Social Science Careers Beyond the Academy: Finding a Path in Consulting and Government Settings

Social Science Careers Beyond the Academy provides a “road-map” to a career outside of academia for students of the social sciences who want to transition to a corporate or government environment after they complete their studies.

It isn’t always easy to see how the skills you develop in academia will apply to corporate consultancy or research positions, or even to see clearly where these various career paths might lead and whether they might suit you. Are you a start-up person or do you think that a big, established organization will provide you with desirable opportunities? Would you prefer to work for a public or private firm, or perhaps for a government agency? Are you better at research or project management? How do you go about adapting your writing to the nonspecialist audience of colleagues in an organization?

This book is written by a team of authors who straddle the line that separates academia from consultancy work and have mentored countless students to make a successful transition to the working world, whether in academia or not. The authors identify and categorize various popular paths that are available to you; describe the types of organization, roles, and what they involve; and show how to map your own skills, personality, and preferences to the jobs you might aspire to obtain. This book is the ultimate guide to building your path to success after you conclude your studies.

Using an informal style, this book is ideal for social science students looking to make their next steps after academia by seeking positions in consulting and research firms, or with a government entity.