The future is built on technology and the advance of technology depends on STEM graduates. There is strong interest in promoting STEM as a learning stream to young people. However the pace of change and the nature of academia is such that having reach the pinnacle of academic achievement, the transition to life outside academia is not always smooth or logical.

Unfortunately many hopefuls working extremely hard and long at their PhD remain blissfully unaware that they are ill-prepared to move into the workforce in a related discipline after graduation.

Arunodoy Sur offers some sage advice for post-grad students that will provide a wider vision of vocational opportunities and how to prepare for the transition to workforce and finding a rewarding role after study.

A postdoc was not for me. Too many postdocs and assistant professors I knew were too miserable for me to ever want to be one of them.

It was very surprising to see how little the University knew about transitioning into non-academic careers. Most PhDs transition into an academic postdoc, even when they would rather transition into an industry position, because they believe a postdoc is their only option. It means the reason most PhDs do not get PhD jobs in industry is because they lack the information they need to get these jobs. They also lack information on which non-academic career options are available to them and which of these positions fit their goals and lifestyle.

If you’re a PhD or postdoc, it’s crucial for you to understand all the opportunities you have in front of you.

To avoid this fate, we’ve collated a list of the top 10 hottest non-academic jobs.

There are many alternative career options available to STEM PhDs.

A Postdoc Is Not Your Only Career Option
Top Non-Academic Jobs Alternative For STEM PhDs

1. Market Research Analyst
2. Business Development Manager
3. Competitive Intelligence Analyst
4. Product Manager
5. Management Consulting
6. Quantitative Analyst
7. Medical Communication Specialist
8. Healthcare Information Technology Specialist
9. Operations Research Analyst
10. Medical Science Liaison

Read more at cheekyscientist.com