Graduate School Channel
Career Insights: Employment Options in Business, Government
and Not-for-Profit Organizations for Master's and PhD candidates
By Virginia Steinmetz, Ph.D., Duke University
Career Center
A doctoral candidate who sought confidential advice at the Career
Center remarked that she had survived graduate school but had not
thrived. She wanted to explore alternative ways to use her research and
teaching skills outside the teaching profession. As you choose a sub
discipline and a dissertation topic, build a network of colleagues, and
anticipate workplace conditions, you will discover more concretely
whether an academic career will fulfill your values, interests and
skills.
The Career Center counselor for graduate students [at your
university] is among those you may wish to consult as you review your
motivation and goals. The counseling staff and resources of the Career
Center provide assistance to graduate students in the process of
self-assessment and career decision-making at any stage in their
graduate programs.
Henry M. Wilbur, former Professor of Zoology at Duke University,
developed extensive experience in guiding new PhD's through the
intricacies of the academic job search. In his essay "On Getting a Job"
(The Academic's Handbook, 1995), Wilbur advised,
"Not all graduate students are larval professors. . .Not all
graduate students want to or should attempt [the transition from
graduate student life to professorhood]. There is life outside of
the university-in industry, in government, and in private
foundations-for students in all fields. . . It is important for
graduate students continuously to question their career goals."
Duke advanced degree candidates in the sciences and engineering
expect to explore a broad range of employment sectors, including higher
education, government, or the corporate world. Their advanced technical
skills are needed in the Research and Development divisions of many
companies and government agencies. Students who obtain advanced training
in the social sciences are also prized for their analytical skills in
clinical work, in the making of policy and in the compilation and
assessment of data. Humanities students offer employers analytical and
problem-solving skills. They are excellent writers and speakers who
require only a brief exposure to the government, corporate, or nonprofit
sectors to perform a wide variety of job functions. They find employment
in public relations firms, publishing enterprises and museums.
In her guide for academics considering alternative careers Outside
the Ivory Tower (1993), Margaret Newhouse, formerly of Harvard
Career Services, provides a list of jobs held by PhD's in several
employment sectors. A glance at her list will demonstrate that your
opportunities to use your graduate training outside academia are only as
limited as your imagination and determination to research the field and
convince employers of your competence and readiness.
What you can do with advanced research and teaching skills
In Business: consulting (all fields), investment
analysis (history), advertising (literature), market research
(psychology), training & development (area studies), R & D (engineering
/ physical & biological sciences)
In Media: science writing (biochemistry), trade
publishing (sociology), translation (languages), assignment editing,
radio/TV (public policy)
In Education: community college/secondary teaching
(humanities/sciences), administration (philosophy, classics, political
science), testing (sociology), policy analysis (religion)
In Nonprofits: environmental policy (geology),
association management (art history), mental health advocacy
(psychology), urban policy research (statistics)
In Government: policy analysis, Federal Reserve
Board (economics), state archeologist (archeology), NSF laboratories or
staff (chemistry), state health department investigation (biophysics)
Cited Resources
Other Readings of Interest by Dr. Steinmetz
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Career Insights: Timetable and checklist
for the academic job search
By Virginia Steinmetz, Ph.D., Duke University
Career Center
If you think you are interested in pursuing an academic
career, your active preparation should begin
well before graduation. Here's a checklist that can help
keep you moving through the right steps during your studies.
 Virginia
Steinmetz, Ph.D. is Assistant Director for Graduate Students at The
Career Center at Duke University. This article
originally appeared in slightly different form on the Center's
web site, and is posted
here with permission. Please do not
repost without obtaining permission from the originating source.
The web site for Duke's Career Center,
which contains distinct sections
with career planning information and advice for the University's
undergraduate, graduate and alumni populations, can
be accessed at
http://career.studentaffairs.duke.edu/.
Duke University in Durham, N.C.
is a member of the IMDiversity-BlackCollegian.com
Graduate/Professional School Channel. To learn more about opportunities
for graduate study at Duke, search for fellowships,
or request application materials from Duke,
please see the
Duke University Profile.
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