Sarah Atkinson
Assistant Director at Department of FinanceYou’re never going to have an epiphany about what to do next. You just have to pick something and try it.
You’re never going to have an epiphany about what to do next. You just have to pick something and try it.
changing career path is not a failure, it is using your skills and knowledge to align yourself with your current needs and expectations.
I’m getting to see the technology that I invented move from academia towards the clinic. The further I get down this process the more I can see the end result and it’s an exciting thing to observe.
Trust the process, be patient, trust yourself, there are always possibilities even when we stop seeing them
As an academic and lifelong learner, I think you have the research and development skills to quickly learn about a new subject matter.
Where you begin doesn’t have to be where you end up, and there can be lots of stops and changes along the way!
If you love science but think that the communication part is still missing, do not hesitate. Prepare yourself in face of whatever you see as your limitations and weaknesses and go for it!
I started a process of self-awareness to understand where I could apply my skills and which were my main motivations from a personal and professional point of view.
The PhD is a hidden superpower, not a ball and chain.
If you want to make the transition, do a lot of soul searching to figure out which skills you have that are marketable and if they are sufficient to reach your goal
Don’t be concerned about leaving academia; there are many opportunities outside of academia which offer the same challenges but with greater rewards.
I felt isolated when I was exploring a transition, but now I realize that there are tons of ex-academics leading fulfilling work lives in a variety of sectors.