*Silent screaming* THE BOOK IS LIVE! On all major platforms!
(And you can request it through your local or university library system, too.)
Now, whenever someone DMs me with three and a half paragraphs of questions, I can be like, "Ahem, did you read my book?"
😅
Find all the information on the book at >>> TheBoldPhD.com/navigate
Have comments or questions as you read the book? I left my email at the end of the introduction so you can email me personally.
Yes, I WILL respond personally.
Now go get the book for a PhD who might be considering a career outside academia.
Happy Thursday!
8 - 4
Let's talk about local meet-ups and how they help you build a professional brand.
Years ago, when I was freelancing, I attended a monthly local event for entrepreneurs.
It was at this event that I:
➡️ Met someone who became a writing client for 2 years.
➡️ Met another who referred me multiple times for editing work.
Showing up helped me get paid.
You can do the same, no matter your industry.
✅ Search on Meetup, Eventbrite, or Facebook Events.
✅ Choose a public place. (We don’t want to make the news 😅)
✅ Put it on your calendar.
✅ Show up. Smile. Introduce yourself. Contribute.
Then do it again.
Over time, people remember you.
Best of all, there's no internet algorithm to please.
Happy Wednesday.
3 - 0
I’ve joked before that PowerPoint helped me land my current medical communications job.
People laugh. But I’m only half-joking.
When I saw the job description for my role, two things stood out:
✅ PhD in Immunology
✅ Ability to create and edit PowerPoint presentations
So I applied.
Was I hired for those things alone? No.
But it always reminds me that when you have a Ph.D., you don't need extra certifications or micro-credentials to get ahead.
Yes, they can help. I am even seeing them in job descriptions nowadays.
But they're not deal-breakers.
Your Ph.D. was a series of micro-credentials!
You have more than enough.
Now learning to reframe and communicate them?
That's the real micro-credential. Make those your allies and you'll increase your odds of winning.
Happy Monday.
2 - 0
20 brutal career truths I wish more PhD programs taught.
1. A PhD is not a career plan. (h/t David Mendes da Silva, PhD)
2. No one is coming to save you. Build the lifeboat before you need it.
3. Career branding is not for show-offs. It's a survival skill.
4. Networking matters more than citations.
5. Prestige doesn’t always pay the bills.
6. Hard work is not always rewarded.
7. You are not "just a PhD student."
8. Non-academic jobs are not for people who "failed" in academia.
9. Your advisor is not your career coach.
10. LinkedIn is not quite your new CV/resume...but you shouldn't ignore it.
11. "Translatable skills" are useless unless you can explain them.
12. Your degree is a tool. Not an identity.
13. Job titles are made up. Focus on impact.
14. Loyalty to an institution isn’t a retirement plan.
15. Your dissertation is not a box. Stop locking yourself in it.
16. You don't always need a postdoc as an "in-between" job.
17. You can be brilliant and broke.
18. Boundaries are not selfish.
19. Growth can look like letting go.
20. Your research isn't wasted. Even if you never use it.
Bonus:
21. You don't have to wait until you graduate from school to have a money plan.
Understanding these = freedom.
Which of these resonated with you the most?
28 - 0
Over the course of nine months in 2024, I interviewed 50 PhDs and academics across 40+ degree types to create a free non-academic career video library.
I am happy to share that the library is LIVE!
If you plan on using your PhD outside academia, this is a series you'll want to get into.
Bookmark this link when you're ready to dive into this series: www.publicationacademy.org/exiting-academia-interv…
8 - 0
One day, during my postdoc days, I chatted with an assistant professor who had just won a grant and I talked about feeling like an impostor.
Looking back, the lab I was a part of wasn't the problem at all. I didn't know it then, but the feelings likely stemmed from the fact that I was not aligned with the career path I had chosen at the time.
In response to my statement and to my amazement, the professor said, “You know, I still feel the same way sometimes.”
I'll appreciate that moment of honesty forever. Every time self-doubt and impostor syndromes tries to creep up in my life, I remember this conversation and charge forward.
Here are 3 lessons on impostor syndrome I've learned since that day:
1 - You are probably doing better than you think.
2 - The people you esteem have their moments of self-doubt too.
3 - If you have gotten to where you are ethically, yes these thoughts might occur to you, but it's important to not give them wings.
Tap the LIKE if this resonates.
12 - 2
"You should pursue a PhD/MD/PharmD for personal growth and fulfillment, not for money."
I agree. And here's what's also true 👇🏾
For some people, getting that degree ALSO represents a chance to change not just their individual socio-economic status BUT that of their families, and even, generations, after them.
For some people, these degrees are not just about an individual need.
Them breaking through means everybody in their community breaks through too.
Whatever your reason, I see you.
16 - 0
What's the blueprint for building a long AND successful career in science and medical writing?
Anita Dubey is my guest on this week's episode of The Bold PhD podcast and we talk about her own storied career and strategies to help you grow no matter your career path.
Listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or click below to watch.
watch video on watch page
2 - 0
"I was under the radar.
So I put myself on the radar."
Don't worry. I won't be rapping verses any time soon. 😅
But this is exactly the sort of thing that occurs to me when I think of personal branding and how it benefits your career.
I read a post last week about how you can only tweak your resume so much before you actually have to PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE and talk to people.
That post couldn't have been more apt.
This is your Monday reminder to not be the best-kept secret.
Happy New Week.
9 - 0
I recently created this career guide bundle.
It's free to download and you can get it at this link: theboldphd.com/careerslist
**Full disclosure: If you're not on my bi-weekly career newsletter for academics, you'll be added to it when you sign up to download these guides. Feel free to unsubscribe at any time.
If you are already on my newsletter, I sent you a link to download these yesterday. Search in your email inbox for it. 😊
Happy Saturday.
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✨Helping PhD students and early-career researchers build confidence and resilience to thrive in today’s job market.✨
Hello. I’m Gertrude Nonterah. I have a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology. Through The Bold PhD Podcast, I share real stories, expert interviews, and practical advice to help you thrive in today’s uncertain job market. Subscribe to start creating a career you control.
For business inquiries, reach me at hello(at)theboldphd.com
*Get a copy of my new book: theboldphd.com/navigate/
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Joined 11 October 2015