Overview of the Non-Academic Job Search

There are many reasons why PhDs pursue non-academic positions. For some, the current academic job market dictates conducting searches both in and outside academe. Others decide that the tenure track job process is not for them. Regardless of the reason, there are several things to think about when exploring and executing a non-academic search.

To start, we recommend taking some time to assess your skills and interests to make the rest of the process easier and more meaningful. 

Advertise your job and internship opportunities to a wide range of University of Michigan students for free through

Generally resume writing is subject to variability, and crafting a resume from a CV is no different. There are several things to think about when writing a resume for non-academic positions. Here's some things to ponder: 

• What is the story you are trying to tell with this document? 
• How do you want to highlight the transferability of your PhD skill sets and knowledge? 
• Who is the audience you are trying to reach and what do you know they value? 
• What have others done to successfully reach non-academic employers in your industry(s) of choice?

Sometimes it's difficult for PhD students to identify what skills they have since the academic experience is not necessarily focused on articulating skill sets. We also often find that PhD students struggle, understandably, to present the transferability of their academic experiences to non-academic contexts. Here are examples of PhD skill sets and ways to describe them.

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Reserving space on campus

We recommend you contact University Conference & Event Services to reserve space for your in-person events.  Students from all class levels and fields of study are familiar with these venues. Be sure to review their Public Health Guidelines in preparation for your event. 

If you have been out of school for several years and are thinking of pursuing a medical education, you have a challenging but not impossible path ahead of you.  Although the average age of entering medical students is usually around 24-25 years of age, there are always a few older students in any given class.

“Postbaccs” is a generic term that encompasses both bachelor-level and master’s level programs. Record enhancement postbaccs may be an appropriate endeavor for you to pursue if you need to improve upon your academic credentials prior to applying to medical school, or if--after an unsuccessful application--you need to address some academic deficiencies before re-applying.

Given the competitiveness of the medical school application process, you must cast a wide enough net and be realistic in your self-assessment as you target schools.  In recent years, UM students and graduates have applied to an average of ~18 MD schools, ~21 MD/PhD programs, and ~8 DO schools.  Applying is a very expensive proposition both in terms of time and money.  Do not apply to any school that you would not feel good attending even if that was the only school where you were able to gain admission.  However, remember that a school that may not look too desirable in June, as you start a

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University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, a premier national public university, enrolls 50,000 + students from every state and over 100 countries. With over 1200 student organizations, 200 + degree programs, world-class athletic and arts opportunities, and a diverse campus environment, students are situated to become tomorrow's leaders across business, government and not-for-profit sectors.

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There are certain steps that you, as college students, should take to help you explore various career options. Just like a final exam, your job/internship search or program selection is not something you should ‘cram’ for at the last minute.