The REEL Method
When research is the only career you know, it can be hard to imagine what else you could do.
REEL gives PhDs and postdocs a way to work it out. Start with your experience, explore unfamiliar roles and try parts of the work before choosing a direction.
See how REEL worksYou can begin without deciding to leave academia.
You learn your way to a decision.
Reflect · Explore · Experiment · Leap
You don’t need to finish every question before trying something. The aim is to learn enough to make your next decision.
Look beyond your research topic. Consider the work you’ve enjoyed, the problems you’ve solved and what matters in your life now. Be honest about the things you want to change, too.
A clearer picture of what you bring and what you want from work.
Discover roles you may not have known existed. Find out what people actually do, what employers need and where your experience could be useful. Separate what you already offer from what you would need to learn.
Possible directions, with specific questions to investigate.
Try a small part of a possible role. A conversation, short project or chance to observe someone at work can help you test an assumption. Use what you learn to explore further, build a skill or rule an option out.
First-hand evidence to help you compare your options.
When a direction is worth pursuing, turn your attention to making the move. Explain your relevant experience, prepare focused applications and interviews, and plan how you’ll enter a new role.
A focused search and a clear explanation of what you can contribute.
What this can look like
A PhD researcher is curious about science communication but doesn’t know what the work involves.
An illustrative example, not a customer story.
They enjoyed turning a complicated finding into a talk people could follow. They want to do more of that kind of work.
They speak with a science communicator about a typical week, including writing, editing and working to deadlines.
They write a short explanation of published research for a non-specialist reader and ask for specific feedback.
Perhaps they enjoyed explaining the idea, but less so writing it. They could explore public engagement roles and try a small workshop next. That isn’t starting again. It’s learning which kind of work to pursue.
Leap comes when they choose a direction to actively pursue, not simply because they’ve completed one experiment.
Developed through nearly a decade of mentoring PhDs through career transitions, alongside founder Brian Collier’s own experience beyond academia. Meet Brian
Put REEL into practice
Work through practical activities and examples for all four phases. Keep your notes, evidence and decisions in the editable My Pivot Record.
Introductory price · Both documents
One-time payment, plus applicable tax.
94-page PDF + editable Word companion. Self-guided.
The free Snapshot can help you notice what needs attention. It isn’t a required step before using the Playbook.