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Next Gen PhD: A Guide to Career Paths in Science
For decades, top scientists in colleges and universities pursued a clear path to success: enroll in a prestigious graduate program, conduct research, publish papers, complete the PhD, pursue postdoctoral work. With perseverance and a bit of luck, a tenure-track professorship awaited at the end. In today's academic job market, this scenario represents the exception. As the number of newly conferred science PhDs keeps rising, the number of tenured professorships remains stubbornly stagnant. Only 14 percent of those with PhDs in science occupy tenure-track positions five years after completing their degree.
Next Gen PhD provides a frank and up-to-date assessment of the current career landscape facing science PhDs. Nonfaculty careers once considered Plan B are now preferred by the majority of degree holders, says Melanie Sinche. An upper-level science degree is a prized asset in the eyes of many employers, and a majority of science PhDs build rewarding careers both inside and outside the university. A certified career counselor with extensive experience working with graduate students and postdocs, Sinche offers step-by-step guidance through the career development process: identifying personal strengths and interests, building work experience and effective networks, assembling job applications, and learning tactics for interviewing and negotiating--all the essentials for making a successful career transition.
Sinche profiles science PhDs across a wide range of disciplines who share proven strategies for landing the right occupation. Current graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, mentors, and students considering doctoral and postdoctoral training in the sciences will find Next Gen PhD an empowering resource.
Next Gen PhD provides a frank and up-to-date assessment of the current career landscape facing science PhDs. Nonfaculty careers once considered Plan B are now preferred by the majority of degree holders, says Melanie Sinche. An upper-level science degree is a prized asset in the eyes of many employers, and a majority of science PhDs build rewarding careers both inside and outside the university. A certified career counselor with extensive experience working with graduate students and postdocs, Sinche offers step-by-step guidance through the career development process: identifying personal strengths and interests, building work experience and effective networks, assembling job applications, and learning tactics for interviewing and negotiating--all the essentials for making a successful career transition.
Sinche profiles science PhDs across a wide range of disciplines who share proven strategies for landing the right occupation. Current graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, mentors, and students considering doctoral and postdoctoral training in the sciences will find Next Gen PhD an empowering resource.
272 pages, Hardcover
Published August 22, 2016
53 people are currently reading
298 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 3, 2017
I had the privilege of hearing the author give a talk on her book when it came out: she spent over a year collecting surveys and doing research for the data presented. Her goal was to debunk myths and questions: 1) Where do PhDs end up? 2) Are they happy? 3) What do they need to do to get there? All of it is backed up by her surveys, and she offers a lot of practical advice on how to find these careers.
She's an experienced career counselor, so she offers assessments in the first three chapters for interests, skills, and values. At the talk, she said that career theory has 4 steps: I think they were assessment, exploration of careers, determining career fit (based on the first 2 steps), and then job search. She stressed that the more time you spent on step 1, the more likely you would be happy at your job. She said if you must skip assessment, at the very least do the chapter on values!
I had never thought about searching for a career with these steps, so it was very enlightening for me. I was also happy to see actual data on where people end up.
She's an experienced career counselor, so she offers assessments in the first three chapters for interests, skills, and values. At the talk, she said that career theory has 4 steps: I think they were assessment, exploration of careers, determining career fit (based on the first 2 steps), and then job search. She stressed that the more time you spent on step 1, the more likely you would be happy at your job. She said if you must skip assessment, at the very least do the chapter on values!
I had never thought about searching for a career with these steps, so it was very enlightening for me. I was also happy to see actual data on where people end up.
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April 28, 2024Not gonna rate this cuz i am officially NOT doing a phd. Good to narrow my career path tho so im glad. I might volunteer to teach kids (omsi?) to cross off education too cuz that has always been in the back of my mind.
But had some good career dev/networking/job search/interview/negotiation info which i am keeping for future reference. :>
But had some good career dev/networking/job search/interview/negotiation info which i am keeping for future reference. :>
July 16, 2024
This is one of the books I wish I had read before entering to the PhD. It contains useful advice and it is oriented more towards careers available in North America, but I think the general principles can be applied anywhere.
October 19, 2024
Next Gen-PhD is a career counselling book for PhD students who are unsure about the next steps of their career. What I find most surprising is that there are students who have reached the doctoral level and are still unsure about what they aim to achieve in life. My question is how someone can go through more than 8 years of schooling without ever questioning themselves on what they aim to achieve or where they want to work in.
But the reality of the matter is that the academic system has been made to accommodate the transition from Post-doctoral researcher to tenure-track. The ideal is to then get tenure, become a professor and do research. But this ideal is only in actuality rarely realized for most post-doctoral students.
The number of faculty positions have not increased as much as they should have, and yet the number of PhD students that graduate each year keeps growing.
PhD students cannot reasonably expect to reach tenure-track and this is what this book aims to provide, a realistic guide to a job outside of academia.
It provides all the tools needed, similar to « Field Guide to Grad School », another book written that had a similar objective, only it guided undergraduate students towards graduate school.
The author points to many skills that have to be developed by PhD students if they aim to get a profession outside of academia. She also reassures students that many if not most of the skills PhD students have developed during their academic training are transferable to careers outside of academia. This book guides students who are unsure about their future career well. It provides all the resources and advice they need to find a job and become successful outside of academia, with the greatest emphasis being put on the importance of networking. Networking is the key for creating the connections that will lead towards forming crucial relationships with experts in the domains of your interests.
But the reality of the matter is that the academic system has been made to accommodate the transition from Post-doctoral researcher to tenure-track. The ideal is to then get tenure, become a professor and do research. But this ideal is only in actuality rarely realized for most post-doctoral students.
The number of faculty positions have not increased as much as they should have, and yet the number of PhD students that graduate each year keeps growing.
PhD students cannot reasonably expect to reach tenure-track and this is what this book aims to provide, a realistic guide to a job outside of academia.
It provides all the tools needed, similar to « Field Guide to Grad School », another book written that had a similar objective, only it guided undergraduate students towards graduate school.
The author points to many skills that have to be developed by PhD students if they aim to get a profession outside of academia. She also reassures students that many if not most of the skills PhD students have developed during their academic training are transferable to careers outside of academia. This book guides students who are unsure about their future career well. It provides all the resources and advice they need to find a job and become successful outside of academia, with the greatest emphasis being put on the importance of networking. Networking is the key for creating the connections that will lead towards forming crucial relationships with experts in the domains of your interests.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2019
This is a useful book, especially if you are a PhD student in USA, close to finishing your PhD and looking for various career options. From a literary standpoint, there isn't much merit to this book, as expected. For the most part, the book reads like a set of articles from some blog or website on PhD advice.
October 5, 2022
This book is a great reference if you plan on going for academia or any job in relation to a graduate/PhD degree. It’s hard to find your footing for a PhD and not knowing the steps you need to take to get to your dream job. It had good references and examples on creating a CV, resume, and networking.
March 3, 2017
Highly informative, and well written as well. It is well researched and gives a lot of direction on where to find further help. I plan to return to the book multiple times as I progress through my PhD and into a career.
November 3, 2019
This book is terrific. It has all the advice PhDs and postdocs need all in one place. The list of behavioral interview questions is particularly useful.
July 2, 2022
Every Ph.D student or those looking for post doc should read it.
September 19, 2022
A few helpful points of view for self promotion. Some inspiration. A few good reminders.
I would have hoped to not see something like Myers-Briggs mentioned.
I would have hoped to not see something like Myers-Briggs mentioned.
January 15, 2017
This is a useful resource for PhDs. The author helps a reader to complete various assessments in order to identify the best job fit. There is a section on making a decision to do a postdoc after PhD program with cons and pros. The author points out the importance of building a strong network and gaining information from informational interviews with potential employers.
February 6, 2017
Standard advice but useful nonetheless
Much of the advice seems very standard but the values assessment and methodical methods to research careers serve as a very helpful framework for career exploration.
Much of the advice seems very standard but the values assessment and methodical methods to research careers serve as a very helpful framework for career exploration.
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August 26, 2016502.3 S615 2016
May 29, 2019
If you’re on the job hunt you probably have read many career advice books and Next Gen PhD doesn’t stray far from that format. However, this book is a little different in that it’s backed up by the author’s research. It smoothly guides you through the process from start to finish and with excellent resources. Definitely check it out if you’re in the job market.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews