Here are four questions to get ready for when entering a new industry, armed with your PhD.
1. “Why do you want to change careers?”
This is a very valid question from recruiters. Why have you made a significant turn in your career choices? Are you just applying for this role to keep ticking over whilst you wait for an academic role to become available? Is this application just one of many as you panic about your future?
I have been asked these questions a few times, and you need to be ready for it! Prepare a genuine story for the interview panel which aligns with your passion and values. You could use the following structure below:
- Avoid being overly negative about academia, but be honest. (“Whilst my PhD experience developed me personally and professionally, I realised that a career in academia was not suited to my real passion…”)
- State where your real passion lies, and explain where it comes from. (“It was actually midway through my PhD when I started to see my passion turn towards mentoring children. As a child I attended a youth group which had a profound impact on my life…”)
- Back it up with evidence of how you developed awareness and skills. (“I applied for an internship with a youth group to develop my knowledge of the industry. During this internship I further enhanced my empathy, problem-solving skills, and resilience…”)
- Finish off by confirming your passion for the role. (“This doesn’t feel like a job. It is a privilege to go to work knowing you have a positive impact on your local community…”)
2. “Are you aware of the nature of this role?”
For any job, the recruiter wants to be sure that you understand what you are applying for. This can be more under the microscope for PhD graduates who have suddenly switched their attention to a new industry with limited prior experience.
Ideally you will have spent time building knowledge of the type of role you have applied for, and it can come in many forms:
- General research of the position (Google searches, reading careers advice websites, watching career vlogs) is one way to show awareness, but is a weak explanation when used in isolation at job interviews.
- Demonstrating that you have networked with employees in the industry shows initiative and ability to communicate effectively. It is a nice addition to your research into the role, but still lacks your own personal experience.
- Exposure to the role is what will impress the interview panel the most. This can be a short internship where you got a rounded overview of the industry and different roles available. This lived experience will allow you to explain to the panel what you like about the role, and the challenges you expect to face.
If you currently lack experience in your chosen field, reach out to employers now and seek shadowing or brief internship periods (i.e. one week). The more experience the better, but even just a little bit of applied experience will boost your upcoming applications!
3. “What have you done in your PhD that relates to this role?”
This question may not be asked so explicitly, but the interview panel will be looking for real-world examples which justify your hard and soft skills. I’ve seen many graduates almost discard their PhD when switching industries; almost deeming the last three years of their life irrelevant for this future endeavour. It really shouldn’t be the case!
A PhD is a true test of mental fortitude. You have likely dealt with issues in the workplace at a level that many people without a PhD will not be able to comprehend. Look back at your PhD and remember this:
- You have probably faced rejection more times than you care to think about. Think about the resilience you developed in the process.
- Evenings and weekends were often consumed by your PhD. The occasional evening and weekend duties in the new industry won’t feel so bad!
- Research is full of communicating and working in a team. You manage co-authors, study participants, and conflicting supervisor opinions. Show your new industry how well you developed your interpersonal and leadership skills during your doctorate.
- Problems arise all the time as a PhD student. Things go wrong, and it’s down to you to sort it out. Your ability to remain cool under pressure and find solutions will have improved immensely from this experience.
- As an academic you are taught to be analytical and question things. This shows employers that you can be innovative and create real change in the workplace.
This is only a small pool of examples from your PhD. Take a look at the job advertisements in your new field and consider how the person specification relates to the challenges you overcame as a PhD student.
4. “How do you plan to progress in this position?”
It is likely that you will be asked a question based on your future development plans. This tests your response in two ways. Firstly, are you going to demonstrate your desire to stay within the industry for the long run? Secondly, are you aware of what progression looks like in this field?
If you truly feel that is the long-term career pathway for you, then express this as clearly as possible to the interview panel. Back this up with anecdotes and examples which strengthen your claims.
“I see this role as a long-term project. There is great potential to achieve a lot as a team within this company, and I want to be here to significantly contribute to your success.”
Next, you want to show your understanding of the different types of promotions available, and the necessary experience and qualifications required.
“In the future I would like to progress into a management position. I understand that to fulfil this, I will need to complete several steps as discussed with colleagues within your company, and endeavour to complete this within three years.”
This knowledge will go a long way to showing the interview panel that you are serious about sticking around in this position, and not just using the role as a stop-gap.
Final Thoughts
As you start to consider a different career pathway outside of academia, begin the groundwork sooner rather than later. Research the career options, network with employers, and seek opportunities to gain exposure and hands-on experience via shadowing or short internships. Build up a level of knowledge and awareness that demonstrates to employers that you have taken your career choices seriously.
Secondly, immerse yourself into the job application process. Amend your CV to fit it to non-academic roles, and speak to careers specialists about writing cover letters and preparing for interviews. This service will be free at your institution, so make the most of it!
