Find PhD Jobs in Local Areas

When you think of someone with a PhD, chances are you might just think of that old economics professor of yours. However, PhD jobs can be had locally within a variety of industries, and include economics PhD jobs, PhD computer science jobs, PhD finance jobs, math PhD jobs, and history PhD jobs. Excluding the typical college professor incarnations, let's have a look at some careers these types of degrees can get you.

One thing to note is that even though there are a lot of PhD candidates, there are very few academically-oriented PhD positions available. In some cases, of course, PhD finance degree holders will do well in other industries, such as the banking industry. Similarly, for PhD computer science jobs and for economics PhD jobs, you can find a lot of work outside of the academic field.

History PhD Jobs

One notable former PhD in history got herself a job as an acquisitions editor at a publishing company. Think you can't use your love of history in publishing, or in just about any other field for that matter? Think again. Just about anything with any sort of historical bent can use someone with a PhD in history for it. With a little tweaking and some focus on work you really love, your post-PhD job history can be even more rewarding than your academic career was.

For example, you may find yourself good at writing detailed descriptions, such as for products, services, or even real estate. Because those working on history PhDs necessarily write a lot, you have probably become a master of writing and research, and can spit facts in such a way that most people can understand them. These types of writing skills are in high demand at a time when a lot of people don't have them anymore. Once, writing was a skill a lot of people possessed; today, the talents we all used in school to write history papers, for example, have been largely forgotten by those in the corporate world and in other sectors of the job market.

Math PhD Jobs

If you have a PhD in math, a lot of financially-based jobs are open to you in the non-academic venue. For example, as an applied mathematician, you can use mathematical modeling to help solve problems in engineering, government, business, or even the social sciences. If you are an applied mathematician, for example, you may analyze what the most efficient route is for flight between cities, or help construct automobiles with the best aerodynamic characteristics. You can do applied mathematics in some surprising ways, too.

PhD Computer Science Jobs

You can approach the computer science field in a number of ways with your PhD. Regardless of the job you actually have, you'll need to be innovative and to have theoretical expertise as you apply new technology to solve difficult problems. You may utilize skills in discerning theory, designing hardware, or even designing and programming languages. If you are a computer science researcher at an academic institution, you may be able to focus purely on theory to a greater extent than someone in the business world, who has to deal with ongoing problem resolution. You may also want to work as a database administrator, developing database management system software and finding new ways to organize and store data safely. In some cases, those in database administration may oversee others working directly on databases, depending on the size of the organization they work for.

Network architects design and then test and evaluate systems like local area networks, the Internet, and other communication systems of this new Internet age. Because the Internet is so far-reaching, connections have to be specified to their particular need, such as email systems within a company or intercommunication between two global corporations on opposite sides of the globe.

Economics PhD Jobs

Economics PhD jobs in the private sector are readily available, and in fact a PhD may be required for advancement to higher-level positions. Many organizations require that one hold a PhD, for example, to be a top economist with them. Even government and corporate executives need strong backgrounds in economics, and a PhD there is a plus.

Finding PhD Jobs Locally

Whatever your area, getting online and searching job sites with your particular area of expertise, along with the keyword "PhD," will help you find work suitable for your level of education. Again, a percentage of these PhD job listings will be in academia, and if that is your desired area by all means that is what you should go for. However, competition is very fierce in academic arenas and many PhDs have left the academic world for non-academic work, such as in those positions described above. In addition, these jobs often times pay better than academic positions, especially ones that are non-tenured.

Finding local PhD jobs can be a challenge and especially it’s true if you are limiting yourself to only PhD work in the academic arena. However, if you choose to look in the private sector for jobs that require candidates with PhD degrees, your number of available choices should be much greater.