No one questions the competitiveness of the academic job market. It's estimated that fewer than half of Ph.D.s will ever get a tenure-track position. Therefore, grads must now, more than ever, consider a broad range of careers outside academia. While the academic job market is daunting and limited, the range of alternatives can be attractive and satisfying according to the four successful Ph.D. graduates who spoke on an alternative careers panel late last month organized by GSAS Career Services. The panelists spoke about their decisions to follow a non-academic career path, how they found their current position, and what soon-to-be Ph.D.s can do as they look for a job. They all spoke about the importance of networking, going on informational interviews, securing internships, and creating a compelling resume that shows how you added value in your work. Please see below for more advice from each of the panelists.


Joshua Cracraft
Ph.D., History, Brandeis University (expected 2013)
Current Position: Director of Strategy and Operations, The Tobin Project
Mr. Cracraft oversees The Tobin Project's day-to-day operations and its longer-term strategic objectives and positioning.

“Identify your “career values”—characteristics that you most value in your work such as a flexible schedule, a particular office location, stability, prestige, group or independent work, etc. (you can Google “career values” to come up with others). Select your top five and then look for a job that would support those values. Go on as many informational interviews as you can. But remember, the first rule during these interviews is not to ask for a job! Be sure to have prepared an "elevator speech" explaining why you've decided not to go into academia. Keep the speech positive; don't reflect on the pitfalls of academia, but rather why the skills and interests you developed during school are well suited for life outside the ivory tower."

Mary Jo Larson
Ph.D., Brandeis University
Current Position: Senior Scientist, Heller School
Dr. Larson specializes in access to and quality and cost of care delivered in mental health and substance abuse service systems.

“Prepare yourself for a life of work—not just a single job. You will most likely have several jobs throughout your career including short-term contract positions. Prepare to be an entrepreneur. Think about how your next project could prepare you for the one after that. Rather than thinking about networking, think about how to build and maintain authentic relationships with people who have similiar interests related to the work you like to do. When possible, develop a track record of generating your own salary either through fundraising or grant writing. Those skills will make you all the more attractive to future employers.”

John Fox
Ph.D., Anthropology, Harvard University
Current position: Director of Content, athenahealth, Inc. and Freelance Author
Dr. Fox works in communications at athenahealth, a company offering cloud-based technology services to medical groups. He is also a published author who has contributed commentary to Vermont Public Radio, written for Smithsonian, Outside, and Salon, among other publications. He is the author of Around the World with a Million Kids: Adventures of an Online Explorer.

“Your skill set can be applied to lots of different sectors. Job seeking is a discovery process; be open to all possibilities. When speaking to others, such as during a job interview, be prepared to provide a self-narrative (i.e., the story of you academic and professional career). How has your past experience qualified you for the jobs to which you are applying? What from your past sparked your current interest in a particular profession? Make the connections that might not be obvious to your audience. Wherever you apply for a job, be sure you speak the language of that workplace and demonstrate how you could deliver results. Remember that you shouldn’t expect to start at the top; one job often serves as a stepping stone to another exciting opportunity."

Judith Rosenbaum
Ph.D., American Civilization, Brown University
Current Position: Director of Public History, Jewish Women’s Archive
Dr. Rosenbaum develops and directs Jewish Women’s Archive’s major educational projects, including Living the Legacy, MyBatMitzvahStory.org, and the National Institutes for Educators.

“Determine what values and passions initially attracted you to academia, what parts you’ve enjoyed about it most, and which skills you’ve excelled at (e.g., research, writing, teaching, project management, etc.) These interests and skills are likely to translate to many different fields. Target workplaces that have hired Ph.D.s or that seem to really value the degree. Many doctoral students are used to working alone in archives and libraries; be sure to keep up your networking skills by talking to friends, colleagues, and others."