PostPhDirections
The podcast features PhDs who’ve successfully transitioned into industry, along with deans of doctoral education, hiring managers, and recruiters. We explore how PhD holders can find fulfilling careers outside of academia and make the shift smoothly. Each episode dives into personal journeys, practical tips, and the resources available to support your transition, offering invaluable insights for anyone looking to take their skills beyond academic research and into the professional world. Tune in and discover your next step!
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Your Resume Is Hiding Your Best Skills (Here's How to Find Them)with Angela Priest
<p>Does your resume make your work sound smaller than it actually was?</p><p>In this episode of PostPhDirections, I sit down with Angela Priest, co-founder and COO of Alma.me. Angela has spent 20+ years on the hiring side of industry, building high-performing teams and designing the hiring processes companies use to fill them, and she has helped dozens of PhDs get hired. She knows how these decisions actually get made and how your application is really read. We talk about something we see constantly in our Job Accelerator Program: PhDs sending us resumes with the most important skills...
What Does Industry Actually Feel Like? — 4 PhDs Who Made The Move Share
<p>✨ SPECIAL EDITION FROM THE ALMA.ME CAREERS WEEK 2026 ✨</p><p><br></p><p>What does industry actually feel like once you get there? In this special panel episode recorded live at the Alma.Me Careers Week 2026, Angela Priest sits down with four Alma.me Job Accelerator Program alumni who recently made the leap from academia into industry. Together they get honest about the mindset shifts, the culture shocks, the unexpected challenges and what they wish they'd known before they started.</p><p>The panel features Sophia Parks (PhD Toxicology → Project Manager in health tech), Michael Rempe (PhD Applied Mathematics → Senior A...
Why PhDs aim too low in their job search and how to fix It, with Emily Richard, PhD
<p>Are you applying to junior roles because you think you need to prove yourself before you can aim higher?</p><p>In this episode of PostPhDirections, I sit down with Emily Richard, a cognitive neuroscience PhD who is now a Data Science Lead at AG Associates, working on veteran suicide prevention. When Emily started her industry job search, she did what so many PhDs do she aimed too low. She kept applying to entry-level roles, convinced she needed to earn her place first. What changed everything was realising that her PhD, her decade-plus of research experience, and her leadership...
What does the 2026 job market actually look like for PhDs — and what do you need to do differently to stand out, with Angla Priest
<p>In this episode of PostPhDirections, I'm joined by my co-founder Angela Priest, who brings over 20 years of hiring experience across startups and big cooperates. We get into everything you need to know about the current job market — the honest, behind-the-scenes version.</p><p>We cover:</p>Why uncertainty has become the new normal for employers — and what that means for your job searchThe AI shift: what "AI native" means in job descriptions and why it matters for youWhy your data fluency is one of the most in-demand skills right now (and why most PhDs don't even realize they have it)T...
How to use coffee chats to land your industry job after a PhD (Step-by-Step for PhDs)
<p>What if I told you one of the most powerful tools for landing your first industry job is completely free, takes 30 minutes, and most PhDs aren't using it?</p><p>I'm talking about coffee chats (aka informational interviews – but let's keep it casual).</p><p>When I was halfway through my PhD at Karolinska Institutet, I had that constant background noise: "What can I do after my PhD? Where do my skills fit? What if I don't want to stay at the bench?"</p><p>Starting conversations with people who'd already made the jump changed everything for me.</p><p>...
Does my first industry job after my PhD have to be perfect?
<p>Does your first job after your PhD have to be perfect? Spoiler: No.</p><p>If you're finishing your PhD and stressing about finding the "perfect" industry job, this episode is for you. I break down why PhDs overthink this decision, how industry actually works (hint: you're NOT locked in for 5 years), and what really matters in your first role.</p><p>You'll hear:</p>Why the "perfect job" mindset comes from academic trainingHow industry turnaround times work (2 years is normal!)A real story: PhD who pivoted after just 9 monthsWhat to do if you don't like your first jobWhy...
Is my PhD work experience by Elena Hoffer
<p>Is your PhD work experience when applying for industry jobs? This is one of the most common questions PhDs ask when transitioning out of academia.In this video, I explain why the real issue isn’t a lack of work experience, but a misunderstanding of what industry actually means by “experience.” Industry employers care about applied skills, problem-solving, collaboration, communication, and delivering outcomes—all of which you develop extensively during a PhD.You’ll learn:</p>What work experience really means in industryWhy a PhD is applied professional experience, not “just education”How PhDs already solve real-world problems under uncertaintyWhe...
Choosing stability over prestige with Dr. Sophia Parks
<p>In this episode of PostPhDirections, Sophia Parks shares her journey from a decade in academia - spanning a PhD and two postdocs, including at Stanford - to a remote industry role in project management. </p><p>Despite strong credentials and years of grant-writing experience, Sophia found herself trapped in a system defined by funding uncertainty, external validation, and limited control over her future. After repeated grant rejections, job instability, and growing burnout - amplified by becoming a mother - she realized academia was no longer sustainable for the life she wanted.</p><p>After months of unsuccessfully applying to...
Breaking Into Pharma after your PhD - what hiring managers are really looking for with Ben Weber, PhD
<p>Looking to break into Pharma after your PhD?</p><p><br></p><p>Learn first-hand from someone who has hired across the US and multiple European countries how to ace the transition from academia into industry and stand out from the crowd.</p><p>In this episode of PostPhDirections, I spoke with Ben Weber, Vice President of Translational Research at Novo Nordisk, about how PhDs can successfully transition from academia into the pharmaceutical industry. </p><p>Drawing on his global career and hiring experience, Ben discusses how the Pharma job market has evolved, which skills are currently in demand...
Breaking into Pharma after your PhD - what hiring managers are looking for with Ben Weber
<p>Looking to break into Pharma after your PhD? </p><p>Learn first-hand from someone who has hired across the US and multiple European countries how to ace the transition from academia into industry and stand out from the crowd.</p><p>In this episode of PostPhDirections, I speak with Ben Weber, Vice President of Translational Research at Novo Nordisk, about how PhDs can successfully transition from academia into the pharmaceutical industry. </p><p>Drawing on his global career and hiring experience, Ben discusses how the pharma job market has evolved, which skills are currently in demand, and why understanding...
