(A) Which Books Should You Read?

ordered by the date of publication. 

1. Turning Science Into Things People Need Voices of Scientists Working in Industry (Giltner, 2010). Also, anthology introducing career stories of ten respected scientists who have successfully built new careers in the industry.
2. Navigating the Path to Industry: A Hiring Manager’s Advice for Academics Looking for a Job in Industry (Nelson, 2014). In addition, advice on how to optimize your job application process as a researcher. How to network, conduct informational interviews, turn your academic CV into an industry resume, write a cover letter, and go through the job interviews with confidence.
3. The Unruly PhD: Doubts, Detours, Departures, and Other Success Stories (Peabody, 2014). Additionally, anthology introducing career stories of researchers who have successfully built new careers in the industry.
4. Moving On: Essays on the Aftermath of Leaving Academia (Miller et al. 2014). Furthermore, anthology introducing careers stories of fourteen former graduate students, adjuncts, and tenure-track professors who have successfully built new careers in the industry.

More Recommended Career Books

5. “So What Are You Going to Do with That?”: Finding Careers Outside Academia (Basalla & Debelius, 2014). Moreover, career advice for PhDs including discussion on transferrable skills, strategies to pass job interviews, and examples of researchers who have successfully made the transition.
6. Changing Hats: A book for academics looking beyond academia (ebook, Gritsenko, 2015). Also, demystifying stereotypes about transitioning to the industry including practical tips and success stories.
7. The Professor Is In: The Essential Guide To Turning Your PhD Into a Job (Kelsky, 2015). In addition, advice on how to optimally develop your research career and how to transition beyond academia when the time comes.
8. How to Find a Career With Your Humanities Degree in 126 Days: A Guide for Lost Humanities Majors (Mulvey, 2015). Additionally, the official guide from Selloutyoursoul.com, one of the world’s most popular career resources for humanities majors. The book contains a 126-day career-orientation program focused on how to transition to the industry as a PhD, build the right skill set, and land the job.

More Books Worth Reading (Part 1)

1. Next Gen PhD: A Guide to Career Paths in Science (Sinche, 2016). Furthermore, overview of the career landscape facing science PhDs, combined with guidelines on how to identify personal strengths and interests, network, and successfully get through the job application process.
2. Succeeding Outside the Academy: Career Paths beyond the Humanities, Social Sciences, and STEM (Fruscione & Baker, 2018). Moreover, a collection of essays dedicated to emotional, intellectual, and financial aspects of making a transition from academia to industry.
3. Work Your Career: Get What You Want from Your Social Sciences or Humanities PhD (Berdahl & Malloy, 2018). Also, the book is dedicated to PhD students in social sciences and humanities in Canada. It presents a systematic approach to building successful career outcomes, both in academia and industry.
4. Building a Career Outside Academia: A Guide for Doctoral Students in the Behavioral and Social Sciences (Brown Urban & Linver, 2018). In addition, collection of essays dedicated to making the right career decision, and preparing for job interviews as a researcher in behavioural and/or social sciences.

Additional Books on Leaving Academia

5. The Freelance Academic: Transform Your Creative Life and Career (Pryal, 2019). Additionally, the author tells her professional story and gives practical advice on how to develop the career you want, and how to effectively use your creativity and your strengths at work.
6. What Is out There for Me? Furthermore, the Landscape of Post-PhD Career Tracks (Bielczyk, 2019). Comprehensive guidebook listing the scope of professions that you might choose as a PhD graduate, working environments (also known as tribes) in the job market, and effective strategies to land jobs. This book also contains self-discovery exercises and testimonials from PhD graduates who now successfully self-navigate in the industry building their career paths — real examples of how to translate PhD skills for industry.
7. The PhD Career Coaching Guide: Job Search Strategies, Interview Techniques and Life Lessons for Achieving Success (Persson, 2020). Moreover, advice on how to find a good job, attract employers, and successfully get through the job application process.
8. Going Alt-Ac: A Guide to Alternative Academic Careers (Linder et al., 2020). Also, general career advice on PhD careers outside academia based on case stories by the authors and other researchers who successfully transition to the industry as a PhD.

More Books Worth Reading (Part 2)

1. The Portable PhD: Taking Your Psychology Career Beyond Academia (Gallagher & Gallagher, 2020). In addition, a guidebook for PhD graduates in psychology who think about working beyond academia: in public policy, education, healthcare, and business.
2. Putting the Humanities PhD to Work: Thriving in and beyond the Classroom (Rogers, 2020). Additionally, an overview of the options in the job market for PhDs in humanities: how graduate training can lead to meaningful and significant careers beyond the academy for graduates, and how to find out which path you should take.
3. Doctoring: Building a Life With a PhD (Cornthwaite, 2020). Furthermore, personal story of transition to the industry by the author, aiming to empower researchers who think about taking the big leap toward industry and doubt their value.
4. The Salmon Leap for PhDs: Swimming upstream: A transition from academia to industry (Tardelli, 2020). Moreover, the summary of the best strategies for swimming in different waters towards landing an industry position. PhDs are in high demand outside academia, yet they need to learn how to speak the language of industry recruiters. This book summarizes practical tips on how to transition from academia to industry.
5. Leaving Academia: A Practical Guide (Catherine. 2020). Also, advice for researchers thinking about the transition, focused on overcoming psychological difficulties, translating academic experience to the language of business, and adapting to the first job in the industry.

More Books on Academic Career Transitions

6. Independent Scholars Meet the World: Expanding Academia beyond the Academy: (Rethinking Careers, Rethinking Academia) (Caccipuoti & Keohane-Burbridge, 2020). In addition, an anthology of personal stories and a compilation of advice from academics who successfully developed careers both in academia and in industry.
7. The Power of a PhD: How Anyone Can Use Their PhD to Get Hired in Industry (Hankel, 2022). Additionally, the Author leverages his expertise as the CEO of the world’s largest career training platform for PhDs, Cheeky Scientist, to help PhDs overcome their biggest obstacle: obscurity. His eight-step approach provides a consistent and proven methodology that allows PhDs to transition into the industry without suffering the painful process of trial and  error.
8. Beyond Academia: Stories and Strategies for PhDs Making the Leap to Industry (Tardelli, 2023): a comprehensive guide for PhDs and postdocs looking to land their dream job in industry. Furthermore, with insights from industry professionals on how they made it, it focuses on to leverage your PhD to stand out from the crowd and get hired.