Too academic to get a proper job? The difficult transition of PhDs to the “real world” of industry

This article addresses the integration of junior scientists and technologists in industry and reports some of the findings of a major survey conducted in Portugal in a large sample of doctoral students and newly graduated PhDs. The article aims to identify career prospects and assess the extent to which doctorates are receptive to a job in industry. This depends on a number of factors – individuals’ attitudes towards academic values and work practices and their receptiveness to become involved in activities usually associated with the business environment such as management and production related activities. It was also found that respondents generally feel they are overqualified for most jobs in industry and anticipate a difficult process of adjustment to that environment, expecting also a similar reaction on the part of the business.