The Career Change Mindset

Managing your pension after your PhD.

Nobody likes to read or study about a pension. However, our PhD and studying years typically set us back in understanding and growing our pension, so it’s imperative we get to grips with it post-PhD and begin to understand and define a strategy that sets us up for success throughout our career.

Post PhD opportunities: The truth.

It’s easy to believe that non-academic and academic opportunities post PhD are scarce. However, this isn’t the full truth – it isn’t necessarily easy, but we can guarantee you it’s nowhere near as hard as you think. You just need the right ingredients.

Complaining about your career: A new perspective.

We all fall victim to complaining and moaning about our careers at some point. This is a concern if it becomes a regular pattern we find ourselves in. Rather than accepting this we must take ownership over the situation and make choices that move us towards our happiness.

Delayed gratification during and after your PhD.

Delayed gratification comes relatively easy for most PhD students. This personality trait can enable you to thrive in your long-term career and life more generally. However, it’s important we don’t let delayed gratification prevent us from reaching our goals and full potential.

The need for intellectual challenge & preventing post-PhD blues.

Intellectual challenge is in abundance during the PhD. As this ends, post-PhD blues can set in as intellectual challenge subsides. To thrive beyond the PhD, it’s important to set new goals either professionally or personally so you can push yourself further to keep growing and learning.

Deprogramming yourself from your PhD and academia.

Academia can have a direct impact on our sense-of self, self-esteem, and even our long-term ambitions. To truly thrive, it’s integral we start deprogramming ourselves and challenge the skewed norms of academia.

Tips for salary negotiations post-PhD.

Academic and PhD positions are known for relatively low pay alongside reduced opportunities for salary negotiations. After finishing your PhD, this can be an unfamiliar topic. This post breaks down the best tips for salary negotiations.

Redefining a healthy work-life balance for your PhD and beyond.

Identifying what a healthy work-life balance is integral to having long-term career happiness. PhDs find themselves with poor working hours which comes at a cost. Certainly, work-life balance should be a key consideration when making career choices.

Building an impactful career after your PhD.

Being ‘impactful’ is usually a reason to do a PhD. After the PhD, there can be concerns around losing this sense of impact and fulfilment. This post discusses how to continue having impact after your PhD, whether you stay in academia or not.

The significance of social mobility.

Social mobility in your career pertains to obtaining new and exciting opportunities. Identifying your transferable skills is key to getting the ball rolling as it will help breed new opportunities and move you towards a career that is right and fulfilling to you.

Picking the ‘wrong’ career after your PhD.

Picking the wrong career after your PhD is a common worry. However, we overestimate how important this decision is. Getting it wrong isn’t the end of the world and there’s plenty of positives to take from it.

Reaching your full potential, but not in academia.

Reaching your full potential is the end goal. This post provides an alternative perspective on how academia interferes with this journey and prevents you from becoming your best self.

Setting your post-PhD salary goals.

Working out what salary you deserve and should be aiming for after your PhD is difficult. This post breaks down how to approach setting your post-PhD salary goals in order to build a life you will be satisfied with.

Career options for non-STEM PhDs.

Transitioning from a PhD to industry is hard enough as it is. This can feel ten times harder if your PhD is in a non-STEM subject. This post discusses how career change away from academia, and really optimise the value of your non-STEM PhD.

Having a growth mindset whilst job hunting.

Adopting a fixed mindset, believing that you cannot change or that you will always be a researcher can harm your job prospects. A growth mindset allows you to think about ways to overcome your obstacles, challenge the norm, and move towards the life you want to live.

Adjusting to a 9-5 work routine after your PhD.

Adjusting to a 9-5 work routine after your PhD takes a bit of time. After one week into a new job, you may have clearer work boundaries, a better work-life balance, more thinking space and more social interactions.

What is ‘Industry’?

Industry isn’t always an evil entity. It can provide you the perfect breeding ground to excel, thrive, and achieve new heights.

Imposter syndrome during and after your PhD.

The challenges and solutions to dealing with imposter syndrome during and after your PhD.

A Post-Doc: Reasons why you shouldn’t do one after your PhD.

Post-doc positions are often seen as the next best step, this post begs to differ.

Should I leave academia?

Leaving academia shouldn’t be taboo, shouldn’t be a trade-off from doing what you love, and it most certainly is not a definitive choice which you can’t go back on. These obstacles shouldn’t influence your decision when trying to work out if academia is right for you.

What is the value of a PhD?

What does it actually mean to have a PhD and why does it matter?

The mindset for leaving academia.

Before leaving academia, career changing and entering industry, it’s vital to get your head in the right frame of mind. Re-defining your identity and working through any shame for leaving academia is needed in order to move forward.

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