PhD Resources > Options Outside Academia > Humanities / Social Sciences

PhD Students - Career Options Outside Academia

Humanities & Social Sciences

The sites listed below offer career and job search information, along with a range of narratives written by people with advanced degrees in the Humanities and Social Sciences who either have, or are in the process of making a transition to work outside of academia. Once you have identified one or more specific areas of interest, constructing an effective job search strategy becomes much easier.

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WRK4US: An award-winning email discussion list on nonacademic careers for people with graduate education in Humanities, Education, and Social Science disciplines. Topics include weekly "guest speakers" on specific career-fields, as well as ongoing discussion among list members. The list population consists mostly of graduate students, full-time faculty, adjunct faculty, and ex-academics working outside the academy, but anyone may subscribe. Subscribers are welcome to ask questions, share information, give moral support, and network, network, network. The list is now hosted by the Humanities at Work program through Duke University.

BEYOND ACADEME: Geared toward History students in particular, this site contains information which should be of use not only to graduate students but also to faculty members who advise graduate and undergraduate students (much, although not all, of the material on the site is intended for PhDs). The site includes sections called "Useful Tools" and "Outside the Box." In Useful Tools, you will find FAQs designed to help historians learn more about job options outside of academia, tips on transforming a CV into a resume, information on beginning and conducting a job search, a list of suggested reading, an essay explaining how you can and should make the decision to remain in or to leave academia, as well a whole host of other information. "Outside the Box" includes a monthly profile of an historian who works "outside the box" as well as a segment called "Four Transformed Academics" or "Here's Where We Prove That Nothing Is Too Obscure." This latter segment highlights four fictitious academics, providing information on their background and demonstrating how they can transform their skills and interests into meaningful work outside of academia.

LINGUISTICS ENTERPRISES: This site, hosted by CUNY's Graduate Program in Linguistics, aims to help academically trained linguists find private sector employment.

ART HISTORIANS: Hosted by Notre Dame, this site contains a range of alternative career options and job search resources for those trained in Art History.

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS: A comprehensive online job listing and job search site focused specifically on the nonprofit world.

SELLOUT: A resource for Humanities PhD’s considering nonacademic positions.

If you have any questions, contact our Assistant Director for Graduate Student Career Services, Rosanne Ecker. Email Rosanne or call 443-3616 to arrange an appointment with her.