Completing a PhD is a major achievement, but what comes next? After three or more years of research, it can be daunting to think about your next career move. The job market is competitive, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. However, your doctoral training has equipped you with a broad suite of transferable skills. These include not only teaching and research, but also professional skills, and soft skills that are highly valued by employers across many industries.
This guide outlines key transferable skills from a PhD and explores career options, including academic paths, industry roles, government positions, and more.
Transferable Skills from a PhD
Communication
- Writing (proposals, reports, publications)
- Oral communication (presenting, public speaking)
- Creating and presenting ideas (conferences, teaching, stakeholder engagement)
- Negotiation (funding bids, collaborations)
Project Management
- Project planning and coordination
- Financial management (budgeting, grant management)
- Recruitment and supervision (e.g. research assistants, students)
- Marketing and outreach
- Time management and meeting deadlines
Research & Analytical Skills
- Data collection, management, statistical analysis, coding
- Critical thinking and evaluation
- Problem solving and troubleshooting
- Qualitative and quantitative analysis
- Literature review and synthesis
Creativity & Innovation
- Developing new ideas and approaches
- Initiative and independent working
- Designing novel methodologies/solutions
Interpersonal & Leadership Skills
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Mentoring and coaching (e.g. supervising students)
- Leadership and team management
- Networking and relationship-building
Professional & Personal Development
- Resilience and perseverance
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Ethical awareness and research integrity
- Cross-cultural competence (international collaborations)
- Teaching and training (lectures, workshops, tutorials)
For a more comprehensive list, check out transferable skills from your PhD
Career Options After a PhD
Academia
For many, academia feels like the natural next step, and typical academic career routes include:
- Postdoctoral research: Research-focused roles with opportunities to publish and to further research skills and expertise.
- Lectureships: Teaching-only or combined teaching/research positions. These roles may involve mentoring students, securing research funding, and supervising postgraduate research.
Pros: Intellectual freedom, continuation of research interests, opportunities to publish.
Cons: Short-term contracts (especially postdocs), lower salaries, frequent relocation, limited opportunities, and high competition.
Research Roles in Public Institutions
PhD graduates can pursue research-related positions outside of universities, including:
- Research Councils (e.g., UKRI): Roles in science, administration, finance, IT, and technical support.
- NHS Clinical Research: Opportunities in biochemistry, medical research, clinical research fellows/consultants.
Pros: Impact, interdisciplinary collaboration, structured career progression.
Cons: Less academic freedom, high administrative load, competitive entry.
Industry and the Private Sector
“Industry” is a broad category and depends heavily on your field. Common roles include:
- Data Science & Analytics: Roles in finance, healthcare, environment, government, and beyond.
- R&D (Research & Development): Applying your subject expertise and research methods in corporate labs or product development.
- Sector-specific roles: Pharmaceuticals, finance, engineering and more.
Pros: Competitive salaries, career progression without relocation, benefits, dynamic working environments, high demand.
Cons: Less freedom to choose research topics, steep learning curves.
Consultancy
Advising organisations on strategy, operations, and policy. Common consultancy roles include:
- Strategy Consultant: Advising businesses on growth, market entry, or restructuring.
- Policy Consultant: Working with governments or NGOs to shape public policy.
- Specialist Consultant roles in science, tech, and finance.
- Management Consultant: Helping organisations improve efficiency and operations.
Pros: Varied projects, strong earning potential, networking.
Cons: Fast-paced, tight deadlines, frequent travel.
Academic Publishing & Communication
This path uses your research background to stay connected to cutting-edge science while communicating to academics, policymakers, or the public. Academic publishing offers a range of roles:
- Editor: Managing peer review, commissioning articles, and liaising with authors.
- Journal Development Manager: Growing journal readership and impact.
- Publishing Ethics Advisor: Ensuring integrity in research and publication.
- Technical Writer: Translating complex research into accessible formats.
- Science journalism or communication.
Pros: Intellectual engagement, work-life balance, diverse roles.
Cons: Commercial pressure, competitive entry.
Non-Profit & Charity Sector
PhDs can thrive in mission-driven organisations. Fields include international development, human rights, climate action, and education. Roles include:
- Programme Manager: Designing and evaluating initiatives in education, health, or environment.
- Grant Writer/Fundraiser: Securing funding through proposals and donor engagement.
- Policy Analyst: Influencing policy and public opinion.
- Impact Evaluator: Measuring outcomes and effectiveness of programmes.
- Research Lead: Conducting studies to support organisational goals.
Pros: Mission-driven, meaningful work, diverse roles, collaborative environment, public engagement.
Cons: Resources limited, broad responsibilities, slow career progression.
Government & Public Sector
PhDs are increasingly recruited into UK government roles (Civil Service Jobs), especially in policy and analysis:
- Policy Advisor: Synthesising evidence to inform decisions in departments like DEFRA, DHSC, or BEIS.
- Evaluation Analyst: Assessing the impact of government programmes
- Data Scientist: Working in the Office for National Statistics or Government Statistical Service.
Pros: Policy impact, work-life balance, job stability, diverse roles, structured career development, public sector ethos.
Cons: Bureaucracy, limited research freedom, competitive entry, changing political landscapes.
Making the Transition
Plan early: Think about your career path long before you submit your thesis.
Learn to sell your PhD: Don’t just present it as a research project, but as a package of skills and experiences. Tailor applications: Academic CVs differ from professional CVs, get advice from jobs.ac.uk (CV Tips – career-advice.jobs.ac.uk) or your university careers service.
Network: Connect with professionals in your field of interest.
Be flexible: Stay open to opportunities outside your immediate research area.
Stay informed: Sign up for job alerts
Your PhD is more than just a degree, it’s proof of advanced skills that can take you into academia, industry, government, or beyond. The key is to recognise the breadth of your training and confidently apply it to the sector that excites you most.
For a more comprehensive guide with case studies, check out: 10 careers for PhDs.
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