About a year ago I started the process of transitioning to the #AltAc world!
Here’s a rough sketch of the steps I took and when, which I hope could help others organize their own transition. ☺️
I took initial steps at the end of Sept, and started my FT role in early March
1/16
Here’s a rough sketch of the steps I took and when, which I hope could help others organize their own transition. ☺️
I took initial steps at the end of Sept, and started my FT role in early March
1/16
End of September: Start Building Out LinkedIn network
I updated my neglected LinkedIn profile just to reflect my current role.
But my first task was LinkedIn networking . I sent connection requests to EVERYONE I knew, both from work and non-work contexts…
2/
I updated my neglected LinkedIn profile just to reflect my current role.
But my first task was LinkedIn networking . I sent connection requests to EVERYONE I knew, both from work and non-work contexts…
2/
I actually maxed out the number of connection requests I was permitted to make most weeks.
It’s useful to have a good # of connections on LinkedIn. It impacts your algorithm and searchability and it helps increase prospective employees’ confidence that you’re a real person
3/
It’s useful to have a good # of connections on LinkedIn. It impacts your algorithm and searchability and it helps increase prospective employees’ confidence that you’re a real person
3/
October: Informational Interviews
I reached out to PhDs I knew (and some I didn’t) in various #AltAc roles: UX Researcher, Insights Consultant, Product Manager, Instructional Designer, and People Analytics.
I did about 2 info interviews per week…
4/
I reached out to PhDs I knew (and some I didn’t) in various #AltAc roles: UX Researcher, Insights Consultant, Product Manager, Instructional Designer, and People Analytics.
I did about 2 info interviews per week…
4/
I asked lots of q’s about their roles and we chatted about how to make the leap out of academia, what was challenging for them, what skills I have and how to sell them outside of academia.
But everything sounded cool! I still wasn’t sure where I wanted to end up.
5/
But everything sounded cool! I still wasn’t sure where I wanted to end up.
5/
November: PT Contract
Fortuitously, I found a PT contract job for a role AND topic I was interested in—Instructional Design! I worked a few hours per week drafting digital learning content. It was fun, I earned solid $, and I learned a bunch about how the non-ac world works!
6/
Fortuitously, I found a PT contract job for a role AND topic I was interested in—Instructional Design! I worked a few hours per week drafting digital learning content. It was fun, I earned solid $, and I learned a bunch about how the non-ac world works!
6/
Also November: Tailoring
While I enjoyed the job, I couldn’t imagine giving up research long-term for it. So I decided to brand my career self as a mixed-methods researcher.
I tailored my resume/ LinkedIn to these types of roles, looking to others’ examples for inspiration.
7/
While I enjoyed the job, I couldn’t imagine giving up research long-term for it. So I decided to brand my career self as a mixed-methods researcher.
I tailored my resume/ LinkedIn to these types of roles, looking to others’ examples for inspiration.
7/
December: Identifying & Applying to Roles
Now that I had my network, a sense of what role I want, and at least a little non-ac job experience, it was time to start applying!
I spent a lot of time on LinkedIn and on Job Boards looking for roles that sounded interesting….
8/
Now that I had my network, a sense of what role I want, and at least a little non-ac job experience, it was time to start applying!
I spent a lot of time on LinkedIn and on Job Boards looking for roles that sounded interesting….
8/
I applied only to WFH roles that interested me—mostly UX, People Analytics, and Insights. I tried to apply to at least 1-2 roles per week but sometimes more!
I had a variant of my resume for each type of role and tried to get referrals for every job I could.
9/
I had a variant of my resume for each type of role and tried to get referrals for every job I could.
9/
January: Interviews (And more Applications)
The interview invites hit me harder than I expected. Some weeks I had 10 interviews!
The biggest mistakes I made during interviews was not trusting my gut. For example, many research roles require you to start from a vague ask…
10/
The interview invites hit me harder than I expected. Some weeks I had 10 interviews!
The biggest mistakes I made during interviews was not trusting my gut. For example, many research roles require you to start from a vague ask…
10/
A client may say “I’m having X problem with y product” and want research on that. But this isn’t enough info.
I knew that but was used to operating independently on minimal guidance. I failed these q’s bc I didn’t walk through the logic of what else I’d need from the client
11/
I knew that but was used to operating independently on minimal guidance. I failed these q’s bc I didn’t walk through the logic of what else I’d need from the client
11/
Despite this repeated error, most of the interviews I went through were really pleasant! The interviewers were really nice and respectful. And so many of the roles seemed wonderful.
I got more and more excited about the possibility of landing one of these jobs!
12/
I got more and more excited about the possibility of landing one of these jobs!
12/
February: Job Offers!
I had some disappointing rejections in Feb, but also started to get offers!
I chose my current role bc it offered more $, better benefits, I liked the team, and felt good about the company.
I wasn’t able to negotiate up the salary/bonus but I tried!
13/
I had some disappointing rejections in Feb, but also started to get offers!
I chose my current role bc it offered more $, better benefits, I liked the team, and felt good about the company.
I wasn’t able to negotiate up the salary/bonus but I tried!
13/
March: New Role begins
I gave one month’s notice for my postdoc to wrap things up and took one week off in between roles—I wish I could have taken more time off.
The biggest challenges with starting a role were learning a whole new field (Ad Tech) and it’s terminology…
14/
I gave one month’s notice for my postdoc to wrap things up and took one week off in between roles—I wish I could have taken more time off.
The biggest challenges with starting a role were learning a whole new field (Ad Tech) and it’s terminology…
14/
It was also a bit of an adjustment to get used to working in a professional environment.
And it was difficult to navigate my departure from academia. I wish I had been able to tie up more loose ends in my research before I left to avoid them looming over my shoulder.
15/
And it was difficult to navigate my departure from academia. I wish I had been able to tie up more loose ends in my research before I left to avoid them looming over my shoulder.
15/
I had a pretty smooth transition. I know I had it easier than others—my background in cog psych, my network of PhDs in AltAc roles, my Ivy affiliation all helped facilitate the process for me.
But I hope this reflection can still help others navigate their own transition!
16/16
But I hope this reflection can still help others navigate their own transition!
16/16
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