Assessment

Career Claimers Index™

The Career Claimers Index™ measures your career readiness across two critical dimensions (Professional Agency × Academic Attachment) and tells you exactly what is holding you back, or propelling you forward.

Answer each question based on where you are right now: not where you think you should be, or where you hope to be in the future. There are no right or wrong answers. The assessment takes about 15 minutes.

Career Claimers Index v2

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First Name

I agree that PhD Career Academy may keep my answers and scores, email me my results, and send me a short series of follow-up emails matched to them. I can unsubscribe at any time. See the Privacy Policy.

1. I can explain the value I bring without referencing my thesis, supervisor, or lab.

Not true at all

Rarely true

Sometimes true

Mostly true

Consistently true

2. I see myself as a professional contributor, not a trainee.

Not true at all

Rarely true

Sometimes true

Mostly true

Consistently true

3. I feel legitimate engaging with professionals outside academia.

Not true at all

Rarely true

Sometimes true

Mostly true

Consistently true

4. I have come to terms with what leaving academia means for my sense of self.

Not true at all

Rarely true

Sometimes true

Mostly true

Consistently true

5. I can describe what I want next without apologizing.

Not true at all

Rarely true

Sometimes true

Mostly true

Consistently true

6. When I think about leaving academia behind completely, I feel a sense of loss.

Not true at all

Rarely true

Sometimes true

Mostly true

Consistently true

7. I initiate career conversations rather than waiting for postings.

Not true at all

Rarely true

Sometimes true

Mostly true

Consistently true

8. I make intentional trade-offs instead of defaulting to safe options.

Not true at all

Rarely true

Sometimes true

Mostly true

Consistently true

9. I take action even when outcomes are uncertain.

Not true at all

Rarely true

Sometimes true

Mostly true

Consistently true

10. I trust my judgment without needing constant validation.

Not true at all

Rarely true

Sometimes true

Mostly true

Consistently true

11. I have taken at least one meaningful step toward my career transition this week — or would do so without waiting for someone to prompt me.

Not true at all

Rarely true

Sometimes true

Mostly true

Consistently true

12. I have a clear understanding of what an effective industry job search actually involves.

Not true at all

Rarely true

Sometimes true

Mostly true

Consistently true

13. I know my monthly survival number.

Not true at all

Rarely true

Sometimes true

Mostly true

Consistently true

14. I have calculated how long my current resources can support a deliberate search.

Not true at all

Rarely true

Sometimes true

Mostly true

Consistently true

15. I am not rushing decisions due to financial anxiety.

Not true at all

Rarely true

Sometimes true

Mostly true

Consistently true

16. I have a plan that protects my long-term career health.

Not true at all

Rarely true

Sometimes true

Mostly true

Consistently true

17. My financial situation supports thoughtful, unhurried decisions.

Not true at all

Rarely true

Sometimes true

Mostly true

Consistently true

18. I often find myself waiting for the right opportunity to appear rather than going out to create one.

Not true at all

Rarely true

Sometimes true

Mostly true

Consistently true

19. I regularly initiate conversations with professionals outside academia.

Not true at all

Rarely true

Sometimes true

Mostly true

Consistently true

20. I am comfortable reaching out to people without a job posting as the reason.

Not true at all

Rarely true

Sometimes true

Mostly true

Consistently true

21. People outside academia know what I am exploring professionally.

Not true at all

Rarely true

Sometimes true

Mostly true

Consistently true

22. My networking conversations have led to concrete next steps — introductions, referrals, or specific opportunities to explore.

Not true at all

Rarely true

Sometimes true

Mostly true

Consistently true

23. I approach networking as a way to learn, not as self-promotion.

Not true at all

Rarely true

Sometimes true

Mostly true

Consistently true

24. My résumé, LinkedIn, and story align.

Not true at all

Rarely true

Sometimes true

Mostly true

Consistently true

25. I can explain my transition without defensiveness.

Not true at all

Rarely true

Sometimes true

Mostly true

Consistently true

26. Employers understand how I fit their needs.

Not true at all

Rarely true

Sometimes true

Mostly true

Consistently true

27. I can articulate my value clearly and quickly.

Not true at all

Rarely true

Sometimes true

Mostly true

Consistently true

28. My story makes sense to people outside academia.

Not true at all

Rarely true

Sometimes true

Mostly true

Consistently true

29. Compared to three months ago, I am taking more deliberate action on my career transition.

Not true at all

Rarely true

Sometimes true

Mostly true

Consistently true

30. My sense of who I am professionally has become clearer and less tied to academia over the past few months.

Not true at all

Rarely true

Sometimes true

Mostly true

Consistently true

Professional Agency

Academic Attachment

Financial Clarity

Privacy note: your answers are confidential. They are kept with your contact details, used to calculate your results and choose the follow-up emails that fit them, and never sold or shared. See our Privacy Policy.