SITUATION

An assistant professor in the U.S. contacted me as she felt it was time to explore career options beyond academia. While she held an attractive position, her funding situation was uncertain, and she wasn’t sure if she could secure enough grants to sustain her salary long-term. Although she was confident in her ability to attract funding, she sought a more stable career path, particularly as her family was growing.

She wanted to transition into a non-profit organization rather than a corporate role, ensuring her next position aligned with both her interests and values. However, she needed guidance on understanding her own professional drives and motivations and how the recruitment process functioned outside of academia.

STRATEGY + RESULTS

Our first step was to refine her application documents, which were overly academic and heavily focused on publications, research, and administrative work. The documents lacked a clear career narrative—they didn’t communicate her ambitions, reasons for leaving academia, or the value she could bring to future employers.

To tailor her job search, we identified fields that aligned with both her strong research background and personal values. Given her experience collaborating with research organizations in Asia, she targeted non-profits and organizations that matched her expertise and mission. Alongside submitting applications, she also began engaging with recruiters, an important step in understanding how recruitment works in her new industry.

A critical part of her preparation involved interview training, focusing on recruiter expectations and why they ask certain questions. By improving her communication strategy, clarifying her professional ambitions, and learning how to position herself in the non-profit sector, she successfully secured a job in a non-profit organization. This role not only provides the stability she was seeking but also serves as an excellent platform for her long-term career aspirations.