How can researchers reinvent their careers on the job market?

Expert highlights eight ways researchers can pivot their careers and make use of their skills at private companies, NGOs, and in public administration

Gabriela Monteiro

Courses and certifications that broaden market perspective (such as project management, corporate communication, technology, or general business knowledge) are essential to researchers wishing to explore other professional possibilities

The brain drain in Brazil is a very real phenomenon. The country has difficulty retaining its talent and researchers commonly seek opportunities abroad after completing their studies. A survey by the Brazilian Society for the Advancement of Science (SBPC) estimates that between 2,000 and 3,000 Brazilian researchers currently work outside the country.

A lack of recognition, funding cuts, and a shortage of places at public universities are just some of the factors driving this movement. And the deterioration of working conditions in science only exacerbates the problem.

“There is a perception that researchers are ‘overqualified’ for the formal labor market, and that it will not accept them,” says Jacqueline Ribas, a career strategist for research professionals and founder of Pesquisa de Impacto (“Impact Research”), an initiative that seeks to facilitate the transition from academia to the job market.

Despite considerable growth in the proportion of the Brazilian workforce with master’s degrees and doctorates in recent years, there is still a long way to go to get near the proportions recorded in countries such as Portugal, France, Italy, and Poland, according to the study Brazil: Master’s and Doctorates 2024, by the Center for Management and Strategic Studies (CGEE).

“There is a wall between academia and the job market,” says Ribas. “Information about professional opportunities does not reach researchers at the beginning of their careers. There are formal vacancies, yes, but these people do not know about them or how their skills can be applied in other contexts.”

These other contexts include nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), multinational companies, and government agencies. The challenge is knowing how to identify them and how to successfully apply to them.

Below, Jaqueline Ribas shares some of the key steps for researchers wishing to explore career opportunities beyond academia:

1. Reflect on your skills

Looking at yourself and your abilities is the first step. “Think about the sort of routine you want, the responsibilities you want to have, and the type of company you would like to work for before looking at the market,” advises Ribas.

2. Recognize your academic career as professional experience

Studying is working. “It is important to acknowledge the experience you have acquired as a form of work that took a lot of effort and that is perfectly transferable to the job market,” says the specialist. Science communication, for example, can be applied at consultancies or in the pharmaceutical industry.

3. Develop your network beyond academia

LinkedIn is a powerful tool for making connections outside of academia. “Before you start adding people, update your profile. It will be your showcase,” recommends Ribas. Taking part in career events and courses can also significantly increase your opportunities.

Jaqueline Ribas, career strategist, smiling in a professional setting with a neutral background — Career strategist Jaqueline Ribas advises researchers on increasing their professional opportunities beyond academia | Image: Personal Archive

4. Adapt your résumé to the market

The academic résumé format is not ideal outside of academia. Ribas suggests a résumé of no more than two pages, with a clean design and a focus on practical experience. “Avoid presenting yourself as a student—instead describe yourself as a researcher,” she advises.

5. Speak the market language

It is essential to translate academic jargon into professional language. “Avoid terms that are too technical or specific to academia. They can complicate the automatic screening of résumés and make it difficult for recruiters to understand them,” she warns.

6. Develop new skills

Look for courses and certifications that broaden your market perspective, such as project management, corporate communications, technology, or general business knowledge.

7. Explore growing sectors

According to Ribas, sectors that often seek professionals with an academic profile include pharmaceutical industries, contract research organizations (CROs), clinical research, data analysis, data science, artificial intelligence (AI), education, UX research, NGOs, and diversity and inclusion projects.

“There is a strong demand for professionals with academic profiles in areas such as data analysis, AI, education, and for those coming from the humanities, UX research and social responsibility projects,” she explains.

8. Take care of your mental health

Changing your career can be exhausting. Jaqueline Ribas recommends setting limits, such as not searching for jobs at the weekend and not checking LinkedIn every day.

“It is important to take care of yourself, respect yourself, and understand that there is a time for things to happen,” she concludes.

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