Jennifer Polk

Jennifer Polk

@fromphdtolife.com

I live in Toronto and, since 2013, have helped professors, postdocs, & other PhDs who are ready to leave academia get meaningful, fulfilling jobs elsewhere. Ask me about my PhD Career Clarity Program! Find me elsewhere online at https://fromphdtolife.com.

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Jennifer Polk
@fromphdtolife.com

"How do I get started finding a job outside academia?" Learn my answer, including how to avoid common missteps, in this free video resource, available to watch anytime. fromphdtolife.com/phd-job-sear...

fromphdtolife.comFree Training for PhDs - From PhD to LifeFREE TRAINING How to Get a Great Job Outside Academia (even if you have no idea what you want to do next or why anyone would hire you) A free training for professors, postdocs, and other overworked, u...
Jennifer Polk
@fromphdtolife.com

How do people think of you for opportunities? Dear Reader, Last week, a member of my PhD Career Clarity Program came to a group coaching meeting with what she called a "really stupid problem." She'd just applied for a job she considered a dream position. It had only been 48 hours, so of course she…

fromphdtolife.comHow do people think of you for opportunities?Dear Reader, Last week, a member of my PhD Career Clarity Program came to a group coaching meeting with what she called a "really stupid problem." She'd just applied for a job she considered a dream position. It had only been 48 hours, so of course she hadn't heard anything yet. But in the meantime, she'd received an unexpected email.
Jennifer Polk
@fromphdtolife.com

Employers don’t care about your PhD Dear Reader, Employers don't care about your PhD. Let's talk about that. Consider these two different (simplified) perspectives on hiring: Your perspective: "I spent years earning this degree. It represents expertise, effort, accomplishment, and a huge chunk of…

fromphdtolife.comEmployers don’t care about your PhDDear Reader, Employers don't care about your PhD. Let's talk about that. Consider these two different (simplified) perspectives on hiring: Your perspective: "I spent years earning this degree. It represents expertise, effort, accomplishment, and a huge chunk of my professional life. I want that to matter." The employer's perspective: "I have a thing that needs doing. Who seems most likely to be able to do it?" Both parties are looking at the same hiring decision from completely different...
Jennifer Polk
@fromphdtolife.com

Blue Jays ⚾ drew 3.3m+ fans at 81 home games this season, which is the equivalent of 8% of Canada's entire population. 0.1% of the pop was w me at yesterday's game, and no game I was at had fewer than 39,000 fans in attendance. Stadium doesn't even have that many seats. Canada is a baseball country.

Jennifer Polk
@fromphdtolife.com

My team isn't in the postseason this year, so that was it, and it was such fun despite a disappointing end, standings wise. The Jays org did an incredible job all year—at all the 10 games I went to anyways. Yesterday's send off to Springer and Scherzer was an amazing experience. Here's to 2027 🤞🏻⚾🐦🇨🇦

Jennifer Polk
@fromphdtolife.com

You might be asking the wrong job search questions Dear Reader, Last week I was on a panel about careers beyond academia, and we got questions like these: "When is the right time to leave academia? Am I too old to pivot to industry?" "I've done three postdocs and now I'm not getting interviews.…

fromphdtolife.comYou might be asking the wrong job search questionsDear Reader, Last week I was on a panel about careers beyond academia, and we got questions like these: "When is the right time to leave academia? Am I too old to pivot to industry?" "I've done three postdocs and now I'm not getting interviews. What's happening?" "My CV is too long. What do I cut for industry?" "I haven't published in Nature. Am I out of options when it comes to getting a research position?" I hear versions of these all the time from PhD job seekers. It makes sense, because...
Jennifer Polk
@fromphdtolife.com

What kind of job search help do you actually need? Dear Reader, "I have a PhD and I need job search help" can mean at least six completely different things. Let's get into it! I know this because I hear from professors, postdocs, and other PhDs looking for help with their careers all the time. 1.…

fromphdtolife.comWhat kind of job search help do you actually need?Dear Reader, "I have a PhD and I need job search help" can mean at least six completely different things. Let's get into it! I know this because I hear from professors, postdocs, and other PhDs looking for help with their careers all the time. 1. You don't know what you want You know something needs to change. Maybe you're unhappy in academia, or you've already left but your current work isn't right either. (Very common!) Except that you don't yet have a clear picture of what you'd rather be...
Jennifer Polk
@fromphdtolife.com

Two free career panels next week Dear Reader, I've got a couple invites to free online things to share with you, and a discount code. I’m participating in two free online career panels next week. First up, on Thursday, 17 Sep, join me for "Transitioning from Academia to Industry," a panel hosted…

fromphdtolife.comTwo free career panels next weekDear Reader, I've got a couple invites to free online things to share with you, and a discount code. I’m participating in two free online career panels next week. First up, on Thursday, 17 Sep, join me for "Transitioning from Academia to Industry," a panel hosted by ScientifyResearch. We’ll be talking about communicating your academic experience to employers, CVs, networking, interviews, and more, with time for audience questions. (Last I heard over 750 folks had already registered 👀) 🗓️...

Jennifer Polk reposted

David Ho
@davidho.bsky.social

Thomas Rose, a 37-year-old assistant professor at MIT and an expert in the archaeometallurgy of copper, has died after being hit by a driver while riding his bike at the intersection of Memorial Drive and Massachusetts Ave.

bostonglobe.comMIT professor hit while riding his bicycle in Cambridge last month has died, university officials say - The Boston GlobeThomas Rose, 37, joined MIT in January and was set to begin teaching courses this fall.
Jennifer Polk
@fromphdtolife.com

Free Wednesday co-working starts again tomorrow Dear Reader, A new round of my free Wednesday co-working sessions is underway, starting tomorrow. Join me and other PhDs online to get some work done. We meet Wednesdays from 10–11:30am ET, and you’re welcome to come once, occasionally, or every…

fromphdtolife.comFree Wednesday co-working starts again tomorrowDear Reader, A new round of my free Wednesday co-working sessions is underway, starting tomorrow. Join me and other PhDs online to get some work done. We meet Wednesdays from 10–11:30am ET, and you’re welcome to come once, occasionally, or every week. Grading, analyzing data, planning research trips, dealing with emails, drafting resumes... we do it all. And sometimes we get mentioned in acknowledgements 😁 Sign up for free co-working A note for program members: Monday co-working is just for...

Jennifer Polk reposted

Ben Railton
@americanstudier.bsky.social

We come to it at last—the final #ScholarSunday thread before my Fall 2026 semester begins. So here it is, my 291st thread of great public scholarly writing & work, podcast episodes, new & forthcoming books from the past week. Add more below, share as widely as possible, & enjoy, all! 🗃️ +

blackwhiteandread.com#ScholarSunday Thread 291 (8/30/26) – Black and White and Read All OverWe come to it at last—the final #ScholarSunday thread before my Fall 2026 semester begins. So here it is, my 291st thread of great public scholarly writing & work, podcast episodes, new & forthcoming ...
Jennifer Polk
@fromphdtolife.com

I'm glad I checked the auto-generated subtitles for my workshop on cover letters, because it turned all those mentions into "COVID letters"! Yikes.

Jennifer Polk
@fromphdtolife.com

What would it take to make this your last academic year? (New video) Dear Reader, It’s mid-August, which means a new academic year is either here or nearly here. Maybe you're excited about it. Maybe you're already tired just thinking about it. 😬 Or maybe you're thinking, "Ugh, I really don't want…

fromphdtolife.comWhat would it take to make this your last academic year? (New video)Dear Reader, It’s mid-August, which means a new academic year is either here or nearly here. Maybe you're excited about it. Maybe you're already tired just thinking about it. 😬 Or maybe you're thinking, "Ugh, I really don't want to be doing this a year from now." That was the subject of a conversation I had this week with my friend and colleague Paulina Cossette, PhD: How to make this your last year in academia. Paulina works with academics who want to build businesses as academic editors and...
Jennifer Polk
@fromphdtolife.com

Is your job search as effective as it could be? Dear Reader, People sometimes assume they need to figure a few things out before working with me. For example, that you need to know what direction you want to go in—what specific kind of job you want—before getting my help. That makes sense for some…

fromphdtolife.comIs your job search as effective as it could be?Dear Reader, People sometimes assume they need to figure a few things out before working with me. For example, that you need to know what direction you want to go in—what specific kind of job you want—before getting my help. That makes sense for some kinds of job search support (LinkedIn profile updates, resume writing, interview prep). But much of my work with professors, postdocs, and other PhDs happens before that stage. And, yes, there is a before stage. Now, some of the people who join...
Jennifer Polk
@fromphdtolife.com

The problem may not be your resume Dear Reader, I read a post recently arguing that the hardest part of leaving academia is learning to translate your experience into language employers understand. And, like, no. I disagree. Translating your experience can absolutely be difficult. If you’ve spent…

fromphdtolife.comThe problem may not be your resumeDear Reader, I read a post recently arguing that the hardest part of leaving academia is learning to translate your experience into language employers understand. And, like, no. I disagree. Translating your experience can absolutely be difficult. If you’ve spent years describing your work in the language of academia, it takes practice to talk about it differently. This isn’t unique to resumes, of course. If you’re used to writing journal articles and suddenly you’re trying to pen an op-ed?...
Jennifer Polk
@fromphdtolife.com

When “stay or leave” is the wrong question Dear Reader, Last week, I contributed a talk to an online summit about rethinking success, security, and meaningful work in and beyond academia. One of the underlying messages is that “Should I stay in academia or leave?” is often the wrong question to…

fromphdtolife.comWhen “stay or leave” is the wrong questionDear Reader, Last week, I contributed a talk to an online summit about rethinking success, security, and meaningful work in and beyond academia. One of the underlying messages is that “Should I stay in academia or leave?” is often the wrong question to ask yourself. That's because this question bundles together a bunch of different things: your job title; your identity—how you think of yourself; your colleagues, broadly defined; your working conditions; and, related, your sense of status or...

Jennifer Polk reposted

Rachel Gilmore
@rachelgilmore.bsky.social

ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME

Michael Nabert@sustainablesong.bsky.social

Mark Carney's made deep cuts to Natural Resources Canada that strip away science-based expertise on forest fires, "decimating capacity" to track wildfire activity. Only one forest pathologist now monitors the entire forestry system east of the Rockies. 5/ www.nationalobserver.com/2025/12/05/n...

nationalobserver.comCuts at Natural Resources Canada ‘decimate’ wildfire and flood tracking capacity, unions warnCarney's cuts have hit Natural Resources Canada, causing uproar from public sector unions warning the layoffs will hurt Canada's ability to respond to cliamte change and protect Canadians from wildfir...
Jennifer Polk
@fromphdtolife.com

Apologies to the energy grid, but if wealthy people (just to pick on them) wouldn't continually vote for conservative politicians I wouldn't be in a situation where I need to run my AC and all my air purifiers on high.

Jennifer Polk
@fromphdtolife.com

My Faculty Uplift session is live today Dear Reader, My Faculty Uplift session goes live today. This is the final day of the free summit, so this is your last nudge from me to register if you’ve been meaning to check it out. My session is about making intentional career decisions when the standard…

fromphdtolife.comMy Faculty Uplift session is live todayDear Reader, My Faculty Uplift session goes live today. This is the final day of the free summit, so this is your last nudge from me to register if you’ve been meaning to check it out. My session is about making intentional career decisions when the standard version of academic success no longer feels like the right path. Or maybe never did. And to be clear, that doesn’t necessarily mean leaving academia. It means asking better questions. Questions such as What kind of security do I actually...
Jennifer Polk
@fromphdtolife.com

Faculty Uplift event starts tomorrow – register for free Dear Reader, The Faculty Uplift summit starts tomorrow—have you registered yet? It’s a free online event for academics, with short pre-recorded sessions you can watch on your own schedule. The summit runs July 13 to 16, and my session goes…

fromphdtolife.comFaculty Uplift event starts tomorrow – register for freeDear Reader, The Faculty Uplift summit starts tomorrow—have you registered yet? It’s a free online event for academics, with short pre-recorded sessions you can watch on your own schedule. The summit runs July 13 to 16, and my session goes live on Thursday, July 16. (Yay!) My talk asks a question that sounds simple, but can be surprisingly clarifying:What would it mean if postdocs and professors treated academia like a job? Not a stand-in for your identity. Not the only way to lead an...
Jennifer Polk
@fromphdtolife.com

Free event for professors next week Dear Reader, How are you doing this month so far? I'd love to know. (And, who are you rooting for in the World Cup? Or is your team already out?) I'm writing today because there's a free event that will be of interest to many folks on this list, called the…

fromphdtolife.comFree event for professors next weekDear Reader, How are you doing this month so far? I'd love to know. (And, who are you rooting for in the World Cup? Or is your team already out?) I'm writing today because there's a free event that will be of interest to many folks on this list, called the Faculty Uplift. It happens next week, and I’m one of the speakers. The summit brings together more than 20 people who work with academics, and the topics cover a pretty wide range: wellbeing, mindset, writing, funding, mentoring, team...

Jennifer Polk reposted

Jerad Walker
@jeradwalker.bsky.social

Norway defeated England in a World Cup qualifier in Oslo on September 9, 1981. Which led to this—the greatest call in sports broadcasting history. Kick rocks, Maggie Thatcher.

Jennifer Polk
@fromphdtolife.com

At the ⚽ fan fest yesterday, the recorded welcome video by our premier was roundly booed (unlike the mayor's) and I've rarely been prouder of my fellow Torontonians.

Jennifer Polk
@fromphdtolife.com

Still deciding whether to leave academia? Ask yourself these questions Dear Reader, A PhD who already works outside academia asked me an interesting question last week: How many of the folks in my program are still grappling with whether to leave? The answer? Almost none. In my experience, people…

fromphdtolife.comStill deciding whether to leave academia? Ask yourself these questionsDear Reader, A PhD who already works outside academia asked me an interesting question last week: How many of the folks in my program are still grappling with whether to leave? The answer? Almost none. In my experience, people who are genuinely undecided about whether they want to leave academia don’t usually invest money in a career coaching program. They are doing things, but on their own: reading advice columns, scrolling job boards, coming up with plans B, C, D. And they might have the...
Jennifer Polk
@fromphdtolife.com

One giant, emotionally loaded cloud (plus sports!) Dear Reader, Somehow it’s already the middle of June. Rude, I know. (Classic summer behaviour.) A couple weeks ago, I wrote about a question I think is worth asking at this time of year: What do you want figured out by September? It can be easy to…

fromphdtolife.comOne giant, emotionally loaded cloud (plus sports!)Dear Reader, Somehow it’s already the middle of June. Rude, I know. (Classic summer behaviour.) A couple weeks ago, I wrote about a question I think is worth asking at this time of year: What do you want figured out by September? It can be easy to think (in April or May) that you'll have so much more free time soon, more light in the day (unless you're in Australia or thereabouts), more energy for Doing Things to Help Yourself. And I think that's often at least somewhat true. But external...
Jennifer Polk
@fromphdtolife.com

Nathan Phillips Square looked good today. Lots of disappointed fans (Iraq) there, and earlier at Sanka Square too, where the Senegal fans were gathered.