The Portable PhD

This book shows graduate students how to apply their social and behavioral science‑related skills in non-academic careers.

Thanks to your graduate training in psychology you have the skills to do great work in fields such as public policy, education, healthcare, and business. But to make a successful transition into non‑academic employment, the right mindset is essential. In this guidebook, you’ll explore common unspoken assumptions and attitudes in academia, and use them to prepare for different work cultures. You will also learn to build your network, as you identify a career path that matches your interests. 

Each chapter in this book offers tips and key terms for navigating various kinds of employment, as well as simple action steps for communicating your talents to hiring managers. Your ability to conduct research, to understand statistics and perform data analysis, and to perform technical or scientific writing are all highly valuable skills, as are the insights into human nature you’ve gained from your psychology studies, and your ability to think innovatively and work cooperatively in a variety of contexts. This guide will show you how to market your skills, and build the confidence and the plan you need to take your degree anywhere you wish.