Welcome to the PhD & Postdoc Career Community!
👉 Did you know:
- Only about 20% of PhDs and postdocs succeed in securing tenure-track positions (ranged 10-50% by fields).
- Approximately 55% of PhDs report feeling uncertain about their career directions.
- About 50% of PhDs report not securing their desired jobs immediately after graduation.
Of course, we know there are many benefits to getting a PhD, such as a higher salary, lower unemployment rate, increased career satisfaction, and more.
👉 Here we are:
This career community supports all PhD students and postdocs, regardless of their academic programs, career interests, or years of study. WashU faculty, staff, and alumni who are passionate about supporting our scholars are also invited to join this career community.
Note: If you are an undergraduate or master’s student interested in pursuing a PhD in the future, we suggest you join one of the other Career Communities based on your industry!
It’s extremely important to invest in your career and professional development by starting career planning early and leveraging all the available resources, including those from the Center of Career Engagement (CCE) and our Partners. Remember, it’s YOU who drives your career; nobody else can do it for you!
👉Your action items:
- Visit our website sections below to learn more!
- Join our community for resources and updates via email!
- Set up a 1:1 coaching session for yourself following this instruction!
- Request a group Career Workshop for your department or program if needed.
- Contact Mei Zhu (czhu@wustl.edu) for any feedback.
👉Stay in touch:
We look forward to working with you and supporting you along your journey!
Career Engagement Process
- The following steps loosely reflect what all people go through when pursuing something new related to career development (internship, job or other career decisions).
- These external steps are accompanied by internal processes of reflection, learning, and experimentation.
- The process is iterative and repeats throughout life.
- Click “>” below to see what each step entails. If you feel stuck at any stage, book an appointment with us.
Self-awareness lays the foundation for making informed career decisions. Here, you will identify your career drivers, values, interests, strengths, and skills.
- Utilize online tests:
- Career Drivers Questionnaire: Free, 36 questions to assess your career drivers
- Work Values Matcher: Free, 20 questions to assess your values
- Identify your strengths and skills by reflecting on past courses, jobs, volunteer work, and experiences
- Collect feedback from family, colleagues and mentors
There are many possibilities for academic and non-academic careers. Here you will research various industries, roles, and pathways and set your career goal.
- Understand the Market:
- Leverage Career Exploration Tools:
- VersatilePhD: For all academic programs
- InterSECT Job Simulations: For STEM and Humanities
- ImaginePhD: For Humanities and Social Sciences
- Utilize AI:
- ChatGPT: Engage in conversations with AI using this structure: “Who am I + What do I want to do + What do I want you to do.” For example: “I am a PhD student at WashU with a degree in Plant Science expected in two years. I want to know what kinds of jobs I can apply for after graduation and which companies are top hirers. List the options in a table concisely.”
- Learn From Your Network
- Gain Experience and Experiment
It takes effort to achieve your career goal. Here, you will need to identify gaps, develop a plan to acquire relevant skills and knowledge, and prepare for your job search by crafting application materials and enhancing your personal branding.
- Identify the Gap:
- Gap From Core Competencies: There are eight core competencies, including Career & Self-Development, Communication, Critical Thinking, Equity & Inclusion, Leadership, Professionalism, Teamwork, and Technology, as developed by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). These competencies also apply to PhD and postdoctoral scholars.
- Gap From Specific Competencies: You can find the specific competencies for the role you are seeking using the Labor Market Insights.
- Utilize Individual Development Plan (IDP):
- Individual Development Plan: Use it to develop and track your goals. It is recommended you start this IDP preparation as soon as you begin your PhD or postdoctoral study.
- SMART Goals: Ensure your goals are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound).
- Prepare Application Materials:
- Academic Jobs:
- Begin preparation at least 12 months before completing your PhD or postdoctoral study.
- You will likely need to prepare a CV, Cover Letter, Teaching Statement/Philosophy, DEI Statement/Philosophy, and possibly a Dissertation Excerpt, Sample Course Descriptions and Syllabi, and Letters of Recommendation.
- Non-academic Jobs:
- Start preparation at least 3 months before completing your PhD or postdoctoral study.
- You will likely need to prepare a Resume, Cover Letter, and possibly a Reference List.
- How To Prepare Each Material:
- Resume or CV
- Cover Letter
- Reference List
- Teaching Statement/Philosophy, DEI Statement/Philosophy, Dissertation Excerpt, Sample Course Descriptions and Syllabi
- We recommend consulting with the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) and The Writing Center
- Academic Jobs:
- Enhance Personal Branding:
- Recognize The Importance: This is becoming increasingly important regardless of the roles you are pursuing. We highly recommend focusing on personal branding throughout your studies and career. Whether attending a conference, participating in a networking event, or setting up your LinkedIn profile, attention to your personal brand can significantly impact your professional opportunities and success.
- Practice The Skill: Visit Branding, LinkedIn, and Self Introduction
- Search
- Search Platforms: Use these platforms to search for jobs across various sectors, including academia, industry, government, and other fields.
- Targeted Organizations: You can also search for job openings at your targeted universities, companies, or other organizations.
- Networking: Leverage your network to find opportunities that may not be posted online.
- Search Committee: Collaborate with your peers to navigate the job search process together.
- Apply
- Tailor Your Application Materials: Customize your CV, resume, cover letter, and other application materials to fit the specific requirements of each job.
- Interview
- Get an offer
- Set yourself up for success during your internship
- Set yourself up for success during your full-time job
- Set yourself up for success for a successful lifelong career
- Remember, it is an iterative process. You will go through the stages of Understanding Yourself, Envisioning Possibilities, Preparing, Searching & Applying, and Engaging multiple times throughout your career.
- Embrace new opportunities, be goal-driven, and stay open-minded. Enjoy your unique career journey!
PhD & Postdoc Community Resources
Click the grey buttons to learn more about these resources!
