How to justify switching research disciplines after Ph.D for a fresh recruit?

manpreet Best Answer 2 years ago

Consider engineering disciplines A and B. Assume that the mathematical skills required for A and B are same. Let us say I am a fresh Ph.D pass out in A and say I did a reasonable one compared to the standards. My experience in B is limited to some work">coursework, but I believe I do have the ability to do research in it. I wish to work in a company in B. Now one of them has shown some interest in me and has asked for a telephonic interview. How should I go about justifying my interest in B though I did a Ph.D in A?

manpreet 2 years ago

You justify your interest in B like you justify your interest in any field, by simply explaining why you like it. They might not ask you to justify your interest though, they might simply ask you to explain why you want that particular job and what skills you can bring to it.

If you have a PhD, you have learned how to learn and research independently. Its not unusual for people to end up working in something different to what they were doing in their PhD. I know a professor of computer b.com/tag/science">science whose PhD is in pure mathematics.

You should do some b.com/tag/reading">reading in B so that you are familiar with both the basic b.com/tag/concepts">concepts i.e. b.com/tag/refresh">refresh your coursework if it was completed a while ago. Also, read the latest research in B; if its not an academic job they may not require this but because you have a PhD they may assume you have done it.