As Nelson Mandela once stated –“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Staying true to this statement, this notion has provided many of us with the driving force behind our pursuit for education; from a diploma, to an undergraduate degree, to a postgraduate degree.
Often, an undergraduate degree is considered a stepping stone into our professional careers – and for some, a ticket to postgraduate studies. While some of them would join the workforce after completing their undergraduate degree, some of them would further their studies to satisfy their desire to keep learning. This is the motivation factor that often leads them to a PhD.
Let us address the elephant in the room – the belief that stepping away from academia after a PhD somehow means that you have taken the wrong path. I have this sentiment more times than I can count from some of my peers and relatives.
still remember the raised eyebrows when I mentioned I was working in the sales industry (or corporate sector). There was a flicker of disapproval – but I don’t hold it against them because it is not the conventional route people would expect after completing a PhD. The academic path is familiar and often regarded as the “natural progression.” Although, just because it is common, it does not mean that it is the only route – or that it is the right one for everyone.
Academia isn’t the only path
Imagine a tree: where its trunk is your education, and its branches are the many paths you can take. Academia is one of the branches. Industry, government, policy, consulting, data science, entrepreneurship are the others. Although academia has traditionally been seen as the default path after a PhD, it is important to recognise that fulfilling careers also exist outside of it.
As Nature reported in their article “PhD students need more career guidance — and universities need to provide it”, a majority of PhD graduates globally do not remain in academia and they thrive elsewhere. Take Biotech degree for example – your post-PhD career is not limited to the laboratory. Check out all the other paths that you can explore with your degree!
PhD: More than just technical knowledge
You may be familiar with the “circle of knowledge” metaphor, where gaining a PhD means pushing the boundary of human understanding in a very specific niche.
But what that image doesn’t show are the transferable skills you pick up along the way: project management, critical thinking, time management, problem-solving, mentoring, adaptability, communication, and resilience. These skills are not bound to your thesis topic. They are valuable in every sector.
Even if you have worked before starting a PhD, the experience of navigating a doctoral journey refines and amplifies these capabilities. That’s what makes you a strong candidate, not just the content of your thesis, but the skills you developed writing it.
For a breakdown of how PhD skills translate to industry roles, you can check out this BiteSizeBio article.
There’s an ongoing conversation about how doctoral training should better prepare students for a wider range of career paths. Initiatives like the IMNIS (Industry Mentoring Network in STEM) in Australia, and various career development efforts globally, are helping bridge the gap between academia and industry.
These programmes offer doctoral students the chance to build professional networks, understand real-world challenges, and learn how their skills can be applied in diverse environments. In Malaysia, similar efforts could be bolstered -something worth championing within our own institutions.
Is it still worth it to pursue a PhD?
This is a question that I hear often: “Is it worth doing a PhD if you are not going to stay in academia?” Some might say that starting work straight after a Bachelor’s degree is enough – for many, it is. So why the hassle to go through years of research and uncertainty only for you to take a different path?
Although I am not working in academia now, I have never regretted doing a PhD. It shaped the way I comprehend things and analyse problems, taught me to ask better questions, and gave me a whole set of skills I carry with me every day – be it in my personal or professional life.
Working after a Bachelor’s degree is a completely valid path. So is doing a Master’s. So is doing a PhD. None is better than the other. It really depends on your goals, interests, and what drives you. If you are considering a PhD, do it because you’re curious. Because you want to challenge yourself.
Because you enjoy learning. Not just for the title, or the hope of better pay (honestly, it doesn’t always work that way).
If you are wrapping up your PhD and are unsure what is next in store for you, know that you are not alone. You are not stuck either. Your career does not have to follow the academic track to be meaningful. You’re not “leaving” academia per se. Instead, you are simply choosing to grow in a different direction.
The skills that you have gained (ie: critical thinking, problem-solving, resilience, communication) are incredibly valuable, and they transfer across industries. Your PhD is more than a qualification as it is a proof of your ability to push through complexity.
So yes, to me, pursuing a PhD is worth it. Not because of where it takes you, but mainly because of who you become along the way.
NOTE: The writer is a Science Liaison Officer with Cancer Research Malaysia
