Hello
I'm 38, I graduated from my PhD in Sociology in 2016, based in the UK, and have been working in academia since 2018 as a research fellow. I want to join one of the MBBs because I want to acquire a broad knowledge and experience of the business world hands-on and have more room for career progression. If I was to start from the bottom, I don't mind working under people younger than me and very happy with the work hours, which will certainly be less that the 100-110 I have been doing (90 as a researcher, and the rest for my other job). I still have two questions:
1. What hiring route you think is best suited for me: entry level or experienced hire? (Can't take AD route since I'm not a student anymore)
2. Would I be assigned an industry sector based on my CV (like Education), or can I choose a different one (let's say I want to work on AI related matters for example)?
Here are more details about my journey, although I have no clue whether any of these would make me a strong candidate:
- BSc in Chemistry
- MA and PhD in Sociology.
- Working for 6 years in a Top 10 UK university
- Research speciality: small organisations governance, DEI, staff retention, public impact and conflict resolution
- Published 2 books as single author with top publishers.
- Won a £350k grant (5% success rate, the most competitive in my industry)
- Published 10+ peer-review articles and book chapters
- Set up my own videography business in 2012.
- Produced Documentaries and Fiction films (research related), secured public and private funding for them, premiered at official institutions (embassies) and acquired by a streaming service
- Set up a YouTube channel (But only 16k followers so far, which is nothing on YT)
- Secured funding for photographic documentary in South America
- Co-director in a DEI startup (we're 3 of us, and I only have delivered trainings and workshops, not given strategic advice)
- Initiated and organised on-campus events for students with brands like Canon and Toyota.
- I've also setup a detailing business in 2019 - now sold.
- I've applied with a business partner to some innovation funds grants, which received positive feedback despite not getting the grant.
- I've also recently got an entry level qualification in cybersecurity, just in case.
Down side:
My only employed role is at my uni. I've been in the same position for 6 years, and I fear it will be perceived as "stalling" - academia is a very slow, saturated industry with little room for progression.
Do you think my profile fits anywhere in particular within the MBBs?
Many thanks for your advice!