Beyond the PhD: When expertise meets Malaysia’s changing job market — Nurul Fardini Zakaria

SEPTEMBER 22 — A recent discussion circulating online about PhD graduates looking for employment has brought an important issue into public attention. For someone who has spent years pursuing advanced education, the expectation of finding a suitable career after completing a PhD may seem natural. Yet, the transition from academic qualification to employment is not always straightforward. In Malaysia, the discussion deserves a closer look beyond the simple question of whether a person with a PhD is too qualified for a particular job.

Malaysia’s labour market remains relatively resilient, but the relationship between qualifications and the jobs people hold is still worth examining. The latest labour market figures show that skill-related underemployment among workers with tertiary education stood at 35.2 per cent in the first quarter of 2026 (DOSM, 2026). This means the conversation is not simply about whether graduates can find employment, but also whether their education and skills are being fully matched with the work they do.

A PhD is more than a qualification

A PhD represents years of research, discipline and specialised knowledge. It develops the ability to investigate problems, analyse information, work with evidence and produce new knowledge. It also requires independence, patience and the ability to deal with complex questions, often over several years of sustained academic work.

These abilities have value beyond the university. A researcher may spend years studying one specific subject, but the process also develops skills that can be useful in other settings. These may include analytical thinking, problem solving, project management, writing, communication and independent decision-making, all of which can be relevant across different professional environments.

For this reason, the value of a PhD should not be measured only by whether the graduate eventually becomes an academic. Some graduates will remain in universities and research institutions, while others may find opportunities in industry, government, consulting, education, technology or business. There is no single career path that defines the value of a doctoral qualification.

Finding the right market for expertise

This is where a marketing perspective can offer a useful way of looking at the issue. In marketing, positioning is about communicating value to the right market. A similar idea can be applied to career development, particularly for graduates with highly specialised knowledge.

A PhD graduate may have deep expertise in a particular area, but the value of that expertise does not necessarily end with the research topic. Years of doctoral training can develop analytical thinking, problem solving, research skills, communication and the ability to work independently, allowing graduates to apply these capabilities in different professional settings.

The writer says Malaysia can better connect advanced academic expertise with opportunities in the wider job market. — Unsplash pic

The challenge is to identify where these capabilities can contribute. An organisation may not necessarily be looking for a candidate whose research area exactly matches the job description. It may instead be looking for someone who can understand a complex problem, evaluate information and contribute to better decisions.

For PhD graduates, being able to communicate these capabilities clearly can help employers see the broader value behind the qualification.

When expertise meets employer needs

The Malaysian job market does not necessarily lack opportunities. The challenge can be finding the right match between what people know and what organisations need, particularly when qualifications and job requirements do not always correspond neatly.

For a PhD graduate, this may mean looking beyond the title of a qualification and considering the problems that their expertise can help solve. An employer may not necessarily need someone whose research topic is an exact match for the position. What may matter is whether the candidate can analyse a problem, interpret information, develop solutions and contribute to better decisions.

This also requires graduates to communicate their expertise clearly. A thesis title may be meaningful within an academic field, but an employer may be more interested in what the graduate can actually do and how those capabilities can contribute to the organisation.

Being able to explain research experience in practical terms can therefore make specialised knowledge easier to understand.

Beyond the idea of being overqualified

The term “overqualified” can sometimes oversimplify the situation. Having a PhD does not automatically mean that a person is unsuitable for a position. At the same time, not every position will require doctoral-level expertise, and this is where the question of suitability becomes more important than the qualification itself.

The more useful discussion is about fit. A graduate may have advanced knowledge but still need to find an organisation where that knowledge is relevant, while an employer may have a vacancy but need a specific combination of skills and experience. When these two sides do not meet, a mismatch can occur.

This is not necessarily a failure on either side. It is part of a labour market where qualifications, skills and job requirements do not always align perfectly.

Creating more pathways in Malaysia

There is also a role for universities in helping postgraduate students understand the wider employment landscape. Academic training remains essential, but students can also benefit from greater exposure to industry, professional networks and different career pathways while they are still developing their expertise.

This does not mean changing the purpose of postgraduate education or encouraging every PhD student to leave academia. Rather, it means helping students recognise that research skills can be applied in different environments and that their career possibilities do not necessarily end with a university position.

Industry can also play a role by recognising the broader capabilities of research-trained professionals. Organisations dealing with complex challenges may benefit from people who are trained to investigate issues carefully, work with evidence and develop informed solutions.

Stronger connections between universities and employers can help both sides understand each other’s needs and create more opportunities for specialised knowledge to be applied beyond academic settings.

From qualification to contribution

The discussion about PhD graduates looking for work should therefore be approached with some balance. It is not simply a story about graduates being unable to find jobs, nor is it a question of whether they are too qualified. Instead, it is about how expertise is connected to opportunity and whether the two can be matched more effectively.

A PhD remains a significant achievement. It represents years of learning, research and personal commitment. The knowledge gained through that process can contribute to society in many forms, whether through teaching and research, industry, policy, business or professional practice.

For graduates, the journey may involve identifying where their expertise can create value and developing skills that complement their academic background. For universities, it may involve creating stronger bridges between postgraduate education and the wider economy. For employers, it may involve looking beyond conventional job titles and recognising the capabilities that research-trained professionals can bring.

The viral discussion may eventually disappear from public attention, but the question it has raised is worth keeping. How can Malaysia create stronger connections between advanced knowledge and meaningful career opportunities?

Perhaps the answer is not to ask whether PhD graduates have studied too much. It is to ask where their knowledge can make the greatest contribution, and how employers, universities and graduates themselves can work towards creating that connection.

A qualification provides a foundation, while expertise provides value. The opportunity lies in creating the right connections between the two so that advanced knowledge can be applied in ways that benefit individuals, organisations and Malaysian society.

* Nurul Fardini Zakaria is a senior lecturer in Marketing at the School of Business Management, Universiti Utara Malaysia, with expertise in consumer behaviour, digital marketing, sustainable consumption and consumer welfare.

** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.