Professional Development Session Working Outside of Academia During or After Graduate Studies

Outline Work outside of academia during graduate school Should I skip finishing my PhD to take a job now with my MA? Post doc'ing Dave Flora Letter from Constance Mara Academic Jobs vs. Industry Jobs Examples of jobs outside of Academia Monique Herbert Victoria Ng Video from Manolo Romero Escobar

Jobs Outside of Academia A Double-Edged Sword

Part 1: Working While Completing an MA/PhD A large number of students need to, or choose to, work while they complete their graduate studies The ‘need’ is obviously to be able to pay rent, eat, etc. The ‘choosing to work’ option is more complicated A student might choose to work to have extra money for trips, a sports car, or a designer purse Generally not good reasons to take time away from research Some students see working in a job related to their discipline as valuable for building up a strong CV … this depends …

Part 1: Working While Completing an MA/PhD Probably the most important factor in deciding whether it is a good idea to work in a job related to your field during graduate school is what type of job you are looking for after you complete your degree Probably Not a Good Idea - Research/Publications Trump All Else Desire an Academic Job Might be a Good Idea - Experience/Connections Important Desire a Job Outside of Academia

Part 1: Working While Completing an MA/PhD “If students have opportunities to take on contract work … they get real world hands on experience, that will go a long way to getting into non-academic jobs.  Also, building a network of non-academic contacts (i.e., those who work in research but do not hold academic appointments) is very important” Cathy LaBrish, QM Doctoral Student

Part 1: Working While Completing an MA/PhD However, in some cases working can interfere with completing the requirements of your degree, or even worse, balancing both work and grad school means that you are not very competent at either

Some thoughts from students … One student responding to another student’s question about whether it would be a good idea to work during graduate school: “Neither your work nor your school will ever come to a halt while you navigate the demands they each place on you. In all likelihood, you will struggle to keep up with the requirements of both … This tug of war can take many forms, from schedule conflicts during crunch times to an accumulation of tasks that become difficult to balance.”

Some thoughts from students … “I worked as a graduate assistant on campus 20 hours a week and cleaned apartments about 10 hours a week, it was completely doable! I had some late nights with studying and juggling everything but it never felt unbearable. I also never felt like a hermit, I maintained a healthy social life throughout grad school as well!! Its all about balance”

Some thoughts from students … “Honestly, I think working makes you better at time management, and makes you get things done faster. I work more than any of my colleagues & I finish all my projects earlier than them because I know how precious time is.  In short, it's doable. Weekend and school-friendly jobs are key. Good luck!”

Part 2: Skipping a PhD to Take a Job Some degrees, like an MA in Quantitative Methods for Psychology, provide you with skills that are highly desired by employers These jobs can be both interesting and lucrative … but are they worth bailing on your doctorate?

Part 2: Skipping a PhD to Take a Job Reasons to Bail on the PhD Don’t have to spend your 20s in poverty Although with scholarships, grant money, etc. that might not always be the case The research you conduct during your PhD may not benefit you in the future if you are not looking for an academic position Your MA provides you with the skills required for your desired position

Part 2: Skipping a PhD to Take a Job Reasons to NOT Bail on the PhD Might be a requirement for a position in the future (that you haven’t thought about now but might really want down the road) Provides more advanced training, especially in research Most important: You have a burning desire for research and investigation