In February 2018, I was in a similar position as you.
I was a Ph.D. Candidate in Anthropology and I knew academia wasn't for me. I wanted to transition to industry but didn't have a clue on how to do so. I felt lost as I reinvented myself as a non-academic, having spent much time and energy preparing myself in a doctoral program only to feel unprepared to sell my skills in the "real world".
I received advice from well-meaning professors, but these were outdated strategies that fell flat in the modern job market.
I networked. I made new business cards. I attended technology conferences. I wrote open-platform articles. I even paid for LinkedIn.
Despite all of my efforts, I was not feeling confident. My autoimmune condition flared up due to the stress and uncertainty. For an entire academic year I fulfilled my Ph.D. duties while simultaneously trying to figure out how to be more competitive and have a chance to land a job I was happy with. This tiring pursuit seemed fruitless, taking a mental and physical toll. I kept hustling. I stretched my network, and talked to anyone who would offer me 15 minutes of their time.
And then, I noticed a shift.
In this pursuit, I came to learn the language of the "natives" in the fields I was interested in. I designed field-specific job materials. Being a good anthropologist, I immersed myself in the cultures of the fields I was interested in entering. I spoke their language and slowly they started listening.
Companies began calling me. I got interviews.
I got call backs for interviews without the need for any employee referrals. I was flown out to Washington DC and New York. I interviewed for notoriously difficult companies like Salesforce and Red Associates. I received job offers. I even got a call back from two dream jobs, IDEO and an IDEO affiliate in Perú.
Finally, in July 2018 I accepted an amazing position with an Ivy+ University doing Design Research for diversity and inclusion.
I think about all the stress and suffering transitioning out of academia caused me and it sends a shudder down my spine. Not to mention all the directionless ambiguity that comes with reinventing yourself as a competitive candidate for the non-academic job market.
I think about all the stress and suffering transitioning out of academia caused me and it sends a shudder down my spine. Not to mention all the directionless ambiguity that comes with reinventing yourself as a competitive candidate for the non-academic job market.