Career Coaching & Strategy for PhDs
Personalized support for navigating career decisions, developing application materials, and preparing for interviews in industry.
You don't have to do this alone.
Maybe you're planning to leave academia. Maybe you've already started applying to jobs. Maybe you're overwhelmed, burnt-out, and second guessing everything.
I've been there. And I know you don't need more generic advice, free webinars, or motivational LinkedIn posts.
You need a coach—someone who can guide you from academia to industry. Someone who understands where you are now and where you want to be.
That's what these sessions are for.
Ready to work in industry?
I offer two types of 60-minute virtual sessions. These sessions are designed for different moments in your career change—whether you’ve already started applying to jobs or still figuring out your next move.
I'm currently completing my coaching certification through ICF. These sessions are offered at a discounted rate to help me build my certification hours.
Resume & Strategy Session
An in-depth review of your job search materials and strategy.
Who it's for:
This session is great if you're (a) applying to jobs, but aren't landing many interviews, or (b) preparing for interviews, but feel nervous and want to practice. If you're the proactive type, you can also choose this session before you start applying or interviewing!
This is a feedback-focused session. If you want support choosing a career path or navigating the emotional/mindset aspects of leaving academia, please book a Coaching Session.
How it works:
You'll receive instant access to the After Academia Community. Here you'll upload your resume, LinkedIn profile, interview information, and/or anything else you'd like me to review.
I'll review your materials and draft a custom career plan based on your responses. Within 3 business days, you'll receive a draft of your plan, written feedback on your materials, and a link to schedule our virtual session.
During our 60 minute session, we’ll walk through everything together, and I'll answer any questions you might have. After the session, I'll finalize your plan, so you'll know exactly how to start landing job offers in industry.
$500
Satisfaction Guaranteed. Payment plans available.
Career Coaching Session
A structured, reflective conversation for career challenges and decisions.
Who it's for:
This session is great if you're (a) unsure which career to pursue in industry, or (b) struggling with the imposter syndrome, burnout, identity loss, and career grief that comes with leaving academia.
This is a pure coaching space. If you want resume edits, interview preparation, or career advice, please book a Strategy Session.
How it works:
You'll receive instant access to the After Academia Community and a link to schedule our virtual session.
During our 60 minute session, I'll guide you through a structured conversation so you can successfully overcome your challenge and make the decision that's best for you.
After our session, you'll receive a recording of our conversation and a custom career plan so you'll know exactly how to take the next step in your career, confidently.
$250
Satisfaction Guaranteed. Payment plans available.
Essentials Bundle
Full support for every step of your career change.
Who it's for:
This bundle is great if you're (a) planning to leave academia, but have no idea how, or (b) applying for jobs, but feel overwhelmed and want structured support to get back on track.
How it works:
Once you purchase the bundle, you'll receive instant access to After Academia Essentials—the system that shows you exactly how to start your career in industry.
Essentials includes a self-paced course, a learning community of 150+ PhDs, and weekly instructor support if you have questions. You'll book your Coaching and Strategy Sessions as you complete the course.
This bundle gives you the structure of a proven system and the support of personalized, professional coaching, at one affordable price.
$1100
$880
Satisfaction Guaranteed. Payment plans available.
FAQs
Book a Strategy Session if you want expert eyes on your resume, LinkedIn, and applications, or if you want help preparing for an interview. Strategy Sessions are where I give you career advice, detailed edits, and personalized feedback.
Book a Coaching Session if you are unsure which industry career to pursue, or if you feel stuck, lost, or overwhelmed by your job search. I follow the ICF method for coaching, thus, I will not give advice or resume feedback during a Coaching Session. These sessions are designed to help you discover your own best path forward.
Grab the Essentials Bundle if you want full support with everything from career exploration and mindset challenges to resume writing and interview preparation. The bundle has everything you need to land job offers in industry.
You've spent years being evaluated, advised, and corrected by other PhDs. It's understandable that, when faced with a major professional decision, you'd expect another PhD to tell you what to do.
Unlike advising or mentoring, coaching isn’t about giving you solutions. It’s about helping you trust and understand yourself, so you can discover the solution that works best for you—your brain, your values, your strengths, and your life.
That’s the point of a Coaching Session. Instead of walking away with someone else’s solution, you leave with the ability to make critical decisions for yourself, again and again.
No problem! After our first session, you'll receive a code to book additional sessions at a 20% discount. I'll also give you my honest assessment as to whether more sessions might be helpful, given your personal situation.
Yes. I can help you regardless of your situation. Since January 2022, I've personally supported 400+ PhDs in 10+ countries, from every degree field and career stage—engineering to the humanities, PhD students to tenured professors.
I've helped PhDs who (a) need to work remotely or have geographical constraints, (b) require visa sponsorship, (c) are leaving academia mid- or late-career, and/or (d) need work accommodations as a neurodivergent/disabled person. While these situations are more complex, you can make progress with the right support. Book a session and I'll show you how.
Yes. While most of my clients have a PhD, that's not a requirement to work with me. I've helped academic librarians, university administrators, and master's students find new roles. The process of finding a job is similar regardless of your educational credentials.
I have a very limited number of free/sliding scale sessions for those with demonstrated financial need. Please email me at hello@ashleyruba.com to inquire about availability.
In January 2025, I started the process of becoming a Associate Certified Coach (ACC) with the International Coaching Federation (ICF). After I complete 60 hours of educational requirements, 100 60-minute Coaching Sessions, 10 hours of supervised coaching with a performance evaluation, and a final exam, I will receive my certification. My goal is to finish everything by the end of 2025.
Since January 2022, I've provided 500+ hours of free/paid individual and group consulting services to PhDs leaving academia. During this time, I have personally navigated the industry job market, successfully starting 4 different roles at various companies. I have also been a hiring manager for my own business: After Academia LLC. I know what employers want to see, and I understand why PhDs struggle with landing job offers in industry.
I also have 8+ years of experience as a trained writing tutor, so you'll never receive generic feedback on your materials. I'll explain exactly what to change (and why), at the sentence-level.
I stand by my work. If you are dissatisfied with the value received from our session, e-mail me and I'll work with you to make it right. My goal is to help you, not to leave you regretting your decisions—that's what PhD programs are for :)
Email me at hello@ashleyruba.com!