Eric J Ma's Website

Navigating the professional world with an advanced degree can sometimes feel like steering a ship through uncharted waters. Many of us enter a PhD or a Master's program with a deep-rooted passion for research and academic development. But how do we translate those years of scholarly endeavors into value for the industry? How do we make ourselves not just known, but understood and appreciated in the business environment?

In this blog post, I'm going to share some strategies that have helped me and many others successfully bridge the gap between academia and industry. Whether you're a PhD, a Master's grad, or someone just pondering their academic future, these insights may help you maneuver through your career more confidently.

Strategy 1: Enhance Your Public Profile

When you're in academia, your reputation often precedes you in the form of publications, academic conferences, and perhaps some teaching experience. In the industry, however, you need to diversify the ways you make your skills known.

Show, Don't Tell

The most effective way to showcase your skills is by demonstrating them. Rather than just telling people you're good at something, show them. There are numerous ways to do this:

• Papers: If you've published research, make sure it's easily accessible. Use platforms like ResearchGate, arXiv, or even a personal blog to publicize your work.
• Blogging: Start a blog to discuss topics in your field of expertise. This not only helps you clarify your thoughts but also proves you have a good grasp of the subject matter.
• Recorded Talks: If public speaking is your strength, leverage it. You can upload your talks to YouTube or share them via webinars. This adds another layer of credibility to your professional profile.
• Teaching Sessions: If you have the opportunity to teach — whether it's a semester-long course or a single workshop — make sure to document it. Recorded teaching sessions or even just the syllabi can demonstrate your expertise and commitment to education, teaching, learning, and mentorship.

Strategy 2: Adapt Your Skills

Academic training provides a set of skills that need a bit of tweaking to fit smoothly into industry roles.

For PhDs

By the time you complete your PhD, you should be able to:

• Independently lead technical projects: This ability translates directly into technical independence within an industrial context. You're not just a cog in the machine; you're capable of overseeing complex tasks from start to finish.
• Communicate to various audiences: Whether it's breaking down complex theories for students or presenting your research to seasoned experts, you need to communicate effectively. In industry, this ability is crucial for tasks like presenting to stakeholders or explaining technical procedures to non-technical team members.

For MSc Grads

If you're wrapping up a Master's degree, aim to:

• Master a defined set of tools: Unlike PhDs who often need a broader toolkit, you should focus on becoming highly proficient in a more specific set of skills or tools.
• Be on the cusp of independent creativity: While you may not lead projects right away, you should be prepared to offer creative solutions within your scope of expertise.

Note: These are general rules of thumb; there are exceptions based on individual capabilities and job requirements.

Strategy 3: Network Effectively

The saying goes, "It's not what you know, but who you know." I would slightly modify it to be a bit more true,

"It's not just what you know, but also who you know".

This rings especially true when transitioning from academia to industry. In that vein, here's how you can network effectively.

Choose Relevant Meetups and Conferences

Attend local meetups, such as the Boston Python or Boston Bioinformatics Meetup, as well as conferences like PyCon and SciPy. These are great platforms to meet people who share your professional interests.

Leverage Weak Links

You may find your best opportunities come from acquaintances rather than close friends. Or it may come from friends who refer you to speak with their colleagues. To make these interactions more meaningful, offer to make a small donation to a charity of their choice as a thank-you for their time. This creates a positive impression and adds a unique element to your networking strategy.

Ask Insightful Questions

Information is key. During your networking conversations, ask questions that help you understand the landscape of the industry roles you're interested in. These could relate to team structures, job titles, or even the day-to-day tasks associated with a specific role. This information will help you target your applications more effectively.

Strategy 4: Communicate Your Value

When translating your academic achievements into industry lingo, remember that hiring managers are generally looking for one thing: value. The best way to communicate this is by clearly stating how you used a particular method or skill to solve a problem and what value it added.

In academic terms, this is akin to stating your research objective, methods, and results, but in a more business-oriented language. The magic phrase to remember is, "I used method X to solve problem Y, which added value Z."

For example, instead of saying "I conducted research on machine learning algorithms for medical diagnosis," say "I utilized machine learning algorithms to streamline medical diagnosis processes, reducing diagnosis time by 30%."

Don't hesitate to use tools like ChatGPT to help you rephrase your experiences in terms that resonate with industry.

Conclusion

I think that by implementing these strategies, you'll not only be able to transition smoothly from academia to industry but also maximize the value you bring to any organization. I hope this blog post was useful for you. Here's to new beginnings and a fulfilling career ahead!