The experimental PhD:
What comes next?
About me
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Started grad school at the U of O in 1999 with Prof.
Stelmack
Would make extra money by being an item writer for
Assessment Strategies Inc. (ASI)
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Became quite knowledgeable about casino slot attendants,
taxi drivers, kitchen helpers and housekeeping room
attendants
Started working at ASI in 2003 on a contract basis
while I finished my PhD
Defended my thesis and started working full time at
ASI in 2004
About ASI
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Located in Ottawa
Approximately 25 employees
Develops and administers licensing exams for a
range of occupations including:
Registered nurses
 Medical radiation technologists
 Speech language pathologists
 Occupational therapists
 Registered safety professionals
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Typical work tasks
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1.
2.
3.
As a test consultant, there are three primary work
tasks:
Facilitation – Training groups of subject matter
experts (e.g., nurses) to write high-quality multiple
choice questions and facilitating the question review.
Statistics – Evaluating the performance of exam items
and overall test statistics. Some advanced statistics
including item response theory and statistical
equating.
Project management – Managing project budgets,
deliverables, timelines and deadlines. Also involves
client management and relations.
Why are psychology PhDs in demand?
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ASI employs a large number of psychology
graduates in a number of positions. They come
from:
Industrial/organizational psychology
 Neuroscience
 Psychometrics and statistics
 Social or clinical psychology
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All of these people “fell into” their job at ASI
but now enjoy the work
Why are psychology PhDs in demand?
Some interesting facts
 In the private sector, there is no distinction
made between clinical and experimental PhDs
 The primary area of research (along with who
your thesis supervisor is) is often of little
consequence
 The job market is all about transferability of
skills
Why are psychology PhDs in demand?
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For most employers, the hiring motto is “smart
people figure it out”
Psychology graduates are especially in demand
because:
Working knowledge of statistics
 Report writing abilities
 Ability to read research articles critically
 Experience with research and conferences
 For U of O grads, often bilingual
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Why are psychology PhDs in demand?
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However, there are other “soft skills” that make
psychology graduates marketable:
People skills
 Oral communication (group dynamics,
presentations)
 Teamwork abilities
 Ability to handle multiple priorities and meet
deadlines
 Perseverence and discipline
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Why are psychology PhDs in demand?
Some areas where psychology graduates initially
struggle:
 You are no longer the expert. There is a lot to
learn
 Dealing with the nuances of client management
– the research may be clear but there are other
considerations
 Managing budgets and workplans
 Dealing with an “office environment” and
internal company politics
Benefits to working as a consultant
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Most of these benefits will also apply to working
in the public sector (e.g., federal civil service)
There may be some differences across
companies
Some consultants also choose to be independent
contractors (bathrobe consultants)
When interviewing for a job, it will be important
for you to see if these benefits apply at your
workplace
Benefits to working as a consultant
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The salary and benefits are usually pretty good
Salaries tend to be slightly higher in the private
sector
 Consultants usually start off at around $60,000
 Salary increases are usually based on performance
rather than entitlement
 Most places of work also offer a competitive
benefits package that also includes a retirement
pension
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Benefits to working as a consultant
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Work-life balance is a HUGE benefit
Most workplaces have 35-40 hour work weeks
 With most employers, overtime is infrequent and
discouraged
 Also very little weekend work
 In the testing industry, there is often a small amount
of travel within Canada and occasionally in the US
for conferences
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The bottom line: You can have a life again!!!
Benefits to working as a consultant
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Variety of work
The variety of the work you do keeps a job
interesting and challenging
 One day, you can be performing a statistical analysis.
The next day, you are leading a group of experts to
write exam items
 There are also various internal committees and
projects you can be involved with
 There is always something to learn
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Benefits to working as a consultant
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You don’t have to give up on academic interests
and research
Teaching is a big part of the job – Especially being
able to explain complex concepts to non-experts
 Most companies perform applied research
 Most companies also support participation in
industry groups and conferences
 Many part-time professors also work in the private
sector and can bring applied experience to the
classroom
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Some tips when finding a job
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A full-time job is a major decision. As a result, be picky
about where you work
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The job interview should be a two-way discussion
There should be a fit between your working style and
personality, and the style of the organization
If research is important to you, discuss this in advance
and get a firm commitment
Salary is negotiable in the private sector. They will
usually give you a lower offer
Sometimes, a signing bonus is available or moving
expenses could be covered. Ask about these.
Thank You
Chris Beauchamp
Senior Consultant
Assessment Strategies Inc.
cbeaucha@asinc.ca