Before applying for any role you are going to want to do some basic research to make sure it is a good fit for you. Start by: 

• Reading the job description, person specification and any other information provided carefully.
• Read the company website and socials to find out more about what they do and their culture.
• Check Glassdoor for reviews of the company.

Reflect on whether the role is what you initially thought it was and if you are excited about applying for it. 

Do you have the skills and experience that they are looking for? You don’t need everything, and there is no harm in stretching to apply for something you’re not sure you’re ready for as long as you set your expectations accordingly. 

You are also advised to reach out to the named contact in the job advert to ask any questions you have if there is one. Think carefully about your questions before you get in touch, but don’t be afraid to contact them. 

You might want to ask about:

• Specific questions about the role
• Specific questions about their recruitment process if this is unclear
• What the culture is like in the team
• Salary or pay if this is not in the advert
• Specific questions about flexible or remote working if this would impact whether you would apply.

All PhD students develop and demonstrate a wide range of transferable skills through their PhD. The obvious ones are the technical research and writing skills that are a requirement of any successful PhD.

Often overlooked are the many other skills used along the way. But independent research requires you to be a project manager, administrator, personal coach, negotiator, and marketer. Here are some skills you have likely developed as part of your PhD journey:

• Resilience
• Negotiation
• Managing up
• Project management
• Time management
• Organisation
• Networking
• Administration
• Attention to detail
• Adaptability
• Handling and using feedback
• Presentation skills
• Analytical thinking

Our general advice on how to write a CV is a great place to start with your industry CV.
Some specific things to consider as a PhD student or graduate are:

Where to incorporate your PhD

There are two options here: 
to include it in only your education section, 
to include it in both your education section and your work experience section.

In your Work Experience
If the role you are applying to has a focus on research or policy, or it was industry funded, then it is likely that you want to highlight the directly relevant skills from your PhD in your work experience section. You should still acknowledge it in your education section with the same format as your other education.

In Your Education
If you are returning to a previous career or moving into a new career that your PhD doesn’t have any direct relevance to, and doesn’t use the research skills from your PhD, then you might choose to only include your PhD in your education section. In this case make sure to elaborate on it in the education section. Using bullet points to highlight all of the transferable skills from your PhD.

Making your PhD feel industry relevant 

Start with the requirements for the job(s) that you’re applying for:

• Reflect on your PhD, which of these skills did you demonstrate as part of it?
• Try to come up with concrete examples that demonstrate your skill level or knowledge of a particular topic.
• Include these in bullet points under your PhD on your CV.

You don’t have to have examples of all the requirements in your PhD, but if you include relevant skills on CV then it will be an effective way to demonstrate its relevance.

Consider the additional responsibilities you undertook alongside your PhD. If you tutored, marked, assisted with other research, consulted or took part in knowledge exchange then these activities should all be included in the work experience section of your CV too.

Publications, Conferences & Awards

It is not standard to include any of these sections on your industry CV. However, if they are particularly impressive or particularly relevant then you may choose to include a short publications section. 

Useful resources:

See our advice on CVs
Vitae CV examples – examples include both academic and industry facing CVs for the same people
Get your CV checked by your Faculty Careers Consultant  

A cover letter should almost always accompany your CV - together they form a marketing package designed to convince the reader that you have the skills, knowledge and experience required to perform well in the job for which you are applying. 

Length 

Cover Letters for non-academic roles should only be one page in length. Typically no more than 350-400 words.

Contents 

• It should be written in the style of a formal letter, addressed to the named contact for the position, with addresses at the top and a signature at the bottom.  
• It should state which position you are applying for and where you found it. 
  You should have a paragraph detailing your motivation for applying for this specific post and why you want to work for this organisation. It may be relevant to touch on why you are moving away from an academic career.
• You should clearly outline how your skills and experience meet the requirements of the job description and specification. Refer to the examples and evidence on your CV.
• You should highlight what you gained from your PhD here but make sure to focus on the relevant aspects of it. 

Useful resources

See our advice on cover letters 

Individual advice: Get your cover letter checked by your Faculty Careers Consultant 

There are no significant differences between academic application forms and industry application forms. Some top tips include:  

• Read instructions carefully. Not all forms are structured the same way and some platforms require documents in specific file types. 
• If it is possible, read through the whole form before starting to complete it so you know all the sections required.
  Many online sites can time out and lose your work. Save regularly. Write any extended answers on a word document and then copy into the form.
• Proofread carefully! Something as simple as a typo in your email address can spoil your hard work.

Useful resources 

Read our advice on completing application forms which covers specific question types. 

Individual Advice: Get your application form checked by your Faculty Careers Consultant 

Large companies may choose to use various skill and psychometric tests as part of their recruitment process. Preparation and practice can help you to increase your scores. Find out more on our Psychometric testing page.

Interview formats and standards vary significantly between different sectors, roles and companies. Use networking, Glassdoor and industry resources online to research what to expect.

Use our interview preparation course and interview simulator to help you to prepare.

Marketing your PhD

Be prepared to market your PhD in an interview:

• Prepare a brief summary of your PhD topic and findings that is accessible to a non-specialist audience.
• Prepare a clear explanation of your career journey through the PhD to what you are applying for now.
• Reflect on good STAR examples from your PhD experience. Pick things that have a clear task, actions that relate to the skills in the job description and have a clear positive result.

Useful resources

Our preparing for an interview short course. 

Individual advice: Book a practice interview with your Faculty Careers Consultant 

Commonly used for graduate recruitment you may come across assessment centres in your applications. Find out more about them and how to prepare on our Assessment Centre page.