Completing a PhD requires the same skills that employers are looking for: Opinion

The three top skills needed to begin and complete a PhD are the same ones that employers are looking for, write Lilia Mantai and Mauricio Marrone. In an analysis of a European research job platform, Mantai and Marrone found that the top three skills needed for a PhD were communication, research, and interpersonal skills, and note that these skills are transferable to other professional contexts. In response to this information, the authors argue that pre-PhD education and pathways could be improved with essential research-based learning and authentic work experiences to promote PhD readiness. Mantai and Marrone also recommend embedding career development programs in PhD programs to prepare graduates for both academic and non-academic jobs. The Conversation Note: Archived stories may contain dead links or be missing source links.