u/Alert_Security_8624

I recently decided that I am going to leave my PhD program with my master's in MechEng and pursue industry. To make it brief, my lab environment has been causing my mental health to decline over the last two years, and I am tired of living far from my significant other and family just to struggle in a position that I have lost all passion for. I recently started applying for industry jobs that are R&D focused and/or in the medical device industry since I think that is where my skillset matches most, but I am worried that it is going to be difficult to even get to the interview stage with my current experience.

I have plenty of research experience (~5 years) and I did one internship in undergrad, but I worry that is not enough to convince companies that I should be considered. Does anybody have any advice on how to make myself a better candidate for industry positions? Or how I can start networking with folks who are involved in industry since my network is primarily academia?

Hi all, I'm a current MechEng PhD (US-based, just finishing up my 2nd year) and I'm heavily considering mastering out. The lab dynamics of my group are just not sustainable for me, there have been issues with funding, and I'm honestly just hating living long distance from my significant other and family.

I went straight into a PhD after undergrad, and pretty much everything I've done has been research focused. I had one industry internship in undergrad, but it was for a research style internship. I'm worried about making the jump to industry if I master out and not being able to secure a job, particularly because I have very limited experience outside of the lab. I'm also in a slightly niche mechanical engineering field, so I feel like I met very few of the requirements on most job postings for standard meche positions.

Anybody have any advice on how to navigate the transition from academia to industry?