Recently, I came across a LinkedIn post about an interview question at a large pharmaceutical company. The question was quite typical: ‘where do you see yourself in 5 years time?’
The candidate answered ‘I would like to manage my own work, end to end. I would also like to lead a small team.’
The interviewer smiled and answered, ‘Oh, so you want to be a manager!’
This really highlighted the disconnect between PhD and industry skills- a PhD student manages their work, end to end, with the opportunity to teach, train and influence the work of others. They often manage MSc and BSc students in the lab.
However, while the level of a manager may be reached after a few years of working in industry, a PhD graduate is frequently expected to start in an entry-level role.
The solution may be in the language used by PhD graduates, underselling these skills which are desirable in industry. PhD applications should aim to highlight ‘soft’ skills, as well as their technical experience.
Over-qualified and Under-experienced
June 19, 2026
I have undergone the challenge of transitioning from an academic career to an industrial one in the current job market. My experience has been particularly eye-opening regarding the juxtaposition of success in academia and the perception of academics outside the university setting. To be clear, a PhD is not another degree; it is a full-time research job. You are project