PhD Job Hunt Best Practices With Claudia Belliveau

Welcome to another episode of Beyond the Thesis With Papa PhD!In this episode of Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD, your host David Mendes sits down for a meaningful chat with Claudia, who just wrapped up her PhD and is now stepping into the pharmaceutical industry. They explore Claudia's experiences during her time in graduate school, including her struggles with impostor syndrome, and the proactive steps she took to get ready for life after her thesis. David and Claudia dive into the significance of networking, the art of telling your story in job applications, and the crucial but sometimes neglected skill of negotiating your salary. Claudia also shares some handy tips for navigating the job search, including a Notion dashboard she created to streamline her applications and networking activities. You can expect to pick up some valuable advice on how to tackle the hurdles that come with leaving academia behind and the essential role mental health plays in finding fulfillment in your career. Whether you’re currently in a master's or a PhD program or thinking about making a switch to industry, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration to help you carve out your own path beyond the thesis. Claudia Belliveau  holds a PhD in Neuroscience from McGill University and is passionate about making science accessible to all. During her PhD, she founded a scientific consulting company to bridge the gap between science and the public. Alongside her consulting work, she runs a popular Instagram platform with 76,000 followers, where she shares tips, resources, and relatable content for students and researchers. Claudia now works full-time as a freelance scientific consultant and content creator while navigating the transition from academia to the pharmaceutical industry. What we covered in the interview: 💎 Build Authentic Connections: Claudia did something pretty awesome—she reached out for informational interviews on LinkedIn and focused on making real connections. It’s not just about asking for job openings; it’s about engaging in genuine conversations and keeping those relationships alive.⚙ Translate Your Skills for Industry: Sometimes our academic experiences don’t easily translate to the professional world. Claudia tackled this by working with a coach who helped her tell her story in a way that really resonates with folks in the pharmaceutical industry.💪 Stay Open and Resilient: Stepping into a new industry can feel pretty overwhelming, and it doesn’t always happen overnight. But here’s the thing: perseverance really does pay off! Claudia kept at it, networking, refining her skills, and perfecting her personal narrative, and slowly but surely, she started to see those doors open up. It’s all about keeping that momentum going and being ready for new opportunities!🎧 Dive into Claudia's journey and get inspired in your own pivot by listening to the full episode. The next step in your post-PhD career might just be a conversation away!🔗See the resources section below for Claudia's links! This episode’s resources: C. Belliveau Science | InstagramClaudia's Notion job search dashboard | Webpage Thank you, Claudia Belliveau! If you enjoyed this conversation with Claudia, let her know by clicking the link below and leaving her  a message on Linkedin:Send Claudia Belliveau a message on Linkedin!Click here to share your key take-away from this interview with David! You might also like the following episodes: Sara Thompson – Out of the Box Careers Post-PhDKelly Guenther and Keri Ohlrich – Making Career Pivots Without FearMatteo Tardelli – Identifying Your Core Values For The Job HuntAlessandra Wall – Positioning Yourself Outside Academia