The specialisation issue is really not relevant.
A PhD comes with an absolute mountain of transferrable skills a small list of which is detailed here:
http://www.jobs.ac.uk/careers-advice/studentships/1541/reflecting-on-the-value-of-your-phd-what-are-employers-looking-for

Your university should have a huge list of skills you should be able to gain.

It is really important to thnk outside the box here.

It's quite concerning to see so many people talk about having no experience seemingly unaware that they have demonstrated repeatedly for 4 years or more that they have an abundance of experience in applying these skills.

Would it be of help to do a small amount of voluntary work along side studying for a PhD? Perhaps 2 hours a fortnight in something related to the PhD, so it doesn't take too much time away from your studies.

Something like volunteering for a community interest company or charity in energy. Would this volunteer work help with finding employment after PhD graduation?

Have attempted to job seek outside of academia, my take on it is that a PhD isn't worth a damn when it comes to "experience". Employers couldn't have cared less about those so-called transferable skills from my PhD. The reason I was getting interviews was based on job skills from 5 years ago. Every time I gave an example of something from my PhD in an interview, they were dismissive and asked for a work example. And to be fair, my work examples are far superior than anything my PhD could offer.

I think as PhD students, we are led to believe we are fantastic and there's so much opportunity out there for us. I don't believe this to be true. Employers either don't understand the true nature of a PhD ("it's just another degree") or don't value the skills it confers. I think it's a hindrance to getting many jobs outside of academia.

This is one of the main reasons I want to stick in academia: at least someone values my ability and wants to pay me well for it.

This is so true for me as well. The transferable (read marketable) skills from doing a PhD listed by various HE stakeholders (including the government) etc are frankly rather hollow when we compare them with the experience already developed (or developed in jobs taken) by first degree and master's graduates in many professional occupations (heritage, business, research, marketing etc). In several sectors (including research), I found it difficult to provide impressive examples of meeting deadlines and working under pressure. Other skills such as teamwork, organising etc, I have developed to a much greater extent in roles other than the PhD. Doing the PhD lead me to many of these other roles (academic events organising etc), but just doing a PhD provides little apart from data analysis experience. Even this can be quite limited if PhD used just a few methods/techniques.

This leads to an observation (oft said) that many transferable skills can be, and need to be, developed AROUND doing the PhD. This is something the HE stakeholders need to point out more I think, rather than suggest just doing a PhD makes you so employable.



I think one has to be prepared to start at the bottom of any sector. Some sectors value the PhD, but want to see suggested ability tested before promotion

I am a Teaching Assistant in Sec school, thinking of doing a PGCE. In TA interviews, no one has mentioned the PhD (not that it is relevant though). A few teachers can feel a bit intimidated, the students (in a school with no other PhDs) find it exotic, some find it inspiring, others couldn't care less, it's even held against me by some.

Yes, exactly, but the problem is it's really hard to start at the bottom. I really struggle with that after having worked in senior roles before my PhD and then feeling like I've achieved something during my PhD, to then be back at square one again. It's like what's the point of me telling people in my CV, references and during interview what I can do, but then I have to prove it all over again if I'm lucky enough to get a job?

I'm just not in a place mentally where I feel like I should starting at the bottom; it's patronising and belittling. Hats off to those that can.

Definitely more needs to be in a PhD to focus on giving it real life applicability.

This leads into a debate about the future nature of doctoral level qualifications. The PhD can possibly be seen as first and foremost about the doing and defence of a piece of academic research. This has been the case since the degree first came to the UK in about 1917. A thesis, and through this particular academic skills and knowledges are developed. With increasing numbers of people working for the degree and holders of it seeking employment outside of academia, there are a few questions being asked about whether the PhD needs to recognise this, i.e enabling the development of 'real life' (or more marketable) skills beyond academic research. However, since the 1980's there has been a more professional, 'real-life' alternative to the PhD, yet of doctoral level: The professional doctorate. These have not been that popular (funding is difficult to get), but they do develop professional skills in-situ (in job role and/or professional context). People do these mid-career. Possibly, elements of the professional doctorate could be taken into the traditional doctorate in the future, or people would have the option of doing so.

Could it be that you are not particularly good at selling yourself to industry?
I know its a cheeky question but I ask because you clearly dont believe your PhD skills are worth anything in industry. If that is your mindset I would pretty much guess an employer will see that in your body language.
The reality is that industry is full of PhD grads many of whom are going straight in at senior level. I personally know of dozens of them.

I haven't tried applying for industrial jobs, I'm talking about other types of non-academic jobs. I guess I don't know that much industry, but in my head the type of jobs open to me would be bench work, which I'm not really interested in doing full time, or jobs leading to supervising other people doing bench work, which doesn't seem a whole lot different to academia. Plus, i don't think there's much around where I live anyway and I don't want to move. I think my skills would be valued if I wanted to work in industry.