Post-Grad Pathfinders
A self-paced, step-by-step guide to gaining the clarity, direction, and focus you need to launch a career outside academia.
You used to dream about a career in academia.
You spent years training to be a professor, pouring your heart and soul into your work. But now, you've come to the realization that path is no longer right for you.
You feel simultaneously disheartened at the idea of staying in academia and guilty at the thought of leaving it behind.
You might be thinking about all the time and energy you've invested in this path and wondering if it's all been for nothing.
You’re probably not getting much support from your department, advisor or colleagues, or you might even feel like others are pressuring you to stay in academia.
Carving a path on your own feels confusing, isolating, and overwhelming.
You’re in the right place if:
→ You don’t want to pursue the traditional tenure-track academic career path, but you’re unsure what you want to do instead.
→ You feel overwhelmed by the daunting task of carving a non-academic career path on your own.
→ You’re ready to forge your own path, but need clarity and insight on what steps to take next.
The road after grad school isn’t always easy. But you know what makes it easier?
Knowing yourself deeply first, before you jump into exploring different career fields.
Defining your skills and what you actually enjoy doing.
Making peace with transition and recognizing that your career is only one aspect of your life.
Creating a crystal-clear vision of the life you want to create, and how a career fits into it.
And that’s exactly what I’m here to help you do!
Celebrating having just defended my dissertation 👸🏻
Hi! I’m Chelsea (she/her)!
When I was completing my PhD, I knew I didn’t want to pursue the traditional tenure-track path, but I had no idea what I wanted to do instead. I felt frustrated, lost, confused, and unsure what direction to go.
I spent some time exploring different career paths and getting experience applying the skills I learned in grad school. This all culminated with me landing a job outside of academia! On paper, I had achieved my goal, and this might have been the end of my story…
But, I still felt lost, confused, and frustrated.
Only later did I realize that I had left grad school, but that values system was still ingrained in me. I had no idea what it was that I valued, as an individual outside of that system. I hadn’t done the important core work of identifying my values, priorities, and goals.
Seeking self-knowledge and engaging in meaningful reflection is the first step to finding a career that leaves you happy, energized, and fulfilled.
Carving my own path post-PhD was so, so much more than just finding a job or figuring out how to translate my skills into a new environment. It was about coming back to myself - getting clarity on my values and my goals - to create the life and career of my dreams.
Instead of spending years figuring things out on your own (like I did!), you can go through my streamlined process to build a career outside the tenure track.
Introducing…
Post-Grad Pathfinders
A self-paced, set-by-step guide to gaining the clarity, direction, and focus you need to launch a post-PhD career.
Ready to build a career on your own terms?
Tara, Post-Grad Pathfinders alum
“I feel like I am actually aware of what I value and what I want to foster in my career going forward - after so long in academia being grateful for whatever I could get. This is a huge mindset shift for me!”
Post-Grad Pathfinders will help you…
🦸 Understand and communicate your professional values and superpowers
💪 Reflect on the milestones and skills you’ve learned thus far in your career
🍃 Discover how to thrive during this period of transition
💼 Build your vision for your future, professionally and personally
Post-Grad Pathfinders has 15 lessons that will help you lay the foundation for a career outside the tenure track:
Introduction 👋
1. Course Background: You’ll learn more about why I created this course and what sets it apart from other career exploration courses.
2. Course Overview: You’ll get an overview of what to expect in this course and reflect on how to set yourself up for success.
Core Values and Superpowers 🦸
3. The Role of Self-Reflection: You’ll learn more about the importance of self-reflection and its role in carving your own career path.
4. Core Values: You’ll learn about the role that values play in career satisfaction and identify your own core values.
5. Superpowers: You’ll identify your superpowers and learn about how they differ from things you’re good at.
Milestones and Skills 💪
6. Reflecting on Past Accomplishments: You’ll learn how to identify the skills you’ve gained from your past experiences.
7. Milestones Map: You’ll chart out important milestones from your past and identify the skills you gained.
8. Finding the Links: You’ll find the overlap between your skills, what you enjoy doing, and what can make you money.
Thriving in Transition 🍃
9. Being in Transition: You’ll learn about the benefits of being in transition and why transitions can feel so hard.
10. Neutral Space: You’ll reflect on past transitions and consider how to apply what you learned to your current transition.
11. Wheel of Life: You’ll reflect on the areas of your life and identify where you need extra support.
Your Future Career 💼
12. You've Got This: You’ll re-frame this current period of a time of opportunity and exploration.
13. Your Future Life: You’ll create a vision for your future life and the role your career plays in your life.
14. Making Your Own Way: You’ll consider four unique frameworks for carving your own career path.
Closing 🚀
15. Tying It All Together: You’ll reflect on what you’ve learned throughout this course and commit to concrete next steps.
PLUS you’ll get a suite of bonus resources, including recommended books, podcasts, and additional reading, additional reflection questions, and a free planning workbook!
You’ll also get the 34-page Post-Grad Pathfinders workbook!
This workbook will walk you step-by through the exercises in the course. The workbook includes 10 guided reflection exercises that are designed to help you find the clarity, direction, and focus you need to launch a career outside academia.
Rachel, Post-Grad Pathfinders alum
“In doing the core values reflection, I realized that even though there were some things I was skilled at doing, they weren’t things that I really enjoyed doing.
That was a really big takeaway from doing the course because I could then use those values as a lens for looking at and evaluating new opportunities.”
Where are they now?
Post-Grad Pathfinders alums include former grad students, post-docs, tenure-track faculty, adjunct lecturers, and higher ed staff who now work in fields like:
Program Evaluation
Instructional Design
Higher Ed Research
K-12 Education
Non-Profit Research
Government
Project Management
Grant Writing
Tia, Post-Grad Pathfinders alum
“I'm so glad that I got out of higher ed when I did because it was on my own terms and when I left, I knew what I wanted next.
I’m also making more money outside of academia! My salary is about $20k more than what I was making before.”
Success stories
Hear about how Post-Grad Pathfinders helped these former academics get where they are now!
Rachel went from feeling stuck in a job that was draining her energy, to having a career that’s fulfilling, energizing, and aligned with her values!
Tia went from feeling bogged down by her tenure-track job to a new position that has her feeling younger, happier, and making more money!
Tara went from feeling stuck taking temporary, short-term contracts, to finding the peace of mind and clarity she needed to leave academia.
Lifetime Access: $197
16 lessons that will help you lay the foundation for a career outside the tenure track.
10 guided reflection exercises that are designed to help you find the clarity, direction, and focus you need to launch a career outside academia.
A 34-page PDF course workbook.
Lifetime access to all course lessons, modules, and resources.
Free access to any future resources that are added to the course.
BONUS: Access to weekly reminders to help you stay on track.
BONUS: A custom list of books, podcasts, and additional resources to help you continue your career exploration journey.
BONUS: A 30-page PDF copy of the Plan With Purpose workbook to help you plan, track, and achieve your career goals!
One 60-minute private coaching session with Chelsea
Join Post-Grad Pathfinders now to launch your career outside academia! 🚀🚀
Lifetime Access PLUS Private Coaching: $347
16 lessons that will help you lay the foundation for a career outside the tenure track.
10 guided reflection exercises that are designed to help you find the clarity, direction, and focus you need to launch a career outside academia.
A 34-page PDF course workbook.
Lifetime access to all course lessons, modules, and resources.
Free access to any future resources that are added to the course.
BONUS: Access to weekly reminders to help you stay on track.
BONUS: A custom list of books, podcasts, and additional resources to help you continue your career exploration journey.
BONUS: A 30-page PDF copy of the Plan With Purpose workbook to help you plan, track, and achieve your career goals!
PLUS one 60-minute private coaching session with Chelsea!
Brie, Post-Grad Pathfinders alum
“Chelsea brings intentionality to her coaching and really gets the tension between academic research, career path decisions, and interrogating what it means to live our values in our chosen career paths.
I came away from our coaching session reinvigorated to do academic research on my own terms without compromising my values and health.”
I know that the costs of private coaching can be inaccessible to many grad students and early career PhDs
That's why I've taken all of the topics I would normally cover in a group coaching program and distilled them into 16 clear, actionable lessons for just $197!
FAQs
Have a question that’s not answered here? Contact me!
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Yes, academic units, departments, and institutions can purchase multiple course licenses for a discount. Download a brochure with more details here or contact me via email.
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This course is designed to help you: understand and communicate your professional values and unique superpowers; reflect on the milestones you've achieved and skills you’ve learned thus far in your careers; discover how to thrive during this period of transition; and build a vision for their future, professionally and personally, outside of academia.
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You will have lifetime access to all course content, modules, and resources. This means that you pay for the course once, and get access to any bonus materials or other resources that might get added later for no additional charge.
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The course is a mix of asynchronous videos and self-reflection. When you purchase, you will have the option to add on a 1:1 coaching session for an additional fee.
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If you’re ready to leave academia and the tenure-track path behind but feel lost, stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure what to do, then this course will help you.
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Absolutely! This course was designed to help people in grad school and beyond build careers outside the tenure track. That includes grad students, post-docs, faculty, PhDs working outside academia, and more. If you’re struggling to leave academia behind, regardless of where you are now, this course is for you.
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Once you purchase the course, you will get instant access to the course through Teachery.
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This course focuses on laying the groundwork to help you identify what you want from a career outside the tenure track. This is one of the most important steps you can take before initiating a job search.
This course does not walk you through the job search and application process. If that’s what you’re looking for, then this course might not be the right fit for you.
For more individualized, tailored support, consider my 1:1 coaching programs.
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I stand behind all of my products and services. If you purchase Post-Grad Pathfinders and feel it's not right for you, contact me within 15 days of purchase for a refund.