Doing a Ph.D. is at the top tier for every academic. Multiple degrees make you an academic, but a Ph.D. secures the title doctor and obviously an expert in your field. You are immediately looked upon as a reference for your specialization. The smartest person in the room. It is often very challenging to achieve a Ph.D. It requires a lot of commitment to study and being focused. Students who commit to having a doctorate degree are not only motivated, they have to be determined to go the whole way!

Often students are motivated to do their Ph.D.’s for one of two reasons. They either love what they are studying or they are hoping to get lucrative careers out of their effort. Better pay and benefits. To move up the ladder and rightfully so, because of their qualifications. Now, if you are not already in a senior position at work, then this is motivation for you to break glass ceilings and be the first to make it. On another angle, the opportunities for Ph. Ds may not be so obvious beyond having the capabilities to relay your knowledge.

Teaching is often the first thing a doctorate graduate has on their mind. Their mentors have gone through the same process, and they have often landed in academia. On the positive side, for those who are not looking into academia as your lifelong career, there are several options for you. Doing research professionally is not just a talent. It requires skill and one that people will pay for handsomely. Your specialist techniques are valued by several industries and to succeed, you need to be aware. Keep your eyes open and ear on the ground. Your dream job is an interview away.

With a refined skillset like one of a doctorate graduates, entrepreneurship could be your next venture. You have studied the ins and outs of your industry. The necessary particulars and you have a desire for risk and reward. It may be time to try your hand at business. During your Ph.D. study, take time to build on both personal and professional development. This will help you when you decide to take that coveted interview for the role of your dreams or know how to present yourself as a new employer. Given that, you have decided to start your own business.

Learn how to translate your qualifications into skills. When writing this will go a long way in showcasing your capabilities. Also remember that although qualifications are great, experience always beats qualifications. Even without schooling, you can learn about demand skills on the job. Therefore, if you do not get the job the first time around, consider what you missed and how you can improve on it. Consulting is also a career to consider. It has already been proven that most PhDs develop remarkable analytical skills over the course of their thesis project.

Now unless you are in academia and know the difference between a master’s thesis and a doctorate one, it will be hard for an employer to catch on. Unless they are looking for your skillset specifically. Having such a skillset allows you to dictate hours and even the fee for your time. Consulting can be lucrative especially with the right network. This is why it is important to build up your base of professional networks. Referrals will come in handy once you have graduated. A career in finance is also one to consider

You may not be well versed in finance, but the technical expertise and quantitative skills acquired as a Ph.D. student are needed in spades. For a finance graduate, equity research and quantitative analysis come highly recommended. Many employers look for refined research skills that can only be found after advanced research methods have been taught and ingrained you through practice. These are only a few options. Others include working in the government and law firms to review patent applications among other things.