‘If I change to industry or the public administration, does that mean I have to start all over again?’ is a question that is often asked in career counseling sessions one way or another. Clearly, after having invested so much time and energy in your education and your research project, the last thing you would want is starting from scratch. But do you really have to start all over again when you change career direction? And what is so bad about a fresh start?
You may not be able to continue using the same methods, or the same highly specialized research equipment, and you may no longer get evaluated based on your publication record. But here comes the important point: During your time in academia, you have learned so much more than cutting-edge science. You have collaborated in international and diverse teams, built an international network, learned to visualize and report complex data, know how to evaluate different approaches and assure high data quality, you improved your public speaking skills, and you gained project management experience. You also developed your analytical thinking and problem solving skills, and you demonstrated your ability to learn and to adapt to new environments. You may not have realized all the many skills you got on the side, because you took those activities for granted, as they are an integral part of every researcher’s life. By no means does this make them less important. On the contrary, many of the skills developed as a scientist are great assets in industry, and you will always take your experience with you.
It may seem that everyone stays in science and you are the odd one out if you shift career. Actually, more than half the people with a PhD move to industry or other jobs right after their PhD, and an additional ~40% make the move after having stayed in academia for a few more years. Only < 1% will get the desired professor position (The Royal Society, 2010). So why do so many have the impression that nearly everyone stays in academia? It is because those are the people we interact with everyday. As scientists, it is natural that we spend most of our time with other people following an academic career path. We simply do not see those who left anymore at the university or at conferences. This does not mean that their careers are less successful or less important. They are just part of a different world. What matters in the end, is that we all find a profession that matches our goals, interests and skills.
So, if you decide to move to industry after your PhD or postdoc, would it have been better to do something else from the start? No, not if you were passionate about and enjoyed your research. You were part of a unique community, worked in international teams, travelled a lot, and exchanged ideas with other experts. You contributed to bringing society forward. Most importantly, you nourished your curiosity, and gave yourself the opportunity to learn relevant skills while doing something you love. Finally, you have learned to familiarize yourself with new topics quickly, and embrace change. And this will be very useful should you decide to continue your career outside of academia.