When I started my PhD, I never thought that it would “overqualify” me. I mean, you can never be too dressed up and too educated, can you? Apparently, while that is true for Oscar Wilde, it may not be true for graduate students.
That PhD students are too weird
Sometimes PhD students have a reputation for being anti-social, and in my experience, that’s not entirely true. Yes, maybe some of us are more introverted, but that’s not the only case with graduate students. And that means we can’t function in a social setting.
But that doesn’t change that some employers accept it when they hire a graduate student, avoid eye contact and scratch their ear during monologues about Foucault or Derrida (I was a teacher who did it) . time).
7 career advantages of doctoral students outside academia
A doctorate is a significant advantage. Don’t let others confuse you. PhDs earn more than non-PhDs and are in high demand. Trained professionals who know how to create information, not just repackage it, are essential.
Entrepreneurship and innovation are at an all-time high. According to the McKinsey Global Institute, there will not be enough scientists in the world by 2018. These trends will continue as the economy continues to drive innovation.
If you have a doctorate, or are about to have a doctorate as you read this, the future is yours. The only thing you can hold back is yourself – choosing to be one-dimensional and ignoring the less objective soft skills that complement your PhD and make you a magnet for industry success. A PhD gives you great advantages over other job seekers and the general population.
Doctorates or degrees in your field are usually required for university jobs, especially at four-year universities. What about non-academic areas? Does a PhD make you overqualified for non-academic jobs? Can you be overqualified? What does it mean? Overqualification is often a concern for graduate students looking for non-academic jobs. Make sure a PhD doesn’t make you overqualified for employment outside of academia. Below I will discuss some of the fears of overqualification and how PhD students can deal with this fear, as well as some general things to consider when starting a PhD but not going into a career in the academy.