Choosing a career after a PhD can feel overwhelming, especially when traditional academic paths no longer align with personal goals. In this episode of The Bold PhD Podcast, host Dr. Gertrude Nonterah speaks with Dr. Matthew Betts about using career experiments to make confident career decisions without making irreversible commitments.
Click Play to Watch episode 60 of The Bold PhD Podcast
Or Listen here:
Navigating the P.I.V.O.T. book:
Named one of nine books to help shape your science career in 2026 by Nature Magazine
Dr. Betts explains that career experiments are low-risk ways to explore new opportunities while remaining in a current role. Rather than relying on the advice to “follow your passion,” he encourages PhDs to follow their curiosity by testing ideas through informational interviews, coffee chats, volunteering, side projects, or networking with professionals in fields of interest.
Drawing from his own journey from academia to career coach, Dr. Betts shares how exploring startups, participating in a hackathon, and joining an incubator program helped him realize that a different career path better matched his values and interests. He emphasizes the importance of regularly “zooming out” to evaluate whether current work aligns with long-term goals rather than simply following the next expected career milestone.
The conversation also highlights common barriers to career transitions, including fear of starting over, identity shifts, and the sunk-cost mindset. Dr. Betts reminds listeners that the skills developed during a PhD—critical thinking, problem-solving, resilience, project management, and adaptability—transfer well beyond academia. By approaching career decisions as experiments instead of permanent choices, PhDs can gain clarity, reduce uncertainty, and build careers that better reflect who they are today.
Resources Mentioned: