Careers Outside of Academia
(Non-Academic / Industry)
A career in academia is an option for some, but it is not for everyone. In fact, many career options exist in industry, government and non-profit industries for master's and Ph.D students. These are called careers outside of academia.
Graduate Student Myths
Myth #1: "I don't have any skills outside of academia"
- Verbal Communication
- Non-Verbal Communication
- Written Communication
- Training/Consulting Skills
- Analytical Skills
- Research Skills
- Counseling and Serving Skills
- Leadership
- Interpersonal Skills
- Management
- Financial
- Creative and Innovating skills
- Administrative
- Constructing and Operating Skills
TRUTH: You have gained many valuable transferable skills
These are skills you possess regardless of where and when you acquired them, and are transferable to any job. You could have gained these skills through previous jobs, class projects, research, volunteer work, hobbies, clubs, committees and student organizations.
Transferrable skills:
Explore your transferable skills on your own, or request a Career Planning Appointment to discuss and review your transferable skills.
Myth #2: "No one will hire me with so little work experience"
- Strong communicators
- Comfortable in cross-cultural settings
- Adept at organizing and assimilating information
- Strong analytical reasoning skills
- Mature & original thinkers
- Complex problem solvers
- Independently motivated
- Experts in their fields
- Research & information management
- Project management & organization
- Interpersonal & leadership skills
- Analysis & problem solving skills
- Written & oral communication skills
- Time-management
TRUTH: You already have gained valuable experience
However, while employers are hiring master's and Ph.D students, you need to learn to speak their language.
Remember, academics are:
Common graduate student skills:
Employers value your content knowledge and your transferable skills, but you must highlight your experience and translate them into language employers recognize.
Myth #3: "I'm over qualified," "it's impossible to get a job" or "No idea where to work"
TRUTH: You are not over-qualified and you can find work at plenty of places
Master's and Ph.Ds find work in a wide variety of settings and fields. If you need help figuring out where to start review Exploring Majors & Careers.
You have likely developed many skills in graduate school, now you get to decide how to apply them to work. Recall experiences you enjoyed most, the types of work you find yourself attracted to and the activities you find yourself avoiding.
Speaking with professionals already working in an area you are interested in, can be a powerful tool. Review the networking section below, the "What Can I do with a Graduate Degree" and "Sample Job Titles" documents in the Graduate Students Resources page.
Myth #4: "I can't talk to my advisor, they want me to work in Academia"
TRUTH: You are not the first student to explore careers outside of academia
When speaking with your advisor, be honest. Rather than leading them on or "drop a bombshell" just before you graduate, test the waters, by asking around your department and talking with your advisor. Try to find out if others have sought jobs outside of academia recently. Furthermore, you might want to see if your advisor is connected to anyone in industry or if they know of anyone doing consulting work. Remember, you have multiple mentors, including professors, faculty, and staff here to support you.
Our Career Planning services can offer you a safe place to speak about your job search. Appointments are confidential and you can discuss your career plans with one of our trained Career Planning staff.
Networking
Networking is about building positive relationships with others in your field of interest and plays a pivotal role in professional development. Remember networking is intentional, so you need to do more than simply show up at conferences.
Networking can work for you:
- UF Alumni Association
- UF Student Organizations
- Professional organizations
- Affinity groups (National Black MBA Association; National Association of Women Business Owners)
- Networking Tips
- Information Interview
Networking leads to contacts for professional development, career planning and strategy, professional and personal encouragement and access and visibility in your field.
It is not just about who you know, but also who does your network know? Start by cultivating your personal network, and by reviewing the networking tips and informational interview basics. Resources to get you started include:
Job search outside of academia
A wide variety of jobs are available to master's and Ph.D students. Further, you have no standard formula when searching for a job. We here to help you search for a job outside of academia.
Non-academic job search strategies:
General Job Search Sites:
These sites reach a wide audience, with frequent updates. However, they can be difficult to navigate and to separate your resume from the pack. Set an automatic alert with these general job search sites to speed up the process.
Industry-Specific Job Boards:
These sites reach a smaller targeted audience. They provide good resources but usually with less frequent postings. You can learn more about where to find these boards by asking those in your field.
Gator CareerLink Job Search Database:
GCL contains internship and full-time opportunities with employers looking to recruit UF students.
Company Sites:
Many companies have job postings directly on their sites. You can use online company directories to locate employers and visit our Researching Employers page for further information.
Professional Associations:
Join focused groups in your field or industry for industry information, networking and job postings. Many professional associations have lower student fees to join.
Network:
80% of jobs are never advertised but found through networking. Join networking groups and websites. Expand your network to gain information about your industry and locate job leads.
Review the "Job search resources: outside of academia" document at our Resources page.
Internships, fellowships, post-doctoral research
Many companies have internships and experiences targeted to graduate students. Take advantage of internship to gain experience in new companies and industries. In addition, Ph.Ds can pursue Post-Doc opportunities designed to give you valuable experience.
Examples of graduate internships:
Application materials for non-academic positions
Resume:
Most jobs outside of academia will require a 1-page resume, although in some cases a 2-page resume is acceptable if you have extensive job experience relevant to the position.
Standard resume rules remain for graduate students. Include research and publications only if they directly relate to the job you are applying for.
Special considerations for graduate students:
- Include your thesis / dissertation title when it directly relates to the position you are applying
- Describe your work as not everyone will be familiar with your field
- Highlight your experiences by describing the transferable skills gained
Review the "Job search resources: outside of academia" document at our Resources page.
Cover letters:
Cover letters always accompany your resume when applying for positions. The purpose of the cover letter is to introduce yourself and your work and persuade the reviewer to read your resume and the rest of your application materials.
Review the "Job search resources: outside of academia" document at our Resources page.
Non-academic interview:
Visit our Interviewing page for further details on preparing for industry and non-academic interviews.
Also, to ensure your interviews go smoothly, take advantage of mock interviewing services.
