#04. 3 limiting beliefs that PhDs must overcome to leave academia.

474 Words | 3 Minutes

People change careers daily - there's nothing special about this process. You pick a new career, upskill if needed, and network for a job. Along the way, you'll create a LinkedIn profile and write a resume. Everything you'd ever want to know about job searching is on LinkedIn - plenty of recruiters share their knowledge freely.

But, as you know, leaving academia is so much more than changing careers. It's a complete transformation in the way that you see yourself. This is where I struggled - where many of us struggle. Because your biggest job search challenge isn't writing a resume or networking.

Your biggest job search challenge is yourself.

Specifically, your challenge is limiting beliefs, or negative thoughts that hold you back in your job search. To overcome these beliefs, you'll first need to identify them - for PhDs leaving academia, the 3 major limiting beliefs are:

1. "I'm overqualified (or underqualified)."

Most jobs do not require a PhD - they require "industry experience", which many PhDs lack. There are many ways to gain experience outside of a full-time role. You can volunteer, freelance, or take contract work. You can also network and form a relationship with someone who can see past your lack of industry experience. However, if you resign yourself to the "over-underqualified" label, you won't do the hard work required to change careers.

2. "I'm bad at [networking / interviewing / etc.]."

As a developmental psychologist by training, I can confidently say that no human was born knowing how to network or interview. These are learned skills, and if you have a PhD, you are an expert learner. Trade your fixed mindset for a growth mindset - you can learn how to network and interview. You can practice and improve these skills, but only if you believe in yourself, show up, and try. It will feel uncomfortable, and you'll probably fail a few times. That's okay.

3. "I'm a failure for leaving academia."

Academia is an extremely difficult work environment. It demands innumerable personal and mental health sacrifices that most people cannot make. You are not a failure for choosing a different career path. Your reasons for leaving are valid, regardless of what others may have told you. You are a very bright person equipped with the most marketable skill - the ability to learn quickly. Reclaiming your confidence is your number one priority.

At the end of the day, I can show you how to write a resume. I can introduce you to connections in my network. I can coach you in a mock interview session. However, the success of your job search rests on your shoulders - can you overcome these limiting beliefs? Can you do the psychological and emotional work required to leave academia?

I believe in you. Do you believe in you?

💛

P.S. - I'm switching the newsletter to Tuesdays, because I have tried (and failed) to write it for Sundays. Failing is okay, that's how we learn :)