In this episode of Exiting Academia, I sit down with someone who earned a PhD in Developmental Psychology and then pivoted into a role as a Human Factors Engineer. We walk through what that transition actually looks like in practice—how you translate your research identity into industry language, how you tell a coherent story about your skills, and how to stop assuming that “non-academic” means “less rigorous.” If you’ve been wondering whether your psychology background can map onto product, design, or engineering-adjacent work, this conversation is meant to make that path feel concrete. I focus on the mechanics of the pivot: identifying the transferable skills you already have (research design, measurement, stakeholder communication, ethics, and working with messy human data), then packaging them for roles that care about usability, safety, and decision-making. We also talk about mindset—letting go of the idea that you need permission to leave, and replacing it with a plan: targeted role research, informational interviews, and a resume that reads like outcomes instead of publications. My goal is that you leave this episode with a clearer sense of what human factors is, why it’s a strong landing spot for many PhDs, and what your next steps should be if you’re ready to exit academia strategically.