The PhD student life can be both exciting and challenging. A typical day in a PhD student’s life includes attending classes and seminars, conducting research experiments or field surveys, and writing thesis papers. You also need to meet tight deadlines, keep up with the latest literature in your field, and align with your supervisor’s demands. And the PhD student life is not just limited to academic work; there are various extracurricular activities, such as attending conferences, networking events, and more social meetings with colleagues.
The PhD student life can be very demanding, and it can be easy to feel overwhelmed. However, it’s important to remember that this is a temporary phase, and your hard work and dedication will eventually pay off in the end. Moreover, the transferrable PhD skills and life lessons you learn during your PhD student life will only help you flourish in the future.
Strategies to fast-track your career growth
The PhD student life comes with multiple challenges but also unlocks exciting prospects where one can learn, share, collaborate, network, and grow. With a strategic plan, proactive approach, and an open mindset, PhD students can take advantage of available opportunities, including elusive PhD funding opportunities, and achieve their goals. Here are some tips to help PhD students put their career on the fast track.
- Set clear goals and plan well: Before starting your PhD program, take some time to reflect on your career aspirations and what you hope to achieve with your degree. Once you have a clear idea of your goals, create a plan to achieve them – include both short-term and long-term goals, as well as specific steps you can take to achieve this.
- Find the right mentors/supervisors: To streamline your PhD student life, it is crucial to find good mentors and advisors, preferably with experience in your field. Actively seek feedback on your work assignments and use this to improve your research and professional skills. These seasoned experts can also help you tackle academic and professional challenges, provide networking options, and advise on career options after PhD.
- Expand your knowledge of research: PhD student life is a journey of learning, so don’t forget to expand your research knowledge and skills. It may be beneficial to adopt a more inter-disciplinary approach, gaining knowledge and new perspectives on not only your own subject area but even in related fields of research. This may seem excessive but can be helpful when you work on broader academic projects or teach graduate or undergraduate courses.
- Collaborate with other researchers: The PhD student life gives you the chance to work with other scholars, who are as passionate about their work and have similar goals and aspirations. A collaborative approach will help you expand your research skills and knowledge, gain access to new data sources, and increase the impact of your research. Apart from your PhD program, you can find potential collaborators at academic networking events, on social media, and through professional associations.
- Attend conferences and workshops: Look out for academic seminars, conferences, and workshops provided by your institution or external academic groups. There will likely be many such events during your PhD student life that provide you a platform to share your research, receive feedback, and learn about the latest research trends. They are also a great way to meet academics from different universities, industries, and backgrounds, so make these events a regular feature in your PhD calendar.
- Capitalize on career development resources: Most institutes offer professional development resources to students, including career-focused workshops, seminars, and one-on-one counselling. Take advantage of these career-building resources to learn about job opportunities in your field, create a compelling resume and cover letter, prep for job interviews, and increase your chances of landing your dream job.
- Develop transferable PhD skills: While conducting research is an important part of a PhD program, it’s also important to work on refining the transferable PhD skills that prove invaluable in the future. Join training sessions that help you build key research skills like writing grant proposals, managing and leading projects, delivering engaging research presentations, and communicating clearly, and look for opportunities to practice these throughout your PhD student life.
- Seek PhD funding opportunities: There are several PhD funding opportunities for students which can support their research work, journal publication fees, and even travel expenses for events. It is important to know of and actively seek PhD funding opportunities from different reliable sources, including government grants, academic foundations, private organizations, and crowdfunding. However, before you apply for a grant, read the guidelines on use of funds and application instructions carefully and tailor your proposal accordingly to get the best funding for PhD students.
- Publish your research in journals: The best way to kick-start your academic success is publishing your research in reputed journals. Choose high-impact journals in your field and follow the submission guidelines carefully to maximize publication success. Getting started on your publication list during your PhD student life helps you gain early visibility in your field and gives you a leg up when applying for academic jobs.
- Apply for teaching assignments: As you near the end of your PhD student life, look out for and consider taking up a short teaching assignment in your department or university. Many institutions provide accreditations or certificates to academics who undertake these assignments, which can be a huge advantage for PhD students who want to earn good academic positions after getting their doctoral degrees.
- Explore non-academic career paths: When looking for jobs after PhD, explore non-academic positions that can open-up a range of rewarding options that does justice to all the work you put into your PhD student life. Many industry jobs require people with a rigorous research background and good writing and speaking/communication skills, which makes PhD students far more employable. You can also consider internships and part-time work opportunities that align with your research interests and skills. And if you are seriously thinking of a career change, sign up for additional professional training and career counselling services to ensure you make the right choice.
The PhD student life inculcates an ability to think differently, gives you the chance to work with a diverse set of people from various backgrounds, and equips you with the tools you need for success. While dedication and hard work can help you make a positive impact with your work, students must be proactive in identifying and grabbing the many opportunities available during the PhD student life. By following the simple strategies mentioned above you can set yourself up for success and move closer toward achieving your career goals.
