From Academia to Industry: Overcoming Skill Perception Bias

The other day, I had a conversation with a friend of mine who also holds a PhD. She mentioned something that had never crossed my mind before: PhDs often underestimate their skills. What does that mean exactly?

It means that we often fail to recognize the level of expertise we possess when we consider transitioning into industry. Why does this happen? Well, in academia, we are constantly surrounded by highly educated individuals within the same field. As PhDs, we may feel like we have the "lowest" level of knowledge compared to everyone else, who may hold positions like Postdocs, Assistant Professors, Associate Professors, or full Professors. So, even if we truly excel at a skill, such as data analysis, we might perceive ourselves as only being a 3 out of 10 in terms of mastery.

GAINING PERSPECTIVE BEYOND ACADEMIA 

However, when we step outside of this academic environment, we carry this perception with us. We continue to view ourselves through the lens of a 3 out of 10, unaware that our skills are actually highly valuable in industry, perhaps ranking closer to an 8 or 9 out of 10.

RECOGNISING THE VALUE OF INDUSTRY SKILLS 

It's crucial to gain perspective on our abilities. Upon reflecting on my own situation, I realised the truth in my friend's words. If you were to ask me how I feel about my data analysis skills, I might initially rate myself as a 3 out of 10. But upon closer examination of what I've accomplished and the expertise I've gained, I've come to realize that my proficiency is likely much higher.

SEEKING MENTORSHIP AND INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

Remember, it's challenging to recognize the value of our skills when everyone around us seems to be at the top of their game in academia. Find a mentor in industry who can give you perspective. 

-Elena Hoffer, CEO, Alma.Me