We moved! Come see us at 3935 Walnut Street, Suite 300!

What can I do with a PhD?

A lot, depending on what you want! Although many PhDs enter academic careers, many more have pursued a range of fulfilling and meaningful careers beyond academia. Whether you’re preparing for a faculty position or looking to find what other career options are out there, it’s important to spend time to understand yourself, your values, and what skills and interests you have before diving into a job search. After all, you want to make sure that whatever job or career you pursue will be one that you find satisfying, rewarding, and challenging!

Having the skills and confidence to navigate all aspects of your job search successfully is essential for your career development. Career Services is here to support you throughout this process, from helping you present yourself well both on paper and in person to potential employers to equipping you with the knowledge and strategies to help you land your job offer. We advise PhD students and postdocs to follow a 4-step career exploration and planning process to help them find a meaningful career. Click on the steps below to get started.

Taking time to reflect on and understand your work values, skills, and interests allows you to pursue a career that is meaningful, challenging, and rewarding before you launch into a job search. This provides a solid foundation for your next steps.

Networking is simply talking to and building relationships with professionals in careers that interest you to help you learn what it’s like to work in a particular role, field, or industry. Think of it as talking with people to research and gather information about careers.

Use your time as a PhD student or postdoc at Penn to pursue activities related to your career interests and develop yourself professionally. These opportunities will allow you to demonstrate the skills, experience, and professionalism for a successful job search.

Once you’ve spent time reflecting, exploring, networking, and gaining experience to prepare for your future career, you’ll be ready to take action and make decisions about your post-PhD professional life. Career Services is here to support you throughout this process, and so feel free to reach out to us at any time with your career-related questions.

On the academic job market?

Career Services can give you advice on all your application materials (see our resources here) and perspectives on how to tailor your application to specific kinds of academic institutions. We can also prepare you to speak about your research and teaching in interviews. Once you have received a job offer, we are happy to guide you through negotiations.

PhD Career Exploration Fellowship

The PhD Career Exploration Fellowship (CEF) encourages non-faculty career exploration by facilitating networking experiences and mentorship relationships with advanced degree professionals. This unpaid opportunity allows doctoral students to gain insights into careers in museums, libraries, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, consulting firms, nonprofit research institutes, administrative offices, and other employers on Penn’s campus, in the Philadelphia area, and beyond. Students can use this experience to cultivate a stronger professional profile and develop career-readiness competencies and skills in preparation for a range of careers. For more information, please visit the PhD Career Exploration Fellowship webpage.

Career Insights Series for Graduate Students & Postdocs

Join Career Services this spring for the Career Insights Series, a dynamic lineup of programs designed to help Penn graduate students and postdocs explore diverse career fields. This semester, the series will feature three key industries: Sustainability & the Environment, …

By Dianne Hull
Dianne Hull Senior Associate Director, Graduate Students & Postdocs
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Identifying Mental Health Needs of Cancer Patients and Providers in Gaborone, Botswana

Simone Schriger, Ph.D. Candidate in Psychology, Los Angeles, CA

This summer, I traveled to Gaborone, Botswana to complete a summer research internship based at the Multidisciplinary Tumor (MDT) Clinic at Princess Marina Hospital. This clinic – developed through the Botswana-UPenn …

By Career Services
Career Services
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The Importance of Humility in Leadership—and How to Embrace It

Humility in leadership is a powerful yet underestimated quality. It’s about being confident enough to admit mistakes, seeking input from others, and prioritizing group success over personal ego. In the workplace, leaders who lead with humility build stronger teams, make …

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Location

Phone
(215) 898-7531
Address

Penn Career Services
3935 Walnut Street, Suite 300
Philadelphia, PA 19104

Service Hours

Monday 9am-5pm
Tuesday 9am-5pm
Wednesday 9am-5pm
Thursday 9am-5pm
Friday 9am-5pm