Alum Brian Foster Talks About Employment After His PhD

**This ongoing series is looking at PhD alumni who are doing non-academic jobs. Each person tells their story and provides tips on finding work in the non-academic sector. You can read about other stories and more job-hunting tips in this series by going to our Alumni Success Story archive.

Brian Foster (PhD/12) originally chose to pursue his PhD in History at Carleton because of his advisor, Dr. Andrew Johnston.

“I had several offers but Dr. Andrew Johnston is perhaps one of the strongest historians of the U.S. working in Canada, with diverse interests that make him a wonderful mentor for any student,” says Foster.

Foster soon realized that the History Department was a great place to be.

“I can’t say enough positive things about the history department at Carleton,” shares Foster. “The department has a fantastic depth and interdisciplinarity that encourages intellectual discovery, broad inquiry, and deep reading–the importance of these qualities is impossible to overstate when considering a doctorate in the social sciences or humanities.”

For his dissertation, he looked at a secretive group of social scientists called together by American President Woodrow Wilson to develop terms for an agreeable peace to be discussed at the Peace Talks in Versailles. “The story is one of mystery, espionage and intrigue that helps us look at bigger questions like why we think the way we do about the international system we now have, and how we use particular forms of knowledge to govern that system,” says the alumnus.

Foster applied for countless scholarships and financial awards, enabling him to complete his degree debt-free. This gave him time to moonlight in various volunteer positions with political and civic groups which, in turn, enhanced his communication skills and experience.

Today, he holds a full-time position as the Director of Engagement and Communications with Students Nova Scotia, the provincial advocacy and research group that represents about 90 per cent of Nova Scotia’s university students. He also teaches part-time at Mount Saint Vincent University.

“Working for a non-profit advocacy group is, in many ways, its own reward,” says Foster. “I get to push and agitate for changes to policy and culture that most people would agree with and would like to see implemented. Fighting to make students’ lives more affordable and to protect the quality of university education in Nova Scotia is an uphill battle in the current political environment, but still immensely rewarding.”

Foster has several suggestions to current PhD students who are about to enter the job market.

“Find an interest and make it your academic and extracurricular work. Regrettably, the academic job market is very poor right now, so take time–if you can afford it–to get involved in extra curricular activities that really interest you and that you’re passionate about. These side-interests will inform your academic work and could very well provide the basis for a job when you finish your degree.”

“Unless you’re in a professional track program, don’t think of your PhD as training for a particular job. Instead, think of your PhD as an opportunity to learn broadly about the world and to ask questions that few others have the luxury of time and money to ask. The skills that you will pick up in a doctorate will be invaluable to you, no matter what opportunity presents itself or what you choose to do.”

“There is no right way to do a degree so that it transitions into work. You’ll get lots of advice, but I think the most important thing is to find something you can be passionate about, and which matters to you, and to make that your raison d’etre. Let the job follow from that.”