From Doctorate to Dream Job: Navigating Exciting Career Opportunities with a PhD

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.” – Dr. Seuss

A PhD, also called a Doctor of Philosophy, is like running a long marathon that, when it seems to end, only has another mile to run, and the process gets repeated again. Finish lines keep progressing, and you get feedback as to why you haven’t met the current standards. SRK did say that the universe gives you what you really wish for, but that theory sometimes fails when getting your doctorate. Earning a PhD is not easy. You must be patient, persistent, and consistent in your efforts and continue your research despite several setbacks.

A doctoral degree is one of the highest academic qualifications awarded across various disciplines. If you’re interested in pursuing a PhD, you can take numerous career paths upon completing his/her doctorate programme, including academia, research, and industry roles. The blog discusses in detail the professional opportunities after a PhD degree and what one can expect for career growth.

Dive into the Lengths of the PhD Programme

Going for a PhD degree is a major commitment that comes with its own set of merits. If you hold a PhD degree you gain deep expertise in a specific area, which offers many career opportunities and professional advancement.

• You get to develop your intellectual acumen and develop critical thinking skills, analytic thinking, problem-solving, etc., which helps better your research skills for your degree.

• Because you are involved in the field of research while you pursue your PhD, you also contribute to creating new knowledge. It is one of the most rewarding things about pursuing a doctorate degree.

• The PhD is one of the highest levels of academic recognition that you can receive. Not only does it benefit you professionally and personally, but it also provides credibility in your field.

• A doctorate programme allows you to network across previous industries and connect with several alumni and mentors. Connecting with individuals in the same field can be a very valuable asset for your future.

• A PhD degree can significantly boost your earning potential. It can help you reach many advanced roles in academia, research, and industries that offer higher salaries for those with specialised expertise in specific fields.

Skills you Gain after a PhD

A PhD degree is not something that can be done in a short period of time. One has to be really persistent and patient with the research efforts that they put in their field of subject. However, over time, one acquires a lot of skills and builds a proficient skill set that helps them in multiple academic, professional, and personal ways. Here are some of the skills that one gains during a PhD degree.

• Research-Skills

• Leadership

• Team-work

• Project Management

• Decision-making skills

• Data Analysis

• Critical Thinking

• Problem-solving

• Entrepreneurship Skills

• Adaptability

• Negotiation Skills

• Financial Management

• Communication Skills

• Technical Writing

• Problem-solving

• Market Research

• Business Analytics

• Strategic Planning

• Data Proficiency

• Interpersonal Skills

• Deadline Management

• Multi-tasking

Exploring Career Paths with a PhD

There is a popular opinion that with a PhD degree, your professional opportunities are limited to a specific discipline, and you can only advance in a specific field. However, this is not true if you are a PhD scholar or have completed your degree; you can advance in different professional directions and build a successful career for yourself.

Below are different fields that you can venture into for a PhD degree.

Academics

• You can work as a researcher, publish your work, and make breakthroughs in your field.

• You can also work as a guide or lecturer and teach students at the college or university level, mentor students, and become an expert on your subject.

• One may seek jobs at research institutes and become part of research projects.

Specialised Job Roles

• If you have a PhD in science or engineering background, you can work as an intellectual property or patent agent in consulting firms.

• You can also work with a medical science license. If you have a doctorate degree in life sciences or any related field at pharmaceutical companies and healthcare-related institutions.

• You can even transition to the writing field and become a professional writer, editor, or publisher.

Government/Private Sector

• You can work with different government agencies in the fields of science, commerce or management.

• You can also work as a scientist in different government departments and help formulate new technological innovations like National Laboratories or NASA or NIH.

• As a PhD holder, you can work in the field of communication, public outreach and help translate scientific findings for common public use and understanding.

International Organisations

• With a PhD, you can work at various non-profit organisations and programme management institutes. They conduct field research, manage several research programmes and evaluate environmental projects along with social and health programmes.

• You can also proceed in advocacy and various policy sectors to create different applicable policies and impact the assessment in the current industrial scenarios.

Entrepreneurship

• You can become a start-up founder or an innovator, especially in social sciences, like biotechnology or medical science etc.

• With special knowledge in a particular field, you can work as an innovation lead or a product developer, especially in technical areas.

Wondering if pursuing an online PhD in India is a good choice? Check here.

PhD Paychecks: What’s the Real Value of a Doctorate?

With a PhD, your earning opportunities broaden, providing high-paying jobs with high professional scope. Below is the average salary range, the average annual salary of PhD holders and the different salaries that they get across various departments.

• Average Salary Range: INR 0.5-18 Lakhs

• Average Annual Salary: INR 4.6 LPA

Are you the Right Fit for the Research Programme?

As already discussed, a doctorate is a long-term commitment to a course for which everybody may not be fit. Though it is an enriching journey to earn that doctor’s title, many opt out of the course since they cannot invest this much energy or time or fail to meet the expectations of a researcher. To know if you are suitable for a PhD, we have broken down the essentials of becoming a doctor in your academic area.

• A PhD requires a deep and sustained interest in a specific topic for a very long period of time. If you believe you have the passion to navigate these long years of study and research, you can be the right fit to enrol in a PhD programme.

• If you have an innate love to tackle problems, develop hypotheses, find solutions to complex issues, or tackle any open questions, you will thrive in the research environment.

• If you’re comfortable with self-motivation and independence and believe that you can manage your own structure and time, going for a PhD will be a good career option.

• Getting a degree will not be easy. You will have to face criticism and setbacks at different points in time. That will only help to make your research better. If you believe you can handle that, welcome yourself to the world of research.

• If you’re interested in contributing something new in academics, you can go for a PhD. It might align with your academic needs and career aspirations.

Wrap-up

A PhD or Doctor of Philosophy is an advanced degree that opens up many professional opportunities, especially in research. You can pursue academic roles by taking up research positions across various industries. If you’re passionate about leading groundbreaking research, teaching or even being a part of influencing policy, a doctorate degree shall equip you with credibility and expertise to excel in your choice of field. PhD in the present era can pave the way for an impactful and fulfilling career and provide you with boundless professional growth and personal rewards.