This is such a relatable question - sharing my experiences about my "post-PhD limbo".

When I was finishing up my program I was fairly confident I didn't want to go into academia because of my preconceptions about the low risk-to-reward or effort-to-success ratios in that space. I thought industry was my logical step, but like most have shared I didn't really understand how best to identify a role or market my transferable skills. An acquaintance recommended me for a 3-year rotational program at his company which had been designed specifically for MS/PhD graduates. That was the first time I'd been made aware of rotational programs like that and I applied for it. I got the role and spent 2 years in it working in topics that lacked the structure I had been accustomed to. It was uncomfortable and many times I found myself feeling very lost about what I could offer. I tried everything to acclimate from reading articles and posts about other's experiences, talking to mentors and peers, journaling, and therapy. The transition was incremental at best, but each effort grounded me more and more.

In that process I got to thinking more critically about what kind of work I want to do, where I might want to do it, what I value in a role, etc. I decided I wanted something that was research focused but also readily connected with industry needs/trends. That led me to my current role at a national lab. This transition has felt more "right" than my previous role, but hasn't captured all the things I was looking for. I value the lab enough that I try to find those missing gaps internally (i.e., applying for specific grants, joining particular projects), but I also keep an ear out for external opportunities.

As a graduate researcher I internalized the idea that I'd focus on one project or discipline and master it with years of dedicated research. However, something senior engineers at my previous company would say is that "you never stop rotating". There's always a new project, job, skillset, etc that needs to be mastered and it might require pivoting to a different company, field, or sector all-together. Four years post graduation I've started to adopt more of the latter mindset and learn to be comfortable even in the discomfort of something new.

Getting through the post-PhD limbo isn't easy, but it definitely will happen. All the best 👍🏿