#PhDoptions #Careeradvice #STEM #DataScience #Consulting #ScienceCommunication
Feeling lost and unsure of your career options after investing a significant chunk of your life into obtaining a PhD in a specialized field is a daunting experience. But fear not, there are still plenty of viable paths available to someone in your shoes. Let’s discuss the options you’ve considered and explore some additional potential career paths that could align with your skills and interests.
##Data Science/Data Analysis
– This field is booming and there is a high demand for professionals with a strong analytical mindset.
– Consider enrolling in online courses or workshops to brush up on your math and data analysis skills.
– Seek out internships or volunteer opportunities to gain practical experience and bolster your resume.
– Start building a portfolio showcasing your data analysis projects to demonstrate your capabilities to potential employers.
##Consulting
– Consulting firms often seek out individuals with STEM backgrounds for their problem-solving abilities and analytical thinking.
– Leverage your multilingualism and presentation skills as a unique selling point to stand out from other candidates.
– Network with professionals in the consulting industry to gain insights and potentially secure mentorship opportunities.
##Science Communication
– Your experience with conference talks and publications can serve as a strong foundation for a career in science communication.
– Look into pursuing additional training or certifications in communication and language skills to enhance your prospects.
– Explore opportunities with organizations dedicated to science outreach and education to gain hands-on experience in the field.
###Additional Career Paths to Consider
###Technical Writing
– Leverage your strong communication skills and background in academia to transition into technical writing roles.
– Seek out freelance writing opportunities or contribute to industry publications to gain experience and build your portfolio.
###Project Management
– Your experience with research and academic projects could translate well into project management roles.
– Look into obtaining project management certifications to bolster your qualifications and demonstrate your commitment to the field.
###Academic Advising
– Leverage your own experience navigating the academic world to assist and guide students in their academic and career pursuits.
– Research opportunities at educational institutions or academic support organizations for roles in student advising.
###Language and Translation Services
– Your multi-lingual proficiency can open doors to opportunities in language and translation services, particularly in specialized fields such as science and technology.
– Consider offering freelance translation services or seeking employment with organizations that require multilingual expertise.
##Positioning Yourself in the Job Market
– When crafting your resume and cover letter, emphasize the transferable skills and experiences gained throughout your academic journey.
– Address any concerns about being overqualified for entry-level positions by highlighting your willingness to learn and adapt to new environments.
– Leverage your publications, presentations, and language skills as unique selling points that differentiate you from other candidates.
In conclusion, while it’s understandable to feel overwhelmed and uncertain about your career prospects, there are numerous paths available to individuals with a PhD in a so-called “useless” field. By tapping into your existing skills, seeking out additional training and experience, and positioning yourself strategically in the job market, you can carve out a fulfilling and rewarding career path. Remember, your journey doesn’t end with your PhD—it’s merely a stepping stone to the next phase of your professional life. Wishing you the best of luck in your endeavors! 🌟
First option is obviously education/academia. I’m also in stem (biology) but I despised teaching school but I did enjoy being an adjunct to college kids. Either way, you know what you like.
Second and very good temporary option is being a physics expert AI trainer. I thought it was a scam until I passed the test and started working. It’s the best option for me since I’m unemployed but I know eventually I’ll need to transition to something else. Still, very good side hustle especially since they’re looking for people with graduate degrees.
Third option is anything remotely related to the engineering world. It doesn’t have to be lab work or engineering work because frankly, lab work is generally shit although it’s a good way to have a foot in the door. Put your imposter syndrome aside and apply everywhere. Search for “physics degree” in the job title and apply away to anything. Once your foot is in the door into the industry, you move where you like.
Well honestly you’re kind of screwed if you don’t want to work in academia. People are going to see the PhD on your CV and assume you are going to be asking for too much money or will leave when you find a better position. It’s almost better to omit it depending on what you are applying for. Are you open to teaching at the undergraduate level or below? Maybe you can get a consulting job?
really doable to get a CS job if you know how to code. I’m a software dev and the coolest jobs are always reserved for people with a physics/math background. like working on the core engine in videogames or working on the simulation code in a product that runs real-world simulations
>I can’t become software developer, because my programming skills are very limited and IT is oversaturated anyway
I mean, you can learn if you’re interested, it isn’t hard. And IT is a completely different field than software development
You’re 30 years old, have no work experience, and have niche skills that most organizations don’t really value, *except* for the most prestigious employers like McKinsey, Bain, BCG, etc. I don’t think you’re in a position to choose between a “fulfilling” job and a “corporate soulless job.”
Your university likely has connections to people at those top consulting employers, who would actually value what you have to offer (sheer brainpower and academic smarts). Yes, it’s not as easy as interviewing with random employers, but it should be much easier than doing theoretical physics and pushing through a dissertation.
Best of luck. We need people with your smarts working on valuable shit. If that is consulting, then so be it.
Data science and data analysis is good but truthfully most of the projects often get abandoned because of poor planning and lack of understanding in management. Also I believe most data scientists are programmers who know a bit of maths and some stats.
Knowing physics can be helpful in many jobs that involve things like lasers, electromagnetics or some physics for basic day to day things like MRIs. So any work that involves developing or maintaining any physics based equipment is actually a very stable career. I know few of my basic science phd friends who work for companies like KLA or Intel. Mainly working system analysis / design and experiments on these gizmos.
Science communication: Its probably a good career but I think there are very few opportunities.
Another option is to look at non academic university jobs. They have lot positions for lab management to managing curriculum for student activities.
You have loads of options and quant field is a lucrative option for those with a PhD
If you are interested in aerospace and can code (don’t need to be an expert in algorithms and data structures, but don’t write crappy inefficient code either), they would also welcome your physics background to deal with things like flight control models/laws, aerodynamics and lift, auto throttle control laws, temperature compensation for cold day or hot day takeoff and landing, etc.
Or if you go back to college, you can look into what classes are needed for aerodynamics modeling or stress/fatigue of airframes.
PhD in physics is a worthless degree?? What are you smoking hahaha. You have so many options even with limited coding skills like software, finance, energy industry and much much more
You’re 30. I pray that you have a husband and children.
Career wise, you’re way behind. If you have a family, stay home and look after the house, the children, and your husband. If you don’t have a family, start your own business, as that’s the only way to catch up, and find a husband and start a family before all your eggs dry up.
I really admire you for having a phd as the path of least resistance. When you start looking for jobs, your degree will be a boon. People generally like having smart employees for important roles. And most stuff is easy for someone who’s gone through even a semi serious master program. I think you’ll discover large companies will wamt you.
Could look into medical device OEMs, large defense contractors, or aerospace.
Or you could get into finance.
Your biggest short coming is your lack of confidence. This is what you need to overcome. Not any technical short comings.
You don’t have any engineering skills and your math skills are rusty?? You’re insane. Let me put some things in perspective for you.
I’m an engineer and have worked in consulting for a little while now. The most complicated math I’ve ever done professionally is division.
If you understand basic logic and low level calculus you’ve essentially got all the credentials of an undergraduate engineer.
I’m terms of data analysis I’m not as familiar with that industry but you’ve read tons of technical papers riddled with data and published a few yourself. Also your field is fucking theoretical physics not women’s studies. I’m guessing it’s pretty technically dense and the concepts in data science are going to be very easy for you to pick up.
I’m a bit all over the place here but honestly my blood is boiling reading your post. You’re a fucking phd holding theoretical physicist for Christ sake!!!! I’m barely smart enough to rub two sticks together and I have more professional confidence than you.
I did consulting with a smaller company that did validation mostly for pharma. It was a nice way to get into the industry. I do nothing with my PhD at the moment. I’m a packaging engineer (I’m not an engineer).
All jobs realistically are going to train you.
Just throwing this idea out there – a librarian at an academic library. They usually have librarian positions that focus on specific subjects, like physics or sciences in general, where the librarian has an advanced degree in the subject area + knows the field. To be a librarian in the U.S., you generally need a master’s in library science, so it would mean more education for you — although I can’t speak for countries outside of the u.s. This type of work may involve helping others with research, teaching them to use library resources, communicating with the sciences faculty & students and knowing how to “speak their language”, buying new materials in that subject area (requires knowledge of the field).
Try Microsoft, Google and IBM for entry level jobs in quantum computing.
Between the 10+ yrs time of your BSc and getting your PhD, what was your life/career goal? You must’ve had one to make the decision to spend nearly half you life to books and tuition debt?
Fact is, most jobs do not need to be higher than a BA/BSc and you are going to be competing with all the 20-somethings with the latest skillsets. I would not advertise a PhD on your resume unless it specifically requires it. You will do yourself a HUGE disfavor. Any Hiring Manager will figure out roughly your age and how many yrs in school you had compared to the younger hungry job seekers and certainly a MSc and PhD will not add more pay. You will be considered over qualified and worse under appreciated.
Pretend you never held a M/PhD on your resume and just list your BSc, with NO mention of dates to be on an even playing field. This is not lying and only concealment of information when the time comes to expose it when needed.
My friend has a PhD in Physics and had no experience and got an entry level data science job. That was about 7 years ago and now he is thriving as a data science manager at a large insurance company.
Learn to code
I think you’re deluded by the exceptional greatness of those around you into thinking you’re mediocre. You have a freakin PhD. You’re a huge fish in a big pond surrounded by fish that are gargantuan.
You have a PhD in theoretical physics! For god sake give yourself some credit! Come to data science, we need people like you!
I know it’s unfortunate that employer wants someone with all the skills they look for. But there are managers who look for your ability to learn a thing and research and contribute! I know it because I used to hire people.
Finance. Lots of places like physics phds for the quant side. It might not be fulfilling, but that’s what the moneys for!
i mean, you have a phd in theoretical physics. you’re pretty fucking smart
just flip it into a data science job and watch the money flow in
IT is not oversaturated
You have probably got imposter syndrome due to being the least smart person in a group of geniuses in the theoretical physics department. You have lots of options available to you. Get your academic mentors to suggest some.
Look into quantitative finance, particularly research. They generally want people with PhDs in maths/physics. It’s a field with very few woman in it and trying to go into it, so as long as you have the requisite skills (which you certainly do with your qualifications) that will be looked at favourably
find a good husband
Your PhD also included a lot of complex project management and (maybe) grant-writing. These are excellent skills for an administrative support role. Your degrees show you have a strong work ethic and that you finish what you start, even if the project doesn’t turn out how you want it or if you lose interest. This demonstrates your high-quality potential to be an excellent team member to support and manage complex projects in other contexts.
You may need to get an entry-level job first to build experience outside of academia, but don’t sell yourself short. You have a lot of marketable skills and will make a great candidate for lots of different white-collar jobs. There are engineering & construction firms that serve the theoretical physics industry that could probably use some admin support from someone who has first-hand experience as someone who has used their products directly.
Just start throwing your CV/Resumé out there, you’ll start to get an idea of where you get interest and where you might need to build skills.
If you have a PHD you can probably go into academics or research.
Going into the corporate world with graduate degrees is an ego check because they do not care, actually it even turns them off from you. It will work out in the long run though.
I refuse to belive you can get a phd while not “being the brigtest”.
OK – so you not Steven Hawking or Richard Feynmann.
Few are. And I think a PHD in physics can land you a gig almost anywhere in the tech sector.
If you have a PhD in physics you can get some super high paying jobs. You need to do your research.
Data science is great if you can make it work.
Patent examiner is a job you could consider, if you don’t mind writing.
You are way under selling management consulting as a career. I actually think the type of person who gets a Ph.D will generally enjoy consulting a good bit.