Can a PhD lead to a career in industry?

The skills and personal attributes you develop during a PhD will benefit an industry career. Your creativity, curiosity and grit will make you an effective problem-solver in any job.

Many PhD graduates build successful careers in industry, government and community services.

“I think a lot of people don't realise that PhDs don't have to go into academia,” says University of Melbourne PhD graduate Dr Felicia Eng. She is a Customer Success Manager at IBM.

“I've discovered even when you don't need a PhD, the skills that you learn from going through a PhD translate so well into industry.”

PhD candidates manage and complete a substantial research project over four years full-time or equivalent part-time. They cultivate persistence, creativity and curiosity while developing expert research and analytical skills.

University of Melbourne PhD graduate Dr Cristina Tambasco works for Drummond Street Services’ Centre for Family Research and Evaluation.

“I get to do research all day long,” Dr Tambasco says.

“I think the PhD program set me up really well to do the research I'm doing now. I feel like I have an in-depth understanding of research design and methodology – all the stages you need to go through to construct a strong project.”

A PhD develops transferable skills

As a PhD graduate, you will be an expert problem-solver. You’ll be thorough in your approach and communicate your views clearly.

No matter what objections or roadblocks you might face in your career, your PhD experience will have taught you to find a way forward.

“I think scientific writing has definitely helped me to be clearer and more concise when I communicate,” Dr Eng says.

A PhD will teach you to be accurate, thorough and responsible.

“My research did have the potential to impact people’s lives. It was really important that whatever I was putting out there in the world was accurate, that it was thorough,” says Dr Tambasco.

Dr Tambasco’s research involved interviewing human participants.

“It was really important that I not only hold care for my participants, but that I expressed care as well, particularly when I was dealing with really sensitive topics,” she says.

A PhD hones your creativity, curiosity – and grit

During a PhD, you will generate new knowledge.

You will deal with problems nobody has ever solved before. And once you graduate, your degree will be proof of your ability.

A PhD gives you grit, says Dr Shashi Karunanethy. Dr Karunanethy has a PhD from the University of Melbourne and is the Chief Economist at Geografia.

“Every time you fail on an idea, you rebuild it, and it strengthens and strengthens. That's the creative process,” he says.

Curiosity fuels this creative process.

“You don't go into your research thinking that you know what the answer's going to be. You're actually open to the findings that present themselves and to exploring,” Dr Tambasco says.

A PhD is a gateway to new opportunities

A PhD at the University of Melbourne will open doors to opportunities outside your research.

“I never stopped working through the PhD, as I wanted to see how abstract ideas can translate into impact for society. For that reason, I continued to work with governments and policymakers through advisory services while undertaking my research,” says Dr Karunanethy.

“The University gave me incredible opportunities to expand my network into areas of work where I had not worked before, but I'd always wanted to.”

Dr Eng and Dr Tambasco also took advantage of these opportunities. Dr Eng worked as a residential tutor at a University of Melbourne college, while Dr Tambasco completed an internship through APR.Intern.

“When you do a PhD, there are usually other opportunities to do other work alongside of that, like research assistant work or tutoring,” Dr Tambasco says.

“That gives you opportunities to widen your experience.”

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