Is Industry Right for You? Opportunities to Explore

Abstract

In the course of your doctoral studies it may have crossed your mind that your research might have little short-term value – after all, it’s mostly curiosity driven. Join the club. If you’re good – or lucky – your research may contribute to society in the long run. If you’re ready to work for an organization this is largely driven by the short-term impact on society, your next step may be to find a job in a for-profit organization. Although work-for- hire may seem a bit mundane to an academic, this kind of work serves society in the short term in a tangible way: someone is willing to pay for the service or product you produce. A wide variety of companies hire PhDs. In this chapter we first describe several aspects of doing research for a company. It might help you decide whether a corporate lab is an appeal- ing destination for you. Next, we discuss opportunities outside a research environment, where you are expected to solve prob- lems, use your analytical skills, explore unknown territory, and learn while you’re working, in short, the world of management consultancy. 209