Post-PhD Job Hunting: How to make your dissertation work for you

Starting your job hunt within your network makes sense. After all, you’ve built up your connections throughout your studies, and your colleagues and peers are already familiar with your work. It’s true that a large number of people find their jobs through networking. So you may wonder, what are the benefits of going beyond my network? Isn’t that just more effort?

In fact, there are a few benefits to reaching outside your network. By going outside your existing professional network, you can:

• Expand your opportunities. Staying within your existing network can limit your options. By expanding your reach, you may discover job opportunities that you wouldn't have found otherwise.
   
• Gain new perspectives. Networking with people in different fields can provide you with new perspectives and ideas, which can help you develop new skills and approaches to your work. Ultimately, this can make you a more well-rounded candidate.
   
• Develop new connections. Building relationships outside your professional network can increase your chances of finding a job in the future. You never know who may be able to provide you with a job lead or referral down the line.
   
• Demonstrate adaptability. Venturing outside your professional network can show potential employers that you are flexible and willing to take on new challenges. This can be particularly valuable in today's rapidly changing job market.

Staying within your existing network can actually limit your opportunities. Your network may lack diversity in terms of experience, background, and field. This, in turn, can limit your access to opportunities outside your field. If you are a recent graduate and many people in your network are also recent graduates, you might also find yourself competing with several other people in your network for the same opportunities. Finally, while referrals are often a normal part of the work environment, there can be perceptions of bias if you get a job based on perceived nepotism.

So how do you actually reach beyond your network and meet new contacts? How can you find new job opportunities and fields where you might be a great fit? 

Finding new contacts and potential employers requires some time, research, and persistence. So the first thing you should do is research companies and organizations. Look up professional associations and industry reports, and attend conferences, seminars, and workshops to meet people and learn more about what companies are out there and who is hiring. Websites that post employee reviews of companies are increasingly popular. No matter where you live, you can probably find a review of any company and reports of work-life balance, average salary, and working conditions. 

You can also utilize job sites like LinkedIn to check out job descriptions and identify potential contacts to reach out to employers that look promising. Develop a quick introduction for yourself and reach out to current employees at interesting companies or people in positions you’d like to have for informational interviews. Websites like LinkedIn are also full of recruiters. Make contact with some headhunters or recruiters in your field and let them know you’re looking for work.

If you use LinkedIn, you’ll need to make a profile for yourself that highlights your skills and experience. This is also a great way to leverage your dissertation for potential job opportunities by highlighting your research. In addition, make sure that you have a current resume and a strong cover letter ready to go when you do identify promising potential employment opportunities. If you aren’t sure whether your resume and cover letter are appropriate, you can always turn to an online service for help editing and formatting your application to boost your chances of success.

Job hunting is rarely easy and fun. In fact, it often becomes a full-time job in and of itself. These days, despite the fact that you can easily find job postings and submit a resume online, applications seem to take longer than ever. Many job portals require sign-ups and have their own formats and software, resulting in you typing in the same information repeatedly. After all that work, it’s not uncommon to simply never receive a response from a company. If you find yourself frustrated and depressed during this process, you’re definitely not alone.

The best way to handle job hunting is actually to treat it like a job. Set a goal for yourself daily and carve out dedicated time to apply for jobs. Prioritize networking with new contacts and recruiters and applying to jobs that you think would be a great fit for you. Don’t let rejection get you down. If you find yourself struggling, talk to others who are also job hunting. Whether personal friends or people on job hunting forums online, it can always help to have a sympathetic ear to listen. 

Going beyond your network to try to find new opportunities is a challenge, but for many people, it’s a challenge that pays off. Exploring outside your comfort zone, trying to imagine new ways and fields to apply your talents, and meeting new people are all essential as you leverage your Ph.D. experience for maximum return. While you are job hunting, the most important tip is to believe in yourself and your experience. There is a great job waiting out there for you, and you just have to find it.