Feel Free Read Changing Hats: A book for academics looking beyond academia Kindle
Have you ever wondered how your life would be different if you leave academia? When PhD candidates and postdocs discuss the possibility of leaving academia, their conversations often turn to a collection of urban legends, and these are mixed with various insecurities, fears and outrageous salary expectations. The frequently asked questions are: How can I use my research skills outside academia? Would tech companies recruit PhDs in social science and humanities? Can a non-academic career be rewarding? Can I ‘sort of’ try it? Is the path from academia to industry always a one-way street? Does career advice from the US hold in Europe? Academia and industry speak different languages. Changing Hats explores the intricacies of academia-to-industry transitions. In this book, Daria Gritsenko, a PhD in social science, argues that academic skills are in high demand outside academia, but both PhD graduates and industry recruiters are often lost in translation or think in stereotypes. Following the author’s conversations with recruiters, human resource managers, startups, headhunters and academics ‘who made it’, the book demystifies transitions from academia to industry. It also includes practical tips and success stories. A problem well defined is a problem half-solved. Changing Hats is a peek behind the curtains on common practices in industry recruitment - written from the viewpoint of an academic applicant. The challenges in academia-to-industry transitions are not only at the individual level, some of them are also structural. The book examines how to ensure due diligence when applying for non-academic jobs, and situates the transition from academia to industry within the bigger picture of work life transformation. It also discusses proactive approach to career management, the art of open applications, and the building blocks of personal branding for academics.
