Are you applying to junior roles because you think you need to prove yourself before you can aim higher?
In this episode of PostPhDirections, I sit down with Emily Richard, a cognitive neuroscience PhD who is now a Data Science Lead at AG Associates, working on veteran suicide prevention. When Emily started her industry job search, she did what so many PhDs do she aimed too low. She kept applying to entry-level roles, convinced she needed to earn her place first. What changed everything was realising that her PhD, her decade-plus of research experience, and her leadership background already qualified her for senior-level positions. Once she shifted her targets, everything clicked.
Emily's story is a powerful reminder that choosing a job outside of academia doesn't mean giving up meaningful, mission-driven work and that your PhD already qualifies you for more than you think.
We talk about:
Why PhDs almost always underestimate the level they should be targeting
How one conversation with Angela completely reframed what Emily had to offer
Why your academic experience counts as real work experience — even when you don't believe it does
What skills Emily had been overlooking that actually qualified her for senior and leadership roles
How she landed a role she genuinely loves — leading data science on veteran suicide prevention
Why aiming too low might actually be the reason you're not hearing back
The best job search advice you'll hear: treat every application and rejection like a data point
If you're a PhD wondering what level to target or quietly convinced you need to start at the bottom then this conversation will change how you see yourself.
If you found this helpful, share it with a fellow researcher who might be underselling themselves — and please leave us a review. It's the easiest way to help other PhDs find this podcast. 💙
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