Graduate students who consider leaving academe are often overwhelmed by the number of options available to them, and confused about what it is they might be interested in. In addition to
individual counseling, OCS also offers additional
special programs on leaving academe to help you sort through these possibilities. For updates regarding programming both at Harvard and at MIT, subscribe to the GSAS Nonacademic Career Information List-serv
gsas_listservs.htm.
Below are some additional resources to help you sort out what others in your field have gone to do outside the Ivory Tower, and how you might go about navigating your own career transition.
FOR HUMANISTS AND SOCIAL SCIENTISTS
FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS
GENERAL RESOURCES
Developed at Harvard Business School, CareerLeader is an on-line program designed to help you assess your aptitude and interest in a wide range of business careers. This tool is recommended for students who know they want a career in business, but are unsure about their best fit with regard to industry or functional area. Harvard students and alumni may access this program for a discounted fee; contact Laura Malisheski
(
malishes@fas.harvard.edu) for details.
The Chronicle offers a variety of
articles
in its archives on the topic of leaving academe, as well as links to a number of sources on
exploring alternative careers.
Downloadable booklet for Ph.D.'s in all disciplines -- career planning & job hunting strategies from scientist/author Dr. Peter Fiske.
RESOURCES FOR HUMANISTS AND SOCIAL SCIENTISTS
Created specifically for historians, this site contains a great deal of information on nonacademic opportunities, advice, and resources relevant to other humanists and social scientists.
Offers a broad array of ideas for art historians to apply their skills outside academe.
Articles from APAonline describing and showcasing a variety of nonacademic careers for psychologists. Also see
Interesting Careers in Psychology
Produced by an English Literature PhD now working in the software industry, this site feature Career FAQ's about working outside academe, and an extensive list of related books and articles.
This site explores the negative reception the PhD in some quarters, suggests why, and suggests ways to minimize such reactions.
WRK4US is an unmoderated email discussion list on nonacademic careers for PhD-level humanists and social scientists. Be sure to explore the extensive “Guest Speaker Discussions” for in depth transcripts of online conversations with outside speakers on particular career areas. Subscribe to the listserv to join discussions and learn about upcoming guest speakers.
by Susan Basalla and Maggie Debelius. Written by two English Ph.D.'s, this humorous and insightful guide is a must-read for graduate students and Ph.D.'s of all disciplines who are considering post-academic careers.
Outside the Ivory Tower: A Guide for Academics Considering Alternative Careers
by Margaret L Newhouse. Written specifically for Harvard graduate students and Ph.D.'s, this book will guide you through the four stages of career development: self-assessment, career exploration, reality testing, and job search strategies. It also includes sample resumes, cover letters, and other job search correspondence. Available in the OCS Reading Room.
RESOURCES FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS
General resource for women in the sciences. Includes opportunities for networking as well as information on scholarships and jobs.
A great place to begin researching the biotech and pharmaceutical industries with up-to-date industry news and analysis, as well as a career center with a searchable job database and career advice from industry leaders.
Full text of this book produced by the National Academy of Sciences.
A comprehensive compilation of career fields and links related to the environment. Maintained by the Yale School of Forestry.
A networking group dedicated to enhancing careers of women in biotech, pharmaceuticals, and related career fields.
Dedicated to the non-academic employment process. Includes profiles of mathematicians in industry and in government.
An enormous collection of articles mostly geared toward PhD-level scientists and engineers.
This site covers the gamet of career issues for scientists, including grant-writing, academic career advice, career transitions, diversity and work life issues, and much more. Check out the index of recent first-person
articles on a variety of nonacademic careers, and the
Tooling Up columns by Peter Fiske and Dave Jensen, a must-read for scientists preparing for the nonacademic job search.
Use this job search service sponsored by New Scientist Magazine to search for industry, government, and academic jobs in biological and chemical fields, in the US and internationally.
by Peter S. Fiske. Available in the Reading Room at OCS.
by Cynthia Robbins-Roth. Available in the Reading Room at OCS.
by Stephen Rosen and Celia Paul. Available in the Reading Room at OCS.
