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In this uncertain university job market, some advice for PhD grads thinking about careers at thinktanks (and similar orgs). For bkd, I worked at two thinktanks – @WorldResources and @AspenANDE for 8+ years in total - before, during, and after my PhD (1/9) 
Some of the most challenging, impactful, and rewarding work I’ve done has been at thinktanks. So, what’s different about it? 1st, the writing – more direct and clearer than what’s expected in academia. Good policy writing needs to be succinct and jargon-free. (2/9)
You know the last part of your paper, where you *wave in a general direction* and mumble some generic implications for policy and practice?
You need to be really thoughtful and rigorous about this part. Get specific - who should do what, when, where, and how (3/9)
You need to be really thoughtful and rigorous about this part. Get specific - who should do what, when, where, and how (3/9)
You need to be able to explain nuanced topics on the fly, without any visual aids.
One question I was asked at a job interview - “Assume I have no background in statistics. Explain multiple regression to me in 2 minutes” (4/9)
One question I was asked at a job interview - “Assume I have no background in statistics. Explain multiple regression to me in 2 minutes” (4/9)
You are a LOT more than your ‘methods’ courses, so don’t limit yourself to selling just your quant/qual skills.
At a minimum, a PhD teaches you to read, analyze and synthesize way more information than most other jobs would. (5/9)
At a minimum, a PhD teaches you to read, analyze and synthesize way more information than most other jobs would. (5/9)
What skills do you need (besides writing/analysis)?
Managing people, managing budgets, fundraising. You will be spending as much (or more) time on all of these as you will on research/writing. (Note: Turns out academia is the same - glad I learned to do this stuff!)
(6/9)
Managing people, managing budgets, fundraising. You will be spending as much (or more) time on all of these as you will on research/writing. (Note: Turns out academia is the same - glad I learned to do this stuff!)
(6/9)
For an excellent example of clear, policy-oriented writing - check out this blog by @ECzibor @IGLglobal https://www.innovationgrowthlab.org/blog/management-practices-special-%E2%80%9Ctechnology%E2%80%9D-invest (7/9)
This advice may also apply (in varying degrees) to nonprofits/foundations/evaluation/social enterprises/consulting. Other PhDs with current/past experience in policy/thinktank roles, feel free to add! @KimBettcher @KCMONate @LHehenberger @ECzibor @karimharji @LinaESonne (8/9)
Finally, to dismiss the idea that this work is in any way "less important" - A senior co-author, who has published in every top journal and been cited 1000s of times once mentioned that his most impactful work was a policy report that managers & policymakers "actually used" (9/9)
