Read on Twitter
Did you miss our webinar on non-academic career paths today? No sweat!
Here's a thread of some of the nuggets of wisdom shared by @bethlinas, @ChadRethorst and @hcolelewis.
1/x
(With special guests: the cast of Schitt's Creek
) https://twitter.com/DrSherryPagoto/status/1311295323965399040
Here's a thread of some of the nuggets of wisdom shared by @bethlinas, @ChadRethorst and @hcolelewis.
1/x
(With special guests: the cast of Schitt's Creek
) https://twitter.com/DrSherryPagoto/status/1311295323965399040
Q1: What grad school experiences best prepare you for a career outside of academia?
A1: The good news is that much of usual grad training is very useful in jobs outside of academia. How you apply it may be different tho.
Additional experiences can be helpful too, such as...
A1: The good news is that much of usual grad training is very useful in jobs outside of academia. How you apply it may be different tho.
Additional experiences can be helpful too, such as...
Get well-rounded!
A1. Classes in business, informatics, drug development, and/or any area relevant to the sector you will enter.
A1. Obtain both applied and theoretical training.
A1. Think broad scope rather than narrow.
A1. Classes in business, informatics, drug development, and/or any area relevant to the sector you will enter.
A1. Obtain both applied and theoretical training.
A1. Think broad scope rather than narrow.
A1. Grant writing will fine tune your writing skills. Yes, you will write outside of academia! 
A1. Summer internships. Reach out to companies to arrange internships. Weave these into grad training (rather than moonlight).
A1. Experience working with designers. Team science!
A1. Summer internships. Reach out to companies to arrange internships. Weave these into grad training (rather than moonlight).
A1. Experience working with designers. Team science!
A1. Is teaching useful? Yes! You will often find yourself teaching others with different skill sets. Plus, good teaching skills=good communication skills, which are a must.
Q2. How do you find mentorship? Where can you network?
A2. Find professional societies that have events and groups for members who work outside of academia ( @BehavioralMed and @societyforepi were both mentioned)
A2. Find folks in these positions on Twitter & LinkedIn, connect!
A2. Find professional societies that have events and groups for members who work outside of academia ( @BehavioralMed and @societyforepi were both mentioned)
A2. Find folks in these positions on Twitter & LinkedIn, connect!
A2. Don't be afraid to cold contact people who are in a position you aspire to!
A2. Take advantage of your current mentors contacts. They may know people in different settings.
A2. Take advantage of your current mentors contacts. They may know people in different settings.
Q3: What are some of the benefits of life outside of academia?
A3: Work/life balance culture is more valued.
A3: Seeing immediate application of innovations to large numbers of people.
A3: Moves fast---ideas to implementation just go at a faster pace.
A3: Work/life balance culture is more valued.
A3: Seeing immediate application of innovations to large numbers of people.
A3: Moves fast---ideas to implementation just go at a faster pace.
Other benefits?
A3: Can apply your skills in unique ways.
A3: You get a front row seat to application of behavioral science, data science, and/or epidemiology.
A3: Can apply your skills in unique ways.
A3: You get a front row seat to application of behavioral science, data science, and/or epidemiology.
Q4: What advice do you have, knowing what you know now?
A4: Figure out what your "north star" is. At a high level, what do you want to accomplish in your career? Follow that where it leads you.
A4: Opting against academia does NOT mean you have failed at it.
And most of all..
A4: Figure out what your "north star" is. At a high level, what do you want to accomplish in your career? Follow that where it leads you.
A4: Opting against academia does NOT mean you have failed at it.
And most of all..
