Anxious and need advise on last year of PhD

[Zeejet]

I'm a 4th year PhD candidate in Analytical Chemistry specializing in electrochemical sensor development/application and expecting to graduate before May of 2016. I'm planning to look for jobs in industry although I'm completely open to alternative careers for PhD's. No academia though; I know for a fact that I am not cut out for it and do not have the credentials/qualifications.

 

As far as my degree has gone, I'm a solidly average student with two 1st author publications and two 2nd author publications (although the two 2nd author papers were from undergrad), a minor conference award and some experience writing grants. Grad GPA (which many consider irrelevant) is a 3.61 with mostly A, A- and B+ grades. 

 

I'm in my last year and I'm starting to get anxious about what I can realistically accomplish and when I should start hustling for a job. My current project is headed in a nearly impossible direction (there are seeming insurmountable obstacles, both scientific and fiscal, in the way of my next logical step in my particular project) and I do not want a barely finished project when I leave . Ideally, I'd like to publish one more paper before I leave and gain some more breadth to my range of skills. As of now, I'm unqualified for most R&D industry jobs simply because I've been working with e-chem sensing my whole career with little experience in more marketable analytical disciplines such as chromatography, mass spectrometry and spectroscopy. I only realized this recently upon first glances as job boards for analytical chemists.

 

Has anyone else run into these last minute problems where you realize the need to expand you skillset? If I can't expand my skillset this late, are there jobs where I have a reasonable shot at that are willing to hire me even if my PhD work is somewhat unrelated to the job? Also, is it too early to worry about this stuff? Or am I already too late?

Edited March 2, 2015 by Zeejet

[Eigen]

In your case, you might strongly consider either an industry or academic post-doc. 

 

It would let you expand your skill set, and get some post-graduate experience that will make you more attractive for higher-level jobs. 

 

The other thing I'd suggest is to just start applying and circulating your CV- you might be surprised at the bites you get. 

 

PittCon in particular is a fantastic place for feeling out employers, especially in analytical fields- they have an employment bureau that is entirely based around job searches and interviews to attendees, and there are usually hundreds of jobs offered there each year. 

 

If nothing else, you might bet a better feel of what skills would best round out your current set, and make some contacts for the future. 

[Zeejet]

In your case, you might strongly consider either an industry or academic post-doc. 

 

It would let you expand your skill set, and get some post-graduate experience that will make you more attractive for higher-level jobs. 

 

The other thing I'd suggest is to just start applying and circulating your CV- you might be surprised at the bites you get. 

 

PittCon in particular is a fantastic place for feeling out employers, especially in analytical fields- they have an employment bureau that is entirely based around job searches and interviews to attendees, and there are usually hundreds of jobs offered there each year. 

 

If nothing else, you might bet a better feel of what skills would best round out your current set, and make some contacts for the future. 

Thanks for the tips! I'm actually scheduled to talk at PittCon this coming week (I spoke last year as well, but did not network)

[Eigen]

That's great! Feel free to PM me, I'll be there most of the week. Looking to make myself a bit more attractive to Industry as well, and it's always a fun conference. 

 

I'd be glad to grab coffee and talk about developing skill sets- LC and spectroscopy are two of my more developed areas, but I'm a horrible electrochemist. I've prepped a couple of people with weekend crash courses for applying for jobs with LC focuses, it's really not that bad to pick up enough to talk your way through a job interview. 

[Zeejet]

I sent you a PM.

 

I also got in touch with two former lab members that got jobs with Siemens last year. Hopefully they have some good advise as well! I'm just a little freaked out about job prospects for electrochemists, especially since I don't think I am as qualified as the two former lab members I just mentioned. 

 

Also, apologies for posting this thread under 'Research' when it probably should belong in 'Jobs' after the topic's direction shifted primarily to networking and job hunting.

Edited March 4, 2015 by Zeejet