Speed dating Q&A

摘要

How does a PhD affect my employment prospects? This is a regional issue. Unlike in the US, in Australia it is not common for chemists to move smoothly between industry and academia. While a PhD can significantly enhance an academic career, there is a risk in Australia that it will be perceived as having three negatives: competing candidates of the same age without PhDs have three years more industrial experience; candidates with PhDs will expect higher pay, faster advancement and higher status; and candidates with PhDs will expect to be able to publish their ongoing research, which is not necessarily what companies want. Of course, none of these needs be true. The best advice for any job candidate is to be aware of the potential negative assumptions about your status, and to take concrete steps to address these. Make sure that you include industrial applications and linkages in your PhD work. Emphasise the commercial outcomes of your work. Be clear and realistic about your expectations. And, most importantly, use your networks to identify the opportunities where your training will be most marketable.