Look for social sciences alumni working in the following roles: Social Sciences PhDs with strong interpersonal skills may be suited for a career in development. As a science PhD, thats what I was qualified for, right? You need to think about those years as work experience. A single, transformative project can address a specic problem. American Association of University Professors, better to be a researcher outside of academia, Best Of Transition: Ph.D. Jobs & Job Search Strategies July 30, 2022, 4 Oddly Popular PhD Careers In Finance And Business, Best Of Transition: Ph.D. Jobs & Job Search Strategies July 23, 2022, PhD Careers In Clinical, Medical, And Regulatory Affairs, Best Of Transition: Ph.D. Jobs & Job Search Strategies July 16, 2022, 6 Research And Development Roles For PhDs (Not Just Research Scientist), Best Of Transition: Ph.D. Jobs & Job Search Strategies July 9, 2022, 4 Great PhD Careers In Sales And Marketing (Dont Overlook #3), Best Of Transition: Ph.D. Jobs & Job Search Strategies July 2, 2022, 20 Most Popular Industry Career Tracks For PhDs. The websites below are also useful in searching for administrative positions in higher education: Consultants work with clients to provide support around strategic and/or operational issues. Below youll nd a list of a few agencies known to hire PhDs, though there are far more. In this eBook, you will gain insight into the most popular, highest-paying jobs for PhDs all of which will allow you to do meaningful work AND get paid well for it. Here is a list of the top 10 industry positions for social science PhDs. If you love teaching, secondary school teaching is an excellent option. Publishing provides an opportunity to stay involved with scholarship. By meeting other PhDs who are considering alternative careers or who have already made the transition, you will come to appreciate the value of your Social Sciences PhD. The humanities have been particularly affected by this pressure. That said, salaries are generally low. If you still attend academic conferences, propose or organize a panel discussion on job searching for Social Sciences PhDs. Consultants tend to have reasonable work hours and a good salary, depending on the level of experience and size of the company. How do the professionals that you encounter speak about their jobs? More than 100 agencies and bureaus oversee their own hiring and recruitment, and each has its own mission. You may meet some interesting people in the process. Unlike the non-existent job prospects I faced in academia, there were seemingly endless prospects for me in industry. Many PhDs seek out nonprofits as their rst step after graduate school because the culture of these organizations can be particularly PhD-friendly and they often need staff with the skills you have gained in your PhD program for positions in: Nonprofits also attract people who are passionate about particular social and civic issues. In entrepreneurship, its up to you, as the CEO, to make your company profitable. Professionals working in development generally manage donor relations and engage in fundraising campaigns. Campus teaching, writing, and learning centers are growing areas of opportunity for PhDs. This may be because the term, nonprofit suggests that you wouldnt be getting paid. Plus, high school teachers enjoy an especially long vacation time, compared to other industry positions. These positions require strong interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to help others navigate the complex systems of university resources. What can you learn about a companys culture? A nonprofit is also well-suited to PhDs who wish to apply their skills and expertise to working alongside a team of people all reaching towards achieving the same larger goal. These include working for nonprofit organizations, entrepreneurship, working for government or the financial industry, or doing professional research. Depending on the role, you may be asked to travel with senior leadership and represent the university in visits to foundations and potential donors. You may start a project to explore an interest or idea, and build it into a larger enterprise. In recent years, this eld has focused on projects to empower women, build local economies, protect human rights, and care for the environment. Dont underestimate the depth of your strengths and transferable skills, which are highly valued in many industries. Work weeks often exceed 50-60 hours and projects may be due at 9am the day after theyre assigned. But the reality is, your skills are needed in every area of industry. However, the lack of job prospects within academia means that this doesnt happen. They are working full-time without any of the benefits of full-time employment. Common forms of employment at think tanks include analysts who assist the research process by collecting and analyzing data. The writing process is similar across different disciplines and your academic writing skills are transferable to a professional writing position in all areas. You can also explore writing positions, freelancing, high school teaching, and academic and non-academic publishing. You may be familiar with some examples. For example, you might look for positions in a particular industry or eld. What I didnt appreciate, When you envision yourself in an industry role, what do you see? I was especially worried, because social science is often perceived as a soft science. While college counselors often have degrees in counseling, it is not mandatory. So, I made the decision to transition into industry. This industry is ideal for PhDs who want to get away from the hierarchical structure associated with academia. These positions may require skills in quantitative research, qualitative research, or both. Strong written communication skills are essential. By working with talented scholars and editing the latest research papers, you will have endless opportunity to expand your knowledge. Many colleges and universities have multiple offices dedicated to fundraising and connecting with alumni. PhDs who enjoy writing and editing may be well-suited to transitioning into a publishing position. You can develop classroom management skills and gain experience in various ways. Financial positions offer high salaries and high levels of job satisfaction, even at entry levels. Social Sciences PhDs who have ventured in the field of advocacy work as: Social Sciences PhDs working in organizational management oversee the operations of businesses, organizations, and institutions. They are a great t for PhDs in many elds, like history, musicology, literature and cultural studies, and art history and oer a range of opportunities. Research positions are available in think tank organizations, publishing, government agencies, banking, education, and many other industries. These projects may create a niche market or address a social need. These quantitative and qualitative research skills make social science PhDs great candidates to transition into the financial industry. If you enjoy working with undergraduates, consider. Use key words in the industry descriptions below to help you find positions in your field of interest. Please find below a selection of some of the most common career paths for humanities and social science PhDs. Where did I see myself in 5 to 10 years? According to PayScale, the median salary for industry scientists is $77,000 and can be as high as $120,000. Many PhDs often mistakenly think that to do research, they need to remain in academia. Another path is higher education consulting, which is a small but growing industry. You have plenty of experience in industry: the higher education industry. These were people who specialized in very niche areas of science. If youre ready to start your transition into industry, you can apply to book a free Transition Call with our founder Isaiah Hankel, PhD or one of our Transition Specialists. These positions offer comfortable salaries, good work/life balance, as well as strong health insurance and benefits. Second, open-access is changing publication models, especially in the sciences. Salaries in development tend to be competitive, and there are good opportunities for advancement. You may enjoy a variety of assignments and have more control over your work, and you may have a more flexible schedule and the ability to work remotely. Apply to book a Transition Call here. Some educational consultants advise students or parents on high school and college applications. There are multiple career options for social science PhDs outside the ivory tower. Others work as high school college counselors, and help students navigate the application process. Regardless of your field of expertise, government positions offer a variety of options for social science PhDs. Gaining experience and making connections outside your department will help position you for these opportunities once you graduate. Many social science PhDs aim to stay within academia. Newspapers, magazines, and online publications also hire PhDs to write in their areas of expertise. High school teaching may not seem as enticing or lucrative as some teaching positions in academia. Pay is high, but less lucrative than in investment banking. As a seasoned scholar of human behavior, you may be well positioned to enter into a human services career. For once, my future as a social science PhD looked bright. These offices need PhDs to prepare and analyze data about the university and to apply that analysis to institutional problems and issues. Many projects involve solving problems that reflect the unique culture, politics, geography, and economy of a region. Many private and charter schools have writing and tutoring centers. Why consider consulting as a PhD? And, of course, salaries are high. Alternatively, you might focus on particular think tanks or research centers. The term, nonprofit is used to describe an organization where profit is not the main purpose, rather they are committed to a certain goal. Higher education offers many rewarding employment options outside of faculty positions that use the skills you have developed in your humanities or social science PhD program. 19211 Panama City Beach Pkwy #1047 Panama City Beach FL 32413-8712, * By opting in you agree to receiving emails and other messages from us about transitioning into industry. Consultants also have an impact within their companies and get to see results quickly. As one Cheeky Scientist member recently shared: , Like many PhDs, you may think that Research and Development is the only department in industry that hires PhDs. Many academic and non-academic publishing companies look for professional editors and writers with a PhD. There are many ways to learn about the industry and decide whether consulting would be a good t for you. The industry is currently experiencing several changes. Learn how to craft the perfect industry resume to attract employers. See if there are avenues where you could apply your subject matter expertise at an NGO, in a non-profit organization, in government relations or in higher education. Government (local, national, international) and global businesses need professionals who demonstrate cultural competency as well as mediation skills. National Association for Community Mediation, National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation (NCDD), International Association of Facilitators (IAF), International Ombudsman Association (IOA). Columbia Organization of Rising Entrepreneurs (CORE): Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE): Pierre Omidyar, founder of eBay, created a niche when he built a platform for people to buy and sell items online. She is currently transitioning from academia into industry. I was told that industry jobs were unreliable, that industry groups only wanted STEM PhDs, and that there were no jobs in industry for social science PhDs. Newspapers, academic journals, media outlets, and grant-writing organizations are always on the lookout for professional writers. All PhDs, including Social Sciences PhDs, have these essential skills: As you explore your career options, you may be concerned that you do not have real work experience. While these university faculty are only hired on a part-time basis, which tends not to lead to a tenured position, many are still expected to complete a full-time workload. A portfolio of advanced programs that provide specific career training so you can get hired into top PhD jobs. Common topics to write about include foreign policy, security, microeconomic policy and social policy. One area where social science PhDs definitely have an edge over other job candidates is their data analysis, quantitative analysis, and analytical skills. Use your strong research and writing skills in an institutional research department. Many internships are unpaid or low-paid, so it can be helpful to do one over the summer while you are in school or during a semester when youre not teaching. As a social science PhD, you are able to write on a vast array of topics, not just those related to your research field. If you want free insights on resumes, LinkedIn, interviewing, careers and more, just enter your details below. While this page is a good place to start your exploration, it only scratches the surface of the resources available to you. Lastly, you will likely not get benets like paid holidays or vacation, a retirement plan, or insurance. Even full-time faculty members can find themselves on a non-tenure-track. After all, thats what your PhD has trained you for, right? Each of these roles uses the skills you have built during your PhD in different ways. Currently, independent workers represent 30-35% of the US economy. As a social scientist, you have valuable skills that can be applied in a variety of industries. Advocacy work helps others by supporting the cause of communities, groups, and/or individuals. As a PhD, you will likely be familiar with the journals and presses in your discipline. At a nonprofit, you can make a positive impact on behalf of the organizations mission, and that is very rewarding. That said, you will likely be well-trained and work with smart, motivated colleagues. PhDs who enjoy the writing aspect of their degrees may also enjoy becoming professional writers. Universities are hiring more part-time faculty and the length of postdoc assignments is increasing because there are not enough academic tenure-track positions to support PhDs. That means that every single department within a company is seeking PhD-level candidates. This advice can be in areas of management, marketing, human resources, finance, education, and information technologies. There are nonprofit organizations across a number of different areas including healthcare, charities, advocacy groups, and research institutes. With advanced training in the humanities and social sciences, you will nd a wealth of rewarding job options in many elds, including qualitative research, writing and communications, public service, consulting, advising, teaching, publishing, and more. Corporations, governments, and nonprot organizations all hire consultants. If youre interested in this type of work, build a portfolio of writing for general audiences. Which group of individuals or communities did you study in your graduate research? This might include attending information sessions, networking with industry professionals, or researching companies. For social science PhDs who want to have more flexibility surrounding their work situation, freelance positions can be a good industry opportunity. You may be well-suited to this type of position if you enjoy teaching and working directly with students and faculty. Many teachers enjoy the chance to interact with students and the opportunity to develop a curriculum. Teachers get to interact with students in a variety of arenas: classrooms, athletics, theater, student clubs, and class trips. Independent work can be very appealing to recent PhDs accustomed to setting their own schedules in graduate school. Our Training Platforms Individual Subscription, Resources for Graduate Schools and Postdoc Offices, 5 Jobs for History PhDs That Have Nothing to Do with History. Nonprots are funded by foundations, government grants, membership dues, and service fees. This work environment makes a freelancer position particularly well-suited to PhDs who have families and want to spend more time at home. A useful way to nd these and other positions is to do a keyword search on the USA Jobs site. Academic publishing companies print and distribute scholarship in journal, book, or thesis form. According to PhD Career Guide, financial positions offer great opportunities for career progression, which can lead to large salaries of up to $300,000. This stress slowly became too much for me to deal with. A successful entrepreneurship can be a very lucrative career option for social science PhDs. Some conduct impartial research and closely resemble academia. There are also various opportunities to work as an educational consultant. Cheeky Scientist is the world's largest job-search training platform for PhDs. All industry areas are extremely eager to hire PhDs, who they know already have the invaluable research skills needed for the job. There are also a number of organizations that help career-changers become certied quickly. International Development focuses on improving the welfare of a single community or group of communities. Areas of international development can include: A theoretical foundation in policy development and analysis provides excellent career preparation, but isnt always necessary. These roles can be in individual giving, corporate and foundation relations, and alumni affairs, and often involve a significant amount of writing and research. how you collaborated with other researchers and institutions; how you followed ethical research practices; how you gathered, analyzed, and presented your qualitative and/or quantitative data. That said, salaries at nonprofits tend to be lower than in the private sector. Career Exploration for Humanities and Social Science PhDs, Columbia University in the City of New York, Coronavirus Information for GSAS Students, Herc Higher Education Recruitment Consortium, Independent Educational Consultants Association, American Association of Finance & Accounting, Financial Management Association International, National Association of Independent Schools, Association of American University Presses, National Institute for Research Advancements World Directory of Think Tanks, United States Institute of Peace Index of Research Centers in International Relations, United States Agency for International Development. There is no other position with this type of flexibility. These websites will help you learn more about opportunities in the nonprot world: Financial services companies include banks, hedge funds, and trading companies. University budget cuts have reduced library budgets and subsidies to university publishers. For example, you could look for jobs teaching in a summer program run by private schools or you might contact schools for substitute or part-time openings. Entrepreneurs work in business, social enterprise, and on solo projects. And, in the US, the nonprofit sector is the third largest among all industries. As a social scientist, you appreciate the time and effort it takes to understand a new culture or society. You will learn a lot about your values and desires in the process. A series of projects may target several aspects of society at a global level. Charter schools are another good option. Would these perceived opinions mean that funding to social science research would get cut first? With over 1.7 million jobs and over 400 occupational specialties, the federal government is one of the largest employers in the United States. If you are an obsessive organizer or planner and enjoy personnel training or supervision, a career in this job family might be worth investigating. In this eBook for PhDs, you will get access to proven resume templates, learn how to structure your bullet points, and discover which keywords industry employers want to see most on PhD resumes. Advising and support roles are available in student and academic affairs offices. Your PhD, in other words, was a job. But if the thought of spending a life-long career conducting experiments fills you with dread, start looking beyond the bench. One of the biggest perks of teaching high school is that teaching children is highly rewarding. In addition, working in higher education administration will allow you to use your knowledge about higher education in your career, which many who work in this field find rewarding. Begin networking and doing informational interviews during graduate school if you are interested in staying at Columbia in an administrative position. Less and less funding meant more and more intense competition to receive grants. It seemed like there was no way to progress or succeed in academia. Entrepreneurship is an attractive career option for PhDs who want to be their own boss and take control of their career. They also get to experience a sense of making a dierence in students lives. There are endless industry opportunities available to social science PhDs. Given the large amount of reading, writing, and editing required in the social sciences, a position at a publishing house is a great option for social science PhDs. I am CEO of Cheeky Scientist, the world's largest career training platform for PhDs. My advisor kept asking me to do more and more extra work to earn grants that I would not benefit from. Skills in writing, editing, and working well with a team will benefit you in this field. PhDs dont often consider government positions to be a viable career option. There are also many positions outside the classroom in secondary education. Unfortunately, not all professional associations have made proactive efforts to find solutions to the shortage of tenure-track positions in their respective fields. You can learn to write an excellent resume and cover letter. A portfolio of scientific training programs so you can advance your technical expertise and career development. Consultancy positions offer vast opportunities for career advancement, from entry level positions, all the way to CEO positions. Unlike public schools, they do not require a teaching certication. As a Social Sciences PhD, your area of specialization may have some direct applications in other industries. Publishing positions also allow you to stay connected to current research discoveries. These companies publish materials for secondary schools, colleges and universities, and training programs. According to PayScale, median salaries for nonprofits range from $50,000 to $63,000. The finance sector offers a broad range of specializations including, but not limited to, insurance, actuary jobs, and investment banking. For example, if you had to apply for and obtain approval to conduct research with human subjects from your universitys Institutional Review Board, list all of the steps and elements involved. They often work 60 to 80 hours a week. Beyond that, I hadnt thoroughly considered my options. What job did I want? For instance. Most academic presses believe that PhDs long commitment to scholarship makes them better editors. She is passionate about educating the public about the importance of sleep and the effects of sleep loss and disruption on general health and wellbeing to increase quality of life and work productivity. As a freelancer, you can choose what type of job you want, who you work for, where you work, and when you work. A large proportion of TFA corps members come from graduate school or another job before joining. But dont limit yourself to the area of your PhD. Independent and freelance work is increasingly common across many industries. However, there are endless industry opportunities available to social science PhDs outside of academia. In no uncertain terms, I was told that moving to industry meant I was selling out. Companies that publish trade books, consumer magazines, and many online outlets typically target a more general readership and are usuallybut not alwaysfor-prot companies. All Rights Reserved. But, funding kept getting more competitive. Successful entrepreneurs are able to innovate, tolerate uncertainty, and bounce back from failure. Freelancers control their own salaries, as you determine how often you work and how much to charge for the services you provide. As always, it comes down to your transferable skills. Like many PhDs, you might imagine yourself in a research position where you are developing and performing experiments, analyzing data, presenting the data to your research team, and so on. Make sure to ask about state or national licensing requirements when you conduct informational interviews. Consulting rms can have a specic industry focus, such as education, or serve a variety of industries. Most international development organizations are nonprofits and classified as nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and offer opportunities both at an organizations headquarters and in the eld. Additionally, industry researchers are often rewarded, not penalized, for showing initiative and acting as leaders. PhDs, and in particular social science PhDs, are required to do a lot of writing during their degree. Our flagship program with 8,000+ PhDs will help you get hired into the best career for your unique situation and background. You might find out that you could happily fit in. I started to think about alternative careers outside of academia. Many social science PhDs are required to work with large data sets while earning their degrees. As a PhD, you can learn anything. These companies often seek candidates with the kinds of skills acquired in quantitative social science fields, like advanced quantitative research and programming skills, and mastery of statistics, stochastic calculus, and experience working with large data sets. But, if you dont know what types of jobs are out there, you wont be able to successfully transition into industry. You could also use skills gained from your PhD as a Central Intelligence Agency analyst or a researcher for the Government Accountability Office. It felt like watching animals around a drying watering hole. To be a successful freelancer, you will need to have excellent management skills, organizational skills, and have a self-starting mentality. Listen carefully and take notes. While you may think that professional writers are just people who write books, there are writing positions available across a wide range of areas. We encourage you toschedule an appointmentto speak with a GSAS Compass career advisor regardless of where you are in your career decision-making process. As a consultant, you will engage in stimulating projects and work with highly motivated colleagues. Consultants may conduct detailed industry analyses, benchmark comparable organizations, or devise strategic initiatives. Another option within the nance industry is commercial banking. It was literally a survival of the fittest situation. You may work with undergraduates on their writing or study skills, or help advanced degree students to improve their teaching skills. The supportive environments, structured promotion systems, and higher pay are just a few reasons its better to be a researcher outside of academia. Steve Mariotti, a former business entrepreneur and a public school teacher, started a foundation to teach entrepreneurial concepts to low-income youth. Are you a fan of public policy or feel passionate about helping underserved and vulnerable populations? Positions in this job group include: Social scientists interested in human resources roles should look at positions in a variety of sectors, including government, nonprofit, K-12, and higher education. When libraries cannot afford to buy monographs, presses are less able to publish them. For more information on this career option, reach out to alumni working in roles such as: The list provided here is by no means exhaustive. So, I resigned myself to staying in academia and hoped this was just a phase. Your higher education experience as well as research, writing, and advising skills are valued in this eld. Learn about the top 20 industry careers for PhDs (regardless of your academic background).
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