ Business Management, and other related fields.

Popular Job Roles and Salaries After Financial Risk Management Course

3. Postgraduate Diploma in Banking

You should consider enrolling in a PG diploma in banking course to expand your knowledge of the banking industry. This PGDB program will equip you with practical skills and insights into banking by enhancing your understanding of this field. With a PGDB qualification, you can look forward to a fulfilling career in commerce after graduation.

Eligibility: A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks.  

Popular Job Roles and Salaries After PGDB

4. PG Diploma in Business Analytics

This is one of the best courses after graduation that has revolutionized how organizations operate by using data to inform decision-making processes. Business analytics allows companies to gain a deeper understanding of their customers, competitors, and overall market trends.

Essential skills that companies look for in a candidate include knowledge of Excel and SQL. You can gain these skills through an advanced Excel course and SQL for data analytics course . 

Business analysts may use data science techniques to preprocess data and extract insights. To gain an in-depth understanding of the field, consider pursuing a data science course with placement .

Eligibility: A bachelor’s degree from a recognized university with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks. 

Popular Job Roles and Salaries After PGD in Business Analytics

5. PG Diploma in Hospital Management/Hospital Administration

Healthcare management professionals have the important task of overseeing non-clinical operations in a healthcare facility. Candidates with a PG diploma in healthcare and hospital management have various career options available to them, including working for private clinics, multi-specialty hospitals, consulting firms, NGOs, and insurance companies. 

Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree in management, hospital management, hospital administration, or a relevant field with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks.

Popular Job Roles and Salaries After PGD in Hospital Management/Administration

6. MBA (Master of Business Administration)

Earning an MBA degree equips you with a diverse set of skills in management, problem-solving, communication, and leadership. Some popular specializations to explore within the MBA program include the following: 

• MBA in Marketing
• MBA in Human Resources Management
• MBA in International Business
• MBA in Business Analytics
• MBA in Finance
• MBA in Operations Management
• MBA in Management Accounting

Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks from a recognized university. Some colleges require students to clear an entrance exam like CAT, MAT, XAT, Symbiosis National Aptitude Test, etc.  

Popular Job Roles and Salaries After MBA

Best Courses After Graduation in Arts

Here are the best courses to consider after graduation in arts:

1. Master of Arts (M.A.) 

After completion of a bachelor of arts degree in any subject, a student can opt for the same discipline as the bachelor subject or any other. The following are a few of the two-year master’s degree options:

• M.A. English
• M.A. Political Science
• M.A. Sociology
• M.A. Social Work
• M.A. International Relations
• M.A. Geography
• M.A. Psychology
• M.A. Economics
• M.A. Linguistics
• M.A. Philosophy

Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with 45% aggregate marks. 

Popular Job Roles and Salaries After M.A.

2. Master of Mass Communication/Journalism

With the emergence of new forms of entertainment, traditional broadcast media such as TV and radio are no longer the only platforms in this field. There is a rise in the popularity of online streaming, digital journalism, podcasts, blogs, and advertising websites. These mediums are now an integral part of broadcast media. Therefore, a master’s degree in mass communication/journalism is one of the best courses after a degree.

Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field from a recognized university with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks. 

Popular Job Roles and Salaries After MJMC

3. Bachelor in Education (B.Ed.)

This is one of the best courses after graduation. The Bachelor of Education (BEd) program is a professional degree lasting three to four years. It aims to enhance the capabilities and abilities required for teaching through both on-campus instruction and field study. 

Upon completion, graduates can pursue further education in special education courses or obtain an M.Ed/M.A. in Education if they wish to continue their careers as teachers. 

Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university with minimum aggregate marks of 50%. Some universities or colleges require you to clear any B.Ed entrance exams like CTET, REET, PSTET, KTET, WB TET, Bihar STET, MP TET, etc. 

Popular Job Roles and Salaries After B.Ed

4. Foreign Language Certifications

By enrolling in foreign language certificate courses, you can take up jobs as a translator, teacher, interpreter, etc. Some popular foreign languages include German, French, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Russian. To explore global opportunities, you can enroll in a French language course or a Spanish language course .

Eligibility: The minimum requirement to pursue any foreign language certification is 45% marks in class 10+2. 

Popular Job Roles and Salaries After Foreign Language Certifications

Individuals who wish to pursue further education after completing their B.A./B.Sc. or any other bachelor’s degree often opt for the Bachelor of Laws, also known as the LLB. This is a three-year program that covers various subjects such as legal reasoning, environmental law, arbitration, insurance law, and the Consumer Protection Act. 

Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree in any field with 50% to 60% minimum aggregate marks depending on the college or university you are applying to. Several institutions conduct law entrance exams like CLAT, LSAT, SLS AIAT, AILET, etc. 

Popular Job Roles and Salaries After LLB

Best Professional Certificate Courses After Graduation

Explore the best professional courses after graduation in this section.

1. Digital Marketing

Organizations and companies are seeking ways to use digital platforms to enhance and sustain brand recognition. Enrolling in a digital marketing course with placement can equip you with the essential knowledge needed to effectively navigate various channels of digital marketing and build a professional career.

Eligibility: 10+2 or equivalent from a recognized college or university in any discipline. 

Popular Job Roles and Salaries After Digital Marketing Certification Course

2. Android App Development

To pursue a career as an Android developer, earning a bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, management information systems (MIS), information technology (IT), or any related field is necessary. Aspiring developers should also acquire proficiency in XML and Kotlin languages with the help of an Android app development course . 

Eligibility: 10+2 from a recognized board in any discipline. 

Popular Job Roles and Salaries After Android App Development Certification Course

3. Machine Learning

This is one of the best courses after graduation in science. Machine learning is a subset of artificial intelligence and deep learning. It involves training systems to analyze data, recognize patterns, and make decisions with little or no human involvement. 

By taking a course on machine learning , you will familiarize yourself with Python and master the art of constructing machine-learning algorithms and powerful predictive models.

Popular Job Roles and Salaries After Machine Learning Certification Course

4. Business Analytics

The business analytics course is an important tool for enhancing operational efficiency, reducing costs, and increasing revenue. This program will equip you with the necessary knowledge of the  following concepts:

• Business models
• Probability distribution
• Linear programming
• Predictive analytics 
• Data analysis

Popular Job Roles and Salaries After Business Analytics Certification Course

5. Full Stack Development

By studying a full-stack development course with placement, a learner will gain adequate proficiency in the following:

• Programming languages such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, and Ruby. 
• Front-end development process
• Back-end development process

It will lead to future successes in related fields like data science, cybersecurity, or machine learning and enable students to get exciting full-stack development internship opportunities.

Popular Job Roles and Salaries After Full-Stack Development Course

6. Investment Banking

Pursuing a career in investment banking after completing your B.Com. or a bachelor in banking and finance degree is a popular choice among students. To excel in this field, one needs to possess exceptional analytical and mathematical capabilities, along with effective communication skills.

Popular Job Roles and Salaries After Investment Banking Certification Course

7. Product Management

Product management connects different departments in a company to create and launch products that align with customer demands and business objectives. Taking a product management course with placement will help a learner apply for a job in this field. This course teaches about the development of product vision, market segmentation, product analytics, and experimentation models.

Popular Job Roles and Salaries After Product Management Certification Course

Best Diploma Courses After Graduation

Here is a list of the best diploma courses to consider after graduation.

1. Diploma in UI/ UX Design

A diploma in UI/ UX design teaches the fundamentals of user interface and user experience design. This course is suitable for students who are interested in designing digital products and services. Additionally, you can pursue a UI/UX design course with placement to expedite your career advancement and transition from a novice to a pro in just six months. After completing this course can apply for various UI/UX internship opportunities.

Eligibility: 10+2 examination from a recognized institution with a minimum of 45% aggregate marks. 

Popular Job Roles and Salaries After Diploma in UI/UX Design

2. Diploma in Graphic Design

A diploma in graphic design course is ideal for those who are interested in graphic design and visual communication. It covers topics such as typography, design principles, image manipulation, and digital illustration. Students who have a creative eye and an interest in graphic design can pursue this course. 

Popular Job Roles and Salaries After Diploma in Graphic Design

3. PGD in Hotel Management

This advanced program provides a comprehensive understanding of hospitality management techniques. Students are equipped with innovative skills in areas such as hotel and hospitality operations, food and beverage preparation, resource allocation, and personnel supervision.

Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized college or university. 

Popular Job Roles and Salaries After PGD in Hotel Management

4. PGD in Data Science

Pursuing a postgraduate degree in data science is highly recommended for recent computer science or related subject graduates. With the rise of big data, data science has become one of the most demanding fields in the tech industry. There are numerous online options available to advance one’s career through a data science course and get exciting data science internship opportunities.

Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree in science or computer science from a recognized college or university with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks. 

Popular Job Roles and Salaries After PGD in Data Science

Do you dream of building your own ChatGPT? Enroll in our Generative AI course and take the first step towards making it a reality!

5. PGD in Human Resource Management

With a PG diploma course in human resource management, a learner will be equipped with the concepts of manpower planning, recruitment, selection, training, and development to acquire expertise in human resource management.  To get well-versed in basic and advanced concepts of HRM, consider taking an HR course or advanced human resource management course .

Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized college or university with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks. 

Popular Job Roles and Salaries After PGD in HRM

6. PGD in Event Management

PGD in Event Management is a course that covers topics such as event marketing, budgeting, operations, and risk management. This course is suitable for recent graduates who are interested in the event planning and management industry.

Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree from a recognized college or university with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks. 

Popular Job Roles and Salaries After PGD in Event Management

Now that we have seen the best courses after graduation, it is important for graduates to carefully research their options and choose a course that aligns with their aspirations for long-term success. However, courses such as MBAs, specialized master’s degrees in STEM fields (an acronym for science, technology, engineering, and math), and professional certifications have been shown to enhance job prospects and earning potential. Check out our blogs on job tips for the best advice if you are thinking of applying for jobs.

Answer: Master of science, computer application, mass communication and journalism, hotel management, and business administration are some of the best courses after graduation.

Answer: Diploma in human resource management, digital marketing, graphic designing, data science, and culinary arts are some 1-year courses after graduation.

Answer: You can explore a range of opportunities after your graduation. Some of them are listed below: – Pursue higher education and enroll in master’s or diploma programs. – Get an internship to gain industry experience and develop skills. – Search and apply for volunteer opportunities to build credentials for your resume. – Enroll in a certificate course to learn a new skill. – Apply for entry-level jobs.

Answer: Web development, digital marketing, business administration, chartered accountancy, hotel management, and interior designing are some of the best fields to work in after graduation.

Answer: Yes, you can change careers after graduation. A degree course provides skills and knowledge that can be adapted to multiple industries. Therefore, you can utilize these transferable skills in your new career. Additionally, you can pursue online certification courses from trusted platforms like Internshala Trainings to upskill yourself and develop new skills.

Answer: Yes, you can pursue professional diploma courses after graduation. If you wish to enroll in a diploma for a technical field, ensure that you possess basic knowledge about the subject. Refer to online resources to prepare yourself.

Answer: Business management, nursing, psychology, travel and tourism, graphic designing, financial accounting, and software engineering are some of the best diploma courses after graduation .

Answer: Data science, machine learning, robotics, ethical hacking, digital art, business analytics, and Power BI are some of the best short-term courses for the future that you can do after graduation.

Answer: Software development, Java, Python, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing (AWS) are some of the best short-term courses after graduation in science. If you wish to build a career in information technology, check out the best computer courses to get a job .

Answer: Excel, financial modeling and valuation, stock market trading, and SQL for data analytics are some of the best short-term courses after graduation in commerce. Further, you can check out the best business courses .

Answer: Creative writing, WordPress, digital art, language, digital marketing, and social media marketing are some short-term courses that you can pursue after graduation in arts. 

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Shadab Alam is a founding member of Internshala and an entrepreneurial genius. A master of multiple domains, Shadab leads the Certification Training department at Internshala. His expertise in building ed-techs & recruitment businesses has made him an industry stalwart. With over a decade of experience in the job search arena, he is the ultimate career guru.

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What Should I Do After College? A Guide to Post-Grad Life

Last Updated: July 23, 2024 References

This article was co-authored by Jessica Villegas and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano . Jessica Villegas is a Certified Academic Life Coach and the Founder of Hi-Lite Coaching + Consulting in Winter Garden, Florida. Jessica has over 20 years of leadership experience, and she and her team serve teens and young adults through private coaching, group coaching, workshops, and speaking engagements. She uses workbook exercises, coaching planners, and regular check-ins to support young adults in achieving their academic and personal goals. Jessica received her Bachelor’s in Organizational Communications and Leadership Studies from the University of Central Florida and her Professional Coaching certification through Coach Training EDU, an ICF Accredited Institution, as an Academic Life Coach. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 37,659 times.

So, you’ve graduated college—congratulations! That’s a huge achievement, but what now? After graduation, you may feel lost and confused, and that’s completely normal. There’s so much pressure to know exactly what you want to do after you graduate, but there’s nothing wrong with not knowing! We’re here to help you explore your options, from jobs to activities, and kick off this new chapter in your life.

Things You Should Know

• Update your resume and look for internships and/or jobs to get a leg up in your career.
• Use the time after college to relax with leisurely activities like crafting or reading.
• Find yourself through traveling, socializing, and new opportunities once you graduate.

Take time off to relax.

• Studies show that taking time off to mentally recharge improves mental stability and cognitive function, so a little relaxation can help you be the best version of yourself. [2] X Research source

Spend some time at home to regroup.

• Reach out to old friends while you're home. It’s always nice to reconnect, and they may even be going through the same things you are.
• If home isn’t a safe place for you, consider staying with a friend or in a neighborhood you’re familiar with.

Stick to a routine for a sense of normalcy.

• Believe it or not, sticking to a routine benefits your mental and physical health. Accomplishing things on your to-do list can feel rewarding, and getting up to move your body helps you feel good inside and out. [5] X Trustworthy Source Mind U.K.-based mental health charity focused on providing advice and resources to anyone facing mental health problems. Go to source
• Make time in your schedule to hang out with friends, as socializing can help improve your mood and ease loneliness. [6] X Research source

Start a new hobby to explore new interests.

• Pick a hobby that interests you or revisit something you didn’t have time to do while in school.
• Try an outdoor hobby or activity like hiking, camping, or gardening, as interacting with nature can help reduce stress and increase focus. [7] X Trustworthy Source American Psychological Association Leading scientific and professional organization of licensed psychologists Go to source

Travel or study abroad.

• Ask your professors or advisors if there are any study abroad opportunities happening the semester after you graduate—there may even be scholarships you can apply for.
• Take friends or family with you to turn your trip into a post-grad celebration.
• Consider saving up for your trip a few months after graduation so you can worry less about finances.

Volunteer in your community.

• Keep a good rapport with who you volunteer for because you never know when you’ll need a job reference.
• Search for volunteer opportunities in the field you want to work in. For example, volunteering with a local elementary school might help you get your foot in the door when becoming a teacher.
• Sites like VolunteerMatch can help you find volunteer opportunities near you.

Send in a graduate school application.

• Graduate school isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay! Do a bit of research or talk to an advisor to see if earning a master’s degree would benefit you and/or your career path. For a degree like an MBA, it's better to wait until you have some relevant experience under your belt before you start applying.
• Check your college’s website to see if they have any graduate degree programs.
• Search online for your degree or career path with the words “graduate programs” to find programs all over the world. For example, if you want a master’s degree in publishing, you’d search “publishing graduate programs.”

Apply for an internship to kickstart your career.

• Not sure if an internship will benefit your career? Ask your college advisor, mentor, or career coach to see if they know of anyone in your desired field you can reach out to.
• Internships used to be unpaid, but many offer payment and benefits on top of the possibility of future employment. [12] X Research source
• Apprenticeships work similarly to internships but generally last years rather than months.

Take on a part-time summer job for experience.

• Dog or cat sitter
• House sitter
• Babysitter or nanny

Freelance your expertise for extra cash.

• Project management
• Graphic design and art
• Photography
• Human resources
• Web development
• Bookkeeping
• Advertise your skills on sites like Fiverr , Upwork , Toptal , and Flexjobs .

Start a small business to be your own boss.

• Consider looking into small business grants, scholarships, or partnerships to help fund your project. Grants.gov and SBA.gov are excellent resources for finding grants.

Make finding a job your full-time job.

• Sites like LinkedIn , Indeed , or Glassdoor help you find jobs, upload a resume, and keep track of your applications.
• Consider job shadowing in a desired position for on-the-job training and pre-employment experience. [16] X Research source
• Try not to get discouraged by rejections—they’re a part of the process. You put yourself out there, and that’s what matters! Each “no” brings you that much closer to a “yes.”
• Remember to be gentle with yourself. It’s important to hustle, but it’s also as equally important to rest.

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• ↑ https://www.ccu.edu/blogs/cags/2017/05/adult-education-10-things-to-do-after-you-graduate-from-college/
• ↑ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/mental-downtime/
• ↑ https://www.snhu.edu/about-us/newsroom/health/post-graduate-depression
• ↑ https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/your-stories/the-importance-of-routine/
• ↑ https://www.mercycare.org/bhs/employee-assistance-program/eapforemployers/resources/health-benefits-of-social-interaction/
• ↑ https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/04/nurtured-nature
• ↑ https://www.businessinsider.com/things-to-do-after-college-instead-of-getting-a-full-time-job-2015-5
• ↑ https://www.bryantstratton.edu/blog/2022/february/10-things-to-do-after-college
• ↑ https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/15/are-you-doing-your-job-search-right-how-to-land-your-first-job-after-graduation.html
• ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/freelancing
• ↑ https://resources.depaul.edu/career-center/services-resources/Documents/DePaulCC-18-JobShadowing.pdf

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4-year ug degree holders can now get direct admission to phd: ugc.

Curated By : Education and Careers Desk

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Last Updated: June 16, 2022, 13:22 IST

The UGC regulations 2022 are likely to be announced by end of June (Representational Image)

According to the UGC regulations, candidates who have completed their 4-year-undergraduate programme (FYUP) with a minimum 7.5 CGPA will be eligible to apply for PhD admissions

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has released the new regulations allowing the 4-year-undergraduate programme students to directly pursue PhD after graduation. According to the UGC regulations, candidates who have completed their 4-year-undergraduate programme (FYUP) with a minimum 7.5 CGPA will be eligible to apply for PhD admissions without completing a master’s programme.

According to a leading news daily, the UGC Chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar said that this new rule will help improve the research ecosystem in our HEIs. It will also help the UG students to have a research bent of mind. He added that UGC will be permitting four-year UG students who have a CGPA of 7.5/10 or above to be eligible for PhD admission. Those who have a have a CGPA less than 7.5, will have to do a one-year master’s degree to be eligible for PhD admissions.

Also read|  UGC to Develop Framework to Allow Top-ranked Foreign Universities to Open Campus in India

This step has been welcoming for the students who do not have to complete a two years master’s degree after FYUP. The regulations state that the minimum CGPA required for candidates with a four-year or eight-semester bachelor’s degree is 7.5/10 in order to apply for the doctorate programme, however, the commission has given a relaxation of 0.5 CGPA to the reserved categories as well as economically weaker applicants.

The UGC regulations 2022 are likely to be announced by end of June. The new regulations were added in the PhD draft in March and were sent for the feedback and comments of the stakeholders. As now the regulations have been approved, they are expected to be in practice from academic session 2022-23.

Read|  Nearly 50 Foreign Universities Interested to Set-Up Campuses, Offer Dual Courses with Indian Colleges: UGC

Furthermore, as per the new regulations, students will be admitted to the PhD programmes through a national-level test. While 60 per cent of seats will be filled through a national-level examination, 40 per cent will be based on a university-level or state-level test.

Read all the Latest News , Breaking News , watch Top Videos and Live TV here.

• college admissions

China is going after 'empty student' consultants, who help you graduate without attending a single class for a $2,800 'relationship' fee

• Chinese state media on Sunday aired an investigation into 'empty student status' fraud.
• Schools and consultants said on camera that they ran services allowing students to graduate without attending class.
• These schools offer qualifications for skilled labor in fields like IT, automotive manufacturing, and aviation.

China's state broadcaster has aired a scathing report on consultants and vocational schools running "empty student status" services, which it said allow students to graduate without attending classes.

CCTV's "Financial Investigation" program reported on Sunday that it found five companies in Zhengzhou, Wuhan, and Henan offering to help students enroll in and complete their desired course with a cash fee of 20,000 yuan, or $2,800.

According to the broadcaster, these consultants illegally registered students for three-year courses at vocational or technical schools. Such institutions typically offer high school-equivalent certificates for skilled labor and are the gateway for entering fields like IT or electronics.

Several consultancy staff spoke to CCTV on camera, saying that they would use the $2,800 as a "relationship fee" for the schools.

"You don't need to be present, you don't need to go to class," a consultant said in one clip.

The broadcaster kept all of its interviewees anonymous, as is the norm for Chinese media when dealing with people who aren't celebrities or politicians.

"We just need the student's residency registration, their personal information, a photo with a blue background," another consultant said. "Then, after paying the fee, we'll sign a contract, and we'll give you the school registration."

Others said on camera that they could help their clients find schools with vacancies or establish ties with institutions chosen by the student.

China finds schools offering the same services

The broadcaster also published footage of staff from five schools in the same regions directly offering "empty student status."

Related stories

These schools, spread across the automotive, aviation, IT, and engineering industries, said on camera that "empty students" would only have to be present for one roll call per semester.

Several said they could arrange for the student to take entire semesters of medical leave. One school asked that the client clock in daily with a card, though they would not have to attend classes.

Another school's staff said the student could record their attendance through a mobile app.

The institutions would typically limit "empty student" clients to a small proportion of an attending class, with one staff saying they would accept about three clients per class.

CCTV's report is the latest of several to recently gain widespread attention on Chinese social media, becoming the top-most discussed post on Weibo, China's version of X, on Monday.

China has, in the last few years, tried to crack down on "empty student" fraud, though the bulk of its attention has focused on students cheating on national exams.

In particular, the scam is most well-known as a way to circumvent a national law that restricts students to schools inside their registered region of residency.

Previous cases featured wealthy students who would "migrate" to less academically competitive regions using an "empty student status" service, allowing them to enroll in these new provinces without attending classes there.

However, they could take their national or college entrance exams in the easier region because they were registered on paper there.

Many Chinese youth and their families obsess over the results of these exams because they are largely seen as a major deciding factor in one's future education and career.

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2 high school seniors killed, 2 injured in Texas crash after leaving graduation rehearsal

Two Texas high school seniors died and two others were injured Tuesday in a rollover crash as they left their graduation rehearsal, officials said. 

The four students at W.B. Ray High School had attended the rehearsal at American Bank Center on Tuesday morning and were traveling back to school at the time of the crash, the  Corpus Christi Independent School District  said. 

Their names were not released. 

Police responded to the crash in the 2300 block of North Port Avenue around 11:25 a.m. and found four males in a white two-door vehicle rolled over on its roof, Senior Officer Travis Pace said.

Two, both believed to be 18, were dead at the scene, and the two others were taken to a hospital, he said.

The crash is under investigation, and officers believe speed and racing were contributing factors, Pace said.

The graduation ceremony is scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday local time. Chairs will be reserved in honor of the students who died, the school district said. 

“Our Texan community is devastated by this loss of our graduating seniors,” Principal Roxanne Cuevas said. “Our hearts go out to all the loved ones affected by this tragedy.”

The district’s crisis counseling team will provide support to students and staff members at Ray High school, with counselors available across the district as well.

“We want to express our deepest condolences to the families of the two seniors we lost today,” district Superintendent Roland Hernandez said. “We appreciate our community’s prayers for our district during what continues to be an incredibly challenging time for us as well as for educators across the nation.”

Mayor Paulette Guajardo said: “I am heartbroken.”

“Today the City of Corpus Christi mourns the loss of the W. B. Ray High School graduating seniors who tragically lost their lives in a car accident after leaving graduation rehearsal,” she said in a  statement  on Facebook.

A candlelight prayer vigil is scheduled for at 7:30 p.m. Thursday local time at Heritage Park.

This story first appeared on  NBCNews.com .

Marlene Lenthang is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.

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• missing woman

Neighbor arrested after missing Oregon nurse's remains found: police

BEAVERTON, Ore. -- Police arrested the neighbor of Melissa Jubane, a nurse whose remains were found on Friday after she was reported missing by her co-workers in Beaverton, Oregon, earlier in the week.

Bryce Johnathan Schubert, 27, was charged in Jubane's murder and investigators said on Saturday he was involved in her disappearance.

Jubane, 32, a nurse at St. Vincent Hospital in Portland, had not reported for her shift on Wednesday morning, "Raising concerns among her coworkers, friends, and family," the Beaverton, Oregon, Police Department said in a statement.

"Her absence without communication was deemed unusual and alarming," the police said.

SEE ALSO: Suspect found with date rape drugs after woman's body discovered in suitcase in New York

Investigators searched Jubane's apartment building, phone, banking and credit card records but could not find a trace of the missing woman. Investigators were led to Schubert "through an extensive investigation," and ultimately found her remains, according to the police.

Exact details about her death and how investigators discovered the remains were not immediately disclosed.

Attorney information for Scubert wasn't immediately available.

St. Vincent's Hospital released a statement Saturday expressing their condolences to Jubane's family.

"This comes as a shock to us all and she is mourned by her co-workers. Melissa was an exceptional nurse, committed to our Providence Mission and daily demonstrating our values of compassion, excellence and integrity," the hospital said in a statement. "We stand in support of her loved ones and those who worked so closely with Melissa. We appreciate all the expressions of concern from the community."

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105-year-old Stanford graduate finally gets her diploma after 80+ year wait

Virginia hislop had waited 83 years for this day, by garvin thomas • published june 18, 2024 • updated on june 22, 2024 at 9:21 pm.

On Sunday morning, commencement exercises for Stanford University's Graduate School of Education started late. The school's undergraduate ceremony had run behind schedule, so the smaller ceremonies for graduate students ended up being pushed back half an hour.

It was a minor inconvenience for most of the 160 students getting their master's degrees and doctorates in education. For one student, though, it was downright inconsequential. Virginia Hislop had waited 83 years for this day, so what were another 30 minutes?

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"My goodness, I've waited a long time," were Hislop's exact words when she accepted her diploma.

The 105-year-old Hislop, who grew up in Southern California and now lives in Yakima, Washington, said she always wanted to go to Stanford. Her mother had attended the school in the 1920s.

"There was a desire to come to Stanford and take advantage of everything I could," Hislop said.

Hislop earned her undergraduate degree in 1940 and by the summer of 1941, Hislop had earned enough credits to qualify for a master's degree in education and only needed to write a thesis to finish meeting the degree requirements. But then, on the eve of the Second World War, her husband George, a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army, was called up to active duty. He was ordered to report to Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

“Not my idea of a place for a honeymoon,” Hislop said. “But I had no choice in the matter.”

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Hislop was soon the mother of two small children, so returning to her studies was not a possibility.

Still, the lack of a master's in education did not stop Hislop from spending a lifetime being involved in education.

"No, it had absolutely no effect," Hislop said.

For decades, Hislop served on boards and committees overseeing every level of schooling, from kindergarten to college in Yakima.

“I gave it a great deal of thought and tried to improve the education where I lived,” Hislop said. 

One thing Hislop did not give a great deal of thought to, however, was that nearly-finished degree. It was such a non-issue her son-in-law had never heard the story until recently. He contacted Stanford to inquire about it and learned something revelatory: sometime after Hislop left Stanford, the thesis requirement for a master's had been dropped. She had earned the degree, after all.

"I was surprised and pleased," Hislop said.

So, by her grand and great-grandchildren, Hislop joined the class of 2024 on the commencement stage and received a well-deserved standing ovation. 

She viewed it as a recognition, not just for her diploma, but for all the work in education she has done in the past 80 years. 

"I feel like I've made a difference in my community," she said.

Hundreds of students walk out of Stanford commencement in protest

Stanford University costs over $92,000 a year—how much students actually pay, according to income level

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Faculty of Graduate Studies Appeals

Academic assessment decisions regarding candidacy or thesis exams are appealable to the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

How to appeal a decision

IMPORTANT: Final course grades are not appealable through FGS. If you have concerns regarding a course grade, contact the Teaching Faculty of the course. Information on grade reappraisals and appeals of grade reappraisal decisions can be found in Section I of the Academic Calendar.

Prepare your appeals package

All appeals must include a completed cover sheet as well as the following:

- A copy of the decision being appealed;

- A letter detailing the grounds for the appeal;

- Supporting documentation.

Students are strongly encouraged to contact the Student Ombuds Office for advice regarding their appeal and for support in preparing their appeals package.

Contact Student Ombuds

Submit your appeal

Appeal packages can be submitted by email to [email protected], or in-person at MT230, by the deadline stated in the decision letter. If you need to request an extension to your appeal deadline, this request must be made prior to the original appeal deadline.

Appeal Submission Cover Sheet

Learn more about how to prepare an appeal

Refer to this document for detailed instructions on the appeal process.

Appeal Procedures

Your registration

If the academic assessment decision you are appealing has an impact on your registration (i.e., you have been required to withdraw as a result of the academic assessment decision), you may have the right to continued registration while under appeal.

For more information, see Section J.1 of the Academic Calendar .

What to expect

10 business days from the decision:  Graduate Student submits appeal.

2 Business Days of receipt of the appeal:  Dean' Office will acknowledge receipt of the appeal.

10 Business Days of receipt of the appeal:  Dean will resolve the appeal or forward to the Faculty Appeals Committee Chair for review.

10 Business Days of the date of receipt of the appeal from the Dean:  Chair will determine whether the appeal will proceed to a hearing. If the Chair denies permission to appeal, the appeals process ends at this stage. If appeal is proceeding to hearing, Chair will request that the Respondent provide a response to the appeal.

5 Business Days before the hearing:  All documentation that will be used by the Faculty Appeals Committee in making its decision are circulated to the Appellant, Respondent and to the Faculty Appeals Committee.

10 Business Days after the hearing:  Faculty Appeals Committee decision is issued.

The hearing

Who can attend.

• The members of the Appeal Panel
• The Appellant (the graduate student) and one support person (advance notice of support person is required)
• The Respondent (the decision-maker, usually an Associate Dean) and one support person (advance notice of support person is required)
• Support personnel and/or legal counsel for the Appeal Panel
• Witnesses invited by either party to the appeal

Confidentiality

No recording by any party of any hearing in the Faculty of Graduate Studies is allowed.

Hearings are not open to the public. All written and oral information regarding the hearing is confidential and should not be shared or discussed outside the proceedings. Written material must not be copied or distributed to anyone not involved in the proceedings.

What happens at the hearing

1. introduction.

• The Chair opens the hearing with introductions and an overview of the process.

3. Conclusion

• The Chair invites the Respondent to provide a closing statement.
• The Chair invites the Appellant to provide a closing statement.
• The Chair adjourns the hearing. The Appeal Panel convenes to deliberate.

2. Presentation of the case

• The Chair invites the Appellant to present their case first. The respondent is invited to ask questions, and then the Appeal Panel is invited to ask questions.
• If the Appellant is bringing a witness, they join the hearing and the Respondent and Panel are invited to ask questions. The witness leaves after questions are completed.
• The Chair invites the Respondent to present their case. The Appellant is invited to ask questions, and then the Appeal Panel is invited to ask questions.
• If the Respondent is bringing a witness, they join the hearing and the Appellant and Panel are invited to ask questions. The witness leaves after questions are completed.

After the hearing

Reaching a decision.

The decision of the Appeal Panel will be based solely on the evidence presented at the hearing and on written submissions to the appeal, which will be available to all parties. The Appeal Panel's decision will be issued in writing within 10 business days of the hearing.

Three possible outcomes

• To uphold the appeal and approve the outcome being sought
• To uphold the appeal and determine an alternative outcome
• To deny the appeal